FYI -- The JJ misreported the story -- the ordinances have not been tabled! They will be voted on this Wednesday.

Let's review why this oversight Commission is needed.

First, right after ACOs admitted to dumping Daisy in the park, Jennifer Morrill came out immediately and said the dumping of Daisy was an "isolated incident." (Ignoring the fact that people searching for Daisy saw the ACOs dump another cat in the park that day.)

Then, Director of Health Harry Melendez puts Joe Frank in charge of investigating the Division of Animal Control, i.e., puts Joe in charge of investigating himself.

The ACOs involved were "disciplined" by receiving a 5-day suspension (with or without pay, who knows).

Council President Vega announces everythings been taken care of and there's no more problem.

THEN....Arnold Diaz does an expose. Joe Frank adamantly denies repeatedly that dumping cats in public is his policy. Residents began asking the State Dept. of Health to independantly investigate this incident.

On April 9 the State Dept. of Health issues a letter stating its investigation found this was not an "isolated incident" but City policy (read: AC's or Joe Frank's policy) to release cats in public places. The letter says the policy violates state law regarding the handling of stray cats.

The State DOH requires Melendez and Frank to attend a meeting to go over Animal Control's policies to ensure there are no more illegal policies operating within the Division of AC.

NOW...the City is once again claiming "everything's been taken care of" and there's no more problem.

So, to wrap up, first the City tried to lie and say this was an isolated incident. They put Joe Frank in charge of investigating himself, an obvious attempt at a cover up. Then Arnold Diaz exposed the whole thing. Residents took matters into their own hands and demanded a State investigation. The State DOH found that in fact AC did have a policy to dump cats in public places and Frank's denials were bold-face lies. Residents expressed outrage and demanded the Council pass Fulop's ordinances creating an oversight Commission.

So the moral of the story is that it's up to ordinary residents to keep the pressure on or else the City will just try to duck and weave and lie and cover up.

Yeah, sure. Everything's fine now.

Ordinances on animals get debate

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Two ordinances designed to provide oversight for Jersey City's Division of Animal Control were vigorously debated at last night's City Council caucus and may be pulled from tomorrow's City Council agenda.

The ordinances come two months after an incident in which two animal control officers dumped an escaped pet cat in Lincoln Park instead of taking it to a shelter.

One ordinance would create a 19-member Animal Control Commission that would oversee the city's Division of Animal Control, which would include evaluating the job performance of animal control officers.

The second would create an Animal Control ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau to handle animal control complaints on a day-to-day basis.

Both ordinances were recommended by a City Council committee headed by Councilman Steve Lipski that was formed in 2006 to investigate a dispute between the Animal Control Division and the Liberty Humane Society.

Harry Melendez, director of the city's Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Division of Animal Control, argued against the ordinances, saying they are no longer necessary because there is no longer any friction between Animal Control and the Liberty Humane Society. He also said the commission's power would get in the way of his ability to oversee the Division of Animal Control.

Councilman Steve Fulop, who sponsored the ordinances, disagreed, pointing to a recent letter from the state that said the Lincoln Park incident was not an isolated incident.

Fulop said the board would serve in an advisory capacity, similar to the Historic Preservation Commission.

Lipski recommended several changes, including reducing the commission to seven to nine members and changing some of the descriptions of the commission's tasks, including "handling complaints."

Yes - please come - because it is obvious from this late-breaking news from NJ.com (a.k.a. The Jersey Journal) that the established politicos do not take animal lovers seriously even in an election year. Read this and weep:

Jersey City council may table Animal Control ordinances
by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Monday April 20, 2009, 8:41 PM

Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop, left, argues in favor of his proposed Animal Control Commission at tonight's City Council caucus meeting at Jersey City Hall.
Two ordinances designed to provide oversight for the Jersey City's Division of Animal Control were vigorously debated at tonight's City Council caucus and may be pulled from Wednesday's City Council meeting agenda.

The ordinances come two months after the notorious Daisy-the-Cat incident in which two animal control officers dumped an escaped pet in Lincoln Park instead of taking the cat to a shelter.

One ordinance would create a 19-member Animal Control Commission that would oversee the city's Division of Animal Control,including evaluating the job performance of animal control officers.

The second would create an Animal Control ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau to handle animal control complaints on a day-to-day basis.

Both the commission and the ombudsman were recommended by a City Council committee headed by Councilman Steve Lipski that was formed in 2006 to investigate a dispute between the Animal Control Division and the Liberty Humane Society.

