HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-10 06-145 ORDINANCEItem No. OR 145
Date: Awl 10 2005
Item/Subject: ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 28, Article XII, Section 28-53 of the
Code of the City of Bangor - Police Department
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary:
Currently the Animal Control Officer is part of the City Clerk's department. This Ordinance
Amendment will make animal control a function of the Police Department.
The Government Operations Committee unanimously voted to recommend the change.
Manager's Comments:
Recommend approval.
City Manager
Associated Information:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
ity- Solicitor
Introduced for
Passage
% First Reading Page 1 of 2
Referral
06 145
Amigrcdro Councilor Mleo Wil 10, 2006
/k'�ryK
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 28, Article XII, Section 28-53 of the Code
of the City of Bangor— police Department
Be it aln by t0eCity Couw/ of the City of Bangor as follows
THAT Article 12, Chapter 28, Section 28-53 of the Code of the City of Bangor is hereby
amended by adding the following:
G. Animal control To provide for enforcement of State laws and
municipal ordinances recardino the welfare and control of animals.
IN CITY COUNCIL
Apr 10, 2006
A Aeadivg ..
fY CLNNe
ID CITY 0009CIL
April 24, 2006
Notion (fade and Seconded
for Passage
vote: I -o
Councilors voting yes: Cantwell,
D'Drrico, Farrington, Grainlck,
Grasse. Haves, Palmer
Councilors voting no: None
Councilors absent: Allen A
Stone
PasAd
CITY MARK
p 06-145
OADIAANCE
Assigned bCouoeilo: C /POA
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BangorPoliceDepartment
TO. hvs alN Covernmealnwu L'On/M(!(
FR. Donk /aw, PoGce C/eJ
DT � ch JG 2006
RE:' AnmiolConvoli�al
06 145
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fa sereN weeks City Clakpadi Dubois and l have engaged m discussions regarding the
management ofthe city's Animal Coomol Division (AM). For the past several years the ACD
has been managed by We City Clerk's Office, presemablybecause the City Cleric is responsible
forissuingdoglicerses. While the Clerk's office does a greatiob managing the administrative
functions ofthe ACD, both Patti and I feel thatthe police department is better silted to manage
the enforcement functions performed by dine Animal Control Officer (ACO). 'Ihepolice
xoommly deal with the civil process, the disttict atmmey's office, enforcement issues, ate. Qiven
that this is unfamiliar territory for the clerk's office, they oar spend an extmordim ay amount of
timedealingwththemfm mtpieceofthe ACD.
The police deperlment maturely receives calla regarding animals. Dming weekdays calls are
generally cloned to the ACO. On evenings and weekends police officers respond to most
complaints involving barking dogs, My animals that have been caposed, animals nt distress,
M. Calls concerning amends that arena posing an immediate problem or threat ueusuahy
refenedtot ACO,whoisomecaswisnaavai lemms=dM days. The ACOis
available m be called out for emergency situations that the police officers are nor equipped or
trained to handle. Policeofficers andthe ACO are fieyuently dealing wita the same individuals
mamtmals. SomeofWesiwfioms olvingnnimalssndthenownwsaree# elyvolatile.
Coordinating back-up and bowing dhect communication with the police when dealing with these
extreme ca "old greatly enbsace the safety of the ACO.
There is also value to having animal complaint tracked by the pollee depertmea'a rami
system. Underthe current system police officers; do not have immediate access to animal control
records. It wouldbe nice ifwehadthe abilityto review previous action Ne ACO had taken
when police officers are dispatched to a completed. We we also the process oftrniving some
ofom officere inhow [o baits hendle animals m order to reduce on dependence onhaving m
calloutthe ACO,
Some of die advantgea ofhaving the ACO report to the police department include
Lffoimatior staring will improve 1
Calls will not need to be refect w different depa cnt
Direct commanicafton with the police depacwent will help keep the ACO safe -
• Wodong-moeeclowlywiththe ACOshoWde =mowabilitytodealwitbcomplaints
after how
• Gi gofficrosa esswo imalconholequipmentshoWd�=ACO"c oW"
The City Clerk and I are requesting yaw approval b move the ACD from the Clerk's Office to
thepoliceDepa wmt. -
Cc: Pstd Dubois, City Clerk
Bob Pam , Ass[. City Manger
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