Last Thursday, Supervisor Vecchio told Newsday, “I was the one who proposed a new shelter” in an article that discussed the results from a 28 page needs assessment report created by Design Learned Inc. The survey, by engineers specializing in animal care facilities, was part of a long list of improvements toward Animal Shelter reform. While Smithtown residents and animal advocates alike are pleased to see progress at the shelter, many are outraged at the Supervisor for poaching all the accolades.
“Supervisor Vecchio has been the most staunch opponent and antagonist towards resident Animal Activists, as well as animal care reform at the Smithtown Animal Shelter… On every occasion, Supervisor Vecchio fought, opposed, belittled and dismissed resident animal activists, labeling them as WACKOS, to the chagrin of the entire New York State, via news broadcast… Supervisor Vecchio cannibalized his own Town Board , particularly Councilwoman Lynne Nowick. Who was appointed liaison to the Smithtown Animal Shelter Advisory Board, by crediting himself with bringing to fruition, all the positive and tangible changes achieved at the Smithtown animal shelter since resident Animal Activists assailed the Town Board with complaints.” – Marie Thompson, Smithtown Animal Shelter Needs Change Activist
“I CAN NOT believe that Vecchio is taking any credit for the plans for a new shelter. Really? Board meeting after board meeting the ” Wacko” animal activist were in your face demanding changes on every level at this shelter. YOU could not silence us or make us go away. Now, as a result of the communities uproar, the director is finally gone and a new shelter is in the works. This is thanks to the relentless efforts from all of the animal advocates who fought for change at The Smithtown Animal Shelter. A special thanks to John Urbancik for his 100% commitment to this end!” -Debi Maier, Smithtown Animal Shelter Needs Change Activist.
Smithtown Animal Shelter News Timeline:
- November 20th 2014: 140 animal activists show up at the Board Meeting to demand change at the shelter.
- November 24th 2014: Video of George Beatty leaving the shelter, midday, to go to a bar is posted to youtube.
- February 26th 2015: animal advocate presents proof based on a FOIL request, proving Mr. Beatty had no documented sick, vacation or personal time taken on the record in 2010, when the alleged trip to the local bar was filmed.
- February 26th 2015: Vecchio Calls 10 women from the shelter wackos.
- March 3rd 2015: Supervisor Vecchio tells CBS he stands by his belief that “those calling for the firing of the town animal shelter director are unreasonable.”
- April 23rd 2015: Supervisor tells audience members at board meeting that George Beatty had the day off, when a video of him leaving the shelter to go to a bar surfaced on youtube. (No personal or sick days were recorded to support that statement.)
- May 5th, 2015: SAG Union agreement was approved by a 3 to 2 vote, granting the former Animal Shelter director a $5,000 merit raise.
- May 11, 2015: Councilwoman Nowick tells Newsday, that George Beatty wrote a letter forfeiting his merit raise.
- June 18th 2015: Supervisor Vecchio was absent for a $17 million dollar capital project budget, approved for 2015-2019 (includes animal shelter reform projects) in a 4 to 0 vote.
- June 30th, 2015: George Beatty retires with the $5,000 merit raise going to his pension.
- July 22nd 2015: long time Animal Advocate, Susan M. Hansen, is elected the new Animal Shelter Director.
It has indeed been a long journey, to progress for the innocent creatures residing at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. Smear campaigns were launched, protests for change were unrelenting and the media stayed with the story long enough to document a positive conclusion. At the end of the day, the results for the animals and their quality of life is what should truly matter. Today, those animals have the 3500 members of the Smithtown Animal Shelter Needs Change community to thank for never wavering from the course.