And it's unfortunate that he didn't have the opportunity to straighten some of those things out.
Well, let me ask Mr. O'Donnell: You were, of course, overseeing this facility and this department. Were you ever informed that he was hiring his relatives? COMMISSIONER DOMZALSKI: Excuse me, Councilman. Mr. O'Donnell is in the chair for three weeks.
Oh, just three weeks? COMMISSIONER DOMZALSKI: Three 236 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 weeks. He's part of the chain.
Well, isn't it true that you were a part-time consultant?
Yes, I was. And my organization went in and worked with the executive director. We advised the executive director that those hiring practices were inappropriate, and there has not been a single hire of that nature since January or prior to that.
Yes. That's when I started. 237 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04
Okay. In other words, you called an immediate halt to something like that?
Well, we advised the Commissioner. And the Commissioner made it very clear that that would not occur.
Any new hires, for instance. Any new hires. Is anyone looking at who they're hiring?
What we did is, we went in and looked at the job descriptions, reworked all of the job descriptions at PACCA, met with the executive director, went over those job descriptions. The union had the opportunity to see some of those job descriptions. And those descriptions lay out the criteria under which we hire an employee. And as a practical matter, the way most employees would be hired is to first start as temporaries, so you have the opportunity to assess their work. And then as a permanent position becomes available, then you look to your good temporaries and 238 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 you promote them.
Okay. Now, I would just like to get on to the volunteer. You have... You're in the process of hiring a director of volunteers; is that correct?
And that's a director. And that would be... Their responsibility would be what? Getting volunteers?
Responsibility is getting volunteers, coordinating volunteer activities, working with the various units within PACCA to determine what the needs are for volunteers. 239 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 It makes absolutely no sense to bring volunteers into a facility until you have made a determination as to how you're going to best use them. All you wind up doing is giving them a bad experience. We don't want that to occur any more, and it's not going to occur any more.
Well, I think that this is one of the first things that we're going to have to do, because I think we're going to have to sit down with that person, your new director. And she or he has to do something. With all of these groups that were coming today, there was a lot of volunteers. We have a lot of volunteers throughout this city, it looks like. And I don't think there's going to be a problem of running that facility, with 240 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 as much help as you're going to get from the public. Somehow or other, things are moving too slow or not moving at all. And I think that we have to sit down, and I want to sit down with a lot of people involved today, and try to get this thing worked out. I would like to have a meeting as soon as I can with these people. I want to see if we can get these... volunteers on board, and put them on board, and put them in positions that they're going to -- that they're going to -- their input is going to be heard. And that's important, because I don't want to see volunteers just being used for the lousiest jobs of all, and then pay people, just walk away, and do whatever they're doing. I want to see them being used and have an input. I want to see them running that -- I mean, helping to run that facility, and not just being there doing the lower jobs there. 241 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04
I absolutely agree with you. And it is my belief that one of the areas where we can use volunteers the best is in the adoption program, to increase our adoptions.
Absolutely. And I think this is one of the things that we want to do, is to see if we can get into this adoption, rather than execution. Incidentally, speaking of, how are the animals being put away, if I can use that expression or euthanized? How are they being euthanized? VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: Say killed.
As they said, say killed. And that's what's happening. The animals are being killed.
You have never used gas? 242 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04
Okay. Is Mr. Stem, is he going to be returning; do you know or is he... What is his status as of today? COMMISSIONER DOMZALSKI: His status as of today, as I understand it, Mr. Stem is gravely ill, in hospital. And the board voted at its last session to employ an interim executive director while a search goes on for a permanent position.
I'm just a little confused over the way an animal goes through the process, if it is found -- someone finds an animal, a lost animal, and they bring it to the facility. What is the -- What is the process that... your normal process that you would put that animal through or put it up for shelter or adoption? Could you explain that to me?
Councilman, the issue is, what category does the animal fall into? In my formal testimony, I would 243 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 attempt to address some of that.
But if an animal comes into the shelter, the animal is assessed for suitability for adoption. There are a number of criteria that we use to make that assessment. One, obviously, is the space we have in the shelter. Another criteria is the medical condition of the animal.
Is there a veterinarian? Is there a vet on the premises to make this judgment?