Harry Melendez, director of the city's Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Division of Animal Control, argued against the ordinances, saying they were no longer necessary since there is no longer any friction between Animal Control and the Liberty Humane Society.

He also said the commission's power would get in the way of his ability to oversee the Division of Animal Control.

But Councilman Steve Fulop, who sponsored the ordinances, disagreed, pointing to a recent letter from the state that said Daisy was not an isolated incident. Rather, the letter said, the city has a policy of dumping strays, which is in violation of state regulations.

"It is an outlandish policy," he said. "There clearly is a problem."

Fulop said that the board would serve in an advisory capacity, similar to the Historic Preservation Commission. "The director is not losing any authority, but at the end of the day you are going to have animal activists who are involved in the city say 'Hey, maybe we can do it better,'" he said.

Several Jersey City residents argued for the ordinances at a City Council meeting earlier this month.

Lipski supported the ordinances but recommended several changes including reducing the commission to seven-to-nine members and changing some of the descriptions of the commission's tasks including "handling complaints."

Although Fulop agreed to the amendments, officials were concerned that they were substantive enough that the ordinances would have to be held to the next meeting in order to give the public proper notice. The city's legal department would make a final determination tomorrow, officials said.

This is a reminder that this Wednesday the City Council will be voting on the Animal Control Commission and Ombudsman ordinances.

Please come to City Hall at 6pm and show your support for them. All those who want to are allowed to speak and no advance reservation is required.

I sure hope Daisy and her owner will be at Pet Ownership Day this Sunday for her free microchip.

How many people on this thread have seen Joe Frank's 15 minutes of fame on "Shame on You"?

How many times did he deny that dumping cats is a city policy? Was it five times?

When Diaz probed, asking if it wasn't a dept. policy, why were the two suspended officers insisting otherwise; Joe suggested they were protecting themselves, as it is against policy to dump cats. Apparently, Joe was hanging them out to dry, throwing them under the bus, etc.

Then again, according to the information on the City of Jersey City web site, AC is supposed to pick up ALL stray animals, not all stray animals EXCEPT cats. They have explain to callers cats are considered free agents and wild animals, yet they pick up RACCOONS! Am I missing something here? How many people walk raccoons? How many people see raccoons sunning themselves in windows? Are they domesticated animals? (A friend in the Marion section who called about a raccon in her home said the officer was so inept she ended up asking him to leave and shooed the raccoon out herself. Too bad that no one from AC showed up for that free session on handling wild animals Liberty Science Center had a few years back.

I was for remedial training but maybe it is time for a clean sweep, so instead of parking outside of the Central Avenue Dunkin' Donuts, AC officers can work there. They probably know more about Dunkin' Donuts policies than they do their own....

I tried to import the letter from the State Dept. of Health but can't do it. Everyone who wrote to them got this letter. The important paragraphs are:

"Thank you for your recent inquiry into the animal control situation which occurred in Jersey City, where a stray cat picked up by animal control officers was later released in a nearby park by the officers.

In response to reports concerning this situation, the Office of Animal Welfare contacted the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services, which supervises the city animal control unit. It was discovered that Jersey City has a policy that cats are considered to be free-roaming, and therefore, stray cats are not routinely picked up. Even when a stray cat is picked up (if it has entered a resident's house), it is not always impounded, but may be released.

The Jersey City Assistant Health Officer and Chief Animal Control Officer were immediately notified that this policy is not in conformance with State statutes, which requires all stray cats reported to or observed by an animal control officer to be roaming, or causing a nuisance or public health threat to be picked up and impounded or returned to the owner if it has identification. In response, Mr. Harry Melendez, Director, JCDHHS, contacted our office to express his deep concern over this matter and promise it will not happen again, as well as to request state guidance in reviewing their animal control policies and ensuring that proper procedures are followed in the future.

Considering there was a city policy to release cats as opposed to impounding them, we do not feel the animal control officers in question should have their certifications revoked for this incident."

There you have it. Since the Dept. of Health wrote this letter on April 9, we can assume their investigation as well as conversation with Melendez took place prior to that, which means when Melendez showed up at the Council Caucus on Monday April 6 all indignant at the suggestion that something was amiss in his Dept., and that reforms were required, he probably already knew that something was amiss in his Dept. and that reforms are required.

I have received permission to post this from Diana Jeffrey - Daisy's Lawyer and will e-mail the State Dept. of Health letter she mentions to anyone upon request.

