LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 4-26-12

Public Schools Week
Editor: It is with pride and excitement that we announce the return of Sonoma County’s “Public Schools Week,” which will be held in Coddingtown Mall from May 4-11. Participating school districts will be showcasing programs and opportunities provided by our public schools. Displays of student work will be enhanced by live performances throughout the week.
Our system of public schools has been a dominant factor in creating in America a way of life and standard of living that is the envy of nations throughout the world. Please join us in thanking our teachers, assistants, secretaries, business staff, clerks, principals, bus drivers, kitchen workers, nurses, psychologists, custodians, speech therapists, and coaches for their hard work and enduring devotion to the students and families of Healdsburg.
Rhonda Bellmer
Superintendent/Principal
West Side Union School District
Jeff Harding
Superintendent
Healdsburg Unified School District
Bob Raines
Superintendent/Principal
Alexader Valley Union School District
City poll results
Editor: Among many others I participated in the recent telephone poll regarding many issues facing our town leaders, including potential tax increases for various services provided by the city. The prelim results can be viewed on line at www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us and I urge all citizens to read and contemplate carefully what is in the report.
In my view, almost all of poll responses did not translate into an overwhelming “yes” or “no” for any one particular choice. There was, however, one poll question that stood out for its clear and significant majority response of a resounding “no” and that was the question posed re a one-time charge and continuing parcel tax for repair and maintenance of our by now infamous bridge.
Again in my view, it appears that the polled citizens recognize that if anything was learned from the financial crisis of 2008/2009, which continues to affect us all, is that hard choices have to be made, and priorities set, in managing our diminished financial resources. Nostalgia and a love for history and so-called historic structures does not pay any bills. One wonders if city administrators and elected city officials have finally come around to a more hard-headed (and, yes, painful) approach to such matters, especially with the huge liability of unfunded pension obligations facing our fair town. I will probably be run out of town for such views, but it looks to me that I am not alone.
Bill Andersen
Healdsburg
Is HAS a Dinosaur?
Editor: Did you know that the life span of the average Fortune 500 Company is 40 years? The Healdsburg Animal Shelter has served the community for 52 years since March 22, 1960, but the question is: Can it survive using its current organizational structure?
A corporation needs to be flexible and willing to innovate; for example, what happened to Myspace after Facebook developed a newer user-friendly social network? Even such venerable corporations as IBM, Sony, and General Motors must learn to change or die. Will HAS be able to meet the challenges of the 21st century using a corporate structure rooted in the last century? In order to succeed, the HAS Board of Directors must take its fiduciary responsibility seriously, truly listen to the concerns of the community it serves, and be willing to build community consensus even with those members of the community that are critical of its operational methods. As Napoleon said, “He who stays within his fortifications is lost.” HAS must be willing to innovate or go the way of the dinosaurs.
During the April 4th tour of the unfinished animal shelter and the City Council meeting of April 16th, the HAS board promised to provide the Healdsburg community with answers to its questions; however, some of the most important questions still remain unanswered, such as how much money does HAS actually have to spend on the new shelter? Even after its report to the City Council, it is unclear as to how HAS will pay for the estimated $300,000 to repair the cracks in the shelter’s foundation, and to furnish the shelter. Can HAS actually open the new shelter this fall if it is involved in legal proceedings to recover money from its contractor? The drama that surrounds the shelter can end if the Board of Directors provides the public with specific facts regarding its finances and a concrete time line for opening the shelter.
At the City Council meeting, Bill Anderson stated that the Board was working overtime to provide answers to the community and a forensics accounting of HAS’s finances will be released around May 1. Members of the community complained at the City Council meeting that they need to understand the “history” of what went wrong during the last few years at HAS. Forensics should not be necessary because four members of the present board were serving as HAS board members when the decisions were made, and Kathleen McCaffrey is listed on the HAS website as “historian.” Surely, she can provide the community with the history of HAS’s present problems. HAS can answer the community’s need for history by posting an explanation of its past actions on its website and resuming the HAS newsletter that has not been published since spring 2010. Since running an organization is time consuming, why not add more board members to help? The two additional members that HAS states it will add in the next two weeks are not enough. Section 5.02 of the HAS By-Laws allows for up to 15 board members. There are many members of the community that are willing, qualified, and anxious to help.
