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	Animal groups question recent county appointment

	March 16, 2006

	by Mark Potter Regional Associate Editor

	Akron. Since the Feb. 27 appointment of Christine Congrove from an executive assistant position to the animal control manager for Summit County, County Executive James B. McCarthy said he’s been fielding protests from some organizations regarding the 23-year-old daughter of County Council member Dan Congrove. Deanne Christman-Resch, spokesperson for the Pet Welfare Coalition of Summit County, a countywide organization comprising various animal support groups, said the coalition is opposed to the hiring. “It’s just one long, sorry saga of... lack of real concern for the welfare of animals,” Christman-Resch said. “I don’t know [Congrove], but I know she’s not qualified.” Neither Christine or Dan Congrove could be reached for comment. The organization, which has had a number of managers in recent years, came under scrutiny last year from animal support groups for issues such as alleged overcrowding and inadequate euthanasia practices. McCarthy said Congrove’s ability to perform in the position should not be judged until she has had a chance to prove herself. “Underlying all of this [scrutiny] is really an age and gender bias,” McCarthy said. “I wish people would judge her a year from now.” In addition to the duties in her new post, including the management of eight employees, Congrove’s salary was increased to what equates to approximately $61,000 annually. Congrove’s salary falls in the middle of the position’s range of $54,300 to a maximum of $71,200. Interim Animal Control Manager Anthony Moore, who Congrove is replacing, was making the minimum amount of the salary range at $54,300. McCarthy said he decided not to start Congrove out at the minimum salary range because he believes she will be successful in her post. “If she doesn’t do the job, we’ll replace her,” he said. Heather Nagel, co-founder of Heaven Can Wait, an animal adoption outfit and member of the Pet Welfare Coalition, said her concerns about Congrove are not with gender or age, but experience. “I like seeing professional women in the workplace and I don’t care if she’s 23,” Nagel said. “I just care whether a candidate is qualified.” According to county records, Congrove had attended The University of Akron for one year. She began working for the county as a secretary at the animal shelter in 2001, before leaving to work for the county sheriff’s office in 2004. McCarthy said Congrove is a graduate of the sheriff’s academy and has experience managing a jail pod, experience which he said should benefit her. Nagel said she and others from the coalition believe there were a number of qualified individuals that would have jumped at the chance to interview for the position. McCarthy said no other candidates were interviewed for the job, because Congrove has experience in the shelter, sought the promotion and deserved a chance. In a 2003 job review, when Congrove was secretary at the shelter, then-Animal Control Manager Glenn James noted Congrove had “good organizational skills,” was “dependable,” “trustworthy” and performed “quality work.” However, in regard to the records and reports section of the review, James stated, “Chrissy requires close supervision regarding this category,” adding, “Chrissy needs to be more conscientious regarding accuracy of work completed. She needs to take more time in reviewing work completed for mistakes.” Some of the duties noted in the job description of her new post include being responsible for the preparation of periodic financial reports as well as narcotics used in animal control operations, authorization of requisitions, purchase orders and department vouchers and maintaining a database of related information. Although county records indicate Congrove has no official certification in the field of animal control, McCarthy said her one of her greatest strengths is management. “She’s going to be able to manage the employees,” he said. “If she can manage 40 inmates in a jail, I believe she can handle this.” McCarthy said he was initially skeptical of appointing Congrove, but “She came to me and said, ‘I can do this job.’ I told her she would be criticized but she said, ‘I can make it better.’” The Pet Welfare Coalition has scheduled a demonstration of protest March 25 at noon outside the shelter at 460 E. North St. in Akron. Although the coalition hopes Congrove is replaced as manager, Christman-Resch said her organization would be willing to work with her if she remains in the post. E-mail: mpotter@recordpub.com Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3154


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