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Not Clear Today
(Clinton) -- What is happening with animal control is unclear after action at the council on the Humane Society contract and related issues.
What’s next-that remains unclear after the Clinton City Council last night did-NOT overturn the mayor’s veto of the contract approval with the Clinton Humane Society to take and care for stray animals?
The deal included an increase in the city subsidy from $65,000 to $120,000 and that was one of the major reasons Mayor Mark Vulich cited in the veto. He also vetoed a proposed committee that was proposed to find a way to reduce the city subsidy.
The deal with the Humane Society was approved on a five to two vote a couple of weeks ago and needed five votes to over-turn the veto. Last night the council voted four to three to overturn the veto.
Council members Julie Allesee, Charlie Mulholland, John Rowland and Jennifer Graf voted to approve the resolution to continue with the Humane Society. Bev Herman changed her earlier support to a ‘no’ vote joining Paul Gassman and Maggie Klaess. Five votes are needed to overturn the veto and four votes meant it failed. A vote to overturn the veto of the committee also failed on the same vote.
A resolution to sign a deal with the All Pets Veterinarian business to care for city collected stray animals was also defeated. That proposal was for $40,000 in city support. The vote was 4 to 2 against with council members Mulholland, Rowland, Graf and Allasee voting no with Gassman and Klaess voting yes and Herman abstained because the clinic is where she takes her pet for care.
During the discussion-council member John Rowland commented that the council should support the deal with the Humane Society while more work is done with the organization and alternative proposal. He said it “may be best to take a time out and let both proposals be vetted more.” Rowland said in a couple of months there could be proposals that people could see what it actually says.
Council member Jennifer Graf was critical of the veto, commenting Mayor Vulich had used it three times in 13 months and that was matched the vetoes of the previous two mayors over several terms. She was concerned “how this plays out in the media and internet and how it appears how it appears to anyone who wants to come here or invest here.” Graf said it has divided the community between the two entities and that did not harboring good will for the future of the city. She said the majority of the council voted for approval and should have stood while further work is done with the both proposals in the next few weeks.
Following the vote-Tammy Olson representing the Humane Society says they will regroup and be back, but was unsure what was next for the city or citizens to take stray animals.
Mayor Mark Vulich told the media after the meeting he would be talking with the city attorney about what’s next.
Written 2/13/2013 by Dave Vickers - KROS News
