The Bloomfield Board of Health passed a resolution at last night’s meeting transferring control of the township’s animal shelter to the Bloomfield Township Administrator, pursuant to the town council’s vote to move the shelter responsibility to the administrator at their meeting on Monday night.
The change will officially take effect on March 1, 2013.
Although all animal control, licensing and sheltering operations will be under the administrator’s purview, incidents related to disease (e.g., rabies) or animal bites will still be referred to Health Officer Michael Fitzpatrick, who will have the power to make decisions in these cases according to state law.
Bloomfield also performs animal control services for Caldwell and Glen Ridge as part of shared services agreements with those towns. Fitzpatrick said he would notify officials in the two towns to let them know whom to contact regarding animal control issues, once he has met with the township administrator. Bloomfield also provides health services to the towns, which will remain under the Health Department’s control.
Prior to the shelter transfer vote, Health and Human Services Director Karen Lore presented an overview of the changes made to the Bloomfield Animal Shelter during the Health Department’s tenure in managing the shelter, which officially began in October of 2007.
Before that time, the shelter was run by a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Friends of Bloomfield Animal Shelter (FoBAS). Under their management, there had been numerous complaints about conditions at the shelter, many of them made by volunteers who had worked there, as well as bad grades from state inspectors.
Lore stated that when the Health Department took over, the shelter was in a “hoarding situation,” with cats and dogs in cages “stacked to the ceiling.” She said the shelter was in disrepair, there was no ongoing maintenance, and wildlife was living in the attic. The grounds were cluttered with weeds and debris, providing a breeding ground for rats.
She said other problems included inadequate staffing, poor procedures and protocols and a low adoption rate. Cats were housed in crates in the front office and kennels were often used for storage.
Lore showed “before” and “after” pictures of various parts of the shelter.
She pointed out that capital improvements have added two additions to the building since 2007, one on the left of the building for additional storage space, and one on the right that includes an upstairs room that will be used as a free roaming cat room when it is completed.
The addition also provides cover for the area over the outside dog runs. The area behind the shelter has been cleared and leveled, and will be eventually used as a fenced dog park area where dogs can be trained and allowed to engage in play.
In addition, Lore said, a manager’s office was added at the back of the front office room, there is now an intake and examination room for animals, and the kitchen and bathroom have received facelifts. There are also separate refrigerators for drugs, employee items and animal food that requires refrigeration.
Lore reported that in 2007, yearly costs to run the shelter had reached $367,883; however, by 2012 the operating budget was $243,400, offset by $115,000 from licensing and adoption fees, resulting in out-of-pocket costs of $128,300.
She said employee costs were kept down by hiring part-time, temporary and seasonal workers, and laying off some long-time staff members. The shelter achieved a reduction in overtime pay by paying a flat rate for after-hours shifts, and scaled back salary ranges for new hires.
Lore also cited community partnerships with Petco and Bloomfield Glen Ridge Animal League (which provides funding for the shelter’s spay and neuter program) and the involvement of the Neighbor to Neighbor Network as providing additional revenue and support.
The board began the evening with a brief reorganizational meeting, in which Joel Elkins was elected President of the Board, Kathy Demarino was elected Vice President, and Karen Lore was reinstated as Secretary to the Board. Elkins and DeMarino will also serve as the Finance Committee.
Elkins began the regular meeting with a brief statement regarding the shelter, saying that “Our involvement is going to end, as the township administrator is now in charge.” He also stated that the ownership of Memphis, the dog that sparked a year-long controversy related to the shelter, has been transferred to the caretaker in South Dakota where he has reportedly been receiving training and rehabilitation since September.
The caretaker has been provided with contact information for Jeff and Diana Coltenback, who had signed an agreement in December that they would be allowed to adopt the dog once the trainer deemed him adoptable. After the meeting, Karen Lore explained that part of the agreement Coltenback signed stipulated that the caretaker would directly provide the Coltenbacks with an update about Memphis’ progress. She said any communication thereafter was up to the two parties involved.