I am sure you will all feel the same rage I did upon reading this letter. This is a fine waste of your tax-paying dollars, as well as mine when I lived in Jersey City. Who knows how many animals (I would not be surprised to learn other kinds of pets were dumped) have met the same fate?

This could happen to any of OUR pets if they get out. (Hey, I live close enough to the border for my cats to wind up in Lincoln Park.)

Our council members were supposed to set up a committee to oversee AC TWO YEARS AGO. With the exception of Steve Fulop, even in an election year, these people are too smug to take animal lovers seriously - or to care about the public and safety issues such indiscriminate dumping creates.

Read and take action. It is an election year, so we may be taken seriuosly this time.

Of course, Jersey City is not the only city in Hudson County with Animal Control Officer problems, (although it is the only one to have the dubious distinction of appearing on "Shame on You".) Hector's next. There has to be a way to get him, too.

Read on:

THE CITY LIED TO YOU WHEN IT SAID THAT THE DUMPING OF DAISY IN LINCOLN PARK WAS AN "ISOLATED INCIDENT."

In a letter dated April 9 (Lindad will email the letter, which was attached to the original email, to anyone upon request), the State Department of Health and Senior Services states that its own ivestigation "discovered that Jersey City has a policy" of routinely failing to pick up stray cats. What's more, the DHSS found that when stray cats are picked up by Jersey City ACOs, they are not always impounded at the animal shelter (as required by law) but released into public places.

The DHSS says that Jersey City officials admitted this was its animal control policy -- while at the same time, Jersey City officials were publicly telling YOU that the dumping of Daisy was an "isolated incident."

Moreover, City officials put Joe Frank in charge of investigating himself -- when they KNEW this policy was his own creation! Then, they suspended the officers who dumped Daisy for 5 days without pay -- when they KNEW the officers were just following Frank's illegal policy. Council members told people with great satisfaction that the matter had been "dealt with" and no further action was needed.

No more action needed. Oh, really?

There's a phrase for this -- it's called a COVER UP.

It's pretty clear to me that greater oversight of the Division of Animal Control is desperately needed. If this were any other municipality, they would toss Joe Frank out of that job IMMEDIATELY. We all know the history with this guy:

--In 2001 the SCI report revealed that Frank took a loan from SPCA president Ed Pulver, then "repaid" the loan by working there under an assumed name. All the while, Frank looked the other way as animals were abused and mistreated.

--In 2004, Frank seized 3 Shih Tzus from the apartment of a women who had been arrested. He took two to the shelter but took the third home -- after having it groomed and deflea'd at the City's expense, apparently to give to his wife as a gift. He failed to tell shelter personnel there was a third dog. When this was discovered, Corporation Counsel forced him to return the third dog to the shelter, but no disciplinary action was taken against him. The woman reclaimed all three dogs later.

--In 2005, Frank told his officers to enter a tenant's locked apartment and remove her dog, as a favor to the landlord (a friend of his wife) who had tried unsuccessfully to remove the dog through legal channels. Two officers (Ross and Perez) refused on the grounds that this would be theft. The third (Machado) entered the apartment, snared the dog on a pole and cut its mouth, leaving a trail of blood up the stairs. He falsely signed it in at the shelter as a "stray." He failed to leave the tenant a note as required by law. Later, Machado had a pang of guilt and told a mutual friend where she could find her dog. But not until he issued her three bogus summons to cover up his misconduct. Those summons were all later dismissed by the prosecutor. A public outcry ensued to oust Joe Frank. After months of promising he would be gone, City officials let this peter out. No disciplinary action was ever taken. The Appellate Division ordered the DHSS to revoke Frank's certification for his role in this illegal act, but so far, nothing has been done.

--Also in 2005, Joe Frank filed bogus animal cruelty charges against the former shelter manager of LHS, Niki Dawson after threatening and harassing her for years. The charges were dismissed by the prosecutor. No disciplinary action was ever taken against Frank.

--In 2006, the City Council investigated Animal Control. Evidence was provided by animal advocates demonstrating Frank's long record of violating the procedural requirements of the Dangerous Dog law and animal cruelty laws. In case after case, Frank is seen to be seizing dogs without probable cause, without issuing the required notice to the owner of his/her rights, and without notifying the court timely of the need for a hearing. Most people he targets are low income and people of color. Despite the overwhelming evidence of habitual violations of dog owner's rights, no disciplinary action is ever taken, and no greater supervision or oversight is imposed upon him.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, I urge you to contact your counsel representative, as well as Council President Vega, and demand the pass the Animal Control Commission/Ombudsman ordinance. You can find contact info at www.cityofjerseycity.com.

