A second call from the Deputy Mayor

From: David Hendsbee <David.Hendsbee@halifax.ca>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:22:19 -0300
To: Steve Adams <adamss@halifax.ca>, Andrew Younger <Andrew.Younger@halifax.ca>, Wayne Anstey <ansteyw@halifax.ca>, Jackie Barkhouse <barkhoj@halifax.ca>, Barry Dalrymple <Barry.Dalrymple@halifax.ca>, Frank Beazley <beazlef@halifax.ca>, Brad Johns <Brad.Johns@halifax.ca>, David Hendsbee <David.Hendsbee@halifax.ca>, Mary Ellen Donovan <donovad@halifax.ca>, Dan English <englisd@halifax.ca>, Bob Harvey <harveyb@halifax.ca>, Julia Horncastle <horncaj@halifax.ca>, Debbie Hum <humd@halifax.ca>, Jennifer Watts <Jennifer.Watts@halifax.ca>, Jerry Blumenthal <Jerry.Blumenthal@halifax.ca>, Geri Kaiser <kaiserg@halifax.ca>, Bill Karsten <karsteb@halifax.ca>, Peter Kelly <kellyp@halifax.ca>, Lorelei Nicoll <Lorelei.Nicoll@halifax.ca>, Andrea MacDonald <Macdonaa@halifax.ca>, Gloria McCluskey <mcclusg@halifax.ca>, Linda Mosher <mosherl@halifax.ca>, Tim Outhit <outhitt@halifax.ca>, Kishan Persaud <persaud@halifax.ca>, Peter Lund <Peter.Lund@halifax.ca>, Reg Rankin <rankinr@halifax.ca>, Dawn Sloane <sloaned@halifax.ca>, "Jim Smith (Councillor)" <smithj@halifax.ca>, Steve Streatch <streats@halifax.ca>, Sue Uteck <utecks@halifax.ca>, Russell Walker <walkerr@halifax.ca>, Mary Wile <wilema@halifax.ca>
Cc: Francesca Rogier <rogier@eastlink.ca>, Kat Horne, Sandra Flemming <management@metro.spcans.ca>, <president-vp@spcans.ca>
Subject: Rogier vs HRM > Enough is Enough > Time for Council intervention

HRM Councillors and HRM Senior staff and others involved with Bylaw A-300 :

This whole situation over Brindi & Francesca Rogier VS HRM Animal Control / SPCA has become so untenable that we are well beyond the point of mere frustration and futility. How much more do we ( HRM ) have spend to date on lawyers wages and now almost $8,000 in impound fees? And how much more will it cost Francesca Rogier, both financially, physically and spirituality, to fight HRM Animal Control to defend for her beloved dog's life. So far for her it has been $51,000 and counting. And I wonder why Ms. Rogier wanted to immigrate here in the first place ? She is a highly educated professional woman with great ability that should be used to further advance HRM as a society. Instead the worse case scenario has occurred. This type of reception does not bode well for our Economic Strategy for immigration attraction and retention.  

Again I should not have to repeat myself about our tarnished imagine over this "dog-gone" situation. We have  lost national & international tourism and goodwill opportunities because of the bleak exposure over "Brindi". Halifax has put itself into a very dim and dismal position with the greater pet loving audience worldwide. Both HRM and the SPCA has lost a great deal of credibility over this issue.

There must be a better exit strategy than awaiting for an obscure outcome of a much delayed court hearing and ruling process.  I believe under HRM Municipal Charter Section 188 (2)f: That states :
 
(2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1) but subject to Part VIII, the Council may, in any by-law

(f) where decision making is delegated by by-law to a person or committee other than the Council, provide for an appeal of the decision, the body that is to decide the appeal and related matters.

Hence we need to revamp our HRM A-300 Animal Control Bylaw whereby appeals can be heard by a sub-committee of HRM Council. It would be modeled much like our current process for Taxi License Appeals, Variance Appeals, Dangerous and Unsightly orders and the like. So why does our Animal Control Bylaw  require an expensive judicial process ?  Our courts should be dealing with much more important things that things such as this.

Therefore I will be asking this be added as soon as possible as an Agenda Item, either as an In Camera item because it involves a current court case, or can this be perused as a regular agenda item whereby a revised generic Council Committee administrative process  be adapted into Bylaw A-300.

I once again plead for some common sense to prevail....please  leave the egos & big brother attitudes at the door. Everyone needs to be reasonable ... please !

I remain,

David Andrew Hendsbee
DEPUTY MAYOR
HRM Councillor District 3 :
Preston - Lawrencetown - Chezzetcook
Tel #: 829-2465
Fax #: 829-3620
Cell #: 483-0705
E-Mail: david.hendsbee@halifax.ca
E-mail: david@hendsbee.ns.ca
Web-site: www.halifax.ca/district3
web-site: www.hendsbee.ns.ca