09-24-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 24 1973 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) that had bitten someone. Mr. Gallagher indicated that, if the dog was determined to be vicious or had bitten someone, the officer would have the authority to go onto the property to pick up the dog; however, the officer would not be allowed to enter a home for the pickup of an animal unless he had obtained a warrant to do so. Mrs. Swan expressed her feeling that the Police Department should not be going into the "dog catching business ", and Mr. Gallagher stated that the proposed ordinance would help to take the police out of the picture. Mrs. Swan asked about the method used by the Municipal Stray Animal Commission to subdue an animal. Mr. Gallagher stated that two per- sons would be employed, both persons having training in that area and one of the employees having training in the use of the tranquilizer gun, which would only be used when all other methods of catch fail and the dog is determined to be vicious. He talked briefly about the choker - collar method. Mrs. Swan wondered if the sedative used in the tranquilizer gun had any ill effects upon the animal. Mr. Gallagher stated that the drug merely put the animal to sleep for a short time. He indicated that the.amount of the drug used depended upon the size of the animal, and he stated that there should be no ill side affects. Mrs. Swan asked about the cost of the van, and Mr. Gallagher indicated that he thought the cost was about $4,000. Mrs. Swan asked about the rest of the money appropriated and stated that she thought $12,000 had been appropriated for this program. Mr. Gallagher indicated that he was not aware of that amount of money being appropriated. Chairmai Newburn indicated that the proper figure could be provided for Mrs. Swan's information. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, asked about the type of check that would be made when an owner of an animal applied for a license. She asked if a record was kept of the licensing. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the printed forms available required the breed and name of the dog and the name and address of the owner. Mr. Walter Lantz, Deputy Controller, indicated that this procedure was being followed and a receipt was given to each persoi applying for a license. Miss Guthrie asked if the city could go beyond that in order to license more dogs. Mr. Lantz stated that, if that was the case, the employees on the city payroll would have to check all that information. Mrs. Connie Green, 3217 Dunham Street, asked for a definition of the term "regulations" as used in the ordinance. Mr. Gallagher indicated that, in the context, the regulations meant that the dog would not be released until the license was obtained and the inoculations were given. Hr briefly referred to other sections of the code regulating dogs. Mrs. Richard Minton, 753 Cottage Grove Avenue, asked who the people should make their complaints to regarding animals running at large. Mr. Gallagher indicated that Mr. Isaiah Steed of the Sub - Standard Building Department could be contacted and he would then relay this information to the people in charge of the truck. He stated that the Humane Society could also be notified. Mrs. Minton stated that she usually found the dogs to be running in her yard around 6:00 a.m. and after 4:30 p.m. She ,asked who she should contact at those times. Mr. Gallagher indicated that, unfor- tunately, the city would only be operating eight hours a day because of the funds that were available. He stated that the Humane Society employed three shifts around the clock, and he suggested that Mrs. Minton contact the society. Mrs. Ann Wlodarski, 1869 Riverside Drive, indicated that she was happy that the ordinance was being proposed. She indicated that she was in favor of such an ordinance. She asked if this would be a permanent arrangement for the city, and she wondered where the funds would come from when the EEA funds were no longer available to pay thi salaries of the employees. Chairman Newburn indicated that he felt the obligation would then fall to the city if the EEA funds were terminated. Mrs. Wlodarski asked where the money would go from the people when they picked up their dogs. Councilman Szymkowiak indicated that the money receive for the dog tags would go into the General Fund and the rest of the money received would go to the Humane Society. Councilman Szymkowiak wondered if the people applying for the dog license were to have their dogs treated for rabies, distemper, etc. before the license was issued. Mr. Gallagher indicated that the license would only be issued when the owner was able to show proof that the necessary shots had been given. Councilman Horvath felt that some people do not have their dogs licensed because the inoculation is required first and it was sometimes expensive. Mr. Gallagher indicated that that was probably true in many cases. Councilman Horvath made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,524.17 FROM THE LOCAL .ROAD AND STREET FUND PROJECT R & S 40 - WIDENING OF IRELAND ROAD FROM MICHIGAN STREET TO MIAMI ROAD AND $5,508.05 FROM THE CUMULATIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO PROJECT R & S 51 - SAMPLE STREET WIDENING FROM MAYFLOWER ROAD TO GREENVIEW AVENUE. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Rollin Farrand, Director of the Department of Public Works, made the presentation for the ordinance. He stated that the project had been estimated to cost about $130,000 and that, after review of the preliminary plans, it had been decided that the intersection of Mayflower and Sample should also be included in the project. This involved curbing, widening of the intersection and signalization. It was also thought that the existing intersections at cross streets within the project should be removed. With the addi- tional work proposed, the estimate was raised to $197,530.65 and a low qualified bid of $172,845.40 was accepted. He indicated that those were the reasons for the requested transfer, and he stated that Project R & S 40 was complete and a balance was left in the fund which could bei transferred to Project R & S 51. Miss Virginia Guthrie, Executive Secretary of the Civic Planning Association, asked if, by the transfer, more money would be added to the amount originally appropriated for the Sample Street widening project, and Mr. Farrand indicated that that was the case. She asked if, with this transfer, the project could be completed,-and Mr. Farrand indicated that the transfer would cover all expenses of the project. Councilman Miller asked which account in the Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund the amount of $5,508.05 would come from, and Mr. Farrand answered that the funds would be taken from the Services Contractual Account in the line items. Councilman Kopczynski made a motion that the ordinance go to the Council as favorable, seconded Councilman Parent. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.