The fact that Mr. Frank still has this job is honestly, beyond my comprehension. He should be suspended until a complete audit of AC's records can be conducted by the Commission to determine how many other people's pet cats ended up in Lincoln Park or God knows where else.

Best Regards,

Diana Jeffrey

Tell Your Councilman Fulop that you support the Jersey City Animal Control Commission and Animal Control Ombudsman Ordinances

Friends,

Wednesday, April 22nd is a very important day for Jersey City's animal population.

At the last Jersey City council meeting, the Councilman Steve Fulop introduced two ordinances that, if passed, would establish greater oversight for the operation of Animal Control in Jersey City.

The first ordinance creates the Jersey City Animal Control Commission, a group of city officials and community representatives that will produce a comprehensive review of Jersey City's Animal Control Division, including all current policies and procedures, the performance of animal control officers, and all inquiries and/or complaints regarding the management of the Animal Control Division.

The second ordinance creates an Animal Control Ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau. The person taking this role within the Mayor's Action Bureau would essentially perform the same analysis of the Animal Control Division, as described in the previous ordinance, but this would be the duty of a single person in the Mayor's bureau.

Please write Councilman Steve Fulop and let him know you support these ordinances.


Councilman Steve Fulop
City Hall
280 Grove Street
Room 202
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Email: FulopS@jcnj.org

Such irresponsible people. I hope they find out who is doing this.

Dozens of dead animals dumped illegally in North Bergen
by Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk Sunday April 12, 2009, 12:24 PM

Officials in North Bergen are investigating the illegal dumping of dozens of dead animals in the Hudson County township according to a report in the Jersey Journal.

Humane Society Manager Denton Infield told the Jersey Journal that he believes someone from a neighboring township is dumping the dogs, cats, goats, and sheep to avoid paying fees.

Infield said the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating the matter.

A campaign is being organized to send letters to Steve Fulop supporting the commission. The next reading of the ordinance is in a week and a half.

Details to follow.

Attention all Hudson County and Jersey City residents.

If you have a cat that you no longer want, can care for or find, PLEASE dump it in Lincoln Park.

Thank-you,

Mr Franky

So was anyone at the city council meeting and did they hear anyone speak about this? Did the council members, particularly Mariano Vega, have anything to say for themselves?

Sometimes I get thei impression that Vega tries to rule that council with an iron fist (maybe I'm wrong, haven't heard enough from him), but both my phone and email messages urging him to put the animal control matter on the agenda went unanswered (I would have sent a letter but didn't think it would get there in time for the meeting).

I would have liked to go, but was working late that night.

One of the earlier posts stated the salary of one of the AC officers as being in the low thirties after eleven years. A later post said that was akin to volunteer work and that people get what they pay for. I understand the point that was being made. However, I feel there is no way a city employee who can pretty much do what he wants, probably receives many health benefits and also a lot of paid vacation time can be compared to ANY real volunteer, from those who join the Peace Corp to those who freely donate their time to hospitals, homeless and animal shelters, etc.

No one stays at any job for eleven years without some sort of pay-off and here is one that is on record in one of our local papers.

A few years ago, there was a running feud between Joe Frank and Nikki Dawson, the LHS Mgr. at the time. Some thought that Joe, who acted as the defacto LHS mgr. very early on, resented that someone else had received the job permanently. In a Hudson Reporter article, Joe foolishly boasted that since after overtime he made over $90K a year, there was no way he would want Nikki's job, as it paid "only" in the low fifties! Since AC is not very responsive to many calls regarding stray, injured or abandoned animals, particularly after hours, when one is supposed to be on call, and is a little confused about what constitutes an animal in the first place since cats are not consitently considered part of the animal kindgom. I'am not sure how Joe racks up all this overtime. I'm also not sure if the officers under him rack up as much money in overtime.

Since this is going back a few years, who knows how much Joe Frank makes after OT now.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... call_for_more_oversi.html

Residents call for more oversight for Jersey City's Division of Animal Control

Posted by asclark April 08, 2009 23:15PM

AMY SARA CLARK / THE JERSEY JOURNAL"We don't expect the animal police on animal planet, but we don't want the keystone cops either," said Linda D'Esposito, in support of two ordinances that would provide more oversight to the city's Division of Animal Control. She spoke on April 8, 2009 at Jersey City Hall.