Even with all the public meetings and the City Council’s attempt to offer a forum to improve communication between the community and HAS, there still is no transparency, but only statements that “sometime” in the future HAS will provide the community with the answers it seeks.
Will HAS go the way of the dinosaurs or will its leadership realize that solving the shelter’s serious problems should involve all opinions, even dissenting ones? An organization that fails to consider what its critics say limits its vision and ability to evolve. Strength comes from tolerating dissent and welcoming debate. A strong, vibrant organization learns from its critics. Cutting off opposing viewpoints, whether by muzzling volunteers or chastising community members who disagree, is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. One thing is certain; change will come whether through revolution or evolution. HAS must change or face extinction. The animals are anxiously waiting. 
Pat Ajemian
Healdsburg
Staying open
Editor: We can not tell you how touched we have been by the outpouring of kind words and support we have had from so many wonderful customers over the last 3 months since we decided to close our store.   Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
It is because of this support we are going to give it another try and KEEP OUR STORE OPEN!    We have learned how to be better buyers – Price is important to you and you are important to us.  We are making a commitment to having the same quality products at lower prices!!
Each week we will be scrutinizing our products and seeing how we can lower prices yet maintain the same unique mix of lovely merchandise.
We will also be open longer hours to fit your busy schedule – open until 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays!
Thanks again – we feel so blessed to be part of such a wonderful town for the past 17 years!
Shelley Anderson & Linda Woodward
Midnight Sun
Concerned about animals
Editor: Last week a letter to the editor asked if we were tired of the drama at the animal shelter. I certainly am; however, much more importantly, I’m concerned about the welfare of the animals at the shelter.  
Until the end of February, 2012, I was a volunteer at the shelter. For over 10 years I walked dogs 3 to 4 days a week. I have been there to see what was happening up close and personal.
Most people became aware of the problems at the shelter when the plight of Cash, the mastiff mix, got headlines last November; but Cash was only the catalyst that put the spotlight on the on-going problems of the HAS Board.
I think it is important to remember what caused the “drama”. For brevity, I will focus on just the last 2 years.
Since March, 2010:  
– The board hired, and fired, two Executive Directors.
– Between the tenures of the two Executive Directors, the board “promoted” the Animal Control Officer to Shelter Manager. This “promotion” required that he continue to perform his animal control duties 3 days a week, leaving him only 2 days a week to manage the shelter. After valiantly trying to make this impossible situation work, he requested that he return to his original position.
– At least seven board members resigned.
– The board failed to complete the new animal shelter.
The majority of the current board members were on the executive committee of the board during all of this and more.
While I am sure that all the board members have tried their best, they have been unable to:  provide leadership for the shelter; get the animals moved into a new shelter; develop a shelter environment which meets the needs of the animals it serves.
Recently, the board added two new members and elected them co-chairs of the board. They appear to believe that this action makes it a new board – it doesn’t. The majority of the board members have been there throughout the problems and they are the ones who selected the new board members.   
As a community, we have supported the Healdsburg Animal Shelter and worked with the board through their numerous attempts to get it right. Sadly, the situation has not improved and the stress on the animals and the staff continues.  This is the true drama.
This isn’t about the board – it’s about the animals and it’s time for everyone to act in the best interests of the animals.
For the first time, we have a viable alternative. Green Dog Rescue (GDR), a non-profit, has offered to take over the shelter. GDR has the experience and expertise needed to provide Healdsburg with a functioning, humane shelter NOW. This is a wonderful opportunity and we should not let it pass us by.
To the board: Please, for the sake of the animals, step aside.  
Beth DeCoss
Healdsburg