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Unilaterally, SSPCA

Plans To Levy Fees

On County, Towns

Sternberg Speaks On Shelter's Behalf

At This Evening's 2020 Budget Hearing

Richard Sternberg, who said he was speaking on behalf of the SSPCA Board of Directors, tells the county Board of Representatives the Shelter plans to unilaterally impose a fee schedule Jan. 1 on government entities that use its services. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

County board Chairman David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield, said, since no money is included in the 2020 budget for the shelter, the topic could not be raised at this evening's public hearing.

COOPERSTOWN – Richard Sternberg, saying he was acting on behalf of the Susquehanna SPCA, told what appeared to be a partly surprised county Board of Representatives this evening that the Shelter will begin unilaterally levying fees Jan. 1 on county entities and towns that require its services.

"We will be initiating a billing system," said Sternberg, the retired Bassett surgeon and Cooperstown village trustee, who said he was acting as an adviser to the Shelter's Board of Directors.

Speaking at the public hearing on the 2020 county budget at the county courthouse, he said when Executive Director Stacie Haynes' time is required, a fee of $80 an hour will be levied, with quarter-hour increments.  For other staff members, it will be a $40 hour fee, plus $30 per day for caring for each animal housed at the shelter, and 65 cent per mile mileage if staffers' or Shelter vehicles are used.

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