County Taskforce Releases Final Report
Download the full report here.
Brief Highlights & Recommendations of the Taskforce
Animal Care Subcommitte Top Priority Recomendations:
  • Hire a General Curator and a Chief Veterinarian, both from outside the Zoo.
  • Reconstruct the Board Animal Care Committee to be an animal problem solving and internal investigation committee.
  • Eliminate the position of Mammal Curator and elevate the Assistant Curators of small and large mammals to Curator of Small Mammals and Curator of Large Mammals.
Finance Subcommitte General Findings and Recommendations:
  • Hire a CEO with qualities and capabilities outlined by the subcommitte.
  • Develop a comprehensive business plan with a revised Mission Statement, a clear statement of objectives and a precise delineation of goals.
  • Develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan
  • Develop a comprehensive wage and salary survey.
Governance Subcommitte:
The governance subcommitte did not make general recommendations, but instead made many, many recommendations in the following areas:
  1. Size and makeup of the Board of Directors
  2. CEO Working Relationship with the Board of Directors and its Chairman
  3. Board Committees and their Function
  4. The Organization Chart
  5. The CEO Search Process
  6. A Check List for the Board of Directors
Personnel and Operations Subcommitte Summary Findings and Recommendations:
  • The H.R./E.R. Department should be restructured under a single director responsible and accountable for the entire function.
  • Given the fact that The Toledo Zoo is a quasi-public institution serving an entire community and seeking public funds to finance its operation, the full-time employment profile of the Zoo should reasonably reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the community.
  • The Task Force recommends the implementation and enforcement of uniform standards of conduct and discipline with a more streamlined enforcement process as a top priority through collective bargaining negotiations.
  • Address the lack of regard for supervision by retaining the services of an ombudsman, re-establishing the Board Human Resources Committe and providing it with a clear definition of responsibility, and establishing a written procedure for the handling of grievances for management.
To see all of the Taskforce's findings and recommendations, you can view the final report by clicking here.