Ric Valois Recall Requests at GF Commission Meeting

Here, in their entirety, are the requests for recall or resignation as presented the evening of Tuesday 8, January 2008.

Ric Valois:

"Before I begin I'd like to preface my statements concerning resignation or recall, that the new commissioners, Mary Jolley and Bill Bronson, are not enjoined.

"I am here for the voiceless and uncared for animals in our community. I am here for those among us who give voice to their urgent cry for help.

"The remedies I put on the table tonight are purely of my own opinion and may, or may not, reflect, the remedies of others concerning this animal shelter crisis.

"We in this community who pay the bills through our taxes to our local government, and donate our time, our hearts, and our financial resources to the various charities of our choices, are the employers, not the subjects or employees, of those we entrust to carry out the order of civic responsibility or charitable cause.

"When those who are charged with this responsibility or cause refuse to do so, whether by incompetence or deliberate design, it falls to us, the employers, to remove said people charged from their neglected duties.

"1) I call for the resignations of Mayor Dona Stebbins, Commissioners Bill Beecher and John Rosenbaum, Chief of Police Corky Grove, City Manager John Lawton, and shelter director, Jamie Bennett. The correct and officials documents to be on the desks of Commissioners Mary Jolley and Bill Bronson no later than Wednesday morning, Jan 8, 2008.

"In the event this call for resignation by same mentioned parties is ignored, I will call for a legal public recall of same mentioned parties, signature gathering to commence this week.

"2) I am calling for the immediate transfer of care and responsibility of the existing shelter to be placed back in the domain of the Humane Society of Cascade County, with a full team of citizens oversight on board at the moment of transfer. All funding and financial resources approved by the City and County, at the level stated in the Staton report, to revert back to the HSCC as well.

"3) I am calling for the HSCC to install people of proven capability and integrity, Amy Lowe and Jason Dern, to positions of authority in the care and function of the reacquired shelter.

"4) I am calling for the return of all funds, donations, and financial resources raised by the City of Great Falls, Spay of the Falls, and the Animal Foundation of Great Falls, returned to the HSCC in full, effective immediately.

"5) I am calling for an immediate opening of the financial books of the City of Great Falls, Spay of the Falls, Animal Foundation of Great Falls, and the City Police Department. To be conducted and supervised by an independent specialist and citizens' oversight committee, approved by the HSCC and all affected parties, in an open public forum.

"In the event of procrastination or prolonged duplicity on the part of the City of Great Falls, the Animal Foundation of Great Falls, the City of Great Falls Police Department, and/or Spay of the Falls to meet this criteria of an open public audit, then a demand to investigate and audit the personal financial books of the individuals within these entities, and those named in the public recall, will be enjoined.

"6) I call for the creation of a permanent, independent citizens' oversight group to oversee local government as needs arise to ensure promises made will be promises kept.

"In closing, Mayor Stebbins, Commissioners Rosenbaum and Beecher, Chief Grove and City Manager Lawton, the contempt, arrogance, and belligerence you've displayed concerning this animal shelter crisis, and lack of compassion or empathy towards the animals in that shelter, have betrayed your false intentions to do good, to your true intentions to do otherwise, making your official positions untenable - entering the realm of villainous. It is time for you to go! The only choice before you now is the speed in which you do it."

Pam Hendrickson:

"I ask for the resignations of Mayor Dona Stebbins, commissioner Biil Beecher, commissioner John Rosenbaum, chief of police Corky Grove, city manager John Lawton, and shelter director Jamie Bennett, to be effective Wednesday, January 9, 2008. In the event this request is ignored, I call for a legal recall of same mentioned parties, with signature gathering to commence immediately.

"Once again I am here to say shame on you to our city managers. Not only for the excruciatingly poor treatment of the helpless animals in your care, but for the prodigous waste of tax payer funds and community resources.

"Mayor Stebbins was quick to point out that the City purchased a brand new, heavy duty washer and dryer set. Thanks to staff members who overstuffed the washer with soiled blankets, still full of feces, and who used an ultra concentrated bleach that is not to be used in that manner, the washer did not work for at least 2 months. So they did not wash soiled bedding, but threw it out after one use. Do you have any idea how many blankets they must have gone through if they were not re-using any of them? Did they have to buy bedding, or just abuse the generosity of the individuals and businesses who donated?

"Dr. Rick Scherr was going to donate a bank of approximately 12 cat kennels, but that never happened.

