HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-11-2022 AWC Meeting MinutesSouth Bend Animal Welfare Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2022 Council Chambers
1806 Hours County City Building
227 West Jefferson Blvd
South Bend, IN 46601
Animal Welfare Commission Members Present: Dr. Mariah Covey, Pam Wesolowski, Christina Gerken,
and Barb Leavell
City Staff Present:Lindsay Cueller -SBARC Shelter Manager, Tom Panowicz-
Attorney for SBARC, and Danielle Campbell Weiss -
Attorney for AWC, Marissa Frattini, and Pam Meyer-Chief
Neighborhoods Officer
1.The meeting was called to order by Dr. Covey at 1803 hours.
2.Minutes were entered and a motion was made by Pam Wesolowski and seconded by Dr. Covey.
3.Lindsey Cueller discussed shelter reports from July and August 2022.
A.Lots of citizens saw the post on Facebook needing fosters and there were many putting
applications in to do so.
B.The cat population is still high with several feral cats being turned into SBARC for lost cats.
C.SBARC is full due to many renters not being able to keep their pets due to landlords changing
rules when lease is up.
D.A rabies/DHLPP clinic was discussed for a Saturday in the future.
3.Updates to past cases were also discussed.
A.The idea of making hearings less formal but still using an outline was discussed.
B.It was discussed just how involved the hearing officer should be regarding questioning and
decision making.
C.It was discussed that should security be needed the Shelter Manager would let everyone know
and security would be taken care of.
D.The board discussed the idea of using a timer to keep hearings from dragging on for too long.
E.The idea to make use of a hearing officer on a case by case basis and the board will keep the
hearing flowing with little interference.
1. It was decided to use a hearing officer for the September 1, 2022 hearing with a
streamlined script to use regarding the flow of the hearing.
4.The board and SBARC welcomed a new member, Christina Gerken. The board now has five members.
5.The board discussed how to get information out to the public. Ideas included.
A.Direct mail, either through city bills or just a mailing.
B.Rental or real estate offices.
6.The board needs to start re-working the ordinance due to changes that have occurred and having a new
shelter manager.
A.The shelter manager will discuss the ordinance with SBARC officers so they can have input
regarding anything that may need changed or anything that was missed.
7.Next meeting scheduled for September 8, 2022 at 1800 hours.
A.A new clean ordinance will be sent to the board so it can start to be reviewed.
8. The next hearing will be on September 1, 2022 at 1800 hours.
Motion to adjourn made by Dr. Covey
Seconded by Pam Wesolowski
Meeting adjourned at 1950 hours.