The Richmond City Council last night approved Mayor Dwight C. Jones' plan to eliminate the Department of General Services with a change that establishes an independent Office of Animal Care and Control.
With its 6-3 vote, the council overlooked recommendations of the Richmond SPCA and residents who argued that animal control should be part of the Richmond Police Department.
Several council members said they were willing to accept animal control as a standalone office while the Jones administration studies for six months where the division should be placed within the city bureaucracy.
Jones had initially proposed reassigning animal control to the Department of Public Works, one of three departments or agencies that have overseen animal control in recent years.
"We, finally, clearly, need to delineate where this agency belongs," Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille said.
The Office of Animal Care and Control will report directly to Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Christopher L. Beschler. Last night, he said the study group would be formed within a week and would welcome information from the SPCA and others. He said the group would include one member of council, but it was unclear who else might be allowed to serve.
Richmond SPCA CEO Robin Starr said last night that she had been unaware of the study but would seek to be part of it. She said the police department is clearly the best place for animal control because their investigations often overlap.
"We have not heard back any valid reasoning for any other choice," she said. The idea of a study "just seems to be an excuse for further delay."
For more information, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.
-
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement