Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 10-07-2025; 8-l - Approval of FY 2025-26 Animal Control Services Contracts with Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date:October 7, 2025 Action Agenda Item No.8-l SUBJECT: Approval of FY 2025-26 Animal Control Services Contracts with Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough DEPARTMENT: Animal Services ATTACHMENT(S): FY 2025-26 Animal Control Services Contracts with Exhibits – Town of Carrboro Town of Chapel Hill Town of Hillsborough INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Watkins, 919-932-4954 PURPOSE: To approve the FY 2025-26 annual contracts with the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough for the provision of Animal Control Services. BACKGROUND: Orange County Animal Services provides contracted Animal Control Services to the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough on an annual basis. These agreements outline the scope of services, responsibilities, and associated costs. Each year, the towns contract with Orange County to ensure consistent enforcement of animal control ordinances, state law compliance, and support for community animal safety. The FY 2025- 26 contracts contain no substantive changes from the FY 2024-25 agreements, aside from updated dates and current-year costs. The Towns have reviewed and accepted the terms, and the contracts are now presented to the Board of Commissioners for approval. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Revenue from these contracts will be received by Orange County Animal Services and applied to the Animal Services operating budget. The anticipated revenue is: Town of Carrboro: $166,198 Town of Chapel Hill: $171,868 Town of Hillsborough: $ 85,272 Total: $423,338 ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:  GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE 6: Provide sustainable, equitable, and high-quality community safety and emergency services to meet the community’s evolving needs. OBJECTIVE 7: Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life of the community. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached contracts with the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough for the provision of FY 2025-26 Animal Control Services. 1 Rev 06/25 [Departmental Use Only] TITLE Carrboro Animal Control FY 2025-26 TOWN OF CARRBORO ANIMAL CONTROL, ANIMAL PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY AFTER HOUR ANIMAL SERVICES AGREEMENT This Town of Carrboro Animal Control, & Protective Services, Emergency After Hour Animal Services Service Agreement is entered into by and between Orange County, North Carolina (“County”) and the Town of Carrboro, North Carolina (“Town”) as of the 1st day of July 2025. WHEREAS, Orange County provides animal control and protection and emergency after hours within Orange County; and WHEREAS, the Town has a need for the services provided by Orange County through its’ Animal Services Department; and WHEREAS, the Orange County operates a fully staffed Animal Services Department that has the capacity, capability and a shared interest in offering animal control and protection, after hour emergency animal control services through an agreement with the Town; and WHEREAS, the Town has, and hereby does, designate the Orange County Animal Services Director to be responsible for determining when a dog located within the Town is a “potentially dangerous dog” pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67.4.1; and WHEREAS, the Town has, and hereby does, designate the Appeals Committee established by Chapter 10 of the Carrboro Town Code to hear any appeals for a “potentially dangerous dog” determination pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67-4.1 and any other appeals in the jurisdiction of the Town of Carrboro under the Unified Animal Control Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the Town of Carrboro desires to enter into an agreement with the County and has appropriated funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the performance of animal control and protection services, critical after hour emergency animal services within the Town of Carrboro in accordance with the Town of Carrboro’s Animal Control Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed based on the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by and between the County and the Town as follows: WITNESSETH 1. Designation of Animal Control Program. a.The Town will designate the Orange County Animal Services Center as its "Animal Control Program," 2 Rev 06/25 b.The County is authorized to appoint an Animal Control Officer (ACO) to respond to provide service within the Town in accordance with the powers and duties of the “Animal Control Program.” 