The Harper Woods City Council left a proposed contract with GPAS tabled after more than a dozen residents spoke at the meeting urging the city either to support the animal shelter or to clarify how animal control will be handled if the shelter is not used.

The discussion matters to residents because GPAS provides local animal intake, medical care and spay/neuter services, and several speakers said the city currently relies on the nonprofit to handle stray and injured animals. Acting City Manager Shamansky told the council the item remains tabled while staff meets with other agencies and gathers additional documents the city requested.

During the public comment period, residents gave mixed but predominantly supportive remarks about GPAS. Laurie Sheridan, a Harper Woods resident of 43 years, thanked the council for tabling the previous proposal and said the earlier offer “was not a good deal for the city of Harper Woods” and that she appreciated the council’s decision to delay action.

Kristen Olin Sullivan, a Country Club Drive resident, said she had been at the prior meeting and warned that incomplete public information had driven misinformation in the community: “I’m very disappointed that things have evolved with not complete information out in the community because there’s a lot of misinformation about what happened at that meeting.”

Several residents described encountering loose dogs and urged the council to ensure a humane, safe response while the contract is unresolved. Jason, a recent Harper Woods resident, said he feared the police department was not equipped to handle a large influx of stray animals and added, “I’m worried that, the solution is shooting dogs, and I don’t want that.”

Other residents emphasized GPAS’s work. Juanita Busick, a 40-year resident, said GPAS accepts animals no one else will and urged the council to recognize the shelter’s value: “GPS takes such good care of these dogs. We need them.” Darlene, a retired Detroit police officer and Harper Woods resident, praised GPAS’s care for animals but said the city and council were right to pause the contract until more information was produced and presented to residents.

Acting City Manager Shamansky explained to the audience why the matter remained on the table: the city was meeting with other organizations, seeking additional documents and performing due diligence before deciding whether to proceed. Shamansky said the city wanted full information on GPAS’s budget and the terms of any proposed agreement before taking final action.

Council members did not vote to remove the item from the table. The mayor and council repeatedly told speakers the city was “operating without a net” on animal intake while staff explores alternatives and that in the interim residents should call public safety if they encounter a vicious animal. The council offered no specific timeline beyond saying it would continue meetings with outside agencies and expected to have more information after those conversations.

Council and staff also referenced litigation connected to GPAS that had involved subpoenas and settlement talks. Council members said some relevant financial and legal details had not been presented to the city or the public at the time the original proposal was offered; the council therefore asked staff to continue fact-finding before bringing a contract back for a vote.

The meeting’s outcome on this item was procedural: the GPAS contract remains tabled while staff and elected officials gather more documentation, meet with partner agencies, and report back to the council. Residents who spoke asked the council to expedite the review and to publish updates explaining next steps and interim animal-control procedures.

Looking ahead, the council said it would continue discussions with outside agencies and provide updates to the public as information becomes available. In the meantime, residents were advised to contact Harper Woods Public Safety for guidance or to report dangerous animals.