HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ANSAB_10.20.2005Minutes of the Meeting of the
Animal Shelter Advisory Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Thursday, October 20, 2005
The Animal Shelter Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , October 20,
2005.
Members Present:
Shawn Gunnin, Chair, Lana Cagle, Erica Haley, Dawn Hitt-Wilken, Patty Eason, Ken Finn
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Jackie Carey
Minutes
Regular Meeting
Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair, Shawn Gunnin.
1. No citizen comments.
2. Motion by Ken Finn to accept the minutes as presented. Second, Dawn Hitt-Wilken. Motion passes
unanimously.
3. Report about Georgetown Animal Outreach Rescue Center. Guest speaker Debbie Frase gives a report
on the rescue efforts of GAO when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in early September. The City of
Georgetown partnered with GAO in these efforts by allowing the organization to use the old animal shelter
facilities. Volunteers with GAO prepared the facilities, brought in animals that had been displaced to
Houston, and have been feeding and caring for the animals on a daily basis. Over 40 animals have been
cared for. There has been tremendous community support with over 90 volunteers, $5,000 in cash
donations, and lots of donations of food and other items. An Adoption Day is being planned for October
29, and the temporary rescue center will be shut down shortly thereafter.
4. Ken Finn presents director’s report. Euthanasias are down this month. Animal Services assisted
Georgetown Animal Outreach in putting on the annual Pet Expo, a fund-raiser which brought in about
$3,000 this year. One adoption outreach event was held, at PetsMart. Staff has worked on converting one
of the isolation rooms into a triage receiving area. Two new employees were hired, one to replace an
existing ACO position and one to fill the newly budgeted receptionist position. These positions will help
with the recent staffing shortages. Volunteer hours for the month: 30 off-site and 109 at the Shelter.
5. Discussion about long and short-term goals for the Advisory Board. Board briefly discusses the Goals
and Objectives as developed at the last meeting and later prepared by Chair/Secretary Shawn Gunnin.
Motion to accept the Goals and Objectives as presented is made by Ken Find and seconded by Dawn
Hitt-Wilken. Motion passes unanimously. Below are the Goals and Objectives approved by the Board.
Core Purpose: To provide guidance and strategic planning to City of Georgetown Animal Services.
Goal – Develop a positive and supportive relationship with City staff.
Objective – Seek professional training for the Board as to the duties and expectations of Board members.
Objective – Create code of conduct for use by Board members.
Goal – Provide guidance in strategic planning for Animal Services.
Objective – Work with Animal Services to create strategic plan each October.
Goal – Increase public awareness of responsible pet ownership and promote public awareness of
Georgetown Animal Services.
Objective – Strive to place one article per month in the Williamson County Sun.
Objective – Pursue idea of a monthly guest column, with Board deciding topic and guest writer at its
monthly meetings.
Objective – Place articles in monthly utilities newsletter at least three times annually.
Objective – Organize people performing community service at the Animal Shelter to go door-to-door with
educational flyers and to the Community Clinic and Caring Place.
Moving forward with some of these objectives, the Board decides to ask GAO volunteers Debbie Frase
and Laura Hobgood-Oster to write the first of the monthly columns. Their topic would be the Rescue
Center and would be placed, if possible, prior to the Adoption Day in order to help with their publicity.
Lana Cagle agrees to contact them.
The Board also discusses requesting some assistance with strategic planning by an outside facilitator.
Ken Finn moved that he would look into the availability of facilitators for strategic planning. Patty Eason
seconds. Motion passes unanimously.
Shawn Gunnin moves to adjourn. Second, Ken Finn. Meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.