We have a vet and we have veterinary technicians. And again, in my testimony I address what we're doing to try --
Right now we have a part-time vet. What we have done is, we have raised the salary of that position because we 244 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 realize that we're not going to get a vet at what we're paying. So we are now actively recruiting for a full-time vet. We are also actively recruiting for two vet technician positions that have a license and have the shelter experience, to go in and make some of those assessments that we need made. That's ongoing, as we speak.
Okay. And while there are vets, from what the testimony I've heard today, that some of them would even volunteer their services, if need be.
What we'd like to do -- And since you've only been on the job three weeks, what we'd like to do, we do have another hearing here this afternoon. And the Chair of the SEPTA board is on time constraints. 245 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 What we'd like to do is, we'll meet -- schedule the meeting. The Councilman will schedule the meeting with you, because what we'd like to see is the detailed plan for your operation, and we can't do all of that here today. So, we could sit and go over that with you, in terms of what you plan to do, what the time line is for doing it, and so that we will have -- we have some assurances that things are being done. COMMISSIONER DOMZALSKI: Madam Chair and Councilman Kelly, you have my assurance that you will have open access, you know, to us, to our facilities, to people who work with us, and to get meetings scheduled, and to have meetings with a variety of people. And I want to thank you again for the way you've, one, you've scheduled this hearing; two, the way it's been conducted, in terms of having input from a wide spectrum of points of view, on an issue that is of critical importance to everyone in the City of Philadelphia. 246 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 So, we thank you, and you will have our cooperation.
Thank you. Miss Miller -- Miss McGinley, would you like to say something? I know your name has been called a lot today. And would you like to say something on your behalf? MS. McGINLEY: I know the people at PACCA, the people that work for PACCA, are dedicated people. And we saved so many animals, and we have so many good stories that, unfortunately, you don't have the opportunity to hear today. I have pictures, if you would like to see them, for some animals that we have placed into rescue. So far today, since we've opened PACCA's doors, we transferred 3,341 animals to rescue. And each and every one of us work very hard. And it's a very hard job to put an animal, you know, to sleep, to schedule an animal for euthanasia, but the job does have to be done. 247 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 Unfortunately, there's so many animals coming in. And if we could decrease the intake of the animals coming through the building, then we would have a better chance of finding each and every animal, an adoptable animal, a home. There's just not enough homes for them. And public education, neutering and spaying, is one of the things that we need to, you know, definitely work on. But if any time you want to see any pictures, I do have them available for you.
Well, we also understand that this is not a very simple issue. It's complex. And that there is a responsibility on all sides. MS. McGINLEY: Ownership.
Ownership, as well as our commitment, the city's commitment to taking care of the animals, and doing something about the neutering and the education.
Just all of the 248 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 issues that have been raised today. So, while, you know, we have to have the discussion and the debate. And then now we move to take some action. MS. McGINLEY: That's right.
To make the corrections, and that... Give some assurances to the public that action will be taken. You heard a lot of people here today. We want to ask them to volunteer. And I'm sure they'll be willing to volunteer to come in and work at PACCA. You have a volunteer coordinator. That has to be certainly dealt with. And so, we will -- we would -- we would hope that takes place. We will recess this hearing to the call of the Chair. But in the meantime, we'll have ongoing discussions with the department. And with those of you who testified, the Councilman will be in touch with you. 249 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 MS. McGINLEY: Thank you. (Unidentified person speaking away from the microphone, not reportable.)
We believe that those people who have made the commitment, to include everybody in the process, and that, you know, in the heat of passion and emotion, sometimes things are said or done that aren't meant to be hurtful or mean. And so, I hope that we can move forward in a positive way, that those people who are so passionate about this issue, who have had animals who have died and who have had problems can all overcome that, and that we work together to make PACCA work for the city. (Unidentified woman speaking away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Well, those are discussions that will have to take place. You heard today the SPCA is not willing to do that. It doesn't mean that we can't find other ways of doing it. We do have to recess this. We will 250 040954 - Health/Human Services - 11/15/04 have a follow-up hearing to discuss what has happened with PACCA, what progress they've made, what changes have been made, and what experiences people have had with PACCA. The meeting is recessed to the call of the Chair. Thank you. (Hearing recessed to the call of the Chair, at 2:15 p.m.) 251 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public hearing of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on November 15, 2004, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)