HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0396.008 1998-2000 8/24/99
Roberta Agre
W.H. Humane Society
Good morning (afternoon), Mr. Chairman and members of
the County Council. I am very pleased that after sixteen months
of hearings, faxes and letters from WHHS and others alleging
illegal actions and lack of contract performance on the part
of HIHS, you are proposing to look into these allegations and RKEIVED
perform an audit on HIHS. llme_._`____ By._.~.....,
ooro.L-Y7?1
County Cavnyl ~ FC.
As you may recall, I was a volunteer at HIHS for four"
years. I became unhappy with the organization because of their
inhumane treatment of the animals under their care and because
of their lack of programs to address the overwhelming animal-
related problems on this island. As you may know, two feral
cat programs have begun in Kona int he past six months run
by Advocats and WHHS. These programs address the feral cat
overpopulation problem in Kona and will ultimately solve the
problem in a humane way and save the county thousands of dollars.
Both programs are run by unpaid volunteers and are only limited
by lack of funding. HIHS, of course, is well funded by the
county and should have been the logical organization to start
such a program. No such program has ever been started by them.
I'd like to talk about the method of awarding private
contracts such as HIHS' on the Big Island. As you know, before
WHHS came forward, HIHS was operating under an open-ended contract
awarded by the Finance Director. Even though it is mandated
by the County Charter that an independent audit be performed
~m~. N0. 396, 0 a p
File No. R ~s V
Ref. Tos f G
Ref. Date AIJG 2 4 1999
at least every four years on such private cor~Lractors, no audit
was ever performed. Even after WHHS stepped forward and made
serious allegations that HIHS was not performing the contract,
no audit was performed. The Finance Director, at your request,
ended HIHS' open-ended contract and put it out for bids, without
ever looking into our allegations. He then awarded HIHS a
new animal control contract, even though the anecdotal and
statistical evidence against them was overwhelming. To our
astonishment, when WHHS asked for an appeal of that decision,
we learned that the Finance Director is not only in charge
of awarding the contract, but of hearing any appeals. He is
not even required to tell us why we did not get the contract.
Of course, he declined to hear our appeal or tell us why.
I mean no disrespect, but we the citizens of Hawaii County
did not elect the Finance Director to look after our interests
and ensure that our money is being spent wisely and effectively;
we elected all of you.
I sincerely hope that you will vote to proceed with this
audit. Even more fervently, I hope that after the audit is
complete, you will give WHHS the opportunity to show you how
animal control can be handled when dedicated, competent people
are put in charge. Award WHHS the contract for the west side
of the island and let competition bring better quality animal
control and animal programs to the county.
Thank you.