ALLEGANY COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD RESPONSES TO CITIZENS QUESTIONS

Transcription

1 1 ALLEGANY COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD RESPONSES TO CITIZENS QUESTIONS September 2, 2014 ACACAB Business Meeting Questions and Answers At the meeting held on September 2, 2014, the board received a list of written questions from Jennifer Klingler. We have gathered the information in order to answer her questions. Ms. Klingler indicated in her questions that the 6000 number she referenced was obtained off the Facebook page of an employee of the Shelter. The Board would like to thank Ms. Klingler for giving us this opportunity to state very clearly that we are going to deal in facts, not unsubstantiated information posted by individuals that are not authorized to speak as representatives from any organization. The following are Ms. Klingler s questions and the board s responses. Question 1: How many of the 6000 animals saved from euthanasia were actually adopted out? The best way to answer this question was to request the first year's (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014) operating statistics from the Shelter. Here is what was provided: Started on July 1, 2013 Dogs: 73 Cats/Kittens: 338 Dog Intake: 625 Cat/Kitten Intake: 1139 Dog Outcomes Adoptions: 415 Euthanized: 4 Died: 5 Returned to Owner: 140 Transferred to rescue: 41 In foster Care: 16 Total: 77 Dogs on hand June 30, 2014: 93 Cat/Kitten Outcomes Adoptions: 322 Euthanized: 11 Died: 62 Returned to Owner: 2 Transferred to rescue: 888 In foster Care: 49 Total: 143 Cats/Kittens on hand June 30, 2014: 192

2 2 As an aside if you extrapolate the number of animals it give you well over 6000 for the four years since Shelter operations changed from a high kill rate. Question 2: Were any of the 6000 animals sent to other shelters that euthanize? No, the Shelter does not send animals to other shelters that euthanize. Question 3: Does the Shelter ship animals to research facilities? No, the Shelter does not ship animals to research facilities. Question 4: Is it true that the foundation spent over $200,000 for research and development of the new shelter? The Allegany County Animal Shelter Foundation Capital Campaign contributions and expenditures are separate development activities from shelter and animal control programs and are maintained in separate accounts. In response to the Animal Control Advisory Board request, the ACAS Foundation has released the following information: The Foundation has spent less than half that amount so far with an architectural firm for site work, permits, design work, and drawings. This is all within usual and customary charges. Question 5: How many employees of the shelter and or foundation have relatives or spouses with other employees and does this make for a conflict of interest? There is one husband and wife who work at the Shelter. Since they are not in a reporting/supervising role there is not conflict of interest. This policy follows that of the 3 largest companies in Allegany County. September 9, 2014 ACACAB Working Meeting Questions and Answers These next questions were submitted by Reverend Summers at the Tuesday September 9, 2014 working meeting. We thank Reverend Summers for his interest and concerns. Question 1: A) When will the new ACO system be fully installed to implement the new system to better respond to public calls? B) What system was used at the time of the McGill Drive incident? C) What system is being used now in the transition from McGill Dr. to full system implementation? Include for all 3 times listed: Who takes calls? Logs calls? Where does ACO log results? Who was responsible in each case to verify the system was working? D) Who updates the ACO Blog and how often? First the Animal Foundation Board was very clear that the answer to who was responsible to ensure everything was working was the Foundation Board. When I spoke to them they reiterated multiple times that this was their position. What they do internally is, like with any organization, a matter between that Board and the employees. And that confidence will not be breached. A. The Shelter anticipates having all aspects of the ACO system up and running by the end of September. Various aspects of the improved process will roll out during the month.

3 3 B. An excel spread sheet log was used that was color coded to indicate what type of call was taken. Various individuals would man the phones for both ACO and Shelter calls and log them on the excel spreadsheet. The ACO logs out on the sheet. C. The shelter is using a separate phone line, excel spread sheet log and dedicated staff to take the calls. The calls are now triple checked using both electronic systems and people. The ACO continues to log out on the excel spread sheet. D. The Shelter Manager updates the ACO Blog. This blog as part of Foundations review is being looked at for content and frequency. It will resume once the Foundation reports out to the Commissioners. Question 2: A) How many ACOs are on staff now? B) Who are they? C) What training if any do our current ACOs have? D) Are any intended to be employed to cover the requirements listed in code as well as holidays, sick time etc.? E) What training is intended for future ACOs? A. The shelter has 1 full-time ACO and 1full-time Shelter Manager who also serves as ACO. B. John Carden, Karl Brubaker and one other experienced volunteer round out the current service. C. Both Karl and Dick Devore, who volunteers in this role, have extensive experience as Animal Control Officers. John is learning the same way all prior County employed officers learned with on the job training. John was signed up for the East Coast Training Academy in October but the class was cancelled. John is now signed up for a national training program in October. D. All of the ACOs cover each other for holidays, sick time etc. as well as using the 911 system when the shelter is closed. E. Future ACOs will be trained on the job with formal training when offered. Question 3: What is the anticipated cost to fully install the phone/aco system? (It has been reported that $10,000 has already been spent on the current phone system.) The Allegany County Animal Control Advisory Board wants to take this opportunity to thank Reverend Summers for giving them another opportunity to state very clearly that we are going to deal in facts, not unsubstantiated information reported to other individuals as is apparently the case in this $10,000 phone system cost. The Shelter told this board and it was verified by the County that the system they are replacing was the system that transferred from the County on July 1, That system is being replaced for $4,000 as was reported to the Commissioners by the Foundation President on August 21, Question 4: A) Is it accurate that the public must physically come to the Shelter and fill out an affidavit to have the Shelter respond? B) Does this apply to emergency/same day situations? C) If not who determines the definition of emergency. D) Are there more efficient ways Public Safety could be enacted? (It seems unreasonable for sections of the county farther away to drive to Cumberland. Also this may not be possible for elderly and handicapped persons) The Allegany County Animal Control Advisory Board wants to take this opportunity to thank Reverend Summers for giving them the opportunity to explain exactly when and why an affidavit is needed. First an affidavit is never needed for an ACO to respond. An affidavit is needed for those times when the ACO is not going to be able to actually see or hear the cause of the call. In

