By SANDY McGEE

BLACKSTONE — A regional animal control department is currently being planned, while the town’s longtime animal control officer (ACO) has been “let go,” town officials said on Thursday.

Town officials are in negotiation talks with another municipality in order to create a regional animal control office, said Town Administrator Kenneth Bianchi.
The “other community” cannot be named at this time, Bianchi said, but would be announced once the contract is finalized.
“We are presently in negotiations with regionalizing our animal control so we can reduce costs,” Bianchi said. “We have been told that next year’s funding in the Commonwealth will be very difficult. We are looking at further reductions in state and local aid and reductions in tax revenue due to higher unemployment.”
In May, town officials closed its animal shelter at 14 Chestnut St. in order to reduce operating costs. The shelter, located behind the Blackstone Valley Regional Recycling Center, contained available housing for 10 cats and five dogs.
“It (regionalization) is a sign of the times,” Bianchi said. “You are looking to cut costs and provide essential services. We could not fill a firefighter position this year due to funds. My first priority would be to fill that position before animal control. It’s a matter of public safety.”
The Blackstone Animal Shelter was built six years ago. Before the shelter’s construction, the town used a private kennel in Uxbridge.
The town administrator hopes to have negotiations completed by Sept. 1 in order to create a regional animal control office.
Officials have also chosen to not reappoint Janet Inger as the animal control officer (ACO), a position she held for the past 10 years.
“We are not reappointing that position at this time,” Bianchi said. “We put it on hold because of the financial crisis we have here.”
This past May, the ACO’s hours were reduced from full-time to 19.5 hours. The part-time salary for the ACO, which was approved by voters at the annual town meeting, was $21,020.
The total operating budget for the animal control department for fiscal year 2010 is $34,863, a reduction of about 35 percent from fiscal year 2009.
According to Bianchi, Inger has been on medical leave since June 1. He sent a certified letter around July 10, which notified Inger that she would not be reinstated to the position of ACO.
Inger recently sent a “letter to the editor,” thanking volunteers and residents who have supported her and the Blackstone Animal Shelter.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank-you to so many people who in different ways made the Blackstone Animal Shelter such a wonderful place for stray unwanted animals in town,” Inger wrote.  “ … I would also like to say thank-you to the residents for allowing me 10 years of service, a service not only to you, the residents, but also to the many animals that have crossed my path.
“... I walk away from you with a heavy heart as I will truly miss all the animals that have depended on me for help. I will also miss the residents who over the years became my friends. I wish Blackstone much success in the Animal Control Department and pray that someday the town leaders will allow the little safe haven in the woods to re-open.”
Kevin Sullivan of Blackstone has temporarily taken over the responsibilities of animal control officer part-time. He is serving only on an on-call basis, said Bianchi.
“We are making a savings,” said the town administrator. “We have had minimal animal activity for the past two weeks. We have had no problems where we needed assistance by an animal physician or veterinarian.”
In May, town officials said that any stray animals picked up on streets would be transported to a local veterinarian.
The responsibilities of the ACO include the following: enforce state and local laws relating to animals, capture stray animals and transport them to an animal shelter; respond to complaints of animal problems, including animal bites; and remove dead, injured or dangerous animals from the street.
The ACO’s duties also include compiling animal control data; coordinating a public relations program in order to foster public awareness of ordinances regarding animal control; and other responsibilities.
Dog licenses are not issued from the ACO, but through the Town Clerk’s Office during regular office hours.