2. Scope of Services. a.Animal Control and Protective Services. The ACO shall provide animal control and protective services to the Town during the hours of 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, responding to calls within the Town on both a routine and emergency basis. i.All service calls responded to on behalf of the Town under this agreement will be handled in accordance with the Town’s Animal Control Ordinance and the Orange County Unified Animal Control Ordinance. ii.The County will provide phone access at the “Animal Control Program” for the purpose of receiving animal service calls during the hours noted in subparagraph 2(a)(i) above. iii.The County will provide a quarterly report listing the number and types of calls handled within the Town limits to the Carrboro Police Department. iv.The County will also provide a quarterly summary of other activities conducted under this agreement within the Town limits to the Carrboro Police Department. v.All County employees responding to service calls under this agreement will receive training pertaining to the Town's Animal Control Ordinance and the Orange County Animal Control Unified Ordinance. vi.The County agrees to provide an animal control vehicle and necessary animal control equipment for the use in the Town. vii.At times when the designated ACO is on vacation or taking other forms of leave, the County agrees to provide an individual to respond to emergency calls for service, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. b.Community Outreach. The Animal Control Officer assigned to Carrboro by the County shall conduct community outreach related to basic services as time allows. i.Canvassing in select areas to provide information about key animal control issues and pet owner responsibilities, e.g., wildlife concerns such as coyotes, or information about rabies and low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. ii.Attending varied community meetings to provide information about key animal control issues and pet owner responsibilities, e.g., wildlife 3 Rev 06/25 concerns such as coyotes, or information about rabies and low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. iii.Organizing or conducting proactive awareness and/or education activities and programs, e.g., rabies risks, bite prevention for children, animal safety, animal control reporting opportunities, etc. c.Emergency After Hour Call Services. The County shall provide emergency after hour animal service calls as described below. i.Emergency after hour animal services are from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am Monday through Friday and all holidays and weekends. ii.The County shall provide trained, qualified personnel to respond to emergency after hour animal calls within the Town by going to the scene when necessary to protect and preserve the health and safety of the public and the life and health of animals. iii.Qualified county personnel shall, when necessary and proper in the judgment of County personnel, provide first aid treatment and/or take animals requiring care to veterinary facilities according to County policy. When immediate veterinary care is not needed in the judgment of County personnel, an animal may be taken to the Animal Services Center. Sick and injured animals will be handled according to Animal Services’ operating policy. iv.The County may, in its discretion, bear the cost of emergency care and sheltering costs for animals that do not appear to have an owner or keeper, or where the owner or keeper can be identified, charge the owner or keeper with the cost of emergency care and sheltering costs of the animals consistent with the Animal Services’ operating policy. v.County employees or their designees shall attempt to contact at a time which is reasonable under the circumstances in each situation, the owner or custodian of each animal involved in an emergency requiring assistance. vi.Where Town Public Safety and/or Town officers are also on the scene of an animal-related emergency, the County personnel shall cooperate with Town personnel in matters involving safety of persons and/or enforcement of the Town's animal control ordinance and the Orange County Unified Animal Control Ordinance. vii.Subject to further guidelines as determined between the parties and provided in “Guidelines for Emergency After Hours Calls” which are attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. 4 Rev 06/25 3.Term. The Term of this Agreement shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. 4.Compensation. The Town shall compensate the County in quarterly installments of Forty-One Thousand Five Hundred and Forty Nine dollars and Fifty cents ($41,549.50) for a total annual payment not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Sixty Six and One Hundred Ninety Eight dollars ($166,198.00) for the services provided in this Agreement. e.The County shall invoice the Town for Animal Control and Protective Services and Emergency After Hour Calls Services quarterly beginning September 30, 2025, or shortly thereafter and each successive quarter thereafter; f.The Town shall pay the County within thirty (30) days after receipt of an accurate invoice approved by the Town. g.Failure to pay upon receiving notice that payment has not been made in accordance with 3(e) will result in the suspension of services until payment is made. 5.Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason by providing the other party sixty (60) days written notice of intention to terminate the Agreement. 6. Indemnity. Unless otherwise limited by applicable law, the County agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town, its officers, agents and employees from all loss, liability, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from bodily injury, including death or property damage to any person or persons proximately caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of the County except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or misconduct of the Town. 7.Entire Agreement. The parties agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and further agree that it constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the Agreement between the parties and any modifications to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by both the parties. 