Citizen board members, operations superintendent clash in heated exchange over shelter discussion limits

A dispute over the role of Salina’s Animal Control Advisory and Appeals Board surfaced during a recent meeting, as citizen board members pushed back after Andrea Murphy said future discussions need to stay focused on animal control policy, ordinances and enforcement rather than shelter operations.

Murphy, the Operations Superintendent for Salina Parks & Recreation overseeing Animal Services & Aquatics, made the comments during a discussion tied to language read at the start of the meeting about the board’s purpose and responsibilities. According to the original purpose section, the board is to act in an advisory capacity to the animal shelter division of the Parks & Recreation Department, to the City Commission on potential ordinance amendments, and to city leadership on matters pertaining to animals. The newly added language read at the meeting focused more narrowly on administration, enforcement responsibilities under city animal ordinances, and specific appeal duties under city code.

As that language was being discussed, Murphy noted that “there’s more to that,” before the newer section was read aloud. She then told the board, “So I added this in here as a reminder that the role of this board is advisory in nature, focused on animal control policy, ordinances and enforcement, we need to keep discussions aligned with that scope so that we can be as effective as possible.” Later towards the end of the meeting, Murphy added, “I want to remind you that moving forward, after today, we are refocusing with the purpose of this board, which is animal control policy, ordinances and enforcement, not shelter operations.”

That drew pushback from citizen members of the board, who argued the shelter cannot be separated from the issues drawing public concern. Rosemary Mai said she wants the board to meet monthly because, in her view, conditions at the shelter have worsened rather than improved. “I’m hoping, if we meet monthly, we can get some changes made in this animal shelter, because it doesn't seem like things are going for the best,” Mai said. “They keep going to the worst. From the time I started two years ago, till where we’re at now, things have gotten worse instead of better.” Mai later added, “In my opinion, we cannot improve that animal shelter until we get rid of everybody in there and start fresh.”

Bonnie Neubrand, also a citizen member of the board, challenged the idea that shelter operations should be off limits. “We know we can't fire you, so to speak, even though that is our recommendation,” Neubrand said. “But you know, Andy from the heart, what are you doing? Do you not see the problems? Do you not want change? Do you not want to see the animals loved?”

The exchange came against the backdrop of months of public criticism over shelter practices, spending, professionalism, euthanasia procedures, wildlife handling and overall management. Later in the meeting, as questions continued over oversight and responsibility, Murphy said she is “just as involved and very aware of what’s going on.”

The disagreement highlighted a larger divide that has been building for months: whether the advisory board should remain tightly focused on ordinances and enforcement, or whether it should continue serving as a public forum for broader shelter concerns as scrutiny of the facility continues.

Old section:

“Purpose of the Animal Control Advisory and Appeals Board, Section 9: The Board shall act in an advisory capacity to the Animal Shelter Division of the Parks & Recreation Department; act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Commissioners on potential amendments to the Salina Code and other city ordinances pertaining to animals; and act in an advisory capacity to the City Manager, Chief of Police, Parks & Recreation Director, and Animal Code Division supervisors on matters pertaining to animals.”

New section added and read at the beginning of the meeting:

“Administration and enforcement responsibilities under the animal chapter of the Salina Code and other related city ordinances; perform specific duties as required under the animals chapter of the Salina Code, including, but not limited to, having a three-member panel of the Board consider permit action appeals under Salina Code Section 7-125.”