Council faces final pet sale decision

A number of items will be addressed by Shelbyville's city council when it meets for its regular meeting Thursday, including passing an ordinance pertaining to the sale of pets.

The final reading of ordinance number 821 would make it illegal to sell or give away animals in public places in Shelbyville, unless the person in question is a dealer.

The topic has arisen due to the continuing debate about animal control in the city. Shelbyville's animal control officer told the council earlier this year that one of the sources of the dilemma surrounding stray dogs is the fact that the animals are given away in retail parking lots, only to be later abandoned by the new owners.

The ordinance allows local animal control and the Humane Association to hold adoptions and would not prevent people from selling or giving away pets from their own residence.

The council will address a resolution to authorize non-profit appropriations for fiscal year 2008-09 totaling $106,829. The measure has to be passed separately from the city budget, which was approved last month. City manager Ed Craig said the organizations must turn in their financial statements to the city before the funds could be approved.

The approval of Murfreesboro-based firm Griggs & Maloney Inc. to conduct the city's engineering will be on the agenda, as well as hiring the firm Solutia to handle fine collections for municipal court.

The council will also look at alternatives for amending the city's charter to clarify the method used to appoint members to the Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer Board. The charter change would alter the voting requirement to "a majority of those present and voting" from "a majority of those present."

The change in the city's charter would require the approval of the state legislature, which cannot take place until next year.

Also before the council Thursday will be appointments to the city's beer board, library board and airport authority.

WHAT'S NEXT

The city council meets at 6 p.m. in the courtroom of the City Hall Annex at Shelbyville Police headquarters.