Animal Welfare Committee

Animal Welfare Committee Meeting March 25, 2021 Via Teleconferencing through Zoom 7:30pm Term Exp Members Present Absent Staff Bob Ryan X Staff Rebecca Bailey X 6/30/2022 Taimi Anderson X 6/30/2022 Suzie Bellamy X 6/30/2022 Marci Booth X 06/30/2021 Stephanie Butler X 06/30/2023 Lisa Ealley X 6/30/2023 Mark Hall X 6/30/2021 Christine Nagle X 6/30/2021 Kathy Rodeffer X 6/30/2023 Patti Stange X 6/30/2023 Stephanie Stullich (a 7:35pm) X 6/30/2021 Stacy Teng X 6/30/2023 Dave Turley (a 7:45pm) X 6/30/2022 Kennis Termini (a 7:45pm) X Also present: Ryna Quinones, City Communications Coordinator; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm by Ms. Bellamy, Co-Chair. 1. The agenda was reviewed, and a motion was made by Ms. Rodeffer to accept it. Ms. Stange seconded the motion. Motion carries 10-0-0. A second motion was made by Ms. Rodeffer to amend the order of the agenda. Ms. Stange seconded. Motion carries 10-0-0. 2. February 25, 2021 minutes were reviewed. A motion was made by Ms. Rodeffer to accept the minutes. Ms. Stange seconded the motion. Motion carries 10-0-0. 3. The committee asked Ms. Quinones to be present at tonight’s meeting to discuss ways to inform City residents in a quicker and more comprehensive fashion on animal welfare, new laws, lost animals, etc. Ms. Quinones explained that the Municipal Scene is in HTML5 which is set for auto-translate to the language of your choice. The Resident Guide is mailed out twice per year and any updated information will be contained in there; department heads are asked to review their information several months in advance of printing the guide. The City’s website has a page devoted to Animal Control and laws. NextDoor is not an option for City employees with a government email address as NextDoor will only permit posting, but no comments. All City information has to be archived and using a personal email address will not be archived for City records. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the City’s emails. This was also discussion about promotional materials to be obtained and where they could be located until events resume. One suggestion was made to order magnets. Further discussion on promotional materials will be on a future agenda.  4. AWC Report from Ms. Bailey was sent out via email prior to the meeting. (NB – there was no update on budget amount). Other items reviewed: a. There are no animals in the shelter or in Petco. The bird that was in the shelter was adopted. b. Drexel (cat) was TNR and released. c. There is an increase in wildlife. d. Ms. Bailey is working with the Prince Georges County rescue to obtain cats for Petco. e. The foster application is with the City attorney for review and approval. If anyone knows of potential fosters, please email their names to Ms. Bailey. f. No word from Greenbelt on the CART. Ms. Butler stated she knew it is no longer an active program. Mr. Ryan and/or Ms. Bailey will try to confirm. 5. Municipal Scene Articles. A reminder that the articles are due to Ms. Bailey, and copy Ms. Rodeffer and Ms. Bellamy, by the 10th of the previous month for which your article is written. For example, April’s article will be due on March 10th. a. May – Community cats – Ms. Rodeffer b. June - Keeping cats inside – Ms. Stullich and Mr. Hall c. July – Parasites, fleas, ticks, heart worms – Ms. Butler 6. There was a suggestion from a member about potentially purchasing a home in foreclosure and turning it into an animal shelter for better public access. Mr. Ryan stated that a zoning change would have to be made to allow an animal shelter in a residential neighborhood. It would be insurmountable to have the zoning changed. He did remind the committee that the proposal for the building of a north county shelter is in FY24 budget. The committee will brainstorm other ideas on how to show animals to the public when we have any in the current shelter at Davis Hall. 7. The next virtual meeting will be on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:30pm. Ms. Booth made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second by Ms. Stange. Motion carries 13-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.