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Home My WebLink AboutASAB Meeting Summary 06.18.25 Meeting Minutes Approved ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB) 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Community Room at OCAS 1601 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill,NC 27516 MEMBERS PRESENT: Allan Polak(Chair), Debby Hill (Vice Chair), Dr. Sunita Driehuys (Secretary), Michael Delafield, Michael Dempsey, Mary Lucas, Judy Miller, Cathy Munnier, Dr. Lee Pickett, Kimberly Rider, Dawn Roberts. Members ABSENT: Annie Goldberg STAFF PRESENT: Elizabeth Overcash(Director), Krista Watkins (Business Officer) PUBLIC PRESENT: Rhonda Patterson (pending ASAB At-Large member), Ellen Pearsall Call to order: 6:30 PM Review and adoption of the meeting agenda: Vote (Motion/2nd) Mike Delafield Aye Michael Dempsey Aye Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg. Absent Debby Hill Aye Mary Lucas Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier 2nd Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Aye Dawn Roberts I Aye Page 1 of 5 Review and approval of May 2025 ASAB meeting summary: Vote (MOtion/2nd) Mike Delafield 2nd Michael Dempsey Aye Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Absent Debby Hill Aye Mary Lucas Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Aye Dawn Roberts Aye Public Participation Guidelines: Limit of 3 minutes at today's meeting. Can submit more information by email for inclusion as an agenda item for discussion at a future meeting. General Public Comments (not on agenda): None Monthly Meeting Attendance Record: Confirmed through approval of meeting minutes. New Business: 1. Discussion of ASAB Orientation for new members—will be discussed at the next meeting. Allan Polak and Lee Pickett volunteered for this committee at April meeting. Page 2 of 5 2. Appointment of new Secretary for ASAB —discussion about ability to use audio recordings and Al to make this task easier. Mary Lucas volunteered for this position. Nomination of Mary Lucas to be appointed as Secretary of ASAB: Vote (Motion/2,d) Mike Delafield Aye Michael Dempsey Aye Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Absent Debby Hill 2nd Mary Lucas Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Aye Dawn Roberts Aye Animal Services Advisory Board: 1. Currently have 2 vacancies on ASAB—At-Large position and 2nd veterinarian position. Rhonda Patterson has been recommended for At-Large position and her confirmation is pending the next BOCC meeting. Discussion about how to recruit another veterinarian to the board—opening can be posted through the various county channels and a letter can be sent to registered veterinarians who reside in Orange County. Old Business: ASAB 2025 Goals and Initiatives 1. Dog Training Program at OCAS—directed by Cathy Munnier and has Brian Donnelly lined up as the 2nd trainer. Have created flyers that ASAB members are encouraged to Page 3 of 5 share (without the personal phone numbers). Plan is to start by working with fosters on basic obedience and structure to decrease anxiety and reactivity in adoptable dogs. Seminars and training classes will be offered for new adopters and OCAS volunteers, but also open to the public with suggested donations. 2. Dr. Lee Pickett's updates a. Opportunity to provide care for underserved and unhoused population with OCAS and DEGA—there is a pop-up clinic planned for July 22 in Orange County for human and animal health. b. Update on proposed legislation to make it easier for shelters to provide veterinary care —Lee had a discussion with Dr. Paige Harrington, Vice President of NCVMA. Dr. Harrington advises that this is not a worthwhile pursuit for ASAB due to the strong lobby and sentiment to advocate for private practice veterinarians in NC. c. Still exploring ways to make it easier for shelters in NC to access the ICare license tag money. Lee has reached out to NCVMA shelter medicine liaison, Dr. Sandra Strong, and will follow up with OCAS staff. 3. Employee Appreciation Committee—ASAB donations to treat the 32 OCAS staff members a. Alsie's ice cream truck event planned for either July 16 or 23 at 2 p.m. ASAB members to donate funds to provide each staff member with a voucher for a free scoop. Allan Polak will create the voucher tickets. b. Cathy Munnier to coordinate for a Dunkin' Donuts and coffee event in the winter 4. Talking Points Committee Updates (attach separate sheet) ASAB members to review the talking points and consider adding some more about animal safety with summer heat, managing storm anxiety in animals, managing fireworks/noise phobia in animals. Information Items: Presented by Elizabeth Overcash, Director of OCAS 1. 44 dogs and 63 cats currently at OCAS. 2. 28 dogs and 85 cats in foster care through OCAS. 3. Open positions: Animal Control Manager that will be filled internally and a position for OCAS Program Manager that has been posted externally. 4. Currently working on updating the statistics to understand reasons for owner surrenders of pets. Seems that majority are due to rental housing restrictions on pets. 5. Future goal of working with OC Housing Department to get blanket breed restrictions removed and consider Canine Good Citizen or similar certification to allow pets of any breed to be allowed in rental housing. 6. Staff day at Camp New Hope on June 29th for OCAS staff. ASAB members are invited. Page 4 of 5 7. Crowdsourcing fundraiser launched for the 2nd play yard and $3,500 has been raised so far. Goal is $7,000 for the necessary fencing, and this can hopefully be done before current Program Manager leaves for veterinary school in August. Informal Discussion: None Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:39 pm. Vote (MOtion/2nd) Mike Delafield Aye Michael Dempsey Aye Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Absent Debby Hill 2nd Mary Lucas Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munmer Aye Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Aye Dawn Roberts Aye Page 5 of 5