If there’s one advocacy group that is, shall we say, passionate, it’s the group of activists concerned about the treatment of animals. And in Gilles Meloche, director of Metro Animal Services, they’ve got an ideal target.
As we wrote last week, charges of sexual harassment of a staff member were found to be true earlier this year. We’ve heard countless stories, all negative, about Meloche’s handling of his supervisory duties, and expect to report on additional accusations soon. Meloche has also been roundly criticized for his handling of emergency procedures during last week’s flood.
And in Kelly Downard, chair of the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee of the Metro Council, they’ve got, pardon the pun, a bulldog on their side. Last week Downard asked Meloche to appear before his committee to answer some questions regarding the procedures undertaken by Metro Animal Services in response to the flooding, such as:
- How staff members were trained for disasters, since eight staffers were supposedly taking training in the last month.
- Proof of certification for capacity for animals at MAS facility
- Inventory of animals before and after the flood
- Other agencies and vets that offered to assist MAS, and how they were used
- Questions about security and injuries sustained during the emergency
Downard wanted answers by his committee’s Aug. 26 meeting. This morning, Meloche called and asked for more time, claiming that because of the flood he needed more time to prepare. So now he’s got until Sept. 9 to get his stories straight.
7 responses so far ↓
1 EdenSprings // Aug 17, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Rick: Thanks for the head’s up on the committee meeting. I’m gonna make sure I have plenty of popcorn on hand and DVD’s ready to record what will no doubt go down in the books as the Metro TV Comedy Special of all time!
I would go and watch it live, but I’m afraid that when Meloche starts lying, God will finally get tired of listening to it and send a lightning bolt his way & I don’t think they’ll let me in the Council chambers with a bag of marshmallows and a stick.
Wish Kelly could be persuaded to run for Mayor…he’s one of the very few down there that is outraged by the nonsense that passes for governance in this town…
2 Thinknaloud // Aug 17, 2009 at 4:21 pm
How much stalling can Meloche get away with before answering to the people of Metro Louisville?
Maybe enough untill he’s no longer in the Ville? He’s stalling on responding to the MAS/AAA audit. He was doing that before the flood hit. He’ll probably stall on the Kentucky State Veterinary Board’s hearing on his veterinary license which is supposed to be addressed in September.
Downard’s Committee meetings must address all the misconduct that’s been going on at MAS for four years. The mistreatment of animals, employees, volunteers & pet owners. Poor record keeping for animals and funds has been ongoing. The very same behavior that sent Meloche packing from the Tallahassee, Leon County, FL shelter in just 18 months. Meloche has done far more damage in our community. It must stop.
One thing that I would really like to find out during these meetints is how and why Meloche has been able to stay in his position. Meloche is a symptom of a problem. The problem is what needs to be fixed.
My sincere thanks to Councilman Downard and all council members who will take on the challenge of fixing the problems of Metro Louisville.
3 Freedom100 // Aug 17, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I hope that Councilman Downard addresses the management or lack thereof at the shelter including the failure to follow nationally recognized procedures and state mandated standards. I hope that he also addresses the enforcement aspect of LMAS including the regular and consistent enforcement of the ordinance based not on the ordinance but Meloche’s interpretation which even the sponsors claim was not their intention. Such enforcement and the blindsided trampling of the constitutional rights of the citizens of Louisville Metro is perpetrated by the ACO’s at the direction of Meloche. In addition I hope that he addresses the fiasco partnership with AAA including the alleged missing animals and money. Where else would the people’s animals be sold by a third unrelated party pursuant to a secret partnership when the gross profits were split 50/50 while all of the expenses are incurred by the people? Oh, wait, I forgot in the Ville it is standard operating procedure to screw the people and benefit the friends.
4 Freedom100 // Aug 18, 2009 at 1:15 am
P.S. Thanks to Councilman Downard and his entire committee for being committed to ensuring transparency on behalf of the citizens of Louisville Metro.
5 Daking // Aug 18, 2009 at 8:18 am
Funny that a while back Big Head Jerry was hell-bent on throwing the GM of the Airport under the bus for an indiscretion at work involving a woman. He would have succeeded if the chairman of the air board, Nick Nichols didn’t have bigger stones than old Big Head.
Now, his hand picked Canuck does the same thing and Big Head is silent. I guess that he lives by situational ethics.
6 Jim // Aug 18, 2009 at 9:46 am
Situational ethics? Hey that sounds like what Jim Ramsey, Tom Jurich, and Rick Pitino are all practicing. They must have learned it at the Jerry Abramson charm school
7 Ann All // Aug 18, 2009 at 10:32 am
Kelly Downard, please run for mayor.
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