Board stands by decision

In a meeting that was often contentious, the Jay County Humane Society Board of Directors heard and responded to comments about its recent decision to make a change in leadership.
The board stood by its decision to remove Tara Drumm as executive director and will run the Humane Society shelter itself until her replacement is hired.
About 35 members of the public were on hand Thursday at Jay County Public Library for the hour-and-a-half meeting, at which board member Kathy Carpenter resigned over the situation. Most who spoke did so in support of Drumm, but several also commented in favor of the board’s decision.
Board members said Drumm was relieved of her duties Tuesday by president Julia Ashman, vice president Sharon Van Steenis and recently-hired consultant Jim Turner, an animal behaviorist from Delaware County. They said she was unwilling to follow new policies laid out by the board and Turner, and was then fired.
Employee Dosha Rector was also fired earlier in the day Thursday. And at the meeting, employee Karlie Geesy said she would no longer work at the Humane Society either.
“We weren’t expecting to have to replace her,” said Ashman of Drumm. “We were hoping she would embrace the job description she was given. That was simply not the case. … There were a few things that she refused to do.”
Drumm said while she disagreed with some of the changes that were being made, she feels her firing came because of a personal issue with one of the board members. She said she previously tried to work with the board to develop new guidelines for cleaning and other procedures at the Humane Society, but found no cooperation.
“Back in March I was asking to be involved in doing the (standard operating procedures) … because I fully agree that we needed procedures. … But I could not do it by myself,” Drumm said. “I asked you guys to involve me. It was not done. … I was not involved.”[[In-content Ad]]