Manatee County receives 33 applications for Animal Services Advisory Board

MANATEE -- More than 30 people have applied to be on the Manatee County's Animal Services Advisory Board.

After concerns from county staff, the public and commissioners, who received emails and phone calls, the county reopened the application period for residents interested in serving on the board, which makes animal policy recommendations to the county commission.

The county has 33 applications on file from 2014 to present. Applications were due Saturday.

There are six vacancies on the seven-member board, which hasn't met in nearly a year. Terms for six members of the board have expired or the members has resigned. The last Animal Services Advisory Board meeting was in November.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the county commission was set to appoint five new members and approve an amended resolution for the Animal Services Advisory Board, but the agenda items were pulled from the agenda the day before the meeting after concerns arose about certain people not being listed as potential appointees.

"We received concerns from several people who said they submitted applications," Deputy County Administrator Karen Windon said last month. "We felt that it was better to pull it and readvertise so everyone interested in serving had that opportunity."

While 14 applications were included on the Sept. 22 agenda for consideration, the county now has received 33 applications for consideration. Some of the applications on file were received as early as February 2014 but not included on the Sept. 22 agenda.

Nick Azzara, the county's spokesman, said the public safety department, which now oversees the Animal Services division, will be contacting all applicants who submitted applications from as early as 2014. On Oct. 1, the Animal Services division returned to the public safety department after Bill Hutchison, former interim director of Animal Services, retired Sept. 30.

"They are going to get in touch with those individuals who have submitted applications to determine if they are still interested," Azzara said.

Joel Richmond, Animal Services enforcement supervisor, has been named the division's acting chief until a new director is selected. A search will still take place for a new Animal Services director, Azzara said.

Hutchison said Sept. 21 they included all 14 applications received on the agenda for consideration for the advisory board.

"I processed every one that I have," Hutchison said.

According to a news release from the county, applications submitted within the past year will be considered.

The date when the commission will appoint members to the advisory board has not been set as of Monday.

The 33 applications and when they were filed are:

Lisa Barnott, an incumbent, May 21, 2010.

Luke Berglund, an incumbent, May 28, 2014.

Charles Hamilton, an incumbent, Dec. 31, 2014.

Jean Peelen, an incumbent, Feb. 4.

Rebecca Neal, May 28. 2014.

James Cooper, June 1, 2014.

Gerald Thomas, Sept. 30.

Marlene Focht, Sept. 28.

Karen Brian, Feb. 24.

Joan Ellis, Feb. 25, 2014.

Danita Ray, Sept. 23.

Pam Freni, Sept. 28.

Anne Bridges, May 29, 2014.

Tejbir Sandhu, March 2.

Rebecca St. Jean, Feb. 20.

Katie Wiehl, Feb. 27.

Barbara Yoder, Sept. 27.

Betty Trigueiro, Sept. 26.

Beth Ward, Feb. 26.

Jessica Spencer, May 31,2014 and Feb. 17.

Joanna Maza, Feb. 27.

Susan O'Day, Feb. 27.

William Oser, June 7, 2014 and Sept. 25.

Candace Luther, Feb. 21.

Kathy Garrett, Feb. 23.

John Marble, May 29, 2014.

Jeanne Nelson, Feb. 18.

Jeff Gerhard, Feb. 20.

Alice Kaddatz, Feb. 18.

Barbara Hemingway, Sept. 28.

Timothy Karau, Feb. 20.

LaVonne Bower, June 2, 2014.

Ruby McCarthy, Oct. 3.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Manatee County receives 33 applications for Animal Services Advisory Board ."