§ 6-3. Animal grievance board: creation, authority and purpose.

(a)

An animal grievance board, consisting of five (5) voting members is hereby created as follows:

(1)

Members shall be residents of Maverick County.

(2)

Members shall be appointed by the city council, with each council member entitled to one (1) appointment with preference that one (1) member be a licensed veterinarian.

(3)

Members shall serve without compensation.

(4)

Members' terms shall be governed by the city's general term limit ordinance. If a replacement has not qualified upon the expiration of a board member's term, then said member shall continue to serve until the member's successor is appointed and qualified.

(5)

The members shall annually elect from its membership a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary whose respective duties will be as follows:

(A)

Chairperson. The chairperson shall preside over meetings and shall be entitled to vote upon each issue. In the event a question over procedure arises, Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail.

(B)

Vice-chairperson . The vice-chairperson shall assist the chairperson in directing the affairs of the advisory board. In the absence of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall assume all duties of the chairperson.

(6)

The director of the public works department, or his/her designee, shall be an ex-officio member of the board, with the responsibility to participate in discussions but without the right to vote and shall designate appropriate staffing to cover meetings of the board.

(7)

A quorum for meetings shall consist of three (3) members. The term of each board member shall be two (2) years; except that initial appointments shall serve staggered terms so that the term of two (2) members expires after one (1) year. The board must be composed of at least one (1) licensed veterinarian.

(b)

The animal grievance board shall have the following powers and perform the following duties:

(1)

The board shall act solely in an advisory capacity to the city staff and the council in all matters pertaining to animal control; shall acquaint itself with and make a continuous study and review of the complete animal facility of the city; and shall confer with the staff and city council from time to time as to the present and future maintenance, operation, planning, acquisition, development, enlargement, and use policies of the city's animal control facility.

(2)

It shall provide written recommendations to the department of public works, and the council, on the development of long-range capital improvement programs, and, when in its opinion the need exists for additional facilities, grounds, or premises. It may also recommend the acquisition of additional, staff, equipment and supplies.

(3)

It shall develop for the council's review rules, regulations, and policies governing the use of animal control. To this end, board members shall have access, for observation purposes only, to all areas of the animal facility.

(4)

It may develop programs, materials and/or work with appropriate city staff to develop partnerships or secure funding for community-wide programs and initiatives aimed at educating the public on responsible pet ownership and providing health services to pets, including vaccination and spaying and neutering services.

(5)

It shall make any other recommendations to the council regarding animal control matters that it considers advisable, including from time to time recommending amendments or changes to this chapter to the council.

(6)

The board, through its chairperson, shall make both an oral and written report to the council, when requested, concerning its present activities and proposals for the future.

(7)

The board shall have no authority over the direction, supervision, employment, or termination of employees of the animal control division. No supervisory power of the board is created or should be implied.

(8)

All powers and duties prescribed and delegated herein are delegated to the board as a unit and all action hereunder shall be of the board acting as a whole. No action of an individual member is authorized except through the board.

(c)

The animal grievance board will review chapter 6, Animals, as necessary at least once a year and provide written recommendations to the city council for possible revisions to the chapter, if necessary.

(Ord. No. 2018-20, § 1, 8-13-2018)