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2 <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br />JANUARY 2, 1987 <br />A Special Meeting of the Board of Public Works was convened at <br />10:03 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 1987, by President John E. <br />Leszczynski, with Mr. Leszczynski and Mrs. Patricia E. DeClercq <br />present. Board member Michael L. Vance was not in attendance. <br />Also present was Chief Deputy City Attorney Thomas Bodnar. <br />APPROVE LETTER OF AGREEMENT - ANIMAL SERVICES COMPANY (ANIMAL <br />CONTROL SERVICES) <br />Mr. Leszczynski stated that the purpose of the Special meeting of <br />the Board today is to discuss an Agreement for animal control <br />services to replace those services previously provided by <br />the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, said Contract having <br />expired on December 31, 1986. He stated that it is not the intent <br />of the Board to sign a Contract for said services at this time. <br />However, a Letter of Agreement has been submitted for discussion <br />and execution. <br />Mrs. Patricia E. DeClercq, Director, Department of Code <br />Enforcement, informed the Board that animal control services have <br />been handled by the Humane Society of St. Joseph County for some <br />time. Before contracting with the Humane Society, however, the <br />City did handle its own animal control services and it was the <br />City's choice to contract with the Humane Society on a yearly <br />basis. <br />She stated that this year, however, the Humane Society advised <br />that they were not willing to enter into a Contract for 1987 <br />unless the City agreed to pay $145,000.00 per year for services <br />rendered. That amount is $8,000.00 higher than the amount paid <br />in 1986. If the City did not agree to the said increased cost, <br />Saturday service would be eliminated. It was noted that in the <br />past, services were provided seven (7) days per week and were <br />eventually reduced to six (6) days per week. Now, it is proposed <br />that without an increase in the contract amount, service would be <br />reduced to five (5) days per week. As the last Contract <br />submitted to the Humane Society for approval was unacceptable to <br />them, the City looked very closely at a proposal which it <br />received from another firm willing to provide the scope of animal <br />control services required by the City. At that time, discussions <br />began with that company. <br />Deputy Mayor Craig Hartzer, pointed out that Mr. Curt Eugene <br />Koesters, Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Joseph Mariano, <br />Executive Vice -President of Animal Services Company, were present <br />today. Mr. Hartzer reiterated Mrs. DeClercq's comments that <br />recent negotiations with the Humane Society have reached an <br />impasse. <br />Deputy Mayor Hartzer stated that the City has received political <br />pressure to contract with the Humane Society at their desired <br />level and as the South Bend Tribune recently reported, the City <br />did recommend that an interim Contract be entered into with the <br />Humane Society for a three (3) month period in order to give the <br />City some time to evaluate services. That recommendation was <br />rejected by the Humane Society. Mr. Hartzer stated that it is <br />the City's responsibility to provide the best possible service at <br />the lowest cost and it is incumbent upon the City to seek <br />proposals from other firms. However, the lowest possible cost <br />obviously cannot be the only criterion. The Animal Services <br />Company proposes to provide the City with more service at the <br />same dollar amount for the next three (3) years. That is a <br />proposal the City must consider. <br />Deputy Mayor Hartzer additionally reiterated Mr. Leszczynski's <br />comments that the purpose of the meeting today is to consider <br />entering into a preliminary Letter of Agreement with the Animal <br />Services Company to further discuss the details of a contractual <br />arrangement that would provide the City with more service. It is <br />1 <br />u <br />