WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance Committee will give a positive recommendation to the City Council Thursday, Nov. 17, to create a new advisory committee pertaining to operation of the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter on Apremont Way.
The L&O discussed the proposed ordinance amendment that would create the new committee Wednesday with Susan Phillips of the Law Department.
Phillips said the need for an advisory and hearing committee was identified when the city was discussing the creation of a regional shelter with Agawam and West Springfield.
“It’s being run by the Police Department now and is a bit of a burden,” Phillips said. “We wrote this to have teeth in it, to have an advisory role (in the shelter operations) and to review contested citations.”
“Right now, there is no mechanism except to have (Police Captain Michael) McCabe review the file,” Phillips said. “The committee will be a recommending body, help keep up on policies for the shelter operation and provide a human touch for people with issues related to their pets and the shelter.”
The structure of the proposed Animal Advisory and Hearing Committee would be a five-member board administered by the director of public health.
That board would have two members by virtue of office: the police chief, or designee, and the city clerk or designee.
There would also be three members appointed by the mayor, subject to City Council confirmation.
Phillips said the committee will give the shelter supporters and volunteers a formal role in shaping policy and procedures in the future.
At-large Councilor Patti Andras, a L&O member, asked Phillips if the board would also include representatives from Agawam and West Springfield.
“There is nothing in the (inter-municipal) agreements that requires the other two communities to have a seat on the committee,” Phillips said. “If they ask, we could amend this legislation.”
Ward 2 Councilor James E. Brown Jr., L&O chairman, said the committee could review the ordinance if Agawam and West Springfield request representation.
“We have flexibility. We could bring this back (into the L&O) for further review if that happens,” Brown said. “We could change it to seven members.”
There was discussion on the mechanism for appointing a West Springfield and Agawam representative if those communities seek to participate on the advisory board.
The proposed ordinance details the responsibilities of the Animal Advisory and Hearing Committee.
The board will study, review and issue written reports to the director of public health on issues dealing with dogs or any animals within the city, to make recommendations to the mayor and City Council for the improvement of ordinances as they relate to dogs and other animals within the city.
The board will also review the decisions and contested citations issued by the animal control officers, police officers, or zoning enforcement officer or Board of Health under the Code of Ordinances, Article 11, Chapter 4. Residents are required to file an appeal with the board within 10 days of the citation issuance and the decision of the committee is final and binding, except under the provision of the Massachusetts General Law (MGL), Chapter 30-A appeal process.
The board will also be charged with reviewing all policies and procedures as they relate to the animal shelter and make recommendations to the health director on any policy considerations.
