<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0">
<channel><title><![CDATA[www.aframnews.com - Comments for article: BARC: A Band-Aid Solution to an Emergency Room Problem?]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire</link><description /><language>en-us</language><copyright><![CDATA[http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire]]></copyright><generator>N/A</generator><webMaster>news@aframnews.com</webMaster><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:14:46 MST</lastBuildDate><ttl>20</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #1]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment216</link><description><![CDATA[Excellent article!<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Diane Seaton at 6:20 pm, Tue 25th Aug 2009)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Diane Seaton)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:20:14 MST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment216</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #2]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment218</link><description><![CDATA[Ms. Jones,

When was the last time YOU walked into BARC and took home or fostered a BARC animal? I have NEVER seen you there and none of the other volunteers and rescuers that I know can recall seeing you there either.  I love it when people who have not walked in "shoes" that they criticize want to offer up what they call "solutions".

You insult the intelligence and the efforts of the hard work that we, the unpaid volunteers, do on a daily basis.  I can say that I others have seen Mr. Fusco play with BARC dogs--but sure never have seen YOU.

So until you become a real part of the issues--you have no basis to pontificate on anything because all you are doing is causing unnecessary rhetoric and noise pollution.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Jai Malik at 7:41 pm, Tue 25th Aug 2009)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Jai Malik)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:41:41 MST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment218</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #3]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment219</link><description><![CDATA[Dear Council Member Jones,
Thank you for caring about BARC. My understanding is that Mayor White has now given Mr. Fusco complete autonomy from DHHS and the position is not now reporting to Stephen Williams. I believe it was one of the conditions Mr. Fusco requested prior to signing the contract. I also believe this is significant because for years several of us have maintained that BARC should be removed from DHHS and be a stand alone department. There are numerous good organizational reasons to separate BARC from DHHS. This is not a reflection on Stephen Williams who heads up a department larger than most entire city governments.  The contract Mr. Fusco signed is five pages long. At any point in time if benchmarks are not being met the contract could be cancelled. The reality is that BARC IS getting better every day. The reality is also that no matter how excellent or competent a new chief is who may be hired (and it will certainly be easier to attract a five-star leader with a much better staffed (the new employees who have been hired are all bonafide animal lovers who care very much to do a good and compassionate job) , better organized agency in place) - funding for BARC is abominable. Look at the statistics comparing Houston's BARC with cities all over Texas. Even El Paso which is certainly not a wealthy city has a much higher and more reasonable budget for the city shelter. Please reconsider your opinion. You have given a lot of thought to this. You have fielded a million questions from citizens and graciously given us so much of your time and you have listened to a lot of information from people who both support and oppose the contract being approved.  Most of the people who are in favor of the contract are people who are actually going to BARC and volunteering at BARC. Many of the people who opposed never step foot in BARC and therefore are not in a position to acknowledge the improvements being made every day or the momentum for change which has energized BARC employess and substantially raised and improved morale at BARC. Sincerely, Sherry p.s. I would prefer not to rate this because Excellent might suggest that I agree with your conclusion that Mr. Fusco's contract should not be approved. However, I am rating it Excellent not because I agree, but because you have really invested your heart and mind in studying this issue, caring and I know you have not reached your conclusion thoughtlessly or lightly. Thank you for your service and hard work to make Houston better for us all.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Sherry at 8:56 pm, Tue 25th Aug 2009)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Sherry)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:56:09 MST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment219</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #4]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment220</link><description><![CDATA[You did a great job of articulating the many problems at BARC. You also make no bones about the sneaky way the department went about retaining the consultant. Your essay makes it clear that the consultant does NOT have the necessary qualifications, that hiring someone for six months who is not going to be there to implement and sustain proposed changes is ridiculous, and that the fee he is charging is outrageously excessive. Indeed, we could do SO MUCH to help the dogs and cats directly with that large sum). Good job! 

My only other comment would be this: the photo of the sad, sweet-looking and LONELY-looking dog left in that disgustingly filthy cage tells the story even better than your words.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by Olivia at 8:56 pm, Tue 25th Aug 2009)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (Olivia)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:56:47 MST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment220</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Comment #5]]></title><link>http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment222</link><description><![CDATA[I appreciate that Council member Jones is taking a hard look at BARC and asking hard questions of Mr. Fusco and of Mr. Williams even when it seems unpopular to do so.  

For those people who say that if at any point in time benchmarks are not being met the contract could be cancelled, they are incorrect.  I've read the contract and that type of benchmarking or release language is not stated anywhere in the contract.  It is written as 6 months & $135,000. That's it.   And in fact, the "goals" in this contract are quite vague. There are no actual numbers given such as reduce euthanasia by X amount of animals or increase adoptions by X amount of animals.  There are no numbers stated here at all.   (I review and revise contracts for a large oil and gas company and I can tell you that this contract, as written, would not be signed at my company---so why should we expect our city government to sign it?).  The way this contract is written, the city might remove Mr. Fusco from BARC before 6 months is out, but it would still be on the hook for the entire $135,000.  

This contract should be rewritten and be very specific about goals, numbers and timelines. It should be written in 4 week increments and if goals are not met, then the next 4 week installment should NOT be signed.  If Mr. Fusco cannot meet the goals stated, we should not be forced to live with this contract for 6 months. 

And for those who think that people need to go out and "play with a dog at BARC" to be able to see serious issues with this contract and Mr. Fusco are seriously missing the big picture.  The problems with this contract and with BARC are so much higher than at the "play with a dog" level. 

Again, thank you Council member Jones for studying the issues and listening to citizens.  We realize that you are asking tough questions in order to make an informed decision.<br/><br/>
(Comment posted by No Kill Houston at 8:32 pm, Sun 30th Aug 2009)]]></description><author>no@spam.com (No Kill Houston)</author><pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:32:46 MST]]></pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/817/1/BARC-A-Band-Aid-Solution-to-an-Emergency-Room-Problem/Page1.html#Comment222</guid></item></channel></rss>