LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, 3-8-2012

Well done HPD
Editor: I have the need to wax poetic about our local Healdsburg Police Department. You’ve no doubtedly read about another bank robbery which, once again, was cleared by an arrest. During my tenure as the police chief, (2002-2010), we had three bank robberies and they too, were cleared by arrests. In the past few months, we’ve had two more bank robberies, all cleared by arrests. In my earlier life as a Concord Officer, we had numerous bank robberies in that city with only one cleared by an arrest, that I can remember, and that was because an off-duty officer was in the bank doing his banking! Bank robbers are not often caught. And when they are, it can be days, months, even years later. HPD has an amazing record of capturing bank robbers within hours of the robbery. They can’t do this without the help of citizens who step forward to provide the necessary information needed to make those arrests. And because of the great relationship that HPD officers have with this community, those citizens are comfortable doing just that. Citizens and police solving crimes together. Sir Robert Peel would be proud! This is true community policing in action. Well done HPD! And thank you Healdsburg citizens and the neighboring agencies for your part in helping HPD be the successful agency it is.
Susan Jones
Police Chief, ret.
Vice Mayor, City of Healdsburg


Change is hard
Editor: As a supporter and volunteer of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter I have been puzzled and surprised by the ongoing heated dialogue swirling around the Shelter; in particular the recent concerns about the training and privacy policies pertaining to volunteers. In reading some of the headlines it would appear that the citizens of Healdsburg are players in a Mel Brooks movie, standing outside the gate with flames and pitchforks in hand. That is not my experience. My grandmother used to say” everyone is entitled to an option but, they don’t own the facts” wise words in a time of transition.
In September 2011 an article in the Press Democrat outlined the financial challenges the shelter was facing. Paying additional fees for land, permit costs and building overrides and project management issues were innumerated, the shelter had run out of funding and the building was not completed. The board was clear and transparent, outlining the facts and making a call to action for the community to join in raising the additional dollars needed to complete the shelter. On a parallel course, Julie Seal, the newly hired Executive Director, brought professional rigor and her background of collaboration with other shelters into the fold. It was made clear by the board Julie’s task was to oversee the shelter management while the board handled the financial and goal setting responsibilities in sustaining and growing the organization. Nothing in my Healdsburg Animal Shelter experiences indicated the level of volatility and anger that has erupted over the last few months from a few volunteers.
When I read the last editorials about the volunteer packet, I immediately read through mine, finding nothing outside the normal expectations set by our regional Volunteer Center and echoed through most successful not-for-profit organizations. Then it dawned on me, there are no bad guys, just an organization in transition. When working for United Way, I often witnessed organizations suffering severe growing pains when policies become more well defined and less laze faire, chain of communication is clearly established and, “the way we used to do it”, isn’t as effective as creating a system with agreed upon roles and responsibilities. Change is hard and most people hate it. The extra burden of limited funds and a stalled Capital Campaign must be adding additional stress to the work of the Healdsburg Animal Shelter staff. I support Rollie’s call to let the board have time to take a breath, and complete the audit and discovery on the building. During the course of the year our local shelter has more than tripled the number of animals adopted. With this in mind, I am confident that the Healdsburg Animal Shelter will more than exceed the hopes and dreams of those who have donated time and money. I for one, will continue to volunteer and support the shelter, knowing that the best interest of our community is to have a place where animals can find a second chance, and a forever home.
Daisy Damskey
Geyserville


Tree cutting
Editor: There has been a great deal of confusion and controversy regarding the recent vegetation clearance along Fitch Mountain Road. There were two distinct groups that worked on the road in January and February: the Sonoma County Road Department used a county supervised inmate crew to remove low vegetation interfering with visibility and road safety; and the PG&E Vegetation Management Department used a contracted tree service company to remove limbs and trees interfering with high voltage wires. In the hope of shedding some light on this situation, I have spoken to contacts from both organizations, and they have advised me that they will provide a detailed explanation of their specific responsibilities and the scope of the work that was done on Fitch Mountain. I will make this information available as soon as I receive it. FireFreeFitch’s mission is to inform Fitch Mountain residents not only of the dangers from fires but also of specific ways in which they could make their own property safer. Please visit our web site at www.firefreefitch.org for further information about our programs and initiatives.
Laura Tietz
FireFreeFitch
Healdsburg