2018 SBACC Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Filed in Clerk's Office E--MAYO72019 KAREEMAH FOWLER ANNUAL REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2018 CIN CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN Animal Control Commission of the City of South Bend, Indiana '--- April 30, 2019 Dear Mayor Buttigieg and Common Council Members of the City of South Bend, Greetings from the Animal Control Commission. Under Section 5-97 of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend, Indiana,the responsibilities of the Animal Control Commission are (in part) as follows: Sec. 5-97. -Duties and responsibilities of the animal control commission. The Animal Control Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (1)To receive and review recommendations made by the Shelter Manager; (2)To recommend proposed policies, principles, standards and regulations for the control and humane treatment of all animal regulated by this chapter; (3)To review and make advisory recommendations aimed at improving regulations and enforcement of the regulations codified into this chapter to the Common Council; (4)To submit to the Mayor and the Common Council no later than March 1 stof each year a written report of its activities and recommendations; (5)To hear appeals within ten (10)working days (excluding holidays and weekends) of any appeal being filed on the determination of: a. An animal being deemed a "potentially dangerous animal"; and/or b. A person or persons alleged to have "provoked" an animal resulting in a violation of this chapter. (6) Such determinations shall be reduced to writing with the original of the same being maintained by the City and copies being sent to the person or persons filing an appeal, with copies also being maintained in the Division of Animal Care and Control. Electronic notification of such determinations shall be sent to all Animal Control Officers and the South Bend Police Department. (Ord. No. 10309-14, § I, 5-28-14) The Commission, as a body, underwent a few notable changes in 2018 and 2019. On August 14, 2018, Dr. Betsy Culp resigned as a Commission member. We thank Dr. Culp for her service. Although Sec. 5-96(b) states that "The Commission shall meet at least once each month, or upon special call by the Chair or upon the written request to the Chair by any three (3) members." the City Legal Department decided that the requirement of having one member of the Commission who was a licensed veterinarian, see Sec. 5-95(c),would prohibit us from meeting until a replacement veterinarian was found.The Commission did not meet for regular meetings or hearings in September or October. Dr. Mariah Covey was sworn in as a Commission member and regular meetings resumed on November 1, 2018.We welcome Dr. Covey.