I am saddened and perplexed that Mayor Spinello has severed a longstanding relationship between our city and Joan Phillips, our friend and neighbor, who has long dedicated herself to caring for and protecting unwanted pets in our community.
Joan and her volunteers at the Animal Lovers League deserve the thanks of all of us for their outstanding service and for being the champions of our fellow creatures who cannot speak for themselves.
I understand that the mayor believes he has the legal power to evict the league from city owned property. I do, however, have very serious questions about the ability and the capacity of the group that the mayor has organized to take over the shelter. While they seem like well intentioned people, based on the presentation made at the City Council meeting on Dec. 23, none of them have ever managed a shelter before, they are not Glen Covers, and their belief that they can construct an addition to the building for $300,000 is, at best, naïve.
I suggest that the mayor and the City Council establish a “plan B” in the event that this new and untested group is unable to provide Glen Cove with this essential service so that the cats and dogs at the shelter will remain safe and protected and so that our city will not be embarrassed if this new and untested group fails in its mission.
Carol Ruth Weber
