By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer 

NAPLES— As though the animal control officerwasn’t busy enough with calls that can sometimes take hours, another town would like to hire her.

Luckily, at thesame time, the part-time ACO assistant position has been filled. 

A balance might be struck: More work and an extra person to help.

The intention for the Town of Harrison to employ the services of an animal control department that is already shared by three towns was made public last week.

Currently, Animal Control Officer (ACO) Jessica Jackson serves the towns of Casco, Raymond and Naples. The Town of Casco employs Jackson, paying her salary and benefit. Casco bills the other two towns for roughly one-third of those costs. 

“The town managers of Casco, Raymond and I [from Naples] met with the Harrison town manager a couple weeks ago to discuss their request to share the ACO services,” according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley.  “And, of course, the main concern we have between three towns is the possible negative impact in response-time to our communities.” 

“However, we have hired a part-timer. That position has been vacant now for better than 8 months so that will help,” Hawley said. 

“But because we’ve already gone through our budget seasons, it wasn’t best to set up a plan now. What we have tentatively suggested is that we would provide services to Harrison, on billable, call-by-call basis, and do it under an Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] until next year when the new budget can bedrafted, and their share determined,” Hawley said.  

Next year, a more formal shared agreement can be implemented, he said. 

After the meeting of managers, it was decided that Harrison would write up the MOU and each town wouldsign it.

As of Aug. 8, last Monday, Hawley has not received the MOU document from that neighboring community.  

During the Aug. 8 meeting, Chairman Jim Grattelo wondered if taking on a fourth town was the right move. 

“How is she going to handle all four towns? This new assistant— how many hours a week?  We were told at the last meeting she (the ACO) doesn’t work weekends. She works Monday through Friday,” Grattelo said.

Hawley said it was not a set schedule.

Grattelo continued talking.

“We have gone from three communities to four. My understanding is that she has been doing this per diem,” he said.

Hawley confirmed this saying, “She has been doing it on her own time.” 

Selectman Colin Brackett asked Hawley if he anticipated an impact on Naples services if another town is added the mix. 

“Based on the numbers from Harrison, it is very small number. I am not concerned,” Hawley said. 

Brackett clarified that the board was being updated and there was no need for a vote.

Grattelo asked a few questions.  

“She is a natural employee of Casco. She is employed by Casco? Is Casco making the decision to allow this to happen since she’s an employee of Casco? Who makes the decision for us to take on Harrison,” he said.

“It’s a mutual town agreement. All towns have to agree,” Hawley said. “We just haven’t got that far yet. I don’t have an MOU yet. I don’t know what the language is.”

Grattelo said, “So this is coming before us again.”

Hawley said once the MOU document is completed, it will return to the selectmen’s table.

Also, during the meeting, he said that Jackson had been tracking call volumes in Harrison for the past few months.

On Tuesday, Jackson provided an explanation about call numbers via a text.  

“Call numbers do not accurately show the amount of time spent working in each town. So, it’s hard to quantify it like that. With a regional program, all towns would split the cost of having a full-time officer who’s fully equipped and ready to handle whatever complaints come in,” Jackson said. 

“Naturally we may have more work in any give area at any time.It tends to equal out though,” she said. 

She talked about the new hiree.

“Right now, my assistant is waiting to begin her training program. We are unsure how long the first part will take. It’s a two-part training through the state Animal Welfare Department. Then, she’ll need field training,” Jackson said.