CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association board of directors agrees that it should hire a consultant to help run the animal shelter, but its members remain split on whether to hire an outside expert or someone to do it for free.
The animal shelter board held a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss replacements for two longtime board members who resigned last week.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association board of directors agrees that it should hire a consultant to help run the animal shelter, but its members remain split on whether to hire an outside expert or someone to do it for free.
The animal shelter board held a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss replacements for two longtime board members who resigned last week.
Before that, President Kim Hutton had asked the board to bring in a consultant who could help revive the struggling animal shelter, which suffered a widespread distemper outbreak in December.
Jennifer Miller suggested they hire Jackson Zee, a field investigation and emergency shelter response contractor for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Miller said she worked with Zee while he operated an emergency shelter housing more than 500 animals during Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
"From what I saw of him, I was really impressed," she said.
Zee would observe the shelter for seven days for $2,500. He would then provide recommendations including hiring, community outreach and board involvement.
If Zee returned to follow up on any of his recommendations, then the board would have to pay him more for his services. Miller estimated it would cost about $50,000 to hire Zee for several months if they wanted to.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association board of directors agrees that it should hire a consultant to help run the animal shelter, but its members remain split on whether to hire an outside expert or someone to do it for free.
The animal shelter board held a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss replacements for two longtime board members who resigned last week.
Before that, President Kim Hutton had asked the board to bring in a consultant who could help revive the struggling animal shelter, which suffered a widespread distemper outbreak in December.
Jennifer Miller suggested they hire Jackson Zee, a field investigation and emergency shelter response contractor for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Miller said she worked with Zee while he operated an emergency shelter housing more than 500 animals during Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
"From what I saw of him, I was really impressed," she said.
Zee would observe the shelter for seven days for $2,500. He would then provide recommendations including hiring, community outreach and board involvement.
If Zee returned to follow up on any of his recommendations, then the board would have to pay him more for his services. Miller estimated it would cost about $50,000 to hire Zee for several months if they wanted to.
Hutton, however, said the West Virginia branch of the Humane Society recently completed consulting work for the Cabell County Animal Shelter. Summer Wyatt, state Humane Society director, told Hutton her office would do the same kind of consultation as Zee, but for free.
The board couldn't agree on a decision and a motion to hire Zee failed.
Some feared the money could be spent elsewhere, while others felt the consulting expert would help create a stronger shelter structure. Hutton said the board would revisit that idea in the near future.
Also during the meeting, the animal shelter board members read a draft report issued by a veterinarian from Virginia Tech, who came to the animal shelter to help investigate the distemper outbreak.
The veterinarian recommended replacing the shelter's air conditioning and heating units and replacing ceiling tiles and soundproof boards with plastic, which is less likely to retain organic material. Hutton asked the board to look into ways to pay for recommendations in the veterinarian's report.
The meeting concluded after the animal shelter board members went into executive session to discuss temporary replacements for Sylvia Shaffer and Georgia Hess, longtime members who resigned last month. The board expects to vote on the possible replacements during the next meeting.
Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.
Get Connected