During public comment, resident Pat Gilleran questioned the board regarding the agreement with the Neighbor to Neighbor Network that was executed in September to send Memphis to the South Dakota location. She alleged that, contrary to the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, no record of the discussion or the vote on the agreement appeared in the Board of Health minutes from the August or September meetings. Gilleran provided the board with copies of the agreement, the minutes of the two meetings, and a copy of a guide to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Board President Elkins denied violating the Open Public Meetings Act and said the board would read the documents at a later time.
In other business, Karen Lore reported that the Health Department is still in the process of seeking accreditation as part of a voluntary national accreditation program begun in 2011 with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control. As part of this process, a community needs survey will be fielded in the next few weeks with the help of Montclair State University acting as the consultant for the township. The project is being funded by a grant from the Partners for Health Foundation.
Interesting. Many of the same people (“leaders”) who were involved in the 2004 decision to turn shelter management over to FoBAS are still on the council and the Boh (McCarthy, Dunigan, Hamilton on the council and Elkins and McLaughlin on Boh). Did they not learn anything from the FoBAS Fiasco, or or they once again relying on Karen Lore’s assertions that NTNN will be different? How? Neither FoBAS nor NTNN have any shelter management experience. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. Why is NTNN any better than FoBAS was?
Did Karen Lore mention who the hardest and most dedicated workers were who helped clean out that shelter after FoBAS left? I doubt it. Know who they were? The fired veteran volunteers, that’s who.
Who rehabbed, gave extra TLC to the animals FoBAS left behind and rehomed them? (Seriously, do I have to give you the answer?)
And how much money was pushed off to the taxpayers for the DPW and Health Dept. staffers who put in time clearing out the shelter? Did Karen Lore include that in her presentation? I doubt it.
As usual with Ms. Lore. The truth lies in what she leaves out of her statements.
As with virtually all of their meetings, It was clear from the lack of questions or comments that the BOH didn’t have a clue as to what was really going on at the shelter or Neighbor to Neighbor. There were several experienced former volunteers in the room who could have set the record straight, but they weren’t allowed to respond.
What was clear to me was the amount of disrespect and disdain that the BOH has for the public.The BOH has left the people of Bloomfield with NO RECOURSE except the the Courts or the State Attorney General. Their blatant violations of the Open Public Meetings Act(OPMA) and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) are legend.
The BOH has a Finance and Budget standing committee and yet it was explained to us that there are no documents that they produce. I have OPRA’d their meeting minutes and meeting schedule- there are no records. I asked how they communicate their need for money to the town council – they have no documents. Mr. Elkins stated that they meet once a year with the Town Council – A Town Council member who prefers to remain unnamed says that (s)he recalls no meetings with this standing committee.
How do you create a budget without anything in writing – I was told that it is created from the spendings of the previous year – really – in your head- without any spreadsheets. WOWEE financial wizards in our midst who can esp BOH invoices and tally them up in their heads.
Wizards who continue to let the Neighbor-to_neighbor Network spread rumors and lies. The latest petition delivered to the Town Council by the Head fundraiser and Board member of NTNN is quite problematic – there are multiple “signatures” all written by the same hand. And now a resident of Kinder Towers alleges that when NTNN came through telling the elderly residents that animals would be killed if NTNN was not awarded Shelter Services without an RFP and asking that they sign the petition – she had a long phone call with said fundraiser where she was told all sorts of lies and and mis-truths, supposed medical information was shared about former volunteers (can one say HIPPA), more slander, and a claim that Memphis had jumped out a window and bitten a horse (when was the last time you saw a horse in Bloomfield?).
These folks are major out of control- Please come to the next Town Council meeting on Monday 22513 at 7pm – 2nd floor of the Law building. Ask the town council to investigate the OPRA and OPMA violations and ask the Town Council to NOT award shelter services to NTNN.
And NTNN continues to siphion off Bloomfield resources – using Municipal offices for it’s staff, municipal phone and fax and even a township e-mail.
Memphis bit a horse???? Who was it? Secretariat??? Mister Ed???
My sincere sympathies to the people and animals of Bloomfield.
congrats to the BOH and Ms. Lore.
it would appear they have found a way to keep the facility running and finally wash their hands of Memphis while marginalizing the former volunteers who, from the evidence on these pages, are some head-shaking pieces of work.
this would be the point where the three worst of them now attack me for being mean, for not having worked at the shelter and for, horror of horrors, not caring about Memphis. All of which are irrelevant. the fact is, the BOH is moving forward and others are incapable of doing so.
George Santayana, who, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1, wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
POSTED BY kbanda | February 23, 2013 @ 10:39 am
George Santayana, who, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1, wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
How effective have these repeated posts been?
Actually, quite effective. Thank you for asking, Sheepy. Did you miss the part about Memphis still being in South Dakota?
Damn…I just fed the troll.
Adios.
@jcunningham who exactly were you hoping was going to attack you?
In her presentation Ms. Lore also failed to mention the 147 page HSUS report that was produced in November 2009 ( 2 years after the BOH/Health department took over the shelter) with pictures taken in July of 2009. She uses these pictures as before shots and talks about what a good deed has been done – but Ms. Lore these conditions were there 2 years after YOUR department took over the shelter and HSUS documented them – and in the past year you have finally fixed some of them – that’s fully 5 years after taking over the shelter. And you did it with the help and support, and contributions of time, work, and money of the long-term shelter volunteers that you dismissed in March of 2012. JBSA = John Bukowski Shelter for Animals
If anyone wants the HSUS report please PM me on facebook- Here are some quotes from the report
“Sharps containers were observed in the Lobby and in the Kitchen. Both containers were filled to capacity; it was unclear of how biohazardous waste was disposed of by the JBSA.”
“The HSUS team was unable to locate any Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for any of the chemicals used at the JBSA. Staff was not observed using any Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) when handling and mixing chemicals, or during the cleaning process. Human consumables were stored in the Kitchen refrigerator alongside animal medications, diagnostic tests and vaccines. A “wet floor” sign was seen in use in the Front Kennel during water use.”
“Staff and volunteers reported that they had not received any safety training. Federal or state employment or safety posters were not seen posted in the facility.”
“fire alarm system was evident in the building, but staff was unsure if it was operational. Fire extinguishers were not observed in the building and there were not any exit signs or evacuation maps posted. A lockbox in the Lobby on the wall near the door that lead to the animal housing areas was supposed to house keys for emergency responders, but it could not be confirmed if there were actually keys in it because no one had the key to it. A New Jersey Uniform Fire Code Certificate of Inspection was displayed in the Lobby, but had expired in 2007”
“The Policy and Procedure Manual set the shelter capacity for cats at 28. At the time of the site visit, 68 cats and kittens were being housed at the facility.”
“The disease control and sanitation procedures that are in place at the JBSA are absolutely inadequate and may be contributing to animal illness”
Ah Mimi – the board did NOT pass the resolution giving memphis to his caretaker at the 2/21/13 meeting- YOU and the PUBLIC have been duoped.
This is what the BOH passed at the 12/20/12 meeting- they told us it was an agreement with jeff Coltenback – they misinformed the public (they lied)
“THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Board today is moving a resolution to be voted on. The Board is authorizing that the Neighbor to Neighbor Network transfer the custody of the dog named Memphis to his current care taker”
it was only announced at the 2/21/13 meeting that they had previously passed this resolution- another violation of the Open Public Meetings Act.
Pat, you are correct. At the time I spoke to Ms. Lore and Mr. Elkins after the meeting, I had not yet seen a copy of the 12/20/12 document that had been obtained by someone else via an OPRA request. I have since seen it, and you are completely right: The transfer had already occurred when the resolution passed in December. The BoH president stated the information at the meeting as if it were something new, when in fact, it had already taken place and this was only the first time it was made public.