Three named to animal control panel

Three new members of the Valencia County Animal Control Advisory Committee were unanimously approved by the county commissioners Tuesday.

New members Lorell Campbell, Jean Dobbs and veterinarian Debra Trujillo will join Chairperson Judy Babcock, Cynthia Ferrari, Lee Laney and Michelle Jespersen on the advisory committee. The committee has been studying possible revisions to the Animal Control Ordinance, in addition to finding ways to improve the Valencia County Animal Shelter.

Two previous committee members, Ruben Chavez and Steven Chavez, who have not been attending meetings, were dropped as committee members. Ruben Chavez, enforcement supervisor of planning and zoning, has been busy with department duties and had no problem with the decision.

In the past, Linda Cisneros, animal control director, was a voting committee member, and Commissioner Gary Daves suggested that Cisneros not vote or chair any of the meetings, due to her position as animal control director. Babcock has been chairing the meetings, and Cisneros agreed to the voting restriction.

Of the new committee members, Trujillo of Bosque has extensive experience, having served as branch chief veterinarian in the U.S. Army and as an animal control officer in the state of Washington. Dobbs breeds Chihuahuas and is a longtime member of the Valencia County Kennel Club, while Campbell breeds Rhodesian Ridgebacks and belongs to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States.

A petition for a grand jury investigation of the Valencia County Animal Shelter regarding claims of animal cruelty has been filed by animal rights activist Marcy Britton. The petition is now being handled by Deputy District Attorney Lee McMillian of the Seventh Judicial District. It was filed in 2001, when Commissioner Alicia Aguilar chaired the commission. Aguilar was named in the petition, but she was later dismissed as a party, though, in the process of defending herself, she accrued $3,123 in personal legal fees.

Part of the Tuesday commissioner’s meeting was to approve a resolution on legal fees for commissioners. However, with Aguilar and Commissioner Helen Baca absent, Chairman Al Padilla, along with Commis-sioners Gary Daves and Frank Pando, voted to table the resolution in order for County Attorney Tom Garde to further revise the wording.

“If you are performing duties within your position, a resolution would not be needed,” Garde said.

In regards to Aguilar using a personal attorney, Daves said, “The appropriate thing is for us to be represented by our attorney.”

After the meeting, Padilla was asked if Aguilar would be reimbursed for her legal defense fees.

“The county attorney will study that and come back with a recommendation,” Padilla repli-ed. Padilla said he felt that Aguilar would be reimbursed for her legal fees.

On a different matter, County Manager James Fernández was recognized for receiving a Public Partnership Award on behalf of the county for the Regional Juvenile Detention Center Management. The award was presented by the Mid-Region Council of Governments Board of Directors on Aug. 2 “in recognition of an innovative approach to the integration of services and cooperative operational strategies for the Regional Detention Center.”

In other business, the commission:

• Unanimously approved a zone change from C1 to C2 on NM 47 in Peralta, where Express Development plans to construct a Dollar Store.

• Accepted a petition for paving Diebold, La Escondida and Rector Roads in 2003-04, with paving priority to be established in the future.

• Tabled a zoning map change request from RR2 to RR1 on Entrada Aragon Road, regarding Patricia Martinez.