Third District County Councilman Wade Kach recently updated constituents with a news release on his actions in the County Council. Among the council's first actions was the nomination of department heads by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kach wrote that:
• He supported the reappointment of Dr. Gregory Branch to head the Department of Health and Social Services who, he said, with the exception of animal control, is doing a good job. However, animal control, which comes under the health department, needs to be reformed, Kach said.
At the county's animal shelter in Baldwin, the "kill rate" is too high, adoption efforts are inadequate and volunteerism is discouraged, Kach said. Next month, Kach said, he plans to introduce a bill to mandate removal of animal control from the health department and establish it as an independent county agency, in a public/private partnership with animal advocates.
• The council voted to reappoint Chief John Hohman as head of the County Fire Department by a vote of 6-1. Kach was the sole dissenter, believing that a new fire chief would restore relations between the professional and volunteer fire departments. A working relationship between the two is imperative, he said.