Bloomfield Animal Shelter Supporters Flock to Council Meeting

Nearly 50 volunteers and supporters swarmed town hall council chambers Monday night to protest to the health and human services department.

Members from the crowd, armed with homemade signs that read "Save our shelter" and "The animals need us!", petitioned Mayor Raymond McCarthy and council members during the council meeting to consider other places to trim the $69.7 million proposed municipal budget. It has been widely speculated that the shelter would be forced to close under the budget, which, if passed as is, calls for a $407,950 total reduction to the health and human services department.

"Please don't push the Board of Health into saying, 'Oh, maybe we can cut the animal shelter,'" said Bonnie Taboadela, a shelter volunteer and Neighbor to Neighbor Network (NTNN) board member.

In the all-day , Township Administrator Yoshi Manale recommended $100,000 be cut from the animal shelter's budget, which is administered by the autonomous health department. Manale said Monday night he has since been directed by the mayor to consider cutting that money from elsewhere.

"Our intention is not to close the animal shelter," said McCarthy. "That was a presentation that was made by the health department that we do not agree with - that I do not agree with."

Taboadela and resident Pat Gilleran suggested the be built on township property to generate revenue, an option which McCarthy said is being considered.

"If a cell tower has to go in at Broad and Bay, it should go in Brookside Park," Gilleran suggested. "The town collects the money, the town distributes the money to health and human services. It's equitable."

McCarthy announced an unnamed corporation moving into Bloomfield will donate $2,500 to the animal shelter through the NTNN. The mayor is scheduled to meet with shelter officials this Sunday at 2 p.m. to answer questions regarding the budget.

Click here to watch the entire town council meeting, courtesy of WBMA-TV.