Tim Willert
CITY HALL -- It would be difficult, if not impossible, for the
Glendale Humane Society to continue operating if the City Council follows
through with withholding its $45,000 monthly payment, acting Executive
Director Nicholas Gilman said Friday.
"The Glendale Humane Society is not in the business of providing free
services for a city contract," Gilman said. "Clearly, no organization can
continue to provide services to the city of Glendale for free for very
long."
The council agreed this week to withhold payment for an indefinite
period of time until the shelter demonstrates that it deserves to be paid
for its services and has addressed every problem raised in the city's
internal audit of the shelter.
"We aren't going to necessarily do what [the council] suggests,"
Gilman said. "We're going to do what's in the best interest of the
animals and the Humane Society."
Gilman said the shelter is prepared to make some "reasonable
adjustments" to services and programs, and intends to follow through with
its contractual obligations.
"But we are not governed by the City Council," he said.
The shelter is not obligated or required to comply with the council's
direction, City Atty. Scott Howard said Friday.
But, Howard added, if the shelter chooses not to abide by the
council's direction, the city's shelter contract could be terminated.
"I felt the City Council's direction was clear," Howard said.
City Manager Jim Starbird urged the shelter board of directors to
follow the council's requests.
"They should come back and say yes," Starbird said Friday. "I don't
think it's time, frankly, for negotiations."
In response to the audit, which uncovered widespread problems at the
shelter, Gilman told the council Tuesday night that several changes have
been implemented, including new animal cleaning, feeding and disinfecting
procedures, expanded adoption procedures and weekly staff meetings.
"At this point, our goal is to not just meet minimum standards, but to
reach the very highest standards in animal welfare," Gilman said.
Gilman plans to add additional animal care attendants, animal control
officers and receptionists in the coming weeks to address crippling staff
shortages.
A new executive staff, including a permanent executive director and
director of operations, will also be hired, Gilman told the council.
The shelter's existing staff will receive professional-level training
opportunities.
At the same time, Gilman said the shelter's board of directors --
asked to step down this week by Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Frank
Quintero -- will receive some training of their own.
"This is a perfectly competent board," Gilman said. "However, the
board does need to go through a development program where new blood,
energies and resources are added."
