Monday, May 20, 2013

By Janet Hefler
Published: March 26, 2009

With a May 1 closing date looming for Martha's Vineyard's only animal shelter, Carter Luke, president of the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), and Kate Vanderhoop, shelter task force coordinator, called for action at an All-Island Selectmen's (AISM) meeting Monday night.

Selectmen from all six Island towns, as well as Lenny Jason, chairman of the Dukes County Commissioners, county manager Russell Smith, and several members of a shelter task force attended the meeting at the Chilmark Community Center.

Carter Luke, MSPCA president, spoke with Island selectmen Monday evening.
Photos by Ralph Stewart

The option of running a shelter under the auspices of Dukes County with the Martha's Vineyard community's support garnered the most interest.

Mr. Jason, however, voiced some reservations. "I think we all agree something has to be done," he said. "The county has limited funds, so we would only get involved with the guarantee that the towns would support this new process."

As Mr. Jason pointedly reminded the selectmen, "You know, we've been involved in processes before, where everybody suddenly develops amnesia by the time you really start spending the money - we wouldn't want to do that again."

Although the AISM group is not a decision-making entity, the selectmen agreed to take up the matter at their individual board meetings, and then ask the Dukes County Commissioners for their support.

The Oak Bluffs selectmen took the lead at their meeting Tuesday night, voting to endorse the county-run shelter concept.

Warren Doty of Chilmark

Shelter in transition

MSPCA officials announced on February 5 that they planned to close the Katharine M. Foote Memorial Animal Shelter in Edgartown, as well as animal care and adoption centers in Brockton and Springfield, due to economic difficulties.

A few weeks later, several Vineyard animal control officers (ACOs) spearheaded the formation of a shelter task force to explore alternatives.

Ms. Vanderhoop, the assistant Edgartown ACO, offered to act as the coordinator of the committee, which is made up of selectmen and town representatives, Mr. Smith, Dukes County Commissioner Melinda Loberg, ACOs, and veterinarian Charles Rogers Williams.

Mr. Luke met with the group on March 10 and offered the continued use of the shelter building for Martha's Vineyard's use in caring for homeless animals. He repeated that commitment to the selectmen Monday night.

"So what we have to bring to the table is that our building is available, and we want to help in any way we can to have a successful transition period," Mr. Luke said, adding that the MSPCA is not looking for money for the building and equipment inside. "April 30 is the last day - I hope by May 1, we can facilitate someone stepping forward."

West Tisbury selectman Diane Powers asked whether the MSPCA could grant an extension. "Five weeks is really short order for this community to put something together for ourselves," she pointed out.

Kerry Scott of Oak Bluffs
Photos by Ralph Stewart

"Unfortunately we're not in a position to be able to do that, I'm afraid," Mr. Luke told her. "Unfortunately, there are two other cities in which we're trying to facilitate situations like this, in Springfield and in Brockton, and we're unable to extend the time. Our expertise, our building, any way we can help, we will."

In announcing the closings, Mr. Luke said they were driven by a drop of more than 25 percent, or $11 million, in the Mapco's endowment fund in 2008.

"I know there have been discussions about how we're making money on Martha's Vineyard - unfortunately, we're subsidizing a lot of our facilities, and we just can't afford to do that anymore," Mr. Luke said Monday night.

He explained that the MSPCA spends about $250,000 a year on the Vineyard shelter, which has operated at a deficit of about $130,000 a year for the last several years. Although the MSPCA took in about $120,000 a year in donations specified for the Vineyard shelter, Mr. Luke said the organization still had to subsidize its operating budget. The shelter averaged 300 to 400 animals per year.

"I know the task force has been meeting and coming up with ideas - at this point in time, we're going to continue to help in any way we can to make a new beginning," Mr. Luke said. He also offered to notify MSPCA donors who contributed to the Martha's Vineyard shelter in the past to jump-start new fundraising efforts for a locally-run facility.

Arthur Smadbeck of Edgartown

The county solution

Following Mr. Luke's remarks, Ms. Vanderhoop reviewed a report from the shelter task force, which outlined issues to address and the pros and cons of possible solutions.

The task force's proposal for a shelter overseen by Dukes County calls for using the county's permits, licenses, and policies as needed to establish and continue the shelter's function. The county would oversee monies collected, provide administration and bookkeeping services as needed, and oversee all shelter building maintenance from available funds.

A seven-member board of directors, made up of one representative from each Island town and one county representative, to include an ACO, veterinarian and lawyer, would run the shelter, along with at least one employee. Monies used to run the facility will be generated from private donations, bequests, fundraising, grants, and funds available from the county or towns.

The shelter task force noted that one of the biggest concerns for ACOs and Island veterinarians is the loss of the Mapco's crematory. Ms. Vanderhoop said Dr. Williams researched alternatives and suggests using an off-Island service, Angel View Pet Cemetery and Crematory, at least in the short-term.

"We need Dukes County, we need the towns, and we need the community," Ms. Vanderhoop said.

How skeptical are they? (From left) West Tisbury selectmen Dianne Powers and Jeffrey "Skipper" Manter and Chilmark selectman Frank Fenner at Monday night's All-Island Selectmen's meeting in Chilmark.

Dollars and cents

"The first question I would ask is, what am I signing on to?" said West Tisbury selectman Richard

Knabel. "What is that commitment going to mean? Money, oversight - what is the business plan, what is the administration?"

Oak Bluffs selectman Kerry Scott, who serves on the shelter task force, said that $10,000 would be available for developing a business plan through a grant suggested by Martha's Vineyard Commission executive director Mark London.

Oak Bluffs selectman Ron DiOrio suggested the towns could put their dog licensing fees towards an animal shelter fund. However, Ms. Powers said that would require a change in legislation, as state statute limits use of those fees for schools and libraries.

Mr. DiOrio said it would be worthwhile to look into getting the legislation changed. "Then that could become the basis for funding an Island-wide shelter - because I think we're going to have to come up with some dollars to make it work," he said. "We're not going to be able to rely solely on donations."

Mr. Smith said the county is ready and willing to help, with the towns' support.

"If we're going to do this, it seems to me we're going to have to ask the county for their help," said Edgartown selectman Art Smadbeck. "I appreciate the county's offer, and I understand their concern because in the past, we have had amnesia," he added, referring to Mr. Jason's earlier remarks. "I promise you we won't have amnesia if we do this. What we can promise is if we ask the county to do it, we will support you, and we will bring all the interests together that we can to support this concept."

Mr. Jason pointed out that no one has figured out yet how the shelter costs will be assessed. "So long as you don't use the school formula," Mr. DiOrio quipped.

Mr. Jason also cautioned that a locally-run shelter is "probably not going to be on the same grand scale as the MSPCA." He said he would bring the animal shelter issue before the Dukes County commissioners at their meeting Wednesday evening.