Animal Care & Control Advisory Board

As provided by Newtown’s Charter provision 2-115 (e), the Board of Selectmen, by resolution, do authorize the First Selectman to appoint an advisory group known as the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board (ACCAB) to replace the Animal Control Advisory Board created by the Board of Selectmen by their Resolution on June 4, 2012.

The purpose of the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board (ACCAB) is to provide support and guidance to the Municipal Animal Control Officer (MACO) and the Assistant Animal Control Officer in the review, development and implementation of the animal
care and control policies and practices to be recommended to the First Selectman and
Board of Selectmen for their approval and adoption.

The ACCAB will also work with the Municipal Animal Control Officer (MACO) to prepare the annual budget for submission to the First Selectman for the annual budget approval process and will review the status of the approved budget with the Municipal Animal Control Officer (MACO) on a regular basis.

The ACCAB is comprised of five persons, all residents and voters in Newtown, appointed by the First Selectman and approved by the Board of Selectmen. The term shall be two years to run concurrently with the Board of Selectmen. The ACCAB does not possess final decision-making authority regarding any fiscal, personnel, or practices matters related to the care and control facility, final decision-making authority rests with the First Selectman and/or Board of Selectmen.

At each inaugural meeting, the ACCAB shall elect, by majority vote, a Chair who will be responsible for setting meeting agendas and presiding over said meetings, and a Vice Chair who will serve in the Chair’s absence. Any additional positions or roles shall be determined by the ACCAB as needed.

Each December, the ACCAB shall publish a meeting schedule for the ensuing year, with one meeting scheduled per month. Meetings may be canceled due to a lack of agenda items.

The Municipal Animal Control Officer (MACO) is required to attend all ACCAB meetings and sessions. The Assistant Animal Control Officer may also attend and participate in meetings at the discretion of the MACO. The First Selectman and/or Board of Selectmen may, from time to time, solicit an update from the ACCAB members.

Approved by the Board of Selectman May 19, 2025