Sable Kennel to handle animal control in White Oak
Council also hired a new police chief, filling a position that has been vacant since March 28.
White Oak Council voted Monday to hire Sable Kennel Animal Control for its animal control services, replacing The Hideaway Kennels.
The borough is keeping its wildlife control services person, Kevin Cain, for $850 a month. The two-year contract with Sable Kennel in McKeesport will be $500 a month and will offer a wider range of services, according to Borough Manager John Palyo.
“I don’t want to burn the bridge with Cain, and I get it,” health, environment and cable chair Joelle Harbert said. “He’s a little more expensive. I am leaning toward hiring Sable for animal control and keeping him as wildlife. That way if something should happen with Sable, because we all know our track record with animal control, we know Cain is backup.”
The borough has been authorizing payments to The Hideaway Kennels for $300 a month. The other offer for the animal control contract was from XPEL Nuisance Wildlife Control Services for $650 a month.
Sable Kennel does animal control for 27 municipalities in Southwestern Pennsylvania, according to its website. The borough has used Sable Kennel before, and borough officials were not sure why they canceled that contract.
Animal control officers Dawn Weichler and Jill Martin, along with a team of support staff and volunteers, are “dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for all dogs that come to the kennel,” according to the Sable Kennel website.
The majority of the dogs they care for were either abandoned or found as strays, and the website states that Sable believes in the “power of adoption and strive to match every adoptable dog with their forever family.”
Weichler, owns Sable Kennel, addressed council during the meeting and asked if they had any questions about the services she offers. She has been providing animal control services in the interim of changing contracts.
“Because we are in between animal control officers, the last four days we have had three incidents with dogs and Dawn has come out and solved those problems,” Palyo said. “She has worked in White Oak before and she is aware of our community. Over the last few weeks, we have had four incidents where Dawn has covered us in the interim.”
Resident Brad Hudson came to the meeting to support Weichler. He said he has known her for 15 years and she is passionate about her business, is very trustworthy and answers phone calls early in the morning.
“She never fails. She answers every call, something we haven’t had here in White Oak for what I understand for a long time,” Hudson said. “Sometimes my wife is out there catching dogs. White Oak Animal Safe Haven has called her about loose dogs in the past.
“I strongly support Dawn, and if you hire her to be your animal control person, she will answer every call, be right on and she is the kind of employee we need here in White Oak.”
New hires
After months of searching, the borough voted to hire a new police chief upon satisfactorily completing pre-employment requirements.
Council voted in March to approve the retirement of police chief Mark Sargent effective March 28. The position has been offered to Jason Binder.
Public Safety Chair Loree Scharritter said the public safety committee met multiple times and put together a panel consisting of experienced chiefs from neighboring communities.
Mayor Ina Jean Marton, Palyo and the public safety committee assisted with the first round of interviews, according to Scharritter, and the top three candidates were interviewed by all of council, Marton and Palyo.
“We had some pretty impressive candidates,” Scharritter said. “The decision was not an easy one to make. This particular candidate stood out for his commitment to law enforcement, years of experience and leadership. He also has many good ideas for recruitment and retention of officers, which set him apart from the others.”
Binder was approved in a 5-2 vote, with council members Chuck Davis and Amanda DePaulis voting no.
Both said they have nothing against Binder, but they both found a different candidate to be more suitable for the position.
“Nothing against him, nothing personal to him,” DePaulis said. “He was a great candidate. My vote was just for an internal candidate that I liked better. I wish him the best.”
“The guy that was the interim chief did a great job,” Davis said. “I feel that he is going to do a great job, but I feel that the guy that took over the duties for a few months did a very good job.”
The borough also voted unanimously to hire Tristan Pattajos as a public works employee.
In other business:
• The Veterans Memorial Project is underway with its Buy a Brick Campaign. Costs are $100 for a 4-inch by 8-inch red brick, $150 for an 8-inch by 8-inch red brick and $15 for a 4-inch by 4-inch replica coaster.
• Community Day is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 2 at Heritage Hill Park. The pool will be open at 11 a.m., vendors/ activities begin at 2 p.m and the Booze Brothers Band will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. with fireworks to follow. Other activities include pool games, a petting zoo, wild world of animals, moonwalk, bingo, a cornhole tournament, face painting, children’s activities and craft/ food vendors.
• The borough’s third annual Hero Run/Walk 5K will be held Aug. 23 at Heritage Hill Park. Packet pick up is at 8 a.m. with the run/walk beginning at 9 a.m. More information can be found at www.woboro.com and the borough’s Facebook page. The event will honor borough firefighters.
