SOUTHWICK – Former Police Chief Mark Krynicki urged the Board of Selectmen this week not to contract with Granville for animal control assistance.
Several weeks ago, the board discussed a mutual aid agreement for animal control services.
Krynicki said what Granville was asking for was not mutual aid.
“My understanding of mutual is both parties would bring something to the table,” he said. “Granville doesn’t have an animal control officer, so this is just a contract for services.”
Krynicki recommended that the board not sign an agreement. He cited the addition of 43 miles to the department’s coverage area and the age of the 10-plus year-old animal control vehicle as two reasons not to work with Granville on this.
“I don’t think this would be mutually beneficial,” said Krynicki. In September, the Board of Selectmen tabled a vote on the agreement after Animal Control Officer Tracy Root said she had no knowledge of it.
Root said Police Chief David Ricardi told her he was discussing a possible agreement and asked her what Southwick charges for daily boarding and picking up animals, but she did not know what the agreement entailed.
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said Ricardi submitted a one-year agreement for animal control services as needed for Granville.
“This is just to have a mechanism in place should you go up there,” Stinehart said. “My understanding is we’re talking about several calls a year.”
Root said she received about a dozen calls from Granville for animal control assistance last year but she directed them to Westfield. Now, Westfield is no longer responding to Granville and the town is seeking Southwick’s help.
According to the Westfield Police, the city has not responded to Granville for some time and never had a contract with the town, it just helped out when an animal control officer was available.
Selectman Joseph Deedy was hesitant to sign off on the agreement until he and Root reviewed it.
“The last thing I need to do is overburden them with things that aren’t from Southwick,” Deedy said of the animal control division. He also noted that just a few months ago Root came to the board to discuss being short-staffed.
Stinehart stressed that it would be “an occasional thing” and would not likely interfere with the needs of Southwick.
The board did not take up the matter for discussion last night but Krynicki offered his recommendation during the public comment portion of the meeting.
The board also approved a request from Root to have a fenced-in area for abandoned animals. Root erected the fenced kennel and placed a dog house in it because people sometimes abandon dogs at the shelter, leaving them tied to the fence overnight.
The fenced area would allow the abandoned animals some shelter and safety.
Selectman Joseph Deedy was concerned that having the safe haven of sorts would encourage people to abandon their animals. Selectwoman Tracy Cesan argued that people would leave them anyway and this was a safer option for the animal.
The board agreed to a six-month trial period.
