The AC&C has 7 Directors on its Board, but only 4 were present. They did not identify
themselves (they never do). However, Shelter Reform recognized three of them: Dr.
Thomas Farley (the Commissioner of Health), Bruce Doniger, an “independent” director,
and Dr. Jay Kuhlman (a veterinarian and an “independent” director). The fourth Director
would not identify himself. Missing were: Adrian Benepe (Commissioner of Parks),
Patrick Nolan (an executive of Penguin Books and independent director), a representative
of the Police Department, and John O’Connell (a blood sport hunter and the longest
serving Director).
Dr. Farley (the new Commissioner of Health and, not incidentally, the new Chairman of the
AC&C Board) handed Risa Weinstock a “thank you letter” from Mayor Bloomberg for her
services as “Interim” Executive Director for 8 months. (Risa Weinstock had briefly served
as the AC&C’s general counsel before resigning, and then was asked to return as Interim
Executive Director. She had no prior shelter experience.)
Dr. Farley then introduced Julie Bank, the new AC&C Executive Director. He said how
fortunate the AC&C was to have a professional with 20 years experience in animal
shelters (first at the ASPCA, then in Phoenix, AZ, and finally in California), as well as being
a native New Yorker.
In turn, Ms. Bank gave crisp presentation (accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation) of
her vision of strengthening and adding to the AC&C’s structure and organization. She
praised the AC&C’s “wonderful” staff and rescuers, and described how volunteers give
loving care to AC&C animals, and that far more volunteers are needed (particularly in
Brooklyn). She noted that the AC&C won a bid for a new 5-year contract with the DOH for
animal care and control, and the AC&C is awaiting approval “by government” personnel.
She mentioned that the AC&C’s budget was “balanced” (more on that later).
Next, a staff member of the Department of Health murmured in an almost inaudible voice a
review of a recent AC&C’s audit. A member of BTQ (a high-end accounting firm that
counts major charitable organizations as its clients) also murmured softly about the AC&C
finances. The Board had absolutely no questions.
It would have been useless for the audience to ask questions: the longtime rule is the
Directors will not answer questions posed by the audience. However, the following was
audible: the words “balanced budget,” revenues from public adoptions were down,
revenues from the DOH are down [caused by the recent budget cuts], and the cost of
pension and health benefits for employees was also down. (TRANSLATION: many AC&C
employees have left or have been fired, one sure fire way to help balance a budget
savaged by DOH imposed budget cuts and the loss of adoption fees.)
When asked by an audience member whether the AC&C would post the Board minutes
and these reports on the AC&C’s website, the Directors looked flummoxed. Breaking
their rule about answering questions, they said they would take the request under
“advisement.”
The meeting was then opened to public comments. Even though each speaker is
restricted to only 3 minutes floor time, the following speech (by former AC&C volunteer and
current member of Shelter Reform, Esther Koslow) was read in its entirety because other
audience members asked, and were granted, permission to transfer their speaking time to
Ms. Koslow. (We can promise you the AC&C Board will never allow that privilege again!)
Among her comments, Ms. Koslow requested the Board to resign and allow experienced
and savvy animal advocates and philanthropists on the Board. The Directors did not look
happy. Click here to read Ms. Koslow's speech.
Rescuer Patty Adjamine (of New Yorkers for Companion Animals) gave an impassioned
speech about how rescuers are suffering under the financial and emotional stress of pulling
animals with no adopters or fosters in sight. Ms. Adjamine also deplored the AC&C’s
insistence on sugarcoating the truth about rescuers and the conditions at the AC&C shelter
buildings. Another audience member criticized the AC&C’s rule forbidding people to
cross-post appeals for AC&C animals, and cited that 53,000 animals were killed over the
past 4 years alone.
Two other people were allowed to speak, and when yet others clamored to be heard, Dr.
Farley declared the public portion of the meeting over, and sent for a policeman to clear
the room.
QUESTIONS:
The AC&C is technically a 501(c)3 organization, with legal obligations about openness
and transparency. While the AC&C Board (all handpicked by Mayor Bloomberg) may wish
to maintain secrecy, they can’t under applicable law. Basic documents, such as minutes of
Board Meetings, financial reports (certainly those presented at Board meetings such as
the Audit and the Accountant’s Statement) should be made available to the public. Tax
exempt, charitable organizations must practice openness and transparency.
The new 5-year contract is another document that should be made available for public
review once the City approves it.
The AC&C directors act as though they serve the government (heh, heh, they do in fact)
rather than a charitable organization with duties to disclose basic information.
And why won’t the Directors (or their representatives) identify themselves at Board
meetings? Is that a secret, too?
When will they take questions from the audience? The AC&C Directors already changed
the by-laws requiring them to meet only once a year. Just once a year to meet these
people who never visit the shelters to see conditions for themselves. Shameful.
| The AC&C Directors held a board meeting on June 23, 2010. To their surprise, it was standing room only for members of the public attending the meeting. |
| Shelter Reform Action Committee (SRAC) ShelterReform.org: Everything you ever wanted to know about the AC&C, but were afraid to ask. |