8.Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. In the event of any dispute between the parties, venue is properly laid in Orange County, North Carolina for any state court action and in the Middle District of North Carolina for any federal court action. By executing this Agreement, the parties affirm that the parties and any subcontractors of the parties are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified, and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified, and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. 9.Severability. The parties intend and agree that if any provision of this contract or any portion thereof shall be held to be void or otherwise unenforceable, all other portions of this Contract shall remain in full force and effect. 5 Rev 06/25 10. Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66. 11.Notices. Any notice required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested to the following: Orange County Town of Carrboro Attention: Animal Services Director Attention: Chief of Police P.O. Box 8181 100 N. Greensboro Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Carrboro, NC 27510 In witness whereof, the Parties cause this Agreement to be executed in the respective names effective on the date hereinabove written. ORANGE COUNTY TOWN OF CARRBORO Jamezetta Bedford, Chair of Orange County BOCC Patrice Toney, Town Manager Attest by the Town Clerk: Lamar Joyner, Town Clerk 6 Rev 06/25 Town Clerk attests date this the day of , 20 . Approved as to Form and Authorization Nick Herman, Town Attorney This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. Chaz Offenburg, Finance Director Chris Atack, Chief of Police 7 Rev 06/25 ORANGE COUNTY—DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Party/Vendor Name: Town of Carrboro Police Department Party/Vendor Contact Person: Chief Chris Atack Contact Phone: (919) 918-7397 Party/Vendor Address: 100 N Greensboro St. City: Carrboro State: NC Zip: 27510 Department: Animal Services Amount: $166,198.00 Purpose: Animal Control Services Budget Code: 10215305- 489954 Vendor #: 595 (N/A if new vendor) Vendor is a BOCC consultant? Yes No Contract Type (check one): New Renewal Amendment Effective Date: 07/01/2025 Approved by Board: Yes No Agenda Date: _______________ This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement: Department Director’s Signature Date: Agreements for emergency services or repair are not subject to the above affirmation. If services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed please briefly describe the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Information Technologies (Applicable only to hardware/software purchases or related services) This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer Date: Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer Date: Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer Date: Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney Date: Clerk to the Board Received for record retention: All Docusign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts: Office of the Clerk to the Board Date: 8 EXHIBIT A: GUIDELINES FOR EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS CALLS TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND ORANGE COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES Regular service involves an Animal Control Officer (ACO) being stationed at the Animal Services Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This ACO has principal responsibility for enforcing the Town’s animal control ordinance within the Town limits and responding to calls about stray animals and other such requests for animal services. Orange County Animal Control Officers will provide emergency services outside of regular business hours (from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.), Monday through Friday, and 24-hours on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. These services include rabies exposures, dangerous animals, exigent animal cruelty and animals in immediate need of assistance. The Town will perform “triage” of after-hours service requests in accordance with guidelines jointly developed by Animal Services and the Carrboro Police Department. PROCEDURES FOR ORANGE COUNTY AND TOWN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY AFTER-HOURS ANIMAL CALLS 1. Injured Deer – A CPD officer will respond to locate and euthanize. 2. Owned Injured Animals – A CPD officer will respond or otherwise instruct the owner to take the animal to their veterinarian or the after-hours emergency veterinary clinic to be cared for or euthanized. 3. Neglect/Cruelty Situations – A CPD Officer will respond and make an assessment. If the situation is severe, they will contact the on-call ACO for assistance. If it is not severe, they shall document in an incident report. The report will be sent to the Animal Services Center the next business day for investigation. 4. Strays – A CPD Officer will respond or otherwise instruct the caller to take the animal to the Animal Services Center during business hours. 5. Aggressive Dogs – A CPD Officer will respond to assess and confirm the presence of the reported animal. If the owner cannot be located to secure the dog, the on-call ACO shall be contacted to assist in capturing the dog. 6. The on-call ACO will respond to any call(s) related to: Rabies Exposures; Bites to Humans; Injured Strays. A response by phone, rather than in person, may be appropriate in some cases. 