Butler cites employees
to keep O.B. animal shelter
Butler cites employees’ years of service as a factor in deciding
on operation
By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer
Ending weeks of trepidation and unease shared by two animal shelter employees and their supporters, the president of the Old Bridge Township Council declared Monday that the operations of the municipal shelter will not be privatized anytime in the foreseeable future.
In an expected move, council President Reggie Butler announced the governing body’s decision at the beginning of a regular council meeting attended by both shelter employees and as many as 50 supporters. With the exception of public discussions at two prior meetings, there had been no other public talks prior to Butler’s announcement, and the controversial subject was not listed on the agenda.
In his brief remarks, Butler indicated that the council reached its decision based on a consensus of its membership.
"My colleagues and I have come to the conclusion that we are not going to privatize the kennel," Butler said to resounding applause from shelter advocates.
The council did not place a resolution on the table in recognition of the decision. Its legal department had advised the council that such a move would not be necessary, Butler stated.
The council decision effectively puts to rest an administrative plan to outsource the kennel’s operations to the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). That plan, if approved by council, was designed to save $80,000 in annual operating costs, according to Township Business Administrator Alayne Shepler.
Moreover, two veteran animal control officers, Barbara Lee Brucker and Jenny-Lynn Wall, would have seen their jobs eliminated under the privatization plan.
During hearings July 8 and 22, supporters of Brucker and Wall cited the pair’s long-term service and knowledge of animal care as reasons not to terminate their positions. Some of the same opponents have also spoken of alleged animal abuses committed by the Middlesex County SPCA in other municipalities.
Wall, a 23-year animal control employee, and Brucker, who has nearly 21 years of service in the department, fall short of the 25 years of service mark required to receive lifetime medical benefits from the township. Both employees, who draw union-negotiated annual salaries and benefits, have accused the administration of targeting them because they are close to the 25-year mark.
Shepler, however, has continuously contended that Brucker’s and Wall’s years of service have nothing to do with the administration’s plan. That plan is based on finances, and not personal issues, Shepler has stated. Those sentiments have been echoed by Mayor Barbara Cannon whose Republican administration advocated the plan.
However, the Democrat-controlled council reasoned that Brucker’s and Wall’s numerous years of service should be considered in deciding the kennel’s fate, said Butler, a Democrat.
"We took into account the years of service," Butler said after the meeting.
"One has 23 years of service. The other has [over] 20 years of service," Butler went on, "We took that into account. That’s why we want to keep [the kennel] as is."
A majority of the council supported keeping kennel operations under township control and effectively, saving Brucker’s and Wall’s jobs, Butler said.
"We didn’t want to take away from their long-term service," Butler said.
During the later discussion about using township funds to hire additional police, Cannon raised the issue of the council’s decision, and chided the council for not approving the administration’s plan. The $42.3-million township budget for fiscal year 2003, as introduced by Cannon last month, does not include money for either the animal shelter or for additional police officers.
"The budget has no provision for police positions," Cannon stressed. "Some money is going to have to be reconfigured since the council has decided not to outsource the kennel."
Butler has indicated that he will be meeting with the budget committee Aug. 15 to discuss possible funding to keep the kennel running under township supervision. He added that he will also meet with Finance Director Himanshu Shah, the township auditor’s office and other members of Cannon’s administration to determine how to fund the shelter.
"These are the people we rely on for insight and direction," Butler said.
One possible source of funding could come from the state’s aid to distressed cities, Butler said. Other sources would be explored by the budget committee, he added.
"We’re going to put it back," he said.
Cannon, however, does not share Butler’s confidence.
"[The council] might have to look at cutting other services. It is a matter of dollars and cents," Cannon said after the meeting.
The mayor also noted her disappointment with the council’s decision not to privatize the shelter.
"We never would have proceeded with this if we had not received indication from this council that they would go along," Cannon said.
Cannon has emphasized the tightness of this year’s budget and the possible need to cut other municipal services to make it palatable to taxpayers. However, the council’s Democratic leadership has stated that the Republican mayor’s budget will reduced.
Cannon has said that the administration was not pleased to put the proposal to outsource the shelter on the table. Much to her own disappointment, administration will not be able to hire additional employees for other departments, such as public works and parks and recreation, she said.
"We’ve had to make some very, very tough decisions," Cannon said.
The budget, which is now in the council’s hands, includes a 12-cent municipal tax rate increase. The council will introduce it at a special council meeting Monday at 7:30 p.m.