4 4 order for the ACO to take action on a complaint the ACO does not witness, THE COURT SYS- TEM not the Shelter requires that an affidavit be filled out. The person making the complaint has to fill out and sign in front of the ACO/or appropriate shelter representative (i.e. Executive Director/Shelter Manager etc.) and promise to come to court if required. The affidavits are on the Shelter s web page. The ACO or appropriate shelter representative can come to the person s home to pick up the affidavit or bring an affidavit to be filled out and witness the signature. The shelter wants to make things as customer friendly as possible. Question 5: What is the hiring process? Are jobs posted anywhere? What requirements/standards are there for specialized jobs (ACO, etc.)? Are background checks done before hiring? References? Past Animal Control records? When the Foundation was asked this question they said that the majority of the Shelter employees were transferred from the County. They then went onto say that The Allegany County Animal Shelter Foundation Board believes in second chances-both for our animals and our workers. We are proud to have a team relationship with HRDC. Through the TCA program at HRDC, many of our workers are given a second chance to be gainfully employed and to be trained. It is a relationship which we value and has created positive results for our community. September 11, 2014 Allegany County Commissioners Meeting Questions and Answers These following additional questions were submitted by Reverend Summers at the Commissioner s September 11, 2014 meeting. Question 6: Per Animal Control Operating Agreement 3. F, the County retains fines and penalties in a separate account that returns to the Shelter Foundation. Is that included as part of the $324,000 given to operate the Shelter or in addition to that amount? If it is an additional amount what oversight has been enacted to prevent abuse of this system? (The fear is that unnecessary fines and penalties could be sought out for fund raising purposes causing public harassment rather than public safety. The Allegany County Animal Control Advisory Board (ACACAB) went back through the last 3 years of these fines when the county operated the shelter. It was discover that the county budgeted $4,000 for this on average. The Foundation since it has been operating the Shelter has collected $ or an average of $79 per month. The ACACAB does not feel this is enough money to warrant the concern of being a public harassment or being used as a means of fund raising. The ACACAB will ask the Shelter Manager to include this in the monthly report as our means of providing oversight. In addition an individual that believes they have been unfairly charged can speak to the citation in court. So in addition the Court also monitors this with a check and balance. Question 7: Who is investigating the McGill Drive incident? When do you expect the report to be ready? Is the same person investigating the Shelter for potential negligence and/or breach of contract? Again, when do you expect the report?

5 5 The McGill Drive incident is being investigated in two ways. First the owners of the McGill Drive property are under investigation by local law enforcement and the Allegany County State s Attorney s Office. A second internal investigation is being conducted by a team of people from the Foundation Board. The report as stated in prior communications will be presented to the Commissioners at their public meeting on September 25, As with many other industries, organizations have a quality arm that allows them to self-examine to improve their operations. For example in Maryland hospitals self-report errors of omission and commission to both the State as well as the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation. The Hospital is then required to have all parties involved meet to discover what went wrong and what measures are going to be taken to improve and keep the same error from happening. Those findings are reported to these governing bodies who then decide if this is adequate. In this case the results will be reviewed by both the Commissioners as well as the ACACAB and a final decision will happen. The implementation of a monitor program is one of the outcomes to provide oversight. Once again to answer your question the final report will happen September 25, Question 8: Does the Foundation have the proper insurance on the County Shelter Operations. Are the limits correct? Is the County additionally insured? The Shelter s is required to have insurance per the lease agreement. The Foundation made the decision to purchase the insurance out of the Foundation budget along with other insurances they are required to have in place. This grouping created a lower cost with made economic sense. Documentation of this policy is on file with the County. The ACACAB thanks both Ms. Klingler and Reverend Summers for their questions. Additional Questions Posed to the ACACAB The following question was posed to the ACACAB from a community member after seeing a number of Facebook posts. Once again we followed up with the Shelter for answers. Question- A) What are the hours of Animal Control and how do you decide what is an emergency? B) When do calls go to the Shelter? C) When do calls go to the 911 call center? D) Why do the after-hours calls go to the 911 call center? A. An Animal Control response is available 24/7 depending on the type of situation. Some situations are considered emergency while other situations are considered non-emergency. Animal Control defines emergency situations as: o Animal Bites o Injured Animals o Animal Displaying Aggressive Behavior o Rabies Suspect Animal Control defines non-emergency situations as: o Stray Animals o Animals Running At Large o Nuisance Animals o Routine Pickup Of Animals

6 However if you have been able to detain a stray animal or one that is running at large but are not able to keep the animal overnight, please call Animal Control regardless of the time and we will work together to find a solution. B. The Shelter's Animal Control Line can be reached at Monday-Friday 9am until 4pm. C. Calls for Animal Control outside of those times should be placed via the 911 Call Center. D. The reason we utilize the 911 Call Center for afterhours calls is that this area is always manned no matter what. And these individuals are highly trained in the art of gathering necessary information during stressful times. Plus it gives a record of the last call the AC went out on God Forbid an accident should happen. 6