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Town board approves revised animal‑control contract, debates shelter fees and call overages
Summary
The New Hartford Town Board approved a revised animal‑control contract and discussed separating sheltering from call‑response services, possible increases to a decades‑old $16,000 fee, and options for per‑call overage charges if calls exceed a threshold.
The New Hartford Town Board voted to approve a revised animal‑control contract after extended discussion about long‑term sheltering responsibilities and how to handle years with higher call volumes.
Chief Fontaine (Town of Hartford) presented the item and said he had "interest from at least two other municipalities in the last couple weeks interested" in sheltering arrangements, and asked the board to defer a final sheltering decision until the next meeting so municipal responsibilities could be clarified. ACO John provided annual call counts and described typical volumes in recent years as roughly the mid‑20s per year, which prompted members to question whether the longstanding flat fee in the contract remained appropriate.
Board members debated options that would either raise the long‑standing $16,000 contract amount or add an overage charge if calls exceeded a threshold. One proposal discussed was raising the base to roughly $20,000; another suggested a two‑part structure (e.g., a $15,000 base plus a supplemental amount for excessive calls) to soften the first‑year increase. Members framed the discussion around the need to recognize rising shelter and veterinary costs while avoiding an onerous per‑call penalty for municipalities that see occasional volume spikes.
After discussion, John moved and Dave seconded a motion to approve the contract with the agreed changes; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
The board also clarified that sheltering arrangements (which can be separate contracts) currently have Kirkland paying an outside contractor, Steven Swans, for shelter services, but that future agreements might shift sheltering to the town's facility. Officials noted any new sheltering relationship would require separate contract language to define responsibilities and owner‑paid costs for detained or unclaimed animals.
The item will return with the drafted shelter agreement and clarified fee language for further review at an upcoming meeting.
