Politics & Government

The Imminent Demise of DAC Leaves Bethany Scrambling for a Solution

Three potential resolutions currently being investigated.

Nearly six months ago, the town of Orange announced its intention to withdraw from District Animal Control. On June 9, Orange will hold a town meeting to address the subject, one of the last steps needed towards finalizing the separation.

With Orange poised to exit DAC next month and farm out their animal control needs to Milford, Bethany, which has also declared its intent to split from DAC, is exploring its options.

Bethany First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski has repeatedly stated her hope was the ongoing problems with DAC could be worked out and Orange would not withdraw. However, as it becomes more certain the last DAC members standing will be Bethany and Woodbridge, the economics of the situation loom large.

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It costs the tri-towns $229,201 to run the shelter, which was originally divided among four towns. When Prospect left the district, the three Amity towns adjusted and split the costs. 
Last fiscal year Bethany was responsible for 18.49 percent of the cost, paying $42,379; Woodbridge's share was 32.96 percent, with $75,545 coming out of its budget; Orange carried the lion's share of responsibility with 48.55 percent, dishing out $111,277.
“Bethany can’t afford to split the cost with Woodbridge,” Gorski said.  “We are looking at all of our options while working within the current budget.”

The most likely scenario, Gorski said, would be to model themselves after Prospect, which hired a part-time animal control officer who works 15 hours a week. Kennel space is rented from Naugatuck when needed and the town works with a $22,000 budget, significantly less than what Bethany now pays. Naugatuck has already said they are not interested in offering kennel space to yet another municipality, but Gorski said there is plenty of kennel space in town and she was hopeful an arrangement could be made with an existing private facility.

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While there is a need for animal control in Bethany, it is not overwhelming. Gorski said in 2009-10, there were 59 incidents. Of the 49 animals brought to DAC, 39 were redeemed by their owners within hours or by the next day.

Another possible solution would be to bring in a third town to split the cost of operating DAC, and Gorski said she had contacted Hamden, which has no facility of their own. Hamden officials toured DAC nearly two weeks ago, but as of this past weekend they have not responded.

A third option would be for Woodbridge to redesign animal control so officers report to the police department instead of a board of directors. If Woodbridge came back with a reasonable price for that set-up, Gorski said, it would simplify the situation. So far, she said, they have not responded with a number.

Whatever the outcome, as soon as Orange is out of the DAC picture, the board of directors will dissolve. Gorski said according to Bethany Town Attorney Kevin McSherry DAC’s charter states there has to be a majority of towns for the organization to make any decisions. With only two towns, that’s not possible and DAC will become obsolete.


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