7. The on-call ACO will not respond to calls regarding nuisance wildlife. Unless there is an immediate issue of public safety, the on-call ACO will not respond to calls about snakes. If these calls make their way through Communications, members of the public are to be referred to the Animal Services webpage or asked to call Animal Services during regular business hours for appropriate referral. 8. Night Drop – Our night drop is available for after-hours intake of stray or protective custody animals. It should only be used for healthy, non-aggressive animals that can be safely kenneled. A CPD officer will secure the animal in a kennel and notify the on-call ACO. 9 Rev 06/25 [Departmental Use Only] TITLE Chapel Hill Animal Control FY 2025-26 NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL ANIMAL CONTROL, ANIMAL PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY AFTER HOUR ANIMAL SERVICE AGREEMENT This Animal Control, Protective Services, Emergency After Hour Animal Services Service Agreement is entered into by and between Orange County, North Carolina (“County”) and the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (“Town”) as of the 1st day of July 2025. WHEREAS, Orange County provides animal control and emergency after hours services within Orange County; and WHEREAS, the Town has a need for the services provided by Orange County through its’ Animal Services Department; and WHEREAS, the Orange County operates a fully staffed Animal Services Department that has the capacity, capability and a shared interest in offering after hour emergency animal control services through an agreement with the Town; and WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill desires to enter into an agreement with the County and has appropriated funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the performance of critical after hour emergency animal services within the Town of Chapel Hill in accordance with the Town of Chapel Hill’s Animal Control Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed based on the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by and between the County and the Town as follows: WITNESSETH 1. Designation of Office of Animal Control. a. The Town will designate the Orange County Animal Services Center as its "Office of Animal Control," (OAC). b. The County is authorized to appoint an Animal Control Officer (ACO) to respond to emergency and routine animal service calls within the Town. 2. Scope of Services. a. Animal Control and Protective Services. The ACO shall provide animal control and protective services to the Town during the hours of 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, responding to calls within the Town on both a routine and emergency basis. i. All service calls responded to on behalf of the Town under this agreement will be handled in accordance with the Town’s Animal Control Ordinance 10 Rev 06/25 and policies developed mutually by representatives of the Town and the County. ii. The County will provide phone access at the OAC for the purpose of receiving animal service calls during the hours noted in subparagraph 2(a)(i) above. iii. The County will provide a quarterly report listing the number and types of calls handled within the Town limits to the Chapel Hill Police Department. iv. All County employees responding to service calls under this agreement will receive training pertaining to the sections of the Town's Animal Control Ordinance that are separate from the Uniform Animal Control Ordinance. v. The County agrees to provide an animal control vehicle and necessary animal control equipment for use in the Town. vi. At times when the designated ACO is on vacation or taking other forms of leave, the County agrees to provide an individual to respond to emergency calls for service, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. b. Emergency After Hour Call Services. The County shall provide emergency after hour animal service calls as described below. i. Emergency after hour animal services are from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am Monday through Friday and all holidays and weekends. ii. The County shall provide trained, qualified personnel to respond to emergency after hour animal calls within the Town by going to the scene when necessary to protect and preserve the health and safety of the public and the life and health of animals. iii. Qualified county personnel shall, when necessary and proper in the judgment of County personnel, provide first aid treatment and/or take animals requiring care to veterinary facilities according to County policy. When immediate veterinary care is not needed in the judgment of County personnel, an animal may be taken to the Animal Services Center. Sick and injured animals will be handled according to Animal Services’ operating policy. iv. The County may, in its discretion, bear the cost of emergency care and sheltering costs for animals that do not appear to have an owner or keeper, or where the owner or keeper can be identified, charge the owner or keeper with the cost of emergency care and sheltering costs of the animals consistent with the Animal Services’ operating policy. v. County employees or their designees shall attempt to contact at a time which is reasonable under the circumstances in each situation, the owner or custodian of each animal involved in an emergency requiring assistance. vi. Where Town Public Safety and/or Town officers are also on the scene of 11 Rev 06/25 an animal-related emergency, the County personnel shall cooperate with Town personnel in matters involving safety of persons and/or enforcement of the Town's and Uniform Animal Control Ordinance. vii. Subject to further guidelines as determined between the parties and provided in “Guidelines for Emergency After Hours Calls” which are attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. 