Northside Neighbor Staff
Writer
After three months of managing Fulton County's animal
control under interim contracts, Southern Hope Humane
Society was awarded the job for the next 12 months. The $2.4
million contract is renewable for four years.
Synergy Management and Southern Hope were the only two
bidders. Synergy Management, a new, for-profit company, is
minority-owned by a cosmetologist. The company includes Ron
Totten, who managed the shelter when the Atlanta Humane
Society had the contract.
AHS left in March after a crescendo of complaints.
Commissioner Robb Pitts requested an audit of animal
services records for the past five or six years, "even
if it means doing it today before they can be
destroyed."
"We have had an ongoing battle with the Atlanta
Humane Society over which records are ours," County
Attorney O.V. Brantley said. "I'm not optimistic."
Controversy continued throughout the selection process. A
purchasing staffer and two from the environment and
community development department, which oversees animal
control, met May 6 and 7 and chose Synergy Management.
The environment department told the committee not to
forward its recommendation until Atlanta decided whether to
continue letting the county provide its animal control,
assistant county manager Terry Todd said. On June 16, the
recommendation went to county manager Tom Andrews.Andrews,
however, recommended Southern Hope to the board.
"My assessment was that both could handle the job,
and based on that, I went to costs," he said.
Synergy's bid was $179,000 higher, according to Andrews's
office.
"It's very seldom that the county manager reverses a
recommendation of the selection committee," said
Commissioner Emma Darnell, who questioned the delay.
"We've had inappropriate contact with
commissioners," she said. "I have been contacted
by proponents of the recommended contractor during the
silent period."
Ms. Darnell and Pitts said they had never met Totten.
"With regard to the emergency proposal, a citizen
called&. I said, 'I'm as concerned as you are. The
contract expires and no one's going to be there tomorrow. If
you know somebody, you need to get in touch with the county
manager.' That is the extent of my contact."
"The silent period only applies to persons or firms
that are bidding on the contract," Ms. Brantley
clarified. "There's nothing that prevents citizens from
calling you."
Commissioner Bill Edwards asked Andrews if he knew of any
unethical conduct by either vendor. Andrews said he didn't know
of any.
