Agenda Item No. 15

Introduced by the Law Enforcement Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION AMENDING THE INGHAM COUNTY

ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE

RESOLUTION #04-340

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners adopted the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance on September 18, 1972; and

WHEREAS, Article III, Section 1, of the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance states, "An Animal Control Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners and shall serve as Director of the Animal Control Department.  Said person shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners."; and

WHEREAS, Article III, Section 7, of the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance contains the following contradictory language:  "The Animal Control Officer may be removed from office for good cause shown after a hearing before the Board of Commissioners and after first being given reasonable notice of a time, date and place of said hearing.  A vote for removal or nonremoval shall be by majority vote of the Board of Commissioners elect."; and

WHEREAS, all other Ingham County department heads and managers currently serve as at will employees; and

WHEREAS, Ingham County desires consistency in the Animal Control Ordinance regarding removal of the Director of the Animal Control Department, as well as consistency with regard to removal of department heads and managers for all County departments.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Ingham County shall adopt the following amendment to the Ingham County Animal Control Ordinance:

"Article III, Section 7.  The Animal Control Officer shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners, and may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board of Commissioners."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the amended Ordinance shall take effect when notice of its adoption is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:  Yeas:  Schor, Stid, Holman, Swope, Schafer, Minter

                                                Nays:  None            Absent:  None        Approved 10/28/04