3. Term. The Term of this Agreement shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. 4. Compensation. The Town shall compensate the County in quarterly installments of Forty-Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Seven Dollars ($42,967.00) for a total annual payment not to exceed One Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Dollars ($171,868.00), for the services provided in this Agreement. a. The County shall invoice the Town for Animal Control and Protective Services and Emergency After Hour Calls Services and the Administrative Fee quarterly beginning September 30, 2025, or shortly thereafter and each successive quarter thereafter; b. The Town shall pay the County within thirty (30) days after receipt of an accurate invoice approved by the Town. 5. Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason by providing the other party sixty (60) days written notice of intention to terminate the Agreement. 6. Indemnity. Unless otherwise limited by applicable law, the County agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town, its officers, agents and employees from all loss, liability, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from bodily injury, including death or property damage to any person or persons proximately caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of the County except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or misconduct of the Town. 7. Entire Agreement. The parties agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and further agree that it constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the Agreement between the parties and any modifications to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by both the parties. 8. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. In the event of any dispute between the parties, venue is properly laid in Orange County, North Carolina for any state court action and in the Middle District of North Carolina for any federal court action. By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. By executing this Agreement, the parties affirm that the parties are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. 12 Rev 06/25 9. Severability. The parties intend and agree that if any provision of this contract or any portion thereof shall be held to be void or otherwise unenforceable, all other portions of this Contract shall remain in full force and effect. 10. Amendment. This Contract may be amended in writing by mutual agreement of the Town and County. 11. Assignment. This Contract shall not be assigned without the prior written consent of the parties. [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE.] 13 Rev 06/25 In witness whereof, the parties hereunto cause this agreement to be executed in their respective names to become effective on the date hereinabove written. Orange County _____________________________________ _________________________ Jamezetta Bedford Date Chair of Orange County BOCC Approved as to technical content: Elizabeth Overcash Animal Services Director Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: Martha Bordogna, Staff Attorney TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL DEPARTMENT HEAD OR DEPUTY/TOWN MANAGER ATTEST BY TOWN CLERK: DEPUTY TOWN CLERK TOWN SEAL Town Clerk attests date this the day of , 20 . Approved as to Form and Authorization ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. FINANCE OFFICER DATE ORANGE COUNTY—DEPARTMENT USE ONLY 14 Rev 06/25 Party/Vendor Name: Town of Chapel Hill Party/Vendor Contact Person: Chief Chris Blue Contact Phone: (919) 968- 2760 Party/Vendor Address: 828 MLK Jr. Blvd. City: Chapel Hill State: NC Zip: 27514 Department: Animal Services Amount: $171,868.00 Purpose: Animal Control Services Budget Code(s): 10215305-489951 Vendor #: 64 (N/A if new vendor) Vendor is BOCC consultant? Yes No Contract Type (check one): New Renewal Amendment Effective Date: 07/01/2025 Approved by Board: Yes No Agenda Date: _____________________ This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement: Department Director’s Signature Date: Agreements for emergency services or repair are not subject to the above affirmation. If services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed, please briefly describe the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Information Technologies (Applicable only to hardware/software purchases or related services) This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer Date: Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer Date: Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer Date: Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney Date: Clerk to the Board Received for record retention: All DocuSign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for DocuSign contracts: Office of the Clerk to the Board Date: 15 EXHIBIT A: GUIDELINES FOR EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS CALLS TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND ORANGE COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES Regular service involved an Animal Control Officer (ACO) being stationed at the Animal Services Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This ACO has