PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Linda Tyer says Animal Control Officer Joe Chague will manage the animal shelter in the short term.

 

The city had ended its contract with the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter and has sought to take back control of the Downing Industrial Park building. However, last Friday the staff there refused to hand the keys over and have continued operations.

 

On Thursday, the city extended the contract until the end of April but will still seek control of the building. Tyer has been silent on the issue as legal battles play out in court. But, on Friday, she did issue an update to say the city will be taking care of strays even without the Friends of Eleanor Sonsini managing the shelter.

 

"The focus of this communication is to reassure you that the health and well-being of the animals in the city's care is a top priority. As the news of the contract termination has evolved, I know that you and many in our community have questions. The Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter will remain open. Once the city has taken back possession of the building, our animal control officer will step in and manage the day-to-day operations of the shelter for a temporary period of time while we develop a plan for the long term," Tyer wrote in a statement.

 

Friday's statement was the first she had made regarding the situation and the office had previously cited it being a "legal issue" as to why the city pulled the contract just six years into a 10-year contract. Attorney's representing the Friend's President Krista Wroldson-Miller and Treasurer Judith Trumble have hinted at accusations toward the mayor regarding the reasoning behind the ending of the contract.

 

Attorney Stacey Elin Rossi has not said whether or not her clients will attempt to fight the contract in court. She is currently representing the pair in a case against three former board members for what she believes was an illegal attempt to oust the pair from the board.

 

That case's next update is expected in March. Rossi has filed a request to have the judge rule that Wroldson-Miller and Trumble were illegally ousted, seeks damages to the tune of $10,000 for loss in donations, and bar the other three members from the board.

 

The leadership struggles have been in court for months and with an injunction, Wroldson-Miller and Trumble are back on the board. The shelter has continued operations and Wroldson-Miller has said the friend's group is seeking to purchase a new building — and has made an offer to purchase the current shelter from the city.

 

A few months after the two were allowed back into leadership positions, the city decided to use an out clause in the contract to take back control of the property. Officials have not, however, said the reasoning behind the move.