WINSTED — The state Department of Education is arguing with the town over who should pay for funding requests made by the Board of Education.In late May, Superintendent of Schools Blaise Salerno sent a letter to state Department of Education CFO Brian Mahoney asking for the town’s conduct to be investigated for not responding to a funding request made by the Board of Education.In the letter, Salerno wrote that he hand delivered a letter of request to Town Manager Dale Martin for $154,430 for non-educational expenses that Salerno claims has become part of the district’s budget for this school year.According to information provided by the board, $68,612.31 has been spent by the district in snow removal, $25,339.34 for asbestos management, $51,000 for crossing guards and $9,478.38 for Berkshire Alarm.In a letter sent to both Salerno and Martin, Mahoney questioned why these expenses were not part of the fiscal 2010-11 town budget.“It seems clear that crossing guards and Board of Education snow removal prior to 2010-11 were included in the town’s budget,” Mahoney wrote. “It appears that safety and code work such as asbestos and lead abatements and fire code issues were also handled through the town and not part of the Board of Education budget. If in fact all the above items were not in the Board of Education’s budget in 2008-09, the state Department of Education would adjust the 2010-11 Board of Education appropriation down by $154,428.”In response, Martin wrote to Mahoney that the $68,612.31 in snow removal was not in prior school budgets because the funds were used this year for emergency purposes.“These funds should be classified as emergency snow removal for removal from rooftops as the result of the excessive snows this past winter,” Martin wrote. “It was not a typical appropriation that could have been anticipated, unlike traditional snow removal from parking lots and driveways. Repeated suggestions by town officials to school officials to address the excessive rooftop snow accumulation were apparently disregarded, leading to the need to hire contracted labor at premium rates due to the urgency of clearing the roofs.”Martin wrote to Mahoney that the $51,000 expense for crossing guards had not been included in previous Board of Education budgets, but was moved to the school district’s budget as part of a town meeting in May 2010.“According to town records, the superintendent and several members of the Board of Education were in attendance, indicating knowledge of transfer of cost,” Martin wrote. “Why was this added expense not included on the 2010-2011 ED012 filed with the state on Nov. 1, 2010? Furthermore, the district lists crossing guards as an in-kind expenditure.”(A ED012 is the state Department of Education’s minimum budget requirement [MBR] compliance form.)Martin goes on to contend Salerno’s assertion that $25,339.34 was not appropriated in the 2010-11 school district budget for asbestos management.Martin included the minutes of an August 2010 Board of Education meeting where the board unanimously voted to allow Salerno to spend up to $6,600 for the removal of asbestos in a hallway near the cafeteria at Pearson Middle School.“The money will come from $25,000 set aside for emergency maintenance at Pearson,” Martin wrote, quoting the minutes from the meeting.As for the $9,478.38 for Berkshire Alarm, Martin notes that the funds are for the replacement of emergency lights and horns.“It appears as if [this] ‘emergency’ expenditure was due to the failure to undertake routine maintenance which had been previously and annually budgeted, but apparently not used for intended purposes,” Martin wrote. In conclusion, Martin writes that town officials would be meeting this week with the state’s Office of Police and Management to explain why the town has requested a sixth extension to file a 2009-10 audit.“The primary reason for this request is the number of uncompleted audit items by the Board of Education,” Martin said.As of press time, Mahoney had not written a response to Martin’s letter.
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Marsala is eager to go home with you.
Tiffany Lemelin, shelter manager, brushing Marsala upon arrival.Provided
The Little Guild is an animal shelter at 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike in West Cornwall. Founded in 1957, the organization rescues animals from local surrenders and under-resourced shelters. When a rescue animal arrives at The Little Guild, staff begins a careful intake and transition process to ensure the animal is safe, healthy and ready for adoption.
New arrivals are quarantined in-house. Vaccinations are verified as up to date, and staff assesses each animal’s medical, behavioral and placement needs. Rescues receive medical care, daily support and behavioral training to ease shelter stress. Once a dog has finished quarantine and is ready for a home, its profile is published at littleguild.org.
Michael DeBarba, certified dog trainer working with Marsala.Jennifer Almquist
Prospective adopters fill out an online application with information about their household and veterinary and personal references.
The next step is for the prospective adopter and family members to meet the dog. If there is already a dog in the household, a meet-and-greet is scheduled so the dogs can get acquainted.
The animal care staff offers guidance based on its knowledge of each animal’s personality, needs and quirks to help families find the best fit.
