See details about proposed agreement to solve Columbus Animal Care & Control controversy
New details have emerged about the budget and services in the proposed agreement for PAWS Humane Society, a nonprofit organization, to take over management of the Columbus Animal Care & Control Center from the city.
An update on the negotiations was presented to the Columbus Council in a meeting on Tuesday.
In October, the council passed a motion directing Police Chief Stoney Mathis and City Manager Isaiah Hugley to negotiate a contract with PAWS after Hugley announced that animal care and control didn’t have enough employees to ensure compliance with Department of Agriculture requirements.
The move came after public outcry over a video showing the euthanasia of a dog named Chai and several animal care & control employees, including the former part-time veterinarian, were arrested on criminal charges.
This proposed contract would have an initial term of three years, Hugley said, with a two-year extension agreement.
A negotiation team representing animal care and control and PAWS have not taken their task lightly, meeting multiple times in three-to-four-hour sessions, Mathis said during the meeting. But no matter what comes of the negotiations, he said, there needs to be transparency and accountability.
“This is going to be a private/government relationship that we just need to make sure that we’re each holding each other accountable,” Mathis said. “But they’ve done a great job.”
A public forum is scheduled for Dec. 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the council chamber to allow residents to express their thoughts on the presented proposals.
Programs and Services
Columbus Animal Care & Control already offers a number of services including a spay/neuter voucher program, stray holds, returning lost pets to owners, investigating cruelty cases, rabies permits, microchips and enforcement of violations of city ordinances.
PAWS offers a number of services that are not offered by animal care & control. If the proposed agreement is approved, the following services will be offered in addition to what animal care & control already offers:
Spay/Neuter/Wellness
In-house Veterinary Services
Behavioralist Services
Community Outreach
Foster Program
Transport.
These services also include animal intake, animal care and adoption services. The organization has a 90% live release rate of impounded animals, Hugley said.
The city and community have had a good relationship with PAWS Humane over the years, he said.
“We know them well,” Hugley said. “We know the quality services that they and (their) programs provide. They are no stranger to us.”
Proposed budget
Most of the animal care and control budget goes to personnel with $1.3 million. Animal care is the next largest piece of the budget with $562,000 and $208,000 going towards operating costs.
The proposed budget with PAWS would spend more in each category, Hugley said.
About $1.9 million is budgeted for personnel, over $770,000 for animal care and around $527,000 for operating costs.
Expected personnel expenses for the proposed budget were over $1.9 million and included field services, shelter operations and other compensation. This proposed budget raises the number of total staff from 26 to 31.
Animal care expenses totaled over $770,000 and account for the added expenses of transport, testing services, outside vet services and spay/neuter services.
Operating expenses were over $527,000 including the added expenses for professional services, insurance, web and software services, community assistance and marketing.
Fees for the services would be paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter for services rendered for that quarter, Hugley said.
The Columbus Animal Care & Control budget is around $2.1 million, and the proposed budget with PAWS would be around $3.2 million.
Who was in the negotiating room
Negotiation team members representing the city included:
Michelle Mang, deputy director of Public Works
Debra Kennedy, assistant chief of the Columbus Police Department
Becky Summerlin, deputy director of Parks and Recreation
Lucy Sheftall, assistant city attorney
Robert Sheridan, Metra Transit System
Ethelyn Riley, Animal Control Advisory Board chair,
The individuals representing PAWS in the negotiations included:
Courtney Pierce, executive director
Michele Maestran, board president
Jenifer Amos, vice president
Ashley Schley, treasurer
Carson Tate, secretary.
Next steps in the negotiation process
Hugley’s office recently received financials from PAWS, he said. The financials were passed to Deputy City Manager Pam Hodge for review.
Then there will be a public forum Dec. 30 to hear feedback from residents before an updated agreement is presented to the council on Jan. 7.
The city will be prepared, as soon as the council approves the agreement, to transfer all animal control and care operations to PAWS, Hugley said.
Transitioning the operations to PAWS should take place no later than Feb. 1, he said.
Along with approving the agreement, the council must also approve a contract administrator who would serve as a liaison between PAWS and the City and between PAWS and the Animal Care Advisory Board.
This administrator would also ensure all city ordinances and Department of Agriculture policies, rules and laws are adhered to and serve as a point of contact for local, state and federal matters related to regulations and monitoring.
The Animal Care Advisory Board is excited about PAWS taking over these operations, Karen Gaskins, co-chair of the Animal Care Advisory Board, told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“PAWS has an excellent reputation in our community for doing what is right and what is best for our animals,” she said. “We look forward to working with PAWS and their board to assist them in this endeavor.”
