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Volunteer alleges retaliation, poor conditions at Hamilton Animal Shelter; council to investigate
Summary
A long-term volunteer accused the township’s health officer of retaliatory treatment after grievances were filed by shelter employees; council members said they will look into personnel and operational concerns raised by the volunteer and other speakers.
A Hamilton Township volunteer and several speakers used the council's public comment period on Sept. 16 to raise allegations of mismanagement, retaliation and unsanitary conditions at the Hamilton Animal Shelter. Council members said they would follow up with administration and review the materials provided.
Tony DiStefano told the council he has volunteered at the shelter for about four-and-a-half years and said he was removed as a volunteer by the township’s health officer. “This man has a very bad streak in him,” DiStefano said, alleging the health officer had pursued grievances against two employees and then took action affecting volunteers. He told the council he had requested a copy of the volunteer handbook and that the request was ignored.
Other speakers backed DiStefano’s account of low morale among staff and volunteers. DiStefano said employees filed grievances alleging contract mismanagement and that he believed he was removed because he was prepared to testify in one of those grievance hearings.
Why it matters: The shelter provides a public service involving animal welfare and public health; allegations of personnel retaliation and unsanitary conditions, if sustained, would require administrative response and possible corrective action.
Council members said the complaints raise personnel and administrative issues that cannot be fully addressed in open session but that staff will investigate. “We are gonna have to look into it,” a councilmember said. The council president directed staff to follow up and asked the volunteer to provide documentation; DiStefano provided a package of materials at the meeting.
Council members and staff said they would speak with shelter leadership and other relevant staff to gather facts. No formal disciplinary action, investigation result or policy change was announced at the meeting. Council members reiterated appreciation for volunteers and said the township would review the complaints through the appropriate administrative channels.
Ending: Council members asked staff to investigate and report back. The volunteer was invited to provide contact information and documentation; councilmembers said they would be in touch after staff completes a review.