Marsala wins a heart.Jennifer Almquist
Once a match is made, the adoption contract outlines aftercare. Adopters agree to return the animal to The Little Guild if the adoption doesn’t work out. The organization’s commitment continues after adoption, with six months of free training and follow-up from staff to answer questions or address concerns.
“Please don’t pass Marsala by,” Lemelin said. “He loves people and other dogs. He’s a lap dog who lives for snuggles, cuddles and face kisses. Marsala deserves a family, a soft bed and a lifetime of being chosen.”
To find out about Marsala and other rescue dogs and cats, visit littleguild.org
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Sampson, a playful and independent blind hound mix, explores the rescue’s large yard.
Though she takes in dogs of all ages, including some with disabilities — and one resident cat — the rescue’s motto is “Giving old dogs new lives.”
Sadie, center, a Carolina dog, plays with her friend Negra, a terrier mix. Bella Linda, the small poodle, has since been adopted.L. Tomaino
Sadie, a sweet Carolina dog, was the first to greet visitors.
“She could really use a home,” Meade said.
Then came Bonnie and Clyde, rat terriers; Negra, a small terrier mix; Sampson, a blind hound mix; and Jay Z, a terrier mix who was emaciated when Meade took him in and has since filled out, with fur regrowing over previously bald patches. Wesley, a young, shaggy mix whom Meade calls “a very good boy,” is also in need of a home.
Wesley, a young, exuberant mix, is looking for an active home.L. Tomaino
Meade began rescuing dogs after going to Waterbury to adopt one and learning that, by the end of the three-day weekend, the dogs she was looking at would be euthanized to make room for others.
She went home and started her rescue in New Preston, Connecticut. After five years there, she moved to California, where she rescued dogs from overcrowded pounds for 13 years.
Meade, a busload of dogs and her cat moved back to the Northeast a little more than a year ago.
Ninety-nine percent of the dogs at the rescue come from pounds, both locally and in California and New York City.
“We are more than happy to place dogs with older people, and we are also willing to give support after the adoption,” Meade said, noting that some rescues will not adopt to people over 60.
Bonnie and Clyde, an affectionate terrier pair.L. Tomaino
For those who cannot adopt, the rescue needs donations of old blankets, dog and cat food, cleaning supplies, puppy pads and dog treats. Monetary donations are also welcome and can be made through the rescue’s website. Meade also welcomes volunteers to help with the dogs.
Contact Meade at 805-239-4004, 860-866-7986 or 4dots@att.net to arrange a visit or drop off donations. For available dogs and more information, visit meadecaninerescue.org.
Newtown Veterinary Specialists
For Berkshire County residents, VCA All Caring Animal Hospital, 440 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, can be a nearby first call. The full-service hospital offers diagnostics and hospitalization and asks clients with an emergency or a pet requiring immediate attention to call rather than use its online contact form. It is not a 24-hour emergency hospital, however. Current hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. Call 413-528-8020.
Poughkeepsie also has several options for urgent care. Creature Comforts Animal Hospital, 64 Pine St., is a full-service veterinary hospital offering emergency and critical care during regular business hours. The hospital treats dogs and cats as well as birds, reptiles and other exotic pets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. For after-hours emergencies involving dogs and cats, the hospital refers patients to regional emergency facilities. Call 845-625-2474.
Community Animal Care, 269 Titusville Road, offers urgent and emergency care during operating hours and asks pet owners to call ahead. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Urgent care is available daily by calling ahead, with extended hours until 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The practice also offers after-hours veterinary triage by video to help owners determine whether a pet can safely wait or should be taken to a 24-hour facility. Call 845-471-7459.
When an animal needs care in the middle of the night, on a holiday or for a potentially life-threatening condition, the options become more limited.
Guardian Veterinary Specialists, 4 Hardscrabble Heights in Brewster, is a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital, open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Its emergency department is staffed around the clock, with on-site imaging and laboratory services. No appointment is necessary for an emergency, although calling ahead is encouraged when possible. Call 914-704-3400.
Provided
Newtown Veterinary Specialists, 52 Church Hill Road in Newtown, Connecticut, also provides emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. No appointment is required for emergency care, although the hospital recommends calling ahead when possible. Call 203-270-8387.
Pet owners should remember that emergency veterinary hospitals operate much like human emergency rooms in that patients are triaged according to the severity of their condition, so animals with less critical problems may have to wait.
The best preparation is simple. Keep the number of your regular veterinarian and at least one 24-hour emergency hospital in your phone, and know roughly how long it will take to get there. If circumstances allow, call before leaving home to confirm where your pet should be seen.
When something goes wrong at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, knowing where you’re headed can make a frightening situation a little less overwhelming.
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