About a half dozen people spoke before the City Council tonight to urge them to adopt two ordinances that would create more oversight for the city's Division of Animal Control.

The ordinances come six weeks after the notorious Daisy-the-cat incident in which two animal control officers dumped an escaped pet in Lincoln Park instead of bringing her to a shelter.

"The compassion is lacking and the judgment is lacking in terms of dealing with animal control in this city," said resident Stephany Caraballo.

"I think that what happened is obviously a system flaw in the way the Division of Animal Control is set up in the city," said Diana Jeffrey, an attorney representing Daisy's owner. "What we have today is an agency where ... there is no supervision and there are no checks and balances."

One ordinance would create a 19-member Animal Control Commission that would oversee the city's Division of Animal Control, including evaluating the job performance of animal control officers, handling complaints against officers, reviewing the city's animal management contract and making recommendations to the mayor and City Council.


The second would create an Animal Control ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau who would handle animal control complaints on a day-to-day basis, similar to the way the Historic Preservation Officer acts as the point-person for the Historic Preservation Commission.

The ordinances were introduced unanimously, but several council members said they had qualms about them, although they didn't say what their concerns were.
They are slated to go up for a final vote at the next council meeting.

Both the commission and the ombudsman were recommended by a City Council ad hoc committee, headed by Councilman Steve Lipski, that was created three years ago to investigate a dispute between the Animal Control Division and the Liberty Humane Society.

"I think the natural step is to implement the changes that he recommended," said Jeffrey.

Speakers complained that the Animal Control Division did not do its job.

"In Jersey City we have tens of thousands of cats living on the streets, we need to address this," said Carol McNichol, who has started a series of workshops, titled The Neighborhood Feral Cat Initiative, to educate the public about trapping and neutering feral cats, after the city failed to do anything about the problem.

Resident Mia Scanga said the Animal Control Division failed to go after the owner of a pit bull that attacked her poodle, causing $1,200 in vet bills.

"We don't expect the animal police on animal planet," said speaker Linda D'Esposito, "but we don't want the keystone cops either."

The Animal Control Commission Ordinance and the Ombudsman Ordinance was voted on and the second reading will be two weeks from tonight.

There was a great turn out of animal advocates tonight with seven people from the community speaking in favor of the Ordinances.

Does anyone know if the city council voted on Fulop's proposal?

I notice that when Morgan called, she was told that Animal Control does not pick up cats. In "Cats n Dogs" last post, it was explained that AC has an unwritten policy regarding cats, claiming that cats are regarded as free agents (wild). If this is the case, why does Animal Control respond to calls about raccoons? (A friend who lives in the Marion section recently told me that she had called AC one summer evening to remove a raccoon from her home. She got so frustrated watching him that she asked him to leave and shooed the animal out herself.)

Therefore, as a public service to the residents of Jersey City, I am pasting information listing the services Animal Control provides from www.cityofjerseycity.com, the official web site of Jersey City: Division of Animal Control 1 Journal Square Plaza 2nd Floor Jersey City, NJ 07306 Tel: (201) 547-4888 Fax: (201) 656-9310 Joseph Frank, Animal Control Officer Description The Division of Animal Control provides a variety of services related to the well-being of animals and residents who come in contact with them: Picking up stray or abandoned animals Issuing dog licenses Responding to animal nuisance/cruelty complaints Picking up and disposing of dead animals After hours complaints/calls, please contact the Jersey City Police dispatcher at (201) 547-5477 to page Animal Control. Online Help Center Service Requests Report animal cruelty Report constantly barking dogs Report a dead animal Report a stray or abandoned animal Get dog license information Get free rabies vaccination information Please not that the first service listed is picking up stray or abandoned ANIMALS. Apparently, the people who answer the phones at JC Animal Control are unaware of the fact that a cat is an animal - something most kindergarten kids would know. They would be way over their heads if they appeared on "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

If they do understand that cats are members of the animal kingdom, perhaps Jersey City should update their site to read "Picking up all stray or abandoned animals EXCEPT cats".

As to some of the other posts:

An excellent resource for people who have lost their indoor only cats is www.catsinthebag.org. They also include links to other worthy sites.

All my cats wear safety collars which will either break away or stretch if they get snagged on something. All tags read "Indoor Cat" and list my cell phone #. Only one of my cats is successful in getting out of her collar - and she will be the first cat I get micro-chipped.