principal responsibility for enforcing the Town’s animal control ordinance within the Town limits and responding to calls about stray animals and other such requests for animal services. Orange County Animal Control Officers will provide emergency services outside of regular business hours from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.), Monday through Friday, and 24-hours on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. These services include rabies exposures, dangerous animals, exigent animal cruelty and animals in immediate need of assistance. The Town will perform “triage” of after-hours service requests in accordance with guidelines jointly developed by Animal Services and the Chapel Hill Police Department. PROCEDURES FOR ORANGE COUNTY AND TOWN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY AFTER-HOURS ANIMAL CALLS 1. Injured Deer – A CHPD Officer will respond to locate and euthanize. 2. Owned Injured Animals – A CHPD Officer will respond or otherwise instruct the owner to take the animal to their veterinarian or the after-hours emergency veterinary clinic to be cared for or euthanized. 3. Neglect/Cruelty Situations – A CHPD Officer will respond and make an assessment. If the situation is severe, they will contact the on-call ACO for assistance. If it is not severe, they shall document in an incident report. The report will be sent to the Animal Services Center the next business day for investigation. 4. Strays – A CHPD Officer will respond or otherwise instruct the caller to take the animal to the Animal Services Center during business hours 5. Aggressive Dogs – A CHPD Officer will respond to assess and confirm the presence of the reported animal. If the owner cannot be located to secure the dog, the on-call ACO shall be contacted to assist in capturing the dog. 6. The on-call ACO will respond to any call(s) related to: Rabies Exposures; Bites to Humans; Injured Strays. A response by phone, rather than in person, may be appropriate in some cases. 7. The on-call ACO will not respond to calls regarding nuisance wildlife. Unless there is an immediate issue of public safety, the on-call ACO will not respond to calls about snakes. If these calls make their way through Communications, members of the public are to be referred to the Animal Services webpage or asked to call Animal Services during regular business hours for appropriate referral. 8. Night Drop – Our night drop is available for after-hours intake of stray or protective custody animals. It should only be used for healthy, non-aggressive animals that can be safely kenneled. A CHPD officer will secure the animal in a kennel and notify the on-call ACO. 16 Rev 06/25 [Departmental Use Only] TITLE Hillsborough Animal Control FY 2025-26 NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL ANIMAL PROTECTIONAND EMERGENCY AFTER HOUR ANIMAL SERVICES AGREEMENT This Town of Hillsborough Animal Control, Animal Protection and Emergency After Hour Animal Services Agreement is entered into by and between Orange County, North Carolina, (hereinafter the “County”) by and through its Animal Services Department (“Department”) and the Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina (hereinafter the “Town”) as of the 1st day of July 2025. WHEREAS, the Town desires that the County provide animal control, animal protection and emergency after hour calls services within the Town during the 2025-2026 fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the County desires to provide animal control, animal protection and emergency animal calls services within the Town during the 2025-2026 fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of Commissioners has previously adopted a resolution authorizing the County to enforce the Orange County Animal Control Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) within the jurisdictional limits of the Town; and WHEREAS, the Town Board of Commissioners desires that the County continue to enforce the County’s Ordinance within the jurisdictional limits of the Town; and WHEREAS, the Town has, and hereby does, designate the Orange County Animal Services Director to be responsible for determining when a dog located within the Town is a “potentially dangerous dog” pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67.4.1; and WHEREAS, the Town has, and hereby does, designate the Appeals Committee established by Section 5 of “Animal Services Advisory Board Policies and Procedures” to hear any appeals for a “potentially dangerous dog” determination pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67- 4.1. NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows: 1. Designation of Office of Animal Control. a. The Town shall and hereby does designate Orange County’s Animal Services Department as its "Office of Animal Control," (“Office”). b. The County will designate and schedule one (1) Animal Control Officer employed by the County (“ACO”) to respond to emergency and routine animal service calls within the Town. 17 Rev 06/25 2. Scope of Services. a. Animal Control and Protective Services. The ACO shall provide animal control and protection services to the Town during the hours of 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. i. During the hours of 8:00 am through 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday the ACO will respond to all routine and emergency animal services calls related to animals located within the Town. ii. All service calls received and/or responded to on behalf of the Town under this Agreement will be handled