I have to admit, I'm truly excited for the Salisbury Zoo. It would seem the Mayor and Pick have done an outstanding job reeling in such a catch!
More than $85,000.00 has been spent in Master Plans already and obviously nothing has worked. Joel designs exhibits and can certainly benefit the Zoo in many ways since he also designs Master Plans through his private company. I truly don't think you could have found a better candidate.
The real questions are, can he stand up to Barrie Tilghman? Why did he take the job? Were there many false promises to draw him in? Did they tell him the community is willing to spend $20,000,000.00 to $40,000,000.00 to renovate the Zoo? Will he be giving up his design company while working at the Salisbury Zoo?
Then there's the question, will Gary Muir finally retire and get out of the way? With all due respect, Gary has been at the Zoo for almost 40 years and needs to step down and move aside to let others take charge. His reputation for old fashioned aggressive behavior is no longer tolerated and the man needs to go.
Anne, (whatever her last name is now) should become the Curator but this isn't my Zoo, it's simply my opinion. She deserves the position and I'm confident Joel will set things straight and turn that place around. Oh, I hope everyone realizes that I will NOT lay off Ron Alessi. That man needs to go and I'm sure Joel will see right through his BS.
Welcome to the Salisbury Zoo Joel, it's a Zoo down there!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
11 comments:
The question isn't "can he stand up to Barrie Tilghman?"
It's can he stand up to your BS.
I do have some of the same questions you have.
Why did he leave the zoo biz first?
Why did he leave the a potentially lucrative career of a design firm for a 65K job?
If he did not, will a Ron Alesi thing of his company getting the bids for desinging and constructing new exhibits occur given the present administration misdealings (I say this as it was very similar to what happened in Baltimore were a director, in the 90's, was a silent partner in a construction and design firm that made a bunch of money off the deal and when found out, he was removed)?
Which zoos did Joel's company work on and the results of their work (they should be good, just a connection thing and things to look forward to)?
NO, Joe was right - the question IS, can he stand up to Barrie's BS and can he stand up to Joe's questions and give honest, straightforward answers!
"Will he be giving up his design company while working at the Salisbury Zoo?"
That should be a firm and immediate condition of his employment. The position is "full time."
That has been a major issue in the past. The City has hired some real chuckleheads who at times rarely ever came to work, seriously. This is going to be a serious problem and you have to really question why someone would leave the security of being somewhere else and certainly making more money just to get involved with a Zoo that is falling apart? My immediate guess is that this Admnistration made promisses I can assure you they can't and won't deliver. They'll use this guy as far as they can before he too has enough, just like Steve Sarro and bolt out of there.
ARE ANIMALS HAPPY IN ZOOS?
DECEMBER 30, 1999
The Christian Science Monitor
Julie Finnin Day
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
Jeanette Beranger, a lead keeper at Roger Williams Park and Zoo in Providence,was cited as saying that the question more and more zoo visitors are asking, is: Are animals happy in zoos?. It is also one that zookeepers make it their business to answer in the affirmative. When animals develop negative behaviors, it can, this story says, be a clue they are bored, unhappy, or unhealthy, says Joel Hamilton, one of two animal curators at the zoo. . . Both Hamilton and Beranger were cited as saying that many zoo staff members would rather see those animals in the wild and not in zoos - but human destruction of natural habitat makes that very difficult. Hamilton was further quoted as saying, "The world is a shrinking place. There are plenty of animals that wouldn't exist if it weren't for zoos. It would be wonderful if we could say we don't have to worry about elephants again, but that isn't reality."
fyi -- COMMENT ON THE dt WEBSITE:
Here are the general admissions rates at the zoo where Mr. Hamilton currently works:
Adult - $12
Child (3-12) - $6
Seniors (62+) - $8
Children under 3 & Zoo Members - Free
Source: http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org/visit/hours.cfm#admission
MAYBE HE CAN TEACH US HOW TO FUND THE SALISBURY ZOO!
Yes, he should be able to get the zoo on a sustaining basis if the mayor and city council will let him.
Just checked that Providence zoo's website, and found the following in addition to the general admission charges mentioned above:
Membership, which is $79 for familiy and $49 for individual (per year) gets free admission, and
"First Saturday of the Month is FREE for Providence Residents.
The first Saturday of every month is free to Providence (not East or North Providence) residents only, with proof of residency. Proof of residency is a driver’s license or a bill — like a gas bill — with name and address printed on it. This serves as a "thank you" to Providence residents whose tax money helps to support the zoo. New Years Day is free to everyone."
If you charge to get into our rinky-dink zoo, then you'll be the only one admirring it. The majority of people that go there are yng couples n yng parents with small children that cant afford to go anywhere else. I can see it coming and its truely going to be shameful.
Can't be apathetic all the time. Let's hope this new zoo guy, a new mayor and another new council person after the next election can start to rebuild the pride this city once had. It's no wonder people look to the group as gloom and doomers. If you have no faith, just give up, Frickin' move, bury yourself in a hole and just stop commenting if you think nothing will ever change. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog! Put up or shut up.
Gary Muir at the zoo for almost 40 years. I had no idea he started working
there when he was 12.
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