HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Welfare Minutes 9/19/1995September 19, 1995
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95 SPP 25 AN 11: 0I
Board of Selectmen
Town of Mansfield n , r,;;l
RE: September 7, 1995, Animal Welfare Committee Meeting
Present: Susan Talavera
Geanine Parks
Matt Miller
The Animal Welfare Committee met on Thursday, September 7, 1995, at the Town
Hall. All three members were present to establish a quorum. Also attending the
meeting was Mansfield resident Mary Esther Otts, and Assistant Town Manager
Christopher Marion.
Ms. Otts is interested in joining the Committee and Mr. Marion was acquainting himself
with Town committees and their areas of responsibilities.
We discussed the Committee's financial account which has been dormant since the
previous AWC chairwoman resigned. We are waiting for Chief O'Neill to meet with
previous AWC chairwoman Linda Sohn to discuss this account and formally turn its
management authority back over to the present committee chairman.
A printout of the AWC account from the Town accountant's office revealed that no
funds have been added to the account since November 1994. According to Humane
Officer Collins, he has been depositing all adoption and related money into the Town
account — we will request that this situation be remedied and the funds transferred tc
the proper AWC account.
We reviewed final plans for the Mansfield Women of Today's Family Pet Day fund-
raiser (which was set for September 17, but was rained out). MWOT offered a table at
the September 24 South Common event for AWC fund - raising, education material and
a display of animals available for adoption. Committee member Talavera reported that
it would not be feasible to sell dog licenses at the event and the item was dropped.
Ms. Talavera also talked about the on -going efforts at various Mansfield businesses to
collect money for a new shelter.
Among issues discussed were a back -up replacement for Mr. Collins for the times he
is not available, resident complaints to the police department when individuals are
attacked and/or bitten by dogs, and general animal care and shelter activities. As we
discussed these issues, we came to the conclusion that there was a need to have all of
the parties involved present if we were to resolve the issues successfully.
We agreed that our next meeting would serve as a planning session about shelter
issues where we would develop a prioritized list and set meetings with the parties
involved to resolve those issues.
The Committee decided to send a negative response to the TAARA group which had
requested funds from the AWC for their animal shelter project.
Finally, we set Thursday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. (at the Town Hall) as the next
Committee meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Miller
Chairman, Animal Welfare Committee
cc: Committee Members
Animal Control Officer, Arthur O'Neill
Animal Humane Officer, Jeff Collins
Town Clerk, Judith F. Scott