§ 10-24. Animal control board established.

(a)

There is established the county animal control board.

(b)

The animal control board shall be composed of seven members to be appointed by the board of commissioners. Of the seven members, two shall be residents of the City of Fayetteville appointed by the board of commissioners from among the names of four persons nominated by the Fayetteville city council, that is, two nominations for each seat. At least one member shall be a person with knowledge and experience in dog behavior and/or handling, one member shall be ex officio the veterinarian on contract to the animal control department, one member shall have an interest in promoting the goals of the animal protection society or the humane society or another such broadly-based and representative organization interested in the care and protection of animals, and the other members shall represent the public at-large. The members shall serve staggered two-year terms; four members shall have terms that expire on June 30 in even-numbered years following the year of their initial appointment and three members shall have terms that expire on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

(c)

The powers and duties of the animal control board shall include:

(1)

Appointing three of its members to sit on the dangerous dog appeal board;

(2)

Hearing any appeals provided for in this chapter other than appeals of the director's determinations of potentially dangerous dogs;

(3)

Providing advice and information to the animal control department;

(4)

Upon coordination with the animal control director, making recommendations to the board of commissioners or the Fayetteville city council, as appropriate, for the betterment of the county's animal control program;

(5)

In conjunction with the animal control department and the county's public information director, providing for a program of public education, information and outreach concerning responsible pet ownership, animal cruelty, and the county's animal control program; and

(6)

Selecting officers of the board, including a chairperson, and adopting rules of procedure.

(d)

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the animal control board to conduct its meetings. The animal control board shall adopt a schedule of regular meetings and post and file it with the clerk to the board of commissioners and otherwise as required by the open meetings law. The animal control board shall schedule at least four regular quarterly meetings, at which meetings the animal control director or his designee shall appear and participate. In addition, the animal control board may hold such special or emergency meetings, upon the call of the chairperson or any three members, as may be appropriate in the circumstances, subject to compliance with the open meetings law.

(Ord. of 3-11-2015, § 10-4)