in accordance with the County’s Unified Animal Control Ordinance, North Carolina General Statutes pertaining to animals and policies developed by Orange County Animal Services. iii. The Office will receive animal service calls during the hours noted in (i) above. iv. A quarterly report listing the number and types of calls handled by OAC within the Town limits will be forwarded to the Hillsborough Police Department. v. All County employees responding to service calls under this agreement will receive training pertaining to the County’s Unified Animal Control Ordinance. vi. The County agrees to provide adequate personnel and equipment to respond to calls as required by this Agreement. vii. If the designated ACO who is responsible for the provision of services under this Agreement to the Town of Hillsborough is on leave as a result of illness, vacation, etc., then the County will only respond to emergency service calls within the Town between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. b. Emergency After Hour Call Services. The scheduled on-call ACO will respond to emergency after hour calls as described below. i. After hour call service hours are from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am Monday through Friday and all holidays and weekends. ii. The County shall provide trained, qualified personnel to respond to calls for after hour service within the Town by going to the scene when necessary to protect and preserve the health and safety of the public and the life and health of animals. iii. Qualified county personnel shall, when necessary and proper in the judgment of County personnel, provide first aid treatment and/or take animals requiring care to veterinary facilities according to County policy. When immediate veterinary care is not needed in the judgment of County personnel, an animal may be taken to the County’s Animal 18 Rev 06/25 Services Center. Sick and injured animals will be handled according to the Shelter operating policy. iv.The County may, in its discretion, bear the cost of emergency care and shelter costs for animals that do not appear to have an owner or keeper, or where the owner or keeper can be identified, charge the owner or keeper with the cost of emergency care and shelter costs of the animals consistent with the County operating policy. v.County employees or their designees shall attempt to contact at a time which is reasonable under the circumstances in each situation, the owner or custodian of each animal involved in an emergency requiring the assistance of the County Animal Services Center. vi.Where Town Public Safety and/or Town officers are also on the scene of an animal-related emergency, the County personnel shall cooperate with Town personnel in matters involving safety of persons and/or enforcement of the County’s Unified Animal Control Ordinance, and/or North Carolina General Statutes pertaining to animals. vii.Subject to further guidelines as determined between the parties and provided in “Guidelines for Emergency After Hours Calls” which are attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. 3.Term. The Term of this Agreement shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. 4.Compensation. The Town shall compensate the County in the amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-Two Dollars ($85,272.00) for the services provided in this Agreement. a.The County shall invoice the Town for Animal Control and Protective Services and Emergency After Hour Calls Services on July 1, 2025, or shortly thereafter; b.The Town shall within thirty (30) days thereafter pay the County, in one lump sum, a payment in the amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-Two Dollars ($85,272.00). 5.Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason by providing the other party sixty (60) days written notice of intention to terminate the Agreement. 6.The Town will indemnify and hold the County harmless for any and all claims, demands or actions whatsoever arising from the County’s provision of services under this Agreement unless the same results from the intentional or negligent conduct of the County. It is the intent of this Section 6 that the Town indemnify the County to the fullest extent permitted by law. 7.Entire Agreement. The County and the Town agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and further agree that it constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the 19 Rev 06/25 Agreement between the County and the Town and any modifications to this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by both the parties. 8.Governing Law. The County and the Town agree that this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. Should either party initiate litigation to settle any dispute involving the terms of this Agreement such litigation shall be initiated in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina in Orange County, North Carolina. By executing this Agreement, the Town affirms that the Town and any subcontractors of the Town are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. . By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified, and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement, the parties certify that the parties have not been identified, and have not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147- 86.81. 9. Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66. 