If you find a cat in the street that is friendly, it is far better to bring it to Liberty Humane Society than to leave it on the street. Liberty is an open admission shelter, which means it has to accept all animals rather than skim the most adoptable ones and reject the rest as an ASPCA, North Shore or Bide-A-Wee. However, as someone who has volunteered at the shelter for a number of years now, I can vouch for the fact that every effort is made to give adoptable cats a happy ending, including weekly adoption events at PetSmart, which is one of my regular volunteer activities. I can also report that cats who were not the most adoptable animals, most recently a declawed fourteen year old tortoiseshell called Pebbles, have made it out alive. This is not to say there are always happy endings, but they try. The fact that too many humans regard their pets - ESPECIALLY cats - as so readily disposable - is not the shelter's fault.

On the other hand, a feral cat is for all intents and purposes, is a wild animal. It is not adoptable, so if you bring it to any shelter expecting them to keep it forever and ever, think again. That cat will be euthanized as it is as adoptable as an adult squirrel or raccoon.

The only way one should bring a feral cat to a shelter is as part of a T(rap), N(euter), R(eturn) Program in which the cat is vaccinated, fixxed, ear-tipped and rereleased. It will be able to live out the rest of its life relatively peacefully, relieved of the burden of either birthing and rearing babies or fighting over a mate - and much less likely to be attarct unwelcome attention by humans for caterwauling, spraying all over shrubs, etc. Since unwelcome attention is at best a rock and more likely a pellet gun or poison, the less attention a feral draws to itself, the better......

The post following below is a perfect example of why we need this commission to reform the animal control department. Under its current unwritten policies, AC will not come and pick up this cat because it is outside. It is looked upon by AC as a free agent (meaning wild). However, this is not a feral or wild cat. Feral cats do not wear collars and meow at your door. This is a lost or abandoned cat (most likely unspayed or unneutered). If left on the street it will begin reproducing almost immediately. And so goes the cycle of life of our community cats..............

Please come to the City Council meeting tomorrow night at 6pm at 280 Grove Street to show your support of the Commission ordinances.



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Tabby cat with collar in the heights #1
Home away from home


Joined:
2005/7/19 11:35
From heights
Posts: 366

For about a week now we've noticed a very friendly tabby cat in the heights (congress/new york) wandering around w/ a collar. We figured it was an outdoor cat, but now a friend on bowers just saw it and thinks it was abandoned. Anyone up here missing a cat fitting this description? very sweet cat, and i believe the collar is some kind of rasta colored collar.

I don't want to take someones cat away, but it's definately not a stray and i feel bad leaving it out there. it meowed at our door for over an hour on sunday. we have cats and i didn't want to bring it inside w/ the other cats b/c my cat likes to punch. I've noticed no flyers saying missing cats.

Any suggestions on someone to call to get the cat. it seems very friendly and i'm sure would make a great house cat, if it isn't one already!

Posted on: Today 10:55

No matter which way this goes, the findings should at least highlight the incompetentence of Joe Frank as a manager of his team - demote him and his pay or show him the door.
He was paid to lead, but failed.

Isnt it against the law to just "dump" off any animal in a park. Im sure if I dumped off an animal in the park & the Sheriff Dept partolling there saw me doing that, Id be surely fined or locked up.

Quote:

I didn't attend the caucus meeting and I will reserve judgement on the back and forth exchange between the councilpersons until it airs tonight. I couldn't agree with you more on the HC SPCA. Hopefully the Council can come to some resolve on this issue.

Quote:

'policy' of dumping cats ? That would mean it was something in writing with cityhall backing. My crystal ball tells me that a verbal policy is very hard to prove and until the officers in question for dumping the cats are asked by an independant body, we will never know the truth.
A deal would have to be made with these officers - like no job loss, no warnings or moved to another department with the same money or more !

Quote:

I tend to agree that Joe Frank didn\'t have a policy of dumping cats in Lincoln Park, however, Mariano Vega\'s stonewalling and position that the alleged offenders were punished and the matter is closed is unacceptable. History shows that a municipality investigating itself automatically delegitimizes the results of that investigation if it finds that a city entity \"acted properly.\"

Mariano Vega is a Jersey City politician. Make no mistake that this issue has been discussed in informal circles and Vega believes that this is the best way to make this go away. I believe that he is mistaken as residents from multiple wards are lining up to speak on Wednesday night.

