Commissioners To Hold Executive Session Set For July 6
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
An executive session will be held before the July 6 commissioners meeting.
The executive session is concerning personnel matters and the Times-Union has learned that animal control officer Jerry Clase and county administrator Ron Robinson will be present for the executive session.
The commissioners were unable to comment on the nature of the executive session. Executive sessions are not open to the general public.
The commissioners met Tuesday and part of their meeting was concerned with the conduct of Clase.
Clase has been employed as the animal control officer for 23 years. Though allegations have been swirling about potential abuse of animals, Clase has been unable to comment on those allegations.
Tuesday at the commissioners meeting, a packet of testimonials speaking against Clase was handed to commissioners Bob Conley, Brad Jackson and Ron Truex.
Some of those allegations include:
Becky and Greg Kern of Warsaw both sent in letters that were included in a packet given to the county commissioners Tuesday.
Both state that when their dogs got loose several years ago, they were killed by Clase who then put the dogs in the back of his truck.
According to the Kerns, Clase then asked them if they had dogs that got loose and showed them the dead dogs, without warning, in the presence of their daughters who were 3 and 6 at the time.
The Kerns stated they called in the complaint.
Rhonda Lewis, a former Animal Welfare League director, gave a statement stating that Clase should be mandated to take "compassion fatigue classes".
Valerie Clarkson, who stated she served as the AWL director for three months in 2005, said that in her short time she didn't think Clase should be the animal control officer.
Jill Mays, Syracuse, a former volunteer with the shelter, characterized Clase's overall treatment as appalling.
"His attitude is what made me quit volunteering," wrote Mays.
Christa Foote, a former employee at the AWL, wrote there were reports of Clase given to former AWL Director Trish Brown.
Current AWL Director Darla McCammon stated she has no file of complaints on Clase with the exception of one in May.
In an e-mail correspondence, District 22 Rep. Bill Ruppel stated Clase "is not enforcing the laws as he should."
All told, 16 letters of complaints leveled against Clase were given to the county commissioners.
John Routh recounted a 1993 incident in North Webster. He said he was "appalled and shocked" by Clase's conduct.
Pat Siri, Leesburg, also said Clase was abusive toward an animal.
"It was a horrible experience and I would most certainly call that outright animal abuse," said Siri.A letter from the DeKalb Human Society stated it would petition the county to handle animal pick ups rather than having an animal control officer.
During Tuesday's meeting, the commissioners decided to have dispatch refer cases of animals on private property to private animal removal companies.
Some of the statements were redacted to leave people's names out or were anonymous.
