A. CALL TO ORDER

This scheduled meeting of the Board was called to order at 9:36 a.m. in the Hudson Conference Room, 124 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey.

ROLL CALL

The following Board Members were present for this meeting:

Board President Mark W. Logan, V.M.D.
Board Member Vice President Barry M. Adler, D.V.M.
Board Member Daniel P. Keenan, D.V.M.
Board Member Christopher P. Laffoon, V.M.D.
Board Member Marc A. Rosenberg, D.V.M.
Board Member Jeffrey Warsh, Esq.

Staff present: Executive Director Leslie G. Aronson
Keisha Clair, Secretary to the Executive Director
Deputy Attorney General Olga E. Bradford

Absent: Board Member Nancy Halpern, D.V.M.

Public present: Approximately twenty (20) members of the public attended this meeting. These included: Charles Manning, Regulatory Analyst - Division of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Patricia Scavelli, Liaison from the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, Richard Alampi, President of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, Jeff Runge, D.V.M., Chris Bello, Steve Bello, Nathanya Simon, Esquire, Alan Horowitz, Florence Muniz, John Da Silva, Mark Salemi, Cynthia Baumgastner, Richard Baumgastner, Sandee Baker, Cheryl Wardrop, Arthur Kollmeier, Robert Mass, and Cindee Kollmeier.

A quorum was present for the entire meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Mark W. Logan, V.M.D.

In accordance with Chapter 231 of P.L. 1975, more commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by mailing to the Office of the Secretary of State, the Star Ledger, the Trenton Times, the Bergen Record and the Courier Post and the Atlantic City Press.

B. APPROVAL OF PUBLIC MINUTES

On a motion of Dr. Laffoon, seconded by Dr. Adler, the June 24, 2009 Public Session Minutes were approved with corrections. All in favor.

C. PUBLIC COMMENT

The Board entertained many comments from parents, veterinarians, veterinary professional association representatives and professors of both Ross University and the University of Pennsylvania regarding the PAVE examination. The commenters urged the Board to modify its current regulations and permit successful passage of the AAVSB’s Program for Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (“PAVE”) as an alternative for graduates of foreign non-accredited veterinary schools to be licensed in New Jersey. Currently, graduates of foreign non-accredited veterinary schools are required to possess a certificate issued after completion of AVMA’s Educational Commission for Foreign veterinary Graduates program (“ECFVG”).

D. LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY

Charles Manning, Esquire, Regulatory Analyst in the Division of Consumer Affairs appeared to assist the Board in the following regulatory issues.

1. PAVE/ECFVG Discussion

Following public comments and lengthy discussion of the issue, the Board, on a motion made by Dr. Adler and seconded by Mr. Warsh, voted to modify its regulations in order to accept PAVE examination as a path for New Jersey licensure for graduates of foreign non-accredited veterinary school, as authorized by N.J.S.A. 45:16-7.2(b).

2. Complementary Medicine Discussion

Mr. Manning presented the Board with approximately sixty (60) public comments received from its proposal of new rule N.J.A.C. 13:44-4.13, entitled Complementary medicine. The Board began its review of the comments and formulating responses. The matter was tabled to the next meeting to continue the review and discussion of the < submitted comments.

3. Sunset Review

Mr. Manning presented the Board with a draft of its latest amendments/changes to its current regulations in the Board’s review of the rules. The rules are set to expire on January 7, 2010. Subsequent to its discussion and review of the proposed amendments to certain regulations, the Board voted to readopt its regulations with amendments.

E. ADMINISTRATIVE

1. Executive Director Leslie G. Aronson reported that, despite constant staffing shortages, the administrative office is timely completing the licensure renewal process as well as licensing new applicants.

F. CREDENTIALING

1. Kevin Hargadon, D.V.M.-State/JP Examination

On a motion by Mr. Warsh, seconded by Dr. Adler, the Board voted to approve Dr. Hargadon to sit for the next State/JP examination. Dr. Laffoon recused himself from this matter and therefore did not participate in the discussion or the vote in this application.

2. Dr. Jennifer Smith, D.V.M.- State/JP Examination

On a motion by Mr. Warsh and seconded by Dr. Adler, the Board voted unanimously to approve Dr. Smith to sit for the next State/JP examination.

G. CORRESPONDENCE

1. Letter from Dr. David Meirs on PAVE/ECFVG

The Board reviewed a correspondence from Dr. Meirs regarding the issue of the PAVE/ECFVG issue and accepted it as informational.

2. Memo from John Batts, AAVSB

The Board reviewed Mr. Batts’ memo regarding the issue of the PAVE/ECFVG and accepted it as informational.

3. I/M/O Robert Blease, D.V.M. - Office of Administrative Law Initial Decision:

The Board reviewed an Initial Decision issued by Administrative Law Judge Ana C. Viscomi (“ALJ”) on June 19, 2009. After due consideration of the Administrative Law Judge’s Initial Decision and exhibits, the Board, at its regularly scheduled meeting of July 29, 2009, adopted as its final decision the findings of fact and the conclusions of law of the Administrative Law Judge (hereinafter “ALJ”). Thus, the Board adopts the ALJ’s findings and conclusions that the State failed to meet its burden of proof to establish that the respondent engaged in gross or repeated acts of negligence and professional misconduct, contrary to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(c), (d) and (e), respectively. Hence, the Administrative Complaint seeking the revocation or suspension of the license of Robert Blease, D.V.M., is hereby dismissed in its entirety.

H. NEXT MEETING

The next regularly meeting of the Board is scheduled for August 26, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey.

I. EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board voted unanimously to move to executive session in order to consider new consumer complaints and new and pending disciplinary matters.

J. ADJOURNMENT

This meeting of the Board was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie G. Aronson
Executive Director