Jersey City\'s dismal record of inaction concerning the welfare of animals within the city are well documented. The Hudson County SPCA may have had a Union City and North Bergen contract, but those animals suffered, died, and rotted in Jersey City under their watch and within their jurisdiction.

Interestingly, Joe Frank was the first contact when volunteers reported abuses at the HCSPCA in Jan 2008, and his response was very good. He just needs a spokesperson when dealing with the media. Whoa!

Quote:

Not for one minute do I believe Joe Frank had a "policy" of dumping cats in Lincoln Park. Until I am proven differently, I will stand behind Joe Frank 100% on this one issue.

We encourage anyone with a sincere interest in seeing an animal welfare commission established in JC to come and speak at this Wednesday's City Council meeting. Resident or non resident, we are allowed 5 minutes to address the Council.

However, you must call the City Clerk (201) 547-5150 before Wednesday afternoon and tell him you want to be included on the list of speakers at the meeting. If you don't sign up ahead of time, you will not be allowed to speak on Wed night. After having signed up, please call the City Clerk back on Wed. afternoon and double check that you have been placed on the list. Often times, even if you sign up in advance, you don't make it on the list.

The Council meeting begins at 6pm on Wednesday.

Show your support by replying to this post.

I've just received word that Vega is stonewalling the Animal Control Commission ordinance. He won't put it on the agenda. Says the matter's already been "dealt with." Dealt with how? By putting Joe Frank in charge of investigating himself? By telling the officers involved that if they quietly take a one or two week suspension without pay, and agree to keep their mouths shut and not reveal that they were acting according to Joe Frank's policy, nothing else would happen to them? By trying to sweep this whole mess under the rug and hope no one will ask anymore questions, like WHY DID THE OFFICERS DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE? or Why can't Joe Frank manage his department? or What's being done to make sure something like this doesn't happen again?

Why doesn't Vega want a public hearing on this issue? What's he afraid of?

Please contact Vega and tell him you want the democratic process respected. The ordinances should be placed on the agenda so the Council can vote on them. mariano@jcnj.org and hnunez@jcnj.org

Please support this initiative.

Councilman Fulop wants to introduce two ordinances at the next Council meeting (April 8) to address systemic problems within the Jersey City Division of Animal Control: one creating an Animal Control Commission to oversee Animal Control's policies and practices, and one creating an Ombudsman in the Mayor's Action Bureau to field and resolve problems with Animal Control.

If you support these ordinances, please contact Mariano Vega and ask him to put them on the Council agenda for the April 8 Council meeting. His email is mariano@jcnj.org. Please cc his aide: hnunez@jcnj.org His phone is (201) 547-5458. When you email, include your address and Ward.

See press release:

Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop
Contact: Shelley Skinner 201-978-1474
For immediate release
Councilman Fulop proposes creation of Jersey City Animal Control Commission
New position of Animal Control Ombudsman to be created in the Mayor?s Action Bureau
(Jersey City, March 27, 2009) This week, Councilman Steve Fulop will introduce a new ordinance that would establish a Jersey City Animal Control Commission.
As a follow up the recent concerns of dumping cats in Lincoln Park, the ordinance outlines the commission?s mission and responsibilities while providing guidelines for the appointment of its members. An accompanying ordinance, if passed by the City Council, would also create a position of an Animal Control Ombudsman within the Office of the Mayor?s Action Bureau. This would be a similar structure to other cities across the country creating more accountability.
Under the auspices of a Jersey City Animal Control Commission the function, the animal control officer and inspectors would fall under the accountability of this commission, and the Ombudsman, would fall under the prevue of the Mayor and Council.
?Whether its issues with the local SPCA, allegations of animal cruelty or a general lack of responsiveness, it is clear that something needs to be done with the animal control situation in Jersey City,? said Councilman Fulop.
?An Animal Control Commission would provide direct oversight to the Animal Control Ombudsman which would improve the functionality and responsiveness of animal control related services in Jersey City,? concluded Fulop.

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Attached is the ordinance that would establish the Jersey City Animal Control Commission and the ordinance that would create an Animal Control Ombudsman in the Jersey City Mayor?s Action Bureau.

Proposed Ordinance:

Purpose: The purpose of the Animal Control Commission shall be to develop and track measurable objectives to ensure a competent Animal Control program.


