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COMM Mitt Attport: <br /> Residential Neighborhoods Committees <br /> 1E0 tfje Common eoutttiu of t jk tit of foutb *cub: <br /> The March 8, 1999 meeting of the Residential Neighborhoods Committees was called to <br /> order by its Chairperson, Council Member Karl King at 3:02 p.m. in the Council informal <br /> meeting room. <br /> Persons in attendance included Council Members: Varner, King, Pfeifer, Aranowski, <br /> Kelly and Coleman, Kathy Dempsey, Doug Carpender, Sister Gretchen Clark, a Board <br /> Member of Chiara Home,Inc. and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. <br /> Council Member King noted that the meeting had been called to discuss concerns raised <br /> with regard to the Chiara Home,Inc. having a pot-bellied pig at its residence. <br /> Council Member Pfeifer noted that she had been contacted by Sister Gretchen Clark of <br /> Chiara Home, Inc., and that she had visited Chiara Home located at 1105 West Jefferson <br /> Boulevard. She noted that because many of the persons who come to Chiara Home are <br /> especially sensitive to animals that the pot bellied pig was selected because it causes few if <br /> any allergies like dogs or cats. <br /> Sister Gretchen provided a handout to the Committee which included a one-page summary <br /> about "Brother Leo"the pot bellied pig and Chiara Home as well as a copy of the •outb <br /> �Bttt� 1Tributtt article dated December 12, 1993 which included a picture of Brother Leo <br /> and how he interacts with the developmentally disabled (copy attached). Sister Gretchen <br /> noted that Brother Leo has been at Chiara Home for over five (5) years and has never <br /> caused any problems. He was trained like a dog and voluntarily removed when contacted <br /> by Code Enforcement to a farm in the county. Sister Gretchen noted that the people at <br /> Chiara Home miss the interaction with Brother Leo. A video was then shown to the <br /> committee showing Brother Leo. <br /> Kathy Dempsey, the Director of Code Enforcement provided a 2-page handout to the <br /> committee entitled "Pros and Cons of Potbellied Pigs" (copy attached). She noted that 2-3 <br /> years ago her office received complaints of pigs being harbored in the city limits. Many <br /> were being raised as pets with others for breeding purposes,and were removed by the city. <br /> She noted that veterinarians were not trained to assist them and that there was a problem of <br /> neutering them. She further noted that the City's Animal Shelter is not equipped to handled <br /> these "high risk" animals". She noted that Chiara Home, Inc has a fenced double lot. <br /> When Code Enforcement went to the neighborhood on a complaint UNRELATED to <br /> Chiara Home,the Code Enforcement Officer noted the pot bellied pig. Chiara voluntarily <br /> removed Brother Leo when confronted by the City. <br /> The Council Attorney then provided a 3-page memorandum with 22 pages of <br /> documentation (copy attached). Mrs. Cekanski-Farrand noted that the City added "pot <br /> bellied pigs"to the animal and fowl section requiring five(5) acres in 1994 because of the <br /> breeding of pot bellied pig problem occurring at that time. She noted that under the <br /> Americans With Disabilities Act(ADA)a service animal would include any type of animal <br /> individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Since Chiara <br /> Home,Inc. works with the developmentally disabled and since Brother Leo interacts with <br /> the residents, it was her opinion that Chiara Home would be exempt under the ADA <br /> provisions. She noted that the ADA provides great protection for individuals with <br /> disabilities and would take priority over a local or state law or regulation. She noted that <br /> there are several organizations which provide information on service animals which were <br /> detailed in her memorandum and attachments. She suggested that the City of South Bend <br />