10.Notices. Any notice required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested to the following: Orange County Town of Hillsborough Attention: Animal Services Director Attention: Eric Peterson, Town Manager P.O. Box 8181 PO Box 429 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Hillsborough, NC 27278 [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE] 20 Rev 06/25 In witness whereof, the parties hereunto cause this agreement to be executed in their respective names to become effective on the date hereinabove written. Orange County, North Carolina By: Jamezetta Bedford, Chair of Orange County BOCC Town of Hillsborough, North Carolina By: ____________________________________ Eric Peterson, Town Manager This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Fiscal and Control Act. ____________________________________ Town Finance Officer (or Designee) 21 ORANGE COUNTY—DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Party/Vendor Name: Town of Hillsborough Party/Vendor Contact Person: Eric Peterson Contact Phone: (919) 732- 1270 Party/Vendor Address: PO Box 429 City: Hillsborough State: NC Zip: 27278 Department: Animal Services Amount: $85,272.00 Purpose: Animal Control Services Budget Code(s): 10215305-449927 Vendor #: 342 (N/A if new vendor) Vendor is a BOCC consultant? Yes No Contract Type (check one): New Renewal Amendment Effective Date: 07/01/2025 Approved by Board: Yes No Agenda Date: ___________________________ This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement: Department Director’s Signature _________________________________________Date:______________ Agreements for emergency services or repair are not subject to the above affirmation. If services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed, please briefly describe the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Information Technologies (Applicable only to hardware/software purchases or related services) This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer_________________________________________Date:______________ Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer_________________________________________Date:______________ Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer _________________________________________Date:______________ Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney _________________________________________Date:______________ Clerk to the Board Received for record retention: All DocuSign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for DocuSign contracts: Office of the Clerk to the Board _________________________________________Date:______________ 22 EXHIBIT A: GUIDELINES FOR EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS CALLS TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND ORANGE COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES Regular service involves an Animal Control Officer (ACO) being stationed at the Animal Services Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This ACO has principal responsibility for enforcing the Town’s animal control ordinance within the Town limits and responding to calls about stray animals and other such requests from animal services. Orange County Animal Control Officers will provide emergency services outside of regular business hours (from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.), Monday through Friday, and 23-hours on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. These services include rabies exposures, dangerous animals, exigent animal cruelty and animals in immediate need of assistance. The Town will perform “triage” on after-hours service requests in accordance with guidelines jointly developed by Animal Services and the Hillsborough Police Department. PROCEDURES FOR ORANGE COUNTY AND TOWN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY AFTER-HOURS ANIMAL CALLS 1. Injured Deer – A HPD Officer will respond to locate and euthanize. 2. Owned Injured Animals – A HPD Officer will respond or otherwise instruct the owner to take the animal to their veterinarian or the after-hours emergency veterinary clinic to be cared for or euthanized. 3. Neglect/Cruelty Situations – A HPD Officer will respond to make an assessment. If the situation is severe, they will contact the on-call ACO for assistance. If it is not severe, they shall document in an incident report. The report will be sent to the Animal Services Center the next business day for investigation. 4. Strays – A HPD Officer will respond or otherwise instruct the caller to take the animal to the Animal Services Center during business hours. 5. Aggressive Dogs – A HPD Officer will respond to assess and confirm the presence of the reported animal. If the owner cannot be located to secure the dog, the on-call ACO shall be contacted to assist in capturing the dog. 6. The on-call ACO will respond to any call(s) related to: Rabies Exposures; Bites to Humans; Injured Strays. A response by phone, rather than in person, may be appropriate in some cases. 7. The on-call ACO will not respond to calls regarding nuisance wildlife. Unless there is an immediate issue of public safety, the on-call ACO will not respond to calls about snakes. If these calls make their way through communications, members of the public are to be referred to the Animal Services webpage of asked to call Animal Services during regular business hours for appropriate referral. 8. Night Drop – Our night drop is available for after-hours intake of stray or protective custody animals. It should only be used for healthy, non-aggressive animals that can be safely kenneled. A HPD officer will secure the animal in a kennel and notify the on-call ACO. 23