Powers and Duties of Commission: The Animal Control Commission shall be empowered to:
(A) Assess existing policies and procedures both for their competency, relevance to community needs, and adherence to the requirements of state and local laws;
(B) Identify existing needs within the community for an improved Animal Control response;
(C) Ensure the municipality has a competent Animal Control program, which includes setting standards for Animal Control Officers consistent with those established state law; evaluating job performance; and making recommendations for continuing education requirements.
(D) Receive and handle citizens? complaints and work with the Division of Animal Control to ensure the appropriate response;
(E) Monitor compliance with the requirements of the State Sanitary Code and all applicable state and local laws, and make recommendations to the Director of the Department of Health, Business Administrator, Mayor and Council for appropriate action to ensure compliance and correct noncompliance;
(E) Make recommendations to the Mayor and Council concerning the development of codes, regulations and legislation to authorize and guide the practice of Animal Control.
(F) Review the City?s animal shelter management contract when it comes up for renewal, and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council concerning the terms thereof and compliance therewith, including advising the Business Administrator concerning the development of any Request for Proposals issued by the City.
(G) Monitor compliance with the City?s animal shelter management contract and issue an annual report to the Mayor and Council.

Membership; Appointments: The Animal Control Commission shall consist of __ members, appointed as follows:
(1) 2 members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council;
(2) 2 members from each ward shall be appointed by the Ward Council person.
(3) 5 ex officio members consisting of the Mayor, Council President, Chief of Police; Director of Health and Human Services; and Chief Animal Control Officer for the Division of Animal Control. Any ex officio member may designate a member of his or her staff to attend a meeting of the Commission as a representative of the ex officio member.
(4) The Commission shall consist of representatives from various segments of the community, including but not limited to veterinarians, dog trainers, animal shelter personnel, animal rescue volunteers, disaster planning and response volunteers, and should be affiliated with animal welfare organizations concerned with the health, legal, and housing needs of domesticated animals. Preference should be given to those individuals who have satisfactorily completed the Animal Control Officers? Certification course established by NJSA 4:19-15.16
(5) Of the members first appointed, ___ shall serve for a term of two years; and ___ shall serve for three years. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall serve until a successor is appointed. Vacancies caused by resignation or otherwise shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Mayor or Ward Council person, where appropriate, upon advice and consent of the Council.
(6) The Commission shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chair person, and Executive Secretary, who shall serve for a term of one year, at the pleasure of the Commission, and without compensation.

Meetings: The Commission shall meet at least once every month at a time fixed by the members of the Commission. The Chairperson, or in the absence of the Chairperson the Vice Chairperson, may call special meetings.


Cooperation of City Departments and Agencies:
A. The Mayor shall through the Director of Health and Human Services, subject to available appropriation, provide for the adequate functioning of the Commission.
B. All city departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Commission.
C. The Director of the Department of Health, the Health Officer, and the Chief Animal Control Officer for the Division of Animal Control shall provide and make available to the members of the Commission copies of relevant documents, upon request.


?3-50.1.1 Animal Control Ombudsman Created

Within the Mayor?s Action Bureau shall be established:
A. An Ombudsman to handle citizens? complaints and inquiries on all aspects of the functioning of the Division of Animal Control.
B. The Ombudsman shall be empowered to:
(1) Receive and handle citizens? complaints and work with the Division
of Animal Control to ensure an appropriate response;
(2) Monitor compliance with the requirements of the State Sanitary
Code and all applicable state and local laws pertaining to Animal
Control, and make recommendations to the Director of the
Department of Health, Business Administrator, Mayor and Council
for appropriate action to assure compliance and correct
noncompliance;
(3) Make recommendations to the Mayor and Council concerning the
development of codes, regulations and legislation to authorize and
guide the policies and practice of Animal Control.
(4) Monitor compliance with the City?s contract for animal shelter
management, receive and handle citizens? complaints and work
with the contractor to ensure an appropriate response within the
terms of the contract;
(5) Make recommendations to the Mayor and Council concerning the
terms of the animal shelter management contract, including
advising the Business Administrator concerning the development
of any Request for Proposals issued by the City.

C. The Director of the Department of Health, the Health Officer, and the Chief
Animal Control Officer for Division of Animal Control shall provide and
make available to the Ombudsman copies of relevant documents, upon request.
D. Within 180 days of his/her appointment, the Ombudsman must enroll in the
Animal Control Officers? Certification course described in NJSA 4:19-15.16 and shall have satisfactorily completed the course within one (1) year of his/her appointment.