St. Louis County ethics committee recommends subpoenas in animal-shelter licensing probe

The St. Louis County Ethics Committee voted to recommend that the full County Council issue subpoenas for employees and contractors connected to licensing and inspection records at the county animal-control facility.

The committee’s action came at its June 3 meeting after members said information provided at an earlier Committee of the Whole had been incomplete. The recommendation asks the council to subpoena named individuals to testify under oath and to produce relevant books, records, photographs and recordings.

The committee chair, speaking at the start of the meeting, said the ethics panel would request emails and other communications about license inspections and repairs from the county IT department and would consider issuing subpoenas to ensure witnesses appear. Council Member Days supported calling witnesses not present at the prior hearing, and members…