[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6351628,"mediaKeyId","2229586-6fc8259d9b16990951f203a70b2ed33d","parentId",2229586,"title","Multiple Auburn Valley Humane Society employees tell council CEO created ‘‘toxic’’ workplace; city schedules meeting with agency board","audioSeconds",835,"startMs",1627000,"endMs",2462000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2229586-6fc8259d9b16990951f203a70b2ed33d&start=1627&end=2462","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2229586-6fc8259d9b16990951f203a70b2ed33d/thumbnail_1627000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6351628/Auburn/King-County/Washington/Multiple-Auburn-Valley-Humane-Society-employees-tell-council-CEO-created-toxic-workplace-city-schedules-meeting-with-agency-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351628-30eb01cc27bd891138a9c6d93cf4c488/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155996&Signature=bHgf63AmlzGN2Cqw4dBQmELcxI-vLJn4T8FMV~cwc44Kf~AWo1-G~l0XOKdYkxlRjUEU--ZLry5W5w7SHSoLWXZVUJjQA7zXuXLhCOJ2mHl6y9pZ-zK336ALPuvnVFTriICQzhk9a4vlQpGiL-QnIYqZIP2ynMMNm~pWxpb41QDvmgaoOpb9dY9NpDtVq09nFlaKpWXLqO62lGZkB6mXSRLcAgDTc-7SnvGUtPLPkwgVTMgqHCoBp5RP4Rjz50GIdVxS99FsVGiB0mVFLt27AVULxi~0Uq9B-0HnSE4oplwYOKD36pAWU-YqtOwjzn9IpuelNe7p~MfER7~Pj-YIWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Auburn City, WA","date","2025-02-04T15:51:52Z","article","Several current and former employees of Auburn Valley Humane Society (AVHS) told the Auburn City Council on Feb. 3 that the shelter’s chief executive officer, Philip Morgan, created a ‘‘toxic’’ workplace and that the organization is struggling to provide veterinary and shelter services.

Jennifer Haskins, a shelter employee for more than four years, told the council she reported repeated misconduct to human resources, the AVHS board and an independent investigator. “The organization has lost the trust of many of its employees, resulting in a mass exodus,” Haskins said. She described unwanted physical contact, racial slurs used in conversation and instructions that she characterized as coaching illegal hiring practices.

The reports continued through the public comment period. Emily Madison, who said she has worked at AVHS for three years and has 11 years of animal-welfare experience, told the council that “all of the shelter, vet care staff and vet staff left the organization due to concerns with the CEO,” and that about 20 employees left in recent months, including six veterinarians. “We don’t have any paid veterinarians on staff anymore,” Madison said, adding that finding shelter-experienced veterinarians is difficult amid a national shortage.

Several other employees recounted incidents they said they had reported to HR and the board. Sarah Shire described an incident in February 2023 in which she said Morgan discharged a Taser in the shelter lobby, followed her and placed her in a choke hold. “This was a physical and forceful act that crossed all professional and personal boundaries,” Shire said. Shire said she repeatedly contacted HR about the episode and that she felt the board’s follow-up was inadequate.

Jessica Jones, who said she left AVHS on Jan. 15, described supervisors pressuring staff to accept wild animals even though, she said, the city contract limits the shelter to companion animals. “If a good Samaritan brings wildlife to us and we say no, that’s bad publicity,” she said reporting a comment she attributed to Morgan. Jones said she had reviewed the contract language and did not see authorization to accept wildlife.

Dr. Erin Donovan, a veterinarian who said she has worked with Northwest Bay and Neuter Center and the shelter, said she stopped working full time because of what she described as a decline in medicine and staff morale. “Phil Morgan has said he didn’t care if there was a vet at Auburn Valley Humane Society or not,” Donovan said, and added that board members told staff “everything is just fine.”

Several commenters urged the city to take steps to ensure animal care and staff safety. The council’s mayor, Nancy Backus, said she and City Attorney Jason Whalen have a meeting scheduled Friday with the board chair and vice chair of AVHS to discuss the concerns and that she would bring video evidence of the comments made during the Feb. 3 meeting. “We have limited oversight, very limited. We have a contract with the agency,” Backus said, adding the city would raise the points with the board.

Council members who heard the comments did not take formal action at the meeting. The testimony noted operational issues (staff departures and lack of veterinarians), alleged employee mistreatment, and alleged unsafe physical conduct by the CEO; speakers said they had reported those issues to HR and to the board.

