Emotions ran high at the Marlin city council meeting last night as citizens were able to voice their concerns directly to city officials about the Marlin animal shelter.
The meeting was the first to include discussion about the shelter on the official agenda, after multiple dogs were found starved and deceased at the city-run facility in early January.
Many supporters of the ‘Justice for Marlin Dogs’ advocacy group showed up with speeches prepared, anxious to hold Mayor Byrd and the council accountable for the lack of investigation over the last three months.
Dorothy Sanders: "According to the TML handbook the mayor is obligated, by law, to actively ensure that the laws and ordinances of the city are properly carried out. It further states that if a department is not functioning properly, the council can go directly to the source of the problem and take corrective action. Furthermore, the city charter states that the mayor and three council members can call a special meeting. Today is nine weeks. Nine weeks and none of this has been done. We have to ask ourselves, why?"
Dorothy Sanders, organizer for the ‘Justice for Marlin Dogs’ group, has spent the last nine weeks protesting the issue. She met with Governor Abbott's office last week, pleading for an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
Dorothy Sanders: “We’re not going away, so they might as well address the issue. I think, you know, today is nine weeks. I think they’re used to, when issues come up, that things go away in a couple weeks. And we’re not going away, so they can either deal with it or we’ll be here for the long haul.”
Resident Roy Martinez was escorted out of the meeting by police after attempting to finish his speech once his time limit had ended.
After public comments the council broke into an executive session that lasted over an hour.
When they returned, the council announced that they will hold a special meeting to appoint an independent investigator to look into the situation at the shelter.
Marlin Police Chief, James Hommel, will provide the council a list of policies and procedures for the council to review to ensure a safe environment for future animals brought into the city's shelter.
The council will also add an agenda item to investigate Chief Hommel’s involvement with the facility.
