Wednesday, June 24, 2015

[Calaveras County] Grand Jury deals criticism, praise


Report says Animal Services should be run by Sheriff’s Dept.


Calaveras County Animal Services “operated more efficiently and effectively” when it was part of the Sheriff’s Department and should be returned to that agency, according to the final report of the county’s 2014-2015 Grand Jury.
Animal Services has been part of the Environmental Management Agency since October of 2012. The recommendation that animal control officers and the animal shelter should instead be part of the Sheriff’s Department is just the most controversial of a number of recommendations that the report issued last week makes on topics ranging from the county’s budgeting process to the drought.
The Calaveras Humane Society defended the current Animal Services administration, saying that fewer animals are now being euthanized and that the leadership has encouraged volunteers such as those who helped run a pet adoption event Saturday at the shelter.
The report says that the Grand Jury visited the Animal Services facility in San Andreas, reviewed a variety of documents, and listened to the Animal Services after-hours phone recording.
“The Grand Jury found through testimony that ACS (Animal Services) operated more efficiently when under the control of the Sheriff’s Department,” the report said. In particular, the report added, “after-hours emergencies are seldom responded to in a timely manner, if at all.” The report also criticized the Animal Services website as being “outdated.”
In defense of Animal Services, however, the report noted that the department has been understaffed “for years.”
That understaffing was part of the reason Sheriff Gary Kuntz wanted to get rid of the department several years ago when it was transferred to the Environmental Management Agency.
“The last time I had Animal Services under me, it wasn’t half bad, but then they cut staff and I had to have deputies answering dog calls,” Kuntz said, referring to budget cut decisions the county board of supervisors made in response to declining revenues.
“I know that it hasn’t been run very well since I let it go. It is never open,” Kuntz said. “For a long time afterwards people (with animal complaints) kept calling me.”
But Kuntz said he would be reluctant to again assume responsibility for Animal Services unless county leaders are willing to fund it adequately.
“I am not saying no, but I’d have to be in some heavy negotiations to even consider taking that place back,” Kuntz said. “It is very expensive to run an animal shelter.”
Those currently involved in operating Animal Services or in supplying volunteers there share Kuntz’s lack of enthusiasm for a transfer to the Sheriff’s Office, although they differ in their view of the current operation.
“I think it is a horrid suggestion. I think it is absolutely abominable,” said Debby Beaufort, chairwoman of Friends of Calaveras Animal Services, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the agency.
“I would guess that if they gave it back to the Sheriff’s Office, I would say that 75 to maybe even 100 percent of the volunteers would leave,” Beaufort said.
Beaufort said that she and other volunteers trust the leadership of Animal Services Manager Henning Schreiber and Environmental Services Agency Director Brian Moss.
“They are improving the staff. They are improving the attitude. They are improving the morale,” Beaufort said.
Calaveras Humane Society President Jo Ingraham said she fears the proposal to transfer Animal Services is really a money grab by the Sheriff’s Department.
“Downum transferred the money into his pocket and added one patrol staff. And that is exactly what Kuntz wants to do,” Ingraham said, referring to a budget cycle during the administration of former Sheriff Dennis Downum in which elimination of an animal control officer allowed the Sheriff’s Department to shift funds to personnel needs elsewhere.
The Humane Society on Sunday issued a written response that disputed most of the Grand Jury’s findings in regard to Animal Services. The Humane Society praised the shelter for increasing the rate of adoptions and reducing the proportion of animals euthanized in the years since control was transferred to the Environmental Management Agency.
The Humane Society said that Animal Services has succeeded in increasing volunteer support and bringing in more donations the last few years. “A perfect example of this relationship occurred this past Saturday when an adoption event was held at the shelter and with staff and volunteers working together seven dogs and pups and nine cats and kittens were adopted by the public,” the Humane Society letter said.
Schreiber, the current administrator for Animal Services, said he also disagrees with the Grand Jury’s conclusion.
“I don’t know what criteria they used to come to the conclusion it was more efficient under the sheriff,” Schreiber said. “I think that is the wrong conclusion.”
Schreiber said his agency has little ability to respond after hours because it has only two full-time animal control officers. With more officers, he would be able to have at least one on call at all times, Schreiber said.
Neither Kuntz nor Schreiber wants to see sheriff deputies pressed into service as animal control officers.
“A sheriff deputy is about twice as expensive as an animal control officer,” Schreiber said.
Other findings and recommendations by the 2014-2015 Calaveras County Grand Jury:
• The county administration did not mislead the board of supervisors or the public about county finances during the 2013-14 fiscal year nor during adoption of the 2014-15 budget. The Grand Jury received a complaint that there had been misrepresentations that led to unwarranted cuts. Kuntz was the public official who was most at odds with other county leaders during adoption of the 2014-15 budget. When asked if he was the one who made the complaint to the Grand Jury, he said “No. I don’t believe I did.” Kuntz acknowledged, however, that he does believe county administrators misled the board. “I don’t believe we’re in as bad a shape as the people with the finances say we are.”
• County water agencies should set aside funding from property taxes to assist property owners with failed wells. Also, the county government and water agencies should work together to track well failures and plan how to cope with a long drought.
• All six public water agencies in the county should submit quarterly budget reports to the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors and the county and those agencies should promote water conservation even during times of ample water supply.
• The Vallecito Conservation Camp, a base for prison inmate fire crews, is “well maintained” and “orderly.”
June 23, 2015
Calaveras Enterprise
By Dana Nichols

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