"Private food donations are not being used, but in fact are stacked in a back room and left to rot. Why? The Humane Society had a program that provided emergency pet food to those in need, and to the shelter foster homes, but that program has been eliminated. Please tell us why you have turned your back on pet owners in need. Why you can't even give what you have no use for.

"Fourteen foster homes were told their services would no longer be utilized because they do not live within city limits.

"The shelter does not want volunteers or dog walkers and is turning away offers of FREE help. Why in God's name would you prefer to let animals suffer? Why would you deprive a dog a short walk, instead condemning him to days or weeks confined to a kennel with no exercise? Why do you think it is better to pay for what people will gladly give?

"Ric Valois, who owns The Tree Man business, has rescued cats from trees for years, at absolutely no charge to the shelter or the pet owner. The Fire Department does not provide this service. NO ONE ELSE provides this service. But shelter management is so petty they will not call him for help, nor will they tell the public that his help is available. You would rather let a trapped cat sit for days in all kinds of weather.

"If this is your idea of improving animal care in our community, I certainly don't want you to take over the ambulance service as well. It seems that this administration is bent on taking over businesses that are already being managed in a competent and professional manner. How can it possibly be in the City of Great Falls' best interests to have rank amateurs such as yourselves take over?

"And where is the Animal Foundation in all of this? As usual these past several months, conspicuously absent. Focusing their efforts on a ridiculous dog park. Dog Parks are for animals that already have good homes and caring owners. Dogs that are not in dire need of assistance. That money should be going to the animals NOW. The money that has been collected to date should be used to build a shelter NOW.

"Once again shame on you. Reinstate the Humane Society, or we will do it for you. "

Christian Cornelius:

"I ask for the resignations of Mayor Dona Stebbins, Commissioner Bill Beecher, Commissioner John Rosenbaum, Chief of Police Corky Grove, City Manager John Lawton, and shelter director Jamie Bennett, to be effective Wednesday, January 9, 2008. In the event this request is ignored, I call for alegal recall of same mentioned parties with signature gathering to commence immediately.

"After the allegations of abuse and cruelty were made public, Pam Hendrickson and myself decided to visit the shelter.

"On December 21st we visited at approximately 1:15 p.m. and immediately noted several dogs' cages with feces and urine in them. We also noted the absence of any identifying kennel cards which would contain the animals' sex, available adoption date and other pertinent information.

"In the cat room we saw at least five (5) cats that were obviously sick. They were coughing, sneezing, and had runny eyes - all of which are indicators of an upper respiratory infection. There were also at least ten (10) dogs wearing collars - a potentially serious hazard as the dogs might become entangled by the collar in their cages and literally hand themselves to death.

"When we approached shelter director Jamie Bennett with our concerns, she told us that the kennel cards were absent due to lack of time and staff. When we attemtped to question her regarding the sick cats, whether they had received veterinary attentions and why they were in the general population and not in isolation, the collared dogs and messy cages, she promptly turned to leave to attend a "meeting" and told us to refer all further questions to Captain Tim Shanks at the GF Police Department. Pam left Capt. Shanks a message that afternoon and is still, to this day, awaiting a response.

"Why can't the shelter director, supposedly the person in charge, answer a few basic questions regarding the animals in her care? Why refer us to someone who does not even work in the shelter on a daily basis? Capt. Shanks could not possibly answer our questions and, in fact, did not. So much for accountability to the citizens of Great Falls.

"The following week on December 29th, we returned to the shelter at approximately 5:45 p.m. Our arrival did not go unnoticed and within three (3) minutes we were approached by an ACO. He asked our intended business and when we told him we were going to look around and film what we saw, he asked us to quit filming. He then told us that unless we were interested in adopting a animal, that we would have to leave. We politely refused and he then told us to quit filming and leave and that if we did not, that the police would be called to escort us from the shelter.

"Why? What are they hiding? What didn't they want us to see? Given the recent allegations, I would say there's plenty they don't want the public to see and know.

"I will continue to be a voice and an advocate for the animals, regardless of this type of harassment. These animals deserve nothing less.

"I am certainly glad that the Humane Society's name is no longer attached to the shelter. There is certainly nothing humane about what is happening there now."

Mine was short and sweet, I asked that Mr. Valois' statement stand as my own. I also stated that the City was hemorrhaging money, as well as the fact they needed to place someone who truly cared in charge of the shelter.

Another woman spoke, I'm attempting to contact her for her statement.

I also wish to thank those of you who are helping in this issue, both on the inside and outside.