Fairfield council to draft ordinance after $11,000 animal-control bill from hoarding case

Chair opened discussion on a recent large animal-intake case that produced a shelter bill the town says could be "a little over $11,000." The chair said the town’s only practical option to recoup the cost would be an ordinance allowing municipalities to charge residents for animal-control expenses.

Sheriff, who reported earlier that about 49 animals were taken into the shelter during the period, described most of those animals as coming from a single residence and said the town’s process for billing is handled by the shelter and county partners. "They can either be animal control or a resident or someone picks up a stray dog... and ask who's billed for that," the sheriff said during his report.

Several council members urged caution about how the town frames recovery of costs. One council member said, "I think we should be a little bit cautious because the intention of this go round and the 49 cats was out of yes, frustration, but it was out of concern for that neighbor." Another member recommended notifying residents before any billing: "As early as tomorrow, we should put it have Stephanie draft an email telling the community about the situation," the member said.

Council directed staff to begin drafting an ordinance to allow cost recovery for animal-control incidents and to prepare community notification language. No formal ordinance was introduced or adopted at the meeting; council members said they will return for review of the draft and further direction.

What’s next: Staff will draft the proposed ordinance and a community notice; the draft will return to council for review before any billing action is taken.