HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0301.015 2020-2022 ris "i r\;:r ., ,:...�..
From: Sylvia Dolena
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2021 11:12 PM r , � -2 =�� 8., rt 1
To: Council Testimony :_,
Subject: TESTIMONY: COMM 301 HPD DISCUSSION ON CANCELLATION OF ANIMAL CONTROL
CONTRACT
Aloha Councilmembers,
I REQUEST A FULL REVIEW OF THE PROCESS, THE CRITERIA AND THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO
THE CANCELLATION OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL CONTRACT.
The cancellation was a surprise to say the least since HRR was given time to fix the issues (see below).
Now with the cancellation, there are basically no services provided by the County. This happened so suddenly
that now HPD will handle all incoming calls for animal control, they will basically not provide services and are
asking the public for patience and the non-profits to help with intake of animals.
So something drastically happened within a week to shift from, "you have time to fix the issues and submit a
recovery plan" to "the contract is cancelled and you have less than three days to turn everything over and _
vacate the shelters by June 30.
So what happened between June 9 when County/HPD was willing to give HRR time to fix violations and June
26?
Actions:
A review of the issues that caused an immediate and unplanned cancellation of the contract.
Investigate the decision-making criteria. (HPD will say there were many complaints. What were those complaints
that changed so drastically in a little over one week's time?)
In all transparency, we want to know what those issues are.
There were names associated with those issues. The accusers filed the complaints and the accused were not even
informed or given an opportunity to respond to those issues.
Please support transparency and truth in our County Government.
Mahalo,
Sylvia Dolena
Aloha Animal Advocates
Aloha Lokahi Associates
READ MORE>>>
The Context: Hawaii Rainbow Rangers (HRR) cancellation of animal control contract.
-HRR was awarded the contract on July 27, 2020
-HRR started services on Aug 1, 2020 without much preparation; County would not allow a start up period.
-County requested limited, Interim Services Agreement at 54% of the previous vendor's funding, yet the public
demanded full services; due to short funding HRR was short staffed and could not respond to all requests. HRR was
constantly reported to HPD and County for not providing full services.
-May 7, 2021 with the lease of a shelter in Kea'au and with the badging of 15 animal control officers, HRR moved
into full services.
-May 28- June 2, HRR found violations attributed to Nick Lippincott, embed Director of Operations from Best
Friends Animal Society. One of the violations was the badging of 8 of 15 animal control officers who were never
intended to be badged officers in the field but 15 officers were required to fulfill contract obligations for full services.
Lippincott sent Admin staff, Kennel Techs, Managers to the badging certification. Fraud.
1 Comm.N 'J
Ref.To:
Ref.Date dr— 6 2021
-June 4, 2021, HRR reported the violations to HPD with the promise of a recovery plan AND HRR terminated the
Support Agreement with Best Friends, firing Lippincott.
-June 9, 2020 meeting with HPD to discuss violations, HPD stated to HRR and in the newspaper article that they
would give HRR a time period in which to fix all violations.
-June 24, 2021, HRR was notified of an emergency meeting on Monday, June 28, 2021.
-June 28, 2021, HRR was told their contract would NOT be renewed and they had to wrap all business, turn over all
assets, and dispose of all animals by tpin on June 30, 2021
You know the rest,the scramble to relocate animals, the inventories, the moving of equipment and private property by
5pm on Wed, June 30. Then the County, due to our UPROAR! gave HRR a 30 day transition period.
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