Politics & Government

Human Services Committee Gives CARE A Reprieve -- For Now

City will draft new agreement spelling out expectations for animal rescue group that helps run Evanston Animal Shelter to look over.

Evanston aldermen voted 4-2 to draft an agreement with Community Animal Rescue Effort, better known as CARE, but not before Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) and Ald. Mark Tendam (6th) took a battering from CARE volunteers Monday evening over how the aldermen conducted two subcommittee meetings last month.

Evanston-resident Mark Carlson said that the city hasn't given any consideration to the cats at the shelter.

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“I’m here to urge you to vote no,” Evanston-resident Mark Carlson said. “I believe CARE has been treated unfairly. If you listen to the audio [from Feb. 12 and Feb. 18], you can hear that [the aldermen] weren’t interested in dialogue. Your recommendation is shortsighted. Only the City of Evanston has the authority to euthanize dogs. It’s an unfair characterization of CARE as a bunch of dog killers.”

Ald. Jane Grover (7th) suggested that Human Services Committee direct the city to draft a new partnership agreement with CARE, outlining the city’s expectations and requirements for how it wants the city to run the animal shelter.

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“I also listened to most of the second subcommittee meeting. I was expecting solutions but I don’t think we’re there yet,” Grover said. “If CARE doesn’t think these terms aren’t what they want to operate under than let them walk way. They haven’t been presented with anything in black and white to make an educated decision.”

While Tendam wasn’t part of the city’s conversation over the past two years with CARE board members, he said he  brought himself up to speed rather quickly when asked to help convene a human services subcommittee.

He was critical of an idea proposed during the second public meeting that a second animal rescue group be brought into the shelter to work with the "problem" dogs alongside CARE.

“What can a forward thinking community like Evanston expect from an organization like CARE,” he said. “CARE didn’t want the responsibility for these lost dogs. To me that was unacceptable, it’s not like they aren’t a comprehensive organization. For me the question was answered that we can’t work together.”

Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) and Ald. Colleen Burrus both expressed concerns about the CARE board’s longevity. Linda Gelb has been president of the CARE board for more than 20 years. Both aldermen suggested that CARE’s current board consider step down, as well as impose term limits for its elected officers.

“I have concerns about the CARE board and I find it suspect when an organization has had the same leadership for many years it doesn’t lead to to any opportunities to innovate or grow,” Burrus said. “The CARE board needs to look within itself. There are many volunteers here who are passionate. Give them the opportunity to lead.”

Fiske was the first to bring CARE’s high canine euthanasia rate to her fellow council members’ attention, in which 45 percent of the shelter's approximate 100 unclaimed dogs were being put down. She blamed CARE's euthanasia recommendations to the city's animal warden on “outdated and discredited” temperament testing that was being conducted by shelter volunteers aligned with CARE’s long-time board members.

“We’ve been having this conversation with CARE for over a year,” Fiske said. “If the committee wanted to be forward-thinking and look outward … this is our opportunity to state what our vision for that shelter is going to be.”

Fiske suggested the city issue a request-for-proposals, to which other animal rescue groups, including CARE, can apply to partner with the city.

“Maybe an RFP would give them some competition,” she said. “I couldn’t support going forward with CARE as the sole organization.”

During the meeting, Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington told the Human Services Committee that he had asked CARE to provide him with shelter records, but that Gelb wouldn’t supply them.

When it was suggested that CARE provide its financial books as well, the group’s pro bono attorney, James Cha, said he wouldn’t permit it.

The city attorney quickly admonished Cha, stating that it was a requirement of the IRS.

Ald. Delores Holmes (5th) asked the city manager, Wally Bobkiewicz, if he could draft a new agreement in fairly short order. She also dispelled rumors that the city was kicking CARE out of the animal shelter in 60 days so that Evanston could sell the building.

The Human Services Committee voted 4-2 -- with Fiske and Tendam as the dissenting votes -- to proceed in drafting a new agreement with CARE as the sole organization.

The committee will hold a special meeting on March 31, before another scheduled special meeting of the Evanston City Council, to discuss the first draft.

Asked after the meeting if she and other long-time CARE board members planned to resign and let new people take over, Gelb said, “they probably would prefer that we don’t comment.”

Gail Lovinger-Goldblatt, another CARE board member, chimed in that the ball was squarely in the city’s court.

“We're in a state of flux. We have to see what the city is going to propose,” she said.

CORRECTION: The date and time for the special Human Services Committee special meeting is at 6 p.m. March 31. The Human Services Committee's next regular meeting is April 10. Patch apologizes for the error.



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