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Select Board weighs ending contract with Winchendon for animal control, seeks call logs and cost study
Summary
After residents reported slow responses and kennel concerns, the board reviewed the current intermunicipal animal-control agreement and asked staff to collect call logs and cost comparisons so the board can evaluate bringing animal-control in‑house or modifying the contract.
The Templeton Select Board opened a detailed discussion March 26 of its animal-control (ACO) arrangement with neighboring Winchendon, after several board members and residents raised concerns about response times, kennel conditions and accountability under the current intermunicipal contract.
Board members described anecdotal cases in which callers said the contracted ACO did not respond promptly, and one member said a resident was asked to keep an animal in a garage because of slow pickup. The board asked the town administrator to research specific incidents, gather call logs and return with data that will allow a cost and performance comparison between continuing the contract and hiring a local on‑call or part‑time ACO.
A board member outlined the financial tradeoffs: the current line item for animal-control operations in FY27 is about $21,500; by contrast, other towns pay a wide range for ACO services (examples cited: a full‑time ACO in a larger town at about $49,514; smaller towns report on‑call stipends of $5,000–$7,500 or hourly rates around $16). One member said converting to a local on‑call model might cost roughly what the board already budgets, while another cautioned that operating a municipal ACO requires administrative oversight and stable staffing.
The board also reviewed the draft contract language and flagged two contract provisions it wants changed if the agreement is renewed: (1) reporting/forfeiture of fees to the town — members argued that fees collected on Templeton’s behalf should be turned over to Templeton rather than retained by the contractor; and (2) the contract clause that allows the Winchendon police chief to determine adequacy of equipment — members said Templeton should retain the right to approve equipment it will own or maintain.
No final decision was made. The board directed the administrator to compile incident dates/times and dispatch/call logs, run a cost comparison (contract renewal vs. local on‑call hires), and return with a recommended path — including potential warrant language or an override line item if hiring Town staff is preferred.
