Clinton Humane Society elects new board

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By Steven Martens | Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:32 AM CST | () comments

CLINTON, Iowa — The newly elected board of directors for the Clinton Humane Society took swift action Wednesday to start over after more than a year of controversy.

It voted to have an outside firm audit the organization’s books, pledged to make the organization’s business open to public scrutiny and vowed to put the care of animals first after months of contention with the previous board’s members.

Twelve board members were elected unanimously by 396 society members Wednesday, putting an end to a drawn-out legal battle between the previous board and a group of the organization’s members who claimed the former board was not conducting its business properly.

About 45 people attended the meeting, with most of the votes being cast by proxy.

The former board members — President Kelly Thomsen; Vice President Judy May; Secretary Dan Montgomery; Treasurer Marilynn Snook; and board members Cindy Ekleberry, Jenny Ekleberry, Barb Weltzin and Sheryl Ziegler — resisted calls for their resignations for months and survived a controversial vote on their ousting last May before one of the members opposing them, Tammy Olsen, filed a lawsuit in Clinton County District Court, seeking to have the results of the election thrown out.

In a stipulated order filed in November by District Judge James E. Kelley, the board members agreed to resign in exchange for Olsen dropping her lawsuit. At the time, Montgomery said the board members still believed they had done nothing wrong, but wanted to end the controversy and spare the shelter the expense of fighting the lawsuit.

None of the previous board members attended Wednesday’s meeting.

The new board members elected officers, choosing Bob Hoffman to be the new president, Phil Barger and Mary James as vice presidents, Sandi Bartels as secretary and Pam Smith as treasurer.

The other new board

members are Sue Christiansen, Mary Jo Dopson, Roger Fraser, Rhoni Hartsock, Tammy Olsen, Jean Roeder and Kathy Williams.

The board members also must designate four members whose terms will expire in May 2010, four whose terms will end in May 2009, and four whose terms will end this May, when the organization’s regular annual meeting and board election will be held. They voted to table that discussion.

Board members also voted to have a computer consultant conduct an audit of the shelter’s computer systems, to have the shelter’s locks changed because none of them has a key, and to pursue a meeting with shelter administrator Natalie Ehm today to be brought up to speed on the day-to-day operations of the shelter. That meeting will be open to the group’s members and the public, but if Ehm or the board members wish to discuss individual employees, those discussions will be held in private.

Hoffman said the meeting with Ehm is necessary for the board to evaluate how to proceed.

“We don’t know what we’ll walk into,” he said.

New board

Board President Bob Hoffman, a business owner who has served on the board of directors of the Gateway Contemporary Ballet for 22 years and is that board’s treasurer.

Vice President Phil Barger, who has been active in the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, American Red Cross, Gateway United Fund, Paul Sharar Foundation and Clinton Builders Club.

Vice President Mary James, an independent animal rescue coordinator for several years who hopes to find alternatives for shelter animals other than death.

Secretary Sandi Bartels, who previously served on the Humane Society Board, serves on the board of the Clinton County Izaak Walton League, member of American Boarding Kennel Association and was a certified pet care technician.

Treasurer Pam Smith, who has more than 30 years of business and human relations experience.

Sue Christiansen, who wants to help with animal care and business operations at the shelter and make sure the shelter is a vital part of the community.

Mary Jo Dopson, a lifelong

Clinton resident and cat owner.

Roger Fraser and his wife, Pat, who have adopted multiple animals from the Humane Society and Pat has worked at the shelter as a volunteer. Fraser is a retired teacher with experience as a union steward and contract negotiator.

Rhoni Hartsock, who has owned and operated a small business for 10 years.

Tammy Olsen, who has adopted two dogs from the Humane Society and wants to bring open meetings and public accountability to the organization.

Jean Roeder, who has organized an Easter Seal run for the last seven years and Canine Capers fundraiser for the Humane Society for three years.

Kathy Williams, who has adopted three pets from the Humane Society and has 25 years of experience in administration and property management.

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.