FITCHBURG — Continuing a push to privatize the city’s animal control services, Mayor Stephen DiNatale nominated Leominster’s current animal control officer and animal Inspector, Todd Pickett, to provide similar services in Fitchburg.
When the city sent out a call for bids for animal control services in early September, only Pickett responded.
In his proposal, he outlines a two-person operation, himself and an full-time assistant, who will respond to calls and kennel the dogs at a Westminster facility.
“I believe I can make a difference for the city and I do feel the residents will feel comforted knowing they have an animal officer that cares,” Pickett wrote in a proposal submitted to the city last month. DiNatale and Chief Ernest Martineau declined to speak about the nomination until after the City Council Appointments Committee hears the proposal on Nov. 9.
In September, they described the request for bids as a way to explore the city’s options and save money, not a reflection on the performance of the current animal control officer, Susan Kowaleski, who officials praised.
Under the current system, the city pays to board animals — a cost the city budgeted $50,000 toward this fiscal year. The animal control officer, an employee of the Fitchburg Police Department, receives a $46,280 salary with $10,000 budgeted for overtime.
Together, services cost $106,280 annually, slightly more than the $105,000 Pickett quoted the city. His price would remain the same for three years, according to the document.
Pickett has worked as an animal control officer in Leominster, a privatized position, for just over four years. He has a background in animal-husbandry and passed a 96-hour animal control officer certification course in 2014.
In his application, he describes his kennel as a “brand new facility” with seven kennels and a room for cats off East Road in Westminster.
He started a Facebook page with over 4,000 followers with the goal of reuniting pets and owners, he wrote. Pickett added that he also brought the “cat mobile” to Leominster for low cost spaying and neutering.
“When the dogs come into my care and an owner is not found after the seven day hold, a training program is started to make them more adoptable for the new owner,” he wrote.
Pickett did not respond to a phone call requesting comment.
The city’s current approach to animal control started in 2014 after former Mayor Lisa Wong ordered the close of the Fitchburg Animal Shelter.
At about the same time, the state opened an investigation into a dog named Capone, which was euthanized less than 48 hours after arriving to the shelter. Shelter manager Amy Egeland, was subsequently laid off.
Controversy on the subject continued into 2016, when former shelter volunteer, Michael Ward, showed Kowaleski was repeatedly late in filing animal-impound reports.
Follow Elizabeth Dobbins on Twitter @DobbinsSentinel.