Towns seek regionalization of animal control servicesDate: 6/16/2010 June 16, 2010.
By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD -- The regionalization of services is a win-win for partnering municipalities during trying economic times, according to Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen and West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson.
The two are requesting their town councils to approve an inter-municipal agreement to share animal control services, allowing both to keep the position in their fiscal year 2011 (FY11) operating budgets while splitting the cost.
Cohen explained he was forced to cut the animal control officer from full time to part time for the FY11 budget. Gibson had a similar problem because the town would lack an animal control program due to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno's termination of the Animal Control Agreement between Springfield and West Springfield for the use of Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control Facility, effective July 1.
"With the enactment of the Municipal Relief Legislation . [legislators] have really encouraged communities to work together to provide services and maintain employment," Cohen said. "I really believe that this is going to be the way of the future: the regionalization of services."
He noted the animal control officer would remain an employee of the town of Agawam, work at the Agawam Police Department and receive employee benefits via Agawam. The time worked and finances for that position will be split evenly between Agawam and West Springfield, Cohen added.
Gibson explained he's been working on finding a suitable substitute for animal control services since Sarno announced the termination of their agreement last year.
"Our costs at T.J. O'Connor were on the high side . we were one of those communities that [incurred] a high cost for the service we were getting," he said.
The inter-municipal agreement with Agawam also allows for a cost savings for West Springfield, Gibson added.
According to the agreement, the total cost for a full time animal control officer for FY11 totals $49,810 of which Agawam and West Springfield will each pay $24,905.
"Fortunately, our City Council saw the advantage of this [partnership with Agawam] and voted nine to zero to accept this agreement and I hope the Agawam City Council sees [so too]," he added.
The Agawam City Council will vote on the inter-municipal agreement at its June 21 meeting.
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