WELLSBURG - Brooke County's new animal shelter and the positions of the shelter's director and county dog warden were discussed at Tuesday's Brooke County Commission meeting.
The commission heard first from Jim Andreozzi, who earlier this month resigned as dog warden and shelter director. Andreozzi had held the latter position since former shelter Director Jessica Clever resigned several months ago, citing personal reasons.
Andreozzi said his job had become physically and mentally demanding but he wanted to thank many people for their support of the old shelter and in preparing the new shelter at the former Windsor Coal headquarters for opening.
He said they include the shelter's staff and two volunteer groups, Animal Advocates - Brooke County and the Brooke County Animal Welfare League.
Located off state Route 2 and south of Beech Bottom, the new facility was donated to the county by the Windsor Coal Co. and its parent company, CONSOL Energy.
The commissioners advertised the dog warden and shelter director positions. On Tuesday they appointed Karli Snyder, a shelter staff member, to oversee the shelter until the director position is filled permanently.
Luke Bowman, the county's assistant dog warden, has been assuming the dog warden's responsibilities since Andreozzi's resignation.
After Andreozzi left, praise for his efforts was voiced by Wayne Buxton, a member of Animal Advocates - Brooke County, a volunteer group that has assisted the shelter in various ways, and County Commissioner Marty Bartz.
But Steve Tennant, another Animal Advocates member, said the commission had overworked Andreozzi and harassed him.
Commission President Bernie Kazienko refuted Tennant's assertions, saying he should hear all sides of a story before forming an opinion. He said Andreozzi announced his intention to resign on an earlier occasion but reconsidered after meeting with the commission.
Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson said Andreozzi often volunteered to aid other agencies, performing tasks such as clearing deer from state roads for the West Virginia Division of Highways that were beyond the dog warden's responsibilities.
Noting Andreozzi also is a Follansbee councilman, Ferguson said, "The guy's burned out."
Andreozzi, who was called for comment, said such work was incidental to his job and it was juggling the dog warden and shelter director positions that led to his resignation, particularly since the latter involved preparing the new shelter.
He said he would return to being dog warden if the job description were the same as when he started.
The commissioners said they would consider Andreozzi if he applied.
Also on Tuesday, Dels. Tim Ennis and Roy Givens, both D-Brooke, and state Sen. Jack Yost, D-Wellsburg, presented confirmation of a $5,000 state grant they secured for paint, floor glaze and other materials for the new shelter.
Renovations to the facility are being funded with $338,000 generated by a special four-year levy approved by voters several years ago. Volunteer efforts by vocational students at Brooke High School and others have helped to keep down the renovation's costs.
Kazienko said criminal offenders sentenced to community service through the county's drug court program recently painted the shelter's interior. He said he and Lou Bernardi, the project's architect, are looking into a problem with the air conditioning system there. Bartz said he and his father, a former contractor, will be working at the shelter this weekend.
Following the meeting, he said sidewalk needs to be laid and some outdoor kennels moved there from the old shelter. Bartz said there are plans to hold an open house when the facility is completed.
Bowman said all of the animals have been moved to the new shelter. He said because it's housing more than 70 dogs and about 100 cats, the shelter isn't accepting animals from pet owners at this time.
Anyone interested in adopting a dog or cat can visit the shelter from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. To arrange visits at other times, call (304) 394-0800.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)
