February 2, 2004
Hi Den,
Would it be possible for
me to get a copy of the shelter expenses for the months of December
and January? I have some questions. Also, is the shelter budget public
record? How can I request a copy of it?
During the last two months,
the shelter has purchased NO dog or cat food--everything was donated--and
yet Hector today informed Theo that the City would NOT buy any puppy
food. I thought we had an agreement about this--that the dogs were
to be fed appropriately, which means puppies get puppy food.
In addition, the shelter
still doesn't have that dividing gate so the dogs can run around without
supervision (a volunteer finally rigged up something with a couple
of chain link panels that were lying around, but this isn't really
adequate).
And no toilet, of course
(which is embarrassing when we get people from Tucson arriving in
need of one--we have to send them to a service station or to the recovery
house explaining that there is NO toilet, public or otherwise).
There are some other issues,
too--none of the policemen or Hector are filling out intake sheets
for the animals that are brought in. Even if Theo is there to fill
the forms out herself, no one ever has enough information. There are
liability issues involved in this as well as common sense issues.
Currently, there are only
two adoptable dogs, two adoptable pups, and two adoptable kittens
in the shelter--a real record! We are doing great in the adoption
department--we just need some more cooperation from the people in
charge.
Marilyn
------------------------------------
February 3 (Mr. Nelson's
responses are at the end of each of my paragraphs--I have put them
in italics and bold print.)
Hi Den,
Would it be possible for
me to get a copy of the shelter expenses for the months of December
and January? I have some questions.
You need to go to
the City Clerk’s office to make a public records request. It will
probably take a few days for the information to be collected.
Also, is the shelter budget
public record?
The shelter budget
consists of a line item in the police department budget. If I recall
correctly, the amount initially budgeted for operation of the animal
shelter was $8000. This did not include Theo’s salary.
How can I request a copy
of it? "
Copies of the budget
are at the Public Library and the Clerk’s Office.
During the last two months,
the shelter has purchased NO dog or cat food--everything was donated--and
yet Hector today informed Theo that the City would NOT buy any puppy
food. I thought we had an agreement about this--that the dogs were
to be fed appropriately, which means puppies get puppy food.
Please let Theo
deal with this through the administrative process. She should do another
status report for Lt. Holly and include her recommendation for purchase
of puppy food together with an explanation why it is needed. You can
bring the matter to my attention should an unsatisfactory answer be
provided.
In addition, the shelter
still doesn't have that dividing gate so the dogs can run around without
supervision (a volunteer finally rigged up something with a couple
of chain link panels that were lying around, but this isn't really
adequate).
This should be included
in Theo’s status report.
And no toilet, of course
(which is embarrassing when we get people from Tucson arriving in
need of one--we have to send them to a service station or to the recovery
house explaining that there is NO toilet, public or otherwise).
This doesn’t seem
cost efficient at this time. Theo is there four hours a day five days
a week. We can revisit this issue if her hours are increased to eight
hours a day.
There are some other
issues, too--none of the policemen or Hector are filling out intake
sheets for the animals that are brought in. Even if Theo is there
to fill the forms out herself, no one ever has enough information.
There are liability issues involved in this as well as common sense
issues.
This should be brought
to Lt. Holly’s attention in Theo’s status report. Theo should include
an explanation why complete information is necessary and what happens
when the information is insufficient.
Currently, there are only
two adoptable dogs, two adoptable pups, and two adoptable kittens
in the shelter--a real record! We are doing great in the adoption
department--we just need some more cooperation from the people in
charge.
You people are doing
a great job, just tremendous. Thanks.
--------------------
February 3 (to Den Nelson)
Thanks. I am disappointed
about the toilet issue, however--cost effective?? I don't know any
women who don't need to use a toilet between 7:45 and 12:15 every
day (including commute time) (and Theo stays longer than noon on many
days). Hector can always use his trailer since it is still there,
still hooked up.
M.
--------------------
February 3 (to Den Nelson)
I did a little research
this morning and here's a link to the relevant OSHA page:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9790
1910.141(c)(1)(i)
= pertinent section
Toilets aren't a matter
of cost effectiveness--they are a necessity. Let's just put in the
long-overdue portapotty at the shelter because it is the right thing
to do.
