(A) The Animal Control Board shall consist of five members to be appointed as follows: one member to be appointed by the Jennings County Council, one member to be appointed by the North Vernon City Council, one member to be appointed by the North Vernon Mayor and two members to be appointed by the Jennings County Commissioners. It shall not be required that a licensed veterinarian serve on the Animal Control Board. The Animal Control Board shall have direct supervision of the Animal Control Officer, staff, building, facilities and treatment of the animals. The Animal Control Board shall have broad authority and shall:
(1) Report to the County Commissioners as necessary and as requested by the County Commissioners;
(2) Formulate policies, principles, standards and regulations for the control and humane treatment of all animals within the county;
(3) Meet on a monthly basis;
(4) Supervise the enforcement of the terms of this chapter and to make recommendations to the Commissioners and City/County Councils as to the ordinances necessary for the care and treatment of all animals within the county;
(5) Review the decisions and actions of the Animal Control staff in any matter related to the enforcement of this chapter. Upon the written request for a hearing concerning the enforcement of this chapter, the Board shall meet in a timely fashion to hear the complaint. All complaints must be filed in writing;
(6) Discipline employees consistent with the county Personnel Policies. All disciplinary actions taken by the Animal Control Board shall be reviewed and finalized by the County Commissioners;
(7) Oversee the budget approved by the County Commissioners for Animal Control, with said duties including, but not limited to:
(a) Approve any and all monies spent or funding dispensed by the Animal Control Board or Animal Control Officers or employees in excess of $500, excluding animal food purchases;
(b) If it is necessary for the Animal Control Officer or an Animal Control employee to make a purchase in excess of $500, prior to the next monthly meeting of the Animal Control Board, then the officer or employee shall obtain approval from the sitting County Commissioner President prior to said purchase;
(c) Approve any and all claims for monies or funding PRIOR to any disbursements being made;
(8) Have the authority to enter and inspect the Animal Control Shelter at any time without prior permission or consent from any Animal Control Officer or employee.
(B) (1) Supervision of the Animal Control Officer, powers, duties, and responsibilities of Animal Control Officer. The Animal Control Officer shall be under the direct supervision of the Animal Control Board, the Animal Control Officer shall:
(a) Report to County Commissioners as necessary and upon request of the County Commissioners;
(b) Report to the Animal Control Board as necessary and upon request of the Animal Control Board;
(c) Attend all Animal Control Board meetings;
(d) Be dispatched and clocked in and out by the County Sheriff's Department;
(e) Be paid by salary to be determined by the County Commissioners and shall have overtime and compensatory time paid in accordance with the county Policies and Procedures Manual;
1. Overtime must be recorded by the Animal Control Officer on a count employee timesheet and said log detailing when, where, and how much overtime was worked;
2. Compensatory time must be recorded by the Animal Control Officer on a county employee timesheet with said log detailing when and where the compensatory time was earned and how much compensatory time was used;
3. Overtime and compensatory time must coordinate. Failure of Animal Control Officer to be able to coordinate overtime and compensatory time may result in disciplinary action by the Animal Control Board and/or the County Commissioners.
(f) Keep a gas log in the Animal Control vehicle, which shall document the mileage of the vehicle and how much gas (gallons and cost) was deposited in the vehicle every time the vehicle is filled. Failure of Animal Control Officer to accurately record gas fill ups on the gas log may result in disciplinary action by the Animal Control Board and/or the County Commissioners.
(2) The Animal Control Officer shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:
(a) Formulate policies, principles, standards and regulations for the control and humane treatment of all animals within the county in accordance with the Animal Control Board and the County Commissioners;
(b) Supervise the enforcement of the terms of this chapter and to make recommendations to the Commissioners and City/County Councils in accordance with the Animal Control Board as to the ordinances necessary for the care and treatment of all animals within the county.
(c) Review the decisions and actions of the Animal Control staff in any matter related to the enforcement of this chapter in accordance with the Animal Control Board. Upon the written request for a hearing concerning the enforcement of this chapter, the Board shall meet in a timely fashion to hear the complaint. All complaints must be filed in writing.
(d) In the execution of his or her duties, the Animal Control Officer and staff shall have the power to enter real property in immediate pursuit of an animal reasonable believed to be in violation of this chapter, a state or federal statute or rule, or a court order; however, an Animal Control Officer shall not enter dwelling or the curtilage thereto without consent of a person who resides therein unless accompanied by a uniformed law enforcement officer with a search or arrest warrant. This division shall not be construed to prohibit the Animal Control Officer from approaching a dwelling and knocking on the door to make contact or speak with a resident.
(3) The County Sheriff shall:
(a) Report to County Commissioners as necessary and upon request of the County Commissioners;
(b) Monitor hours of the Animal Control Officer and other full-time employees, including hours worked, vacation, overtime, and compensatory time earned;
(c) Provide dispatch services for Animal Control;
(d) Have authority over Animal Control only to the extent of dispatching Animal Control as needed and tracking and reporting the Animal Control Officer's time worked.
(C) All other Animal Control employees shall be under the direct supervision of the Animal Control Board and Animal Control Officer. Said employees shall:
(1) Report to County Commissioners as necessary and at the request of the County Commissioners;
(2) Formulate policies, principles, standards and regulations for the control and humane treatment of all animals within the county in accordance with the Animal Control Officer, the Animal Control Board, and the County Commissioners;
(3) Supervise the enforcement of the terms of this chapter and to make recommendations to the Commissioners and City/County Councils in accordance with the Animal Control Office and the Animal Control Board as to the ordinances necessary for the care and treatment of all animals within the county;
(4) In the execution of his or her duties, an Animal Control employee shall have the power to enter real property in immediate pursuit of an animal reasonably believed to be in violation of this chapter, a state or federal statute or rule, or a court order; however, an Animal Control Officer shall not enter a dwelling or the curtilage thereto without the consent of a person who resides therein unless accompanied by a uniformed law enforcement officer with a search or arrest warrant. This division shall not be construed to prohibit the Animal Control Officer from approaching a dwelling and knocking on the door to make contact or speak with a resident;
(5) Shall keep track of overtime and compensatory time in the manner described in division (B)(1)(e) above. Failure of an employee to comply with said procedure may result in disciplinary action by the Animal Control Board and/or the County Commissioners;
(6) Shall keep a gas log in the Animal Control vehicle in the manner described in division (B)(1)(f) above. Failure of an employee to comply with said procedure may result in disciplinary action by the Animal Control Board and/or the County Commissioners;
(7) Any part-time employees of Animal Control shall keep track of time worked, including vacation, overtime, and compensatory time earned manually. The Animal Control Board shall be responsible for submitting part-time employees' time worked to the County Auditor.
(Ord. 2019-13, passed 12-19-2019)