CC Minutes 10/10/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Commission Meeting October 10,2005 Page 4 Option 2. Discontinue providing animal control services and relinquish the responsibilities, with the exception of specifically identified City Ordinances, to Seminole County Animal Control. This matter has previously been discussed with the Commission and documents have been drafted outlining this option. Ms. Heflin, if decided, may maintain her employment with the City of Casselberry though reassigned to Code Enforcement with specific responsibilities for handling animal control violations. This position would be funded via the current Animal Control budget. Option 3. Turn over all animal control responsibilities to Seminole County Animal Services. This option has also previously been discussed and documents have been drafted outlining this option. Requested Audience participation is as follows: I) Phyllis Sheppard, 580 S. Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL, spoke in favor of retaining Animal Control at full staffing. Ms. Sheppard stated that the City of Casselberry has the best service in the County for Animal Control and any monies that have to be utilized for increase in salaries would be money well spent. 2) Peter Monaco, 921 N. Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL, stated that he had worked with the Senior Animal Control Officer for approximately three months after the retirement of the Animal Control Supervisor. He indicated that the Senior Animal Control Officer had informed him that the City advised her that she was not qualified for the Animal Control Supervisor position and that was the reason for her resignation. Mr. Monaco recommended scheduling this item for referendum next year and let the citizens decide the fate of Animal Control. He asked the Commission to vote on keeping Animal Control until the issue is decided by referendum. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Hart stated that the Senior Animal Control Officer had informed her that she was not offered the supervisor position and that she had been on call for twenty-four hours a day for the past six months and the constant on call status compromised her health and personal life. Commissioner Hart stated that in her opinion Animal Control was budgeted for the next fiscal year and the City Commission did not have the option to delete Animal Control from the budget and that the issue should be decided by the citizens on referendum. Until that time, the City needs to actively recruit people for the Animal Control positions. Commission Hart further indicated Seminole County Animal Control did not want to take on the responsibility of Cassel berry Animal Control. Commissioner Hart recommended Option I and that qualified people be recruited for the Animal Control positions with an ending date and not until filled. Commissioner Cook stated that it was upsetting to hearthat the Senior Animal Control Officer had been told she was not qualified for the supervisor position. She stated that she had dealt with the Senior Animal Control Officer on many occasions and in different situations within the City, i.e. during the hurricanes when animals were found running loose. She also stated that there was ample time between the retirement of the Supervisor and the opening ofthe position to train a dedicated incumbent of seventeen years for the position. She indicated that her preference would be to have the Senior Animal Control Officer come back on board