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Collier County names new director of Domestic Animal Services
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NAPLES — After serving as interim director since last December, Amanda Townsend has been named the new director of Collier County Domestic Animal Services, the county announced Monday.
After interviewing several candidates, a selection committee determined that Townsend is the best choice for leading the department forward, according to a county news release.
Last year, Margo Castorena was removed as the head of DAS by county Public Services Division Administrator Marla Ramsey because of job performance issues, specifically the handling of cash and pet licensing procedures. Castorena remains employed with the county as the manager of grants in the Housing and Human Resources Department.
In addition to her interim stint as DAS director, Townsend is not new to Collier County government. She previously served as the Public Services Division’s operations analyst from 2006 to 2007 and in the same capacity for the Parks and Recreation Department from 2004 to 2006.
"In her short stay at Domestic Animal Services, Amanda has improved off-site adoptions of pets and has established stronger working relationships with the DAS Advisory Board as well as local animal activists," Ramsey said.
As the interim director of DAS, Townsend worked with county commissioners to strengthen the animal control ordinance regulations for dangerous dogs. Her annual salary is $71,000.
Townsend also boasts the accomplishment of securing more than $14 million dollars of grant funds for county projects since 2004, according to Monday's news release. Grant-funded projects Townsend worked on include irrigation systems, North Collier Regional Park, East Naples Community Park’s Senior Annex, the Barefoot Beach Preserve, Mar-Good Harbor Park and the Gordon River Greenway Park.
An East Naples resident and Lely High School graduate, Townsend has been in Collier County most of her life. She holds a master's degree in American Studies from the University of Alabama and a bachelor's degree in general studies from New College of Florida.
The latest personnel announcement is not the first recent changing of the guard at DAS. Jodi Walters was removed under fire as DAS director in March 2004 and was reassigned as the county’s commercial recycling coordinator after a drawn out and public battle between the county and animal rights activists. Castorena later was hired as Walters' replacement.
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She now heads a service which will cost you if you can no longer care for your pet. Yep, great idea. (not)
#1 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 6, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's just hope she answers the phone occasionally. Have you ever tried to call DAS? There's barely an answer half the time.
#2 Posted by beetlejuice on October 6, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My question is...if Margo had performance problems, specifically in handling of cash, why is she now manager of grants in the Housing and H.R. Depts.?
#3 Posted by eaglebeak on October 6, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
beetle: yes, I have and you are right. Maybe they are all out looking for strays, or impounding vicious dogs? Perhaps the kennel needed some cleaning? LOL.
#4 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 6, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great question eaglesbeak. Anyone at NDN want to tackle that one? Needs follow up, don't you think? Jeff Lytle gets to ask people questions. Maybe he can see what the county has to say when asked a direct question about this matter.
#5 Posted by BlueTonguedVole on October 6, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't imagine a better choice. Townsend is doing a great job there now and has a fine team in place.
#6 Posted by friendoffelines on October 7, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kudos to Ms. Townsend. She inherited a broken system and has done much to get things going in the right direction. This truly is one of the most difficult positions to hold and for the animal's sake, I hope she continues to address what is necessary to keep making DAS a better environment for the shelter residents.
#7 Posted by puglover on October 7, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who were some of the other applicants? Where was this advertised and when?
#8 Posted by Bramble on October 7, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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