The council meeting record shows the city will meet the week of Feb. 3 with AVHS board leadership. The mayor described the city’s role as bounded by the terms of its contract with the agency and said follow-up would proceed through that meeting.

Ending: The council did not vote on any direct remedies at the meeting; the mayor and city attorney scheduled the follow-up meeting with AVHS board leadership for Friday and said they would share the video record of tonight’s public comments with that board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Auburn Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Several current and former employees of Auburn Valley Humane Society (AVHS) told the Auburn City Council on Feb. 3 that the shelter’s chief executive officer, Philip Morgan, created a ‘‘toxic’’ workplace and that the organization is struggling to provide veterinary and shelter services.","taxTitle","Auburn, King County, Washington","taxId",2616,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6351624,"Auburn council approves appointments, ordinances and three resolutions; lodging tax grant to Chamber included",183,2694000,2877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2229586-6fc8259d9b16990951f203a70b2ed33d&start=2694&end=2877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2229586-6fc8259d9b16990951f203a70b2ed33d/thumbnail_2694000.jpg","/articles/6351624/Auburn/King-County/Washington/Auburn-council-approves-appointments-ordinances-and-three-resolutions-lodging-tax-grant-to-Chamber-included","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351624-d4617cda0bfd1d12e168af04355edbd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155996&Signature=l3aNxkTgD6G9F5WoFP7oOJigVoh7drZ20hr7OLlGfphEx0Bjx9Y6n3XzbN899fCTPe8378D5FagnRDzZ0VkpHGqs7z835a1DH12Jolpoh-2ifYrqr~vK0EJkHgdJSyCCCLdtqu5~EXtdgUjPlSpwmRmSJrlRN0lH971va1kbI8S2eojvYIIcjMu3S5bQWQJvI9p6w7UQKTa3u1xA-wYNkMMgN3CFUUHul2ESF~06cwFCKmceKfkJQFp-Oxpgxq7u--5Kg6a2J4kmkxeIa4g~wioTeg3sAoMzrVSsCx27vGjDwzSdBByv6ncePuF5Ur8IuK35uCdymUHgMgA7ZqcbAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Auburn City Council on Feb. 3 approved routine agenda items including a board appointment, two ordinances and three resolutions.

Council approved the appointment of Laurie Ann Black to the Transportation Advisory Board for the Americans with Disabilities Act position for a three-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2027. Deputy Mayor Raikes moved the appointment and Council member Traut Manuel seconded; the council approved the appointment by voice vote.

The council passed Ordinance No. 6962 (recorded on the meeting as passed) and Ordinance No. 6971, which amends Section 1.25.030.A.2 of the Auburn City Code to refine time periods for correcting code violations “increasing flexibility depending on the type of violation, scope, and requirements for correction,” Council member Tracy Taylor said. Both ordinances were approved by voice vote.

The council adopted three resolutions:

- Resolution No. 5803: Authorizes the mayor to execute an agreement with King County to implement the 2025 local hazardous waste management program and accept and expend program grant funds. Council materials state the grant amount is $22,347.95 and will support education on residential and school hazardous-waste topics.

- Resolution No. 5806: Authorizes the mayor to execute an amendment to the Auburn Municipal Airport land lease with Cascade Helicopter Services to implement the 2025 fair market value lease rate adjustment and other terms. Council members noted Cascade is the airport’s longest active commercial tenant and that the amendment includes operational updates such as arranging a car for visiting pilots.

- Resolution No. 5810: Approves lodging tax grant disbursements recommended by the Auburn Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and authorizes an agreement with the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce for tourism and marketing services. The Chamber requested $150,000 for 2025; the LTAC unanimously recommended the award on Jan. 15, 2025.

All items on the consent and business agenda were approved by voice vote; the meeting record shows no roll-call tallies for individual councilmembers on these items. Several council members spoke briefly in support of the measures during the motions and seconding of items.

Ending: The council concluded the business portion of the meeting and moved to mayor and council reports; no executive session was held.","The Auburn City Council on Feb. 3 approved a Transportation Advisory Board appointment, two ordinances and three resolutions including a King County hazardous-waste grant, an airport lease amendment and lodging-tax disbursements to the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce.","actionData","errors"]

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Multiple Auburn Valley Humane Society employees tell council CEO created ‘‘toxic’’ workplace; city schedules meeting with agency board

Auburn council approves appointments, ordinances and three resolutions; lodging tax grant to Chamber included