Marilyn
---------------------
February 4
Dear Mayor Beauchamp,
Over two months ago, when
I brought the shelter's lack of a toilet to your attention, you expressed
concern and said that you were embarrassed that no one had thought
of this problem.
Yesterday, however, upon
asking Den Nelson about the status of the toilet, I was advised that
putting a toilet at the shelter had been determined to be not "cost
effective." I was extremely disappointed in this response.
A toilet is not a luxury--it
is a legal requirement for any permanent workplace, no matter how
short the workday of the employee. I have done the research and this
is an OSHA regulation. All I am requesting for the shelter is a portapotty,
not the OSHA-required flush toilet; I realize the City has a limited
budget.
Allowing a City employee
to work without a toilet is unconscionable. What if this were your
daughter or wife or mother? Would you want her to be subject to these
conditions (my words, not Theo's, incidentally--this is my cause alone)
and treated with so little respect by her employer?
Let's just do the right
thing and put in a portapotty immediately.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Jones
------------------------
February 5
Dear Mayor Beauchamp and
Councilperson Nelson,
I don't understand how
two nice, thoughtful, well-meaning, intelligent men can think that
making an employee work without a toilet is acceptable. I guess that
is why there has to be Federal regulation of something this elementary--you
are apparently not the only employers who think this way, and probably
a lot of them are nice, thoughtful, well-meaning, and intelligent,
too.
Anyway, thank goodness
there ARE those regulations and the folks to enforce them, and right
in Tucson, too. The trouble is, if I file the complaint form I am
nearly positive that the City will be required to put in a flush toilet
at the shelter or close the shelter (thereby NOT having a permanent
workplace that doesn't have a toilet). These are NOT my goals.
I keep thinking that if
I take my concern higher, someone is bound to see my point, but I
am at the top already when I am writing the Mayor. I suppose I could
go to a City Council meeting and go on record with the problem, but
what good would that do other than make some sensational headline?
Den, you said that the
portapotty wouldn't be cost-effective. I maintain that it would be
VERY cost-effective compared to dealing with OSHA, so if cost effectiveness
is the concern, there you have it. If I receive no answer to this
email, either, I will just go ahead and file the complaint before
the end of the week.
I can't stand the idea
of Theo, or anyone else, having to do what she does as a condition
of her employment.
Marilyn
---------------------
February 5
Marilyn, I will take another
look at it; I agree that we need to have a toilet there. I don't know
what Dennis is talking about but I will find out. However, please
stop sending these messages that are so patronizing and so self-righteous.
I am growing increasingly weary of them. One day you are saying things
are fine (last Sunday) and a few days later you are plowing into us.
Give it a rest.
Dan
----------------------
February 5
I didn't want to bring
up the toilet issue at the Central School luncheon! Or the Chamber
mixer, for that matter.
Dan, you are IT here.
I told you (and Den, Jack and Ted) about the toilet ten weeks ago,
so this is hardly an ambush, and nothing has been done and Theo is
still having to go to the bathroom like a dog. I naively thought that
just advising you all about the situation would be sufficient, but
it wasn't. Getting personal with me about my emails and/or writing
style isn't fixing anything.
Marilyn
-------------------
February 5
Marilyn, you opened your
email with reference to two 'otherwise intelligent people'. Do you
think this is not personal? Do you think a steady series of emails
with threats bristling everywhere is not personal?
Good grief.
I am not IT here; the
city manager is the chief administrator of the town and he is the
responsible party.
As mayor, I am the chief
complaint desk for the city and accountable and hence I will follow-up.
I want the shelter to work more smoothly. But it is far from being
the only thing I or the City is involved in.
If these abusive messages
keep coming from you, I will refuse to open them.
Dan
------------------
Saints celebrating feast
days today include Saint Peter Claver, Saint Gorgonius, Saint Isaac
or Sahak I, Saint Ciaran or Kieran, saint Audomarus or Omer, and Saint
Bettelin.
Onward
to September 10
Back to September 8
Back
to the Farm
