Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley talked about the city's violation of union contract and cited funding and personnel issues for majority of the problems discussed in a Chat With the Mayor on Thursday at Carnegie Library in downtown Muncie.
McSchurley answered questions from a crowd of Delaware County taxpayers for more than an hour about the issues relating to funding Muncie's animal control facilities, as well as the status of a public pool in Tuhey Park across from City Hall.
The mayor talked about a situation near the end of 2009 when Muncie animal control facilities almost were closed when faced with a lack of workers because of a union contract that doesn't allow a full-time city employee to be fired before a part time one.
The city is in violation of the contract in keeping the facilities open.
"We are in an economic crisis that just won't allow us to comply with the Union contract," McSchurley said. "We're not doing anything differently in our animal control facilities than what's happening across the country."
Muncie facilities were home to 3,490 cats and dogs in 2009 and 16 percent of those were adopted by the end of the year, a statistic that is in line with the national average McShurley said.
Larry Riley, Ball State professor of 17 years, said he doesn't see the animal control as a pressing issue in Muncie.
"I don't think there is a significant animal control problem in Muncie at the moment," said Riley. "It shouldn't be the role of government to adopt out animals."
McShurley also said funding has been secured to keep the facilities open for the remainder of 2010 and she is working to ensure that they stay open.
The mayor also asked for a show of hands from the crowd when looking for feedback about issues like whether citizens would support the prohibition of smoking in restaurants, bars and private clubs in Muncie, an issue that was almost unanimously supported.
The Delaware County residents in the crowd also showed concern for a public pool in Tuhey Park, which was closed for the 2009 season.
The city is now considering taking out a loan or selling bonds to raise funds for the work that needs to be done to open the pool, which it hopes to have open by labor day weekend.
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