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Several workers in the Citrus County Animal Services Division voiced their displeasure on Tuesday for being excluded from talks that would transfer them to the Sheriff’s Office.
The proposal, made by Citrus County Administrator Brad Thorpe, would see the transfer of six animal services officers to the purview of Sheriff Jeff Dawsy. It is part of Thorpe’s second phase of county government reorganization.
“It would have been nice to have been included,” said Animal Services Officer Barbara Geer. With tears in her eyes, and a shaking voice, she told commissioners she took the job to stay with the county for 20 years, at which time she would receive a pin with diamonds. “We like to be part of something and to be asked because we know our jobs,” she said.
Another worker said that code enforcement officers and the shelter have always acted as a team, and that that connection would be severed if the officers were transferred to the Sheriff’s Office. Officers understand the circumstances surrounding the capture of wayward animals and then communicate that to shelter workers. “This move could also increase the euthanasia and adoption rate,” she said.
Dunnellon resident Cathy Johnson said that not enough research had been done, and that separation of the shelter and animal control enforcement functions would cause communications problems. Johnson said it would be more logical to revamp the Animal Services function itself than send part of it to the Sheriff’s Office.
Animal Services Officer Susan Schrader was more blunt. “We were met with closed doors and closed mouths. That tells us we’re not important,” she said. Commissioner John Thrumston said that workers should have not sent a letter to the county commission, but should have instead used the chain of command.
Schrader said they had done that, beginning with discussion with Community Services Director Gary Maidhof, and last Thursday, with Assistant County Adnimistrator Eber Brown. At the meeting with Brown, Schrader said, workers weren’t given any useful information about the transfer.
A representative of Teamsters Local 79 had a problem with the move, and that the union was a violation of the collective bargaining agreement between workers and the county, and that once transferred workers would then become “at will” employees, subject to being terminated for any reason.
Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, who also addressed the commissioners, pooh-poohed the idea that workers would be summarily terminated, and called the term, “at will” old terminology. Of course, he said, employees would have to pass a background check He also agreed that there is a connection between animal control enforcement and the caring of animals, and said he would preserve that relationship.
Speaking about job security, Dawsy assured commissioners, “It is not my intention to terminate anyone.” Commissioner Gary Bartell said the most important part is the care of the animals. Dawsy responded, “The care of animals will not deteriorate. Just enforcement will change; not animal care.”
The commission unanimously voted to approve the transfer of employees to the Sheriff’s Office which, under Thorpe’s proposal, will be on Sept. 1. Commissioners did not address employees’ specific concerns during discussion before the vote, but did use the words “concerned” and “understand.”
As for “closed doors,” Dawsy said, “Sometimes I think that people think that there is cloak-and-dagger involved in restructuring the government. That’s not really so.” Dawsy said discussions needed to be held within four walls so ideas could be put on the table and hashed out. He added that he still needs more information to include the new function, such as having enough revenues and resources to absorb the new duties. He also named Capt. Mike Richey as the one who will oversee the transition.
Calling this part of the reorganization “revenue neutral,” Thorpe told commissioners it made sense to split enforcement from animal care. He also said the move would not save any money. “I did not intede to make the move to save money. It’s revenue neutral,” Thorpe told commissioners.
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