ASTF- Minutes (August 6, 2009)

Minutes of the Meeting of the Animal Shelter Task Force
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Bowie Senior Center

The meeting of the Animal Shelter Task Force was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on August 6, 2009 by Lawrence Pierce, Director, Department of Community Services and staff liaison to the recently formed task force.

In attendance were Ms. Robin Aubrey, Mr. George Buss, Ms. Karen Garretson, Ms. Sandra Hamorsky, Dr. James Murphy, Mr. Michael Semeniuk and Ms. Stephanie White-Jones.

Mr. Pierce opened the meeting by introducing himself, and asked that the task force members do the same. Brief comments followed by each member as to why they had expressed interest in assisting the City of Bowie analyze the Citizens for Local Animal Welfare (CLAW) proposal to establish and operate a small short term holding shelter for cats and dogs found at large by the Bowie Animal Control Office.

Mr. Pierce reviewed the information packet which had information on the roster of the task force, the resolution of the task force, monthly reports from Animal Control for the period January 2009 to June 2009, a detail printout on animals brought to the County facility during the period January 2009 to July 2009, a copy of the proposed article in the September 2009 City newsletter “The Spotlight”, and the report from CLAW provided to the City Council on February 9, 2009.

Changes to the roster will be made and redistributed by Mr. Pierce to the Task Force.

Mr. Pierce advised that a tour of the new county animal control facility was important to better understand current operations. There was unanimous consent that a tour was needed, and since the facility is open on Wednesday evenings, a tour would be set for Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 7 p.m. The backup date would be Wednesday September 2, 2009 at the same time. Mr. Pierce stated he would work with the County shelter to confirm the date and attempt to have Mr. Taylor who manages the facility, or another staff person made available for a short period of question and answers from the task force. Directions to the facility would be distributed.

Ms. Robin Aubrey requested that some additional information on the budget be made available to the Task Force, to include an organizational chart of the Animal Control Office and any specifications to operate a shelter that we would have to comply with be obtained and distributed.  Mr. Buss requested a clarification on the new forms being used by the City to track animals brought to the County.

Brief discussion followed on what type of credit the City of Bowie was receiving for our animal control services offered to the community. Mr. Pierce stated that there is a tax differential, which fluctuates annually, based on the level of service provided by the municipality. The greater the degree of the service provided that the County does not have to provide, the greater the credit, and therefore, the County portion of that piece of the tax rate is lower. The City currently receives a 95% tax rate credit, for the services offered. The remaining 5% represents the services provided by the County as a backup whenever our officers are not on duty and for the County shelter services.  Mr. George Buss also requested copies of any state and County statutes that apply in this area.

At this point in the meeting, Mr. Pierce requested that the Task Force members elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. Ms. Robin Aubrey volunteered to be Chairman, and Ms. Karen Garretson volunteered to be Vice Chairman. Mr. Buss made a motion to this effect, which carried 6-1, with Mr. Semeniuk voting no. Mr. Pierce volunteered to be the Recording Secretary. It was agreed that the meetings would not be taped.

Discussion followed amongst the Task Force on the need for additional statistics and any performance indicators from other area and regional cities and counties. Dr. Jim Murphy requested some fiscal year total data as well. Lengthy discussion followed on the desirability of using other than City and County data. Mr. George Buss made a motion, with a second from Ms. Sandra Hamorsky that additional data is obtained from other similar cities and counties. The motion failed 4-3, with Task Force members Garretson, Semeniuk, White-Jones, and Murphy in opposition of the motion.

The next meeting date was established at Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. discussion followed that focused on interest to meet at another location since the Bowie Senior Center closes at 8:30 p.m. Ms. Sandra Hamorsky volunteered to contact some other locations to determine availability. Mr. Pierce indicated he would review the City calendar to determine if space could be obtained at City Hall.

Ms. Robin Aubrey asked whether the Task Force needed to request a survey be inserted into The Spotlight, similar to the senior citizen survey. Dr. Murphy stated that such a survey would not be valid. He stated that the City Council has assigned that task to the Task Force and that we have been charged with that responsibility. Dr. Murphy asked what we would actually do with the responses, and Mr. Semeniuk stated that data would not be valid either. Dr. Murphy stated that the Task Force needs to focus objectively on item (A) in the resolution to determine the extent of the problem and that clean data was important. Task Force members discussed briefly that those who would fill out a survey would be too emotional, cynical and uninformed to make this helpful. Mr. Semeniuk also noted that the way in which the questions are phrased would influence the response.  Ms. Stephanie White-Jones agreed with Dr. Murphy’s assessment noted above.

Motion was made to place a survey in an upcoming Spotlight requesting input from the public. The motion failed 4-3-1, with Task Force  Members Semeniuk, White-Jones, Garretson and Murphy opposed, Task Force Members Aubrey and Hamorsky in favor and Task Force Member Buss abstaining.

Task Force Member George Buss made a motion that any Task Force Member that has any contact with an elected official(s) about the Task Force be required to report that back to the Task Force itself. The motion failed 4-3, with Task Force Members Buss, Aubrey, Hamorsky voting for and Task Force Members Garretson, Semeniuk, Murphy and White-Jones voting no.

Mr. George Buss made a motion to adjourn, which received a second from Ms. Karen Garretson, which was unanimously agreed upon. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lawrence E. Pierce
Recording Secretary