The Northampton Borough Council is not fully convincned an animal shelter is needed in the borough.

Council at the March 20 meeting turned down a request from Dawn Perl to reopen the animal shelter previously located in the borough.

Perl's request was prompted by a large number of cats in the borough, particularly off Canal Street Park and Newport Avenue.

The building is located next to the borough's waste water treatment plant. The building will continue to serve as a holding pen for dogs. The borough has an animal control person assigned to operate the holding pen on a short-term basis.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. said that finances and liabilities were factors in his decision to vote against the project.

"No changes in our holding pen now until some other time," Lopsonzski said.

Council President John Yurish said previously that Perl's plans are noble, but he had questions pertaining to volunteers, finances and liability.

"The borough is filled with cats," Perl said at a previous council meeting. She presented the borough with a specific plan to operate the shelter, which would offer veterinary care, shots and neutering services.

Perl said she use a sizable portion of her own money to open up and operate the shelter. Yurish estimated it would cost $25,000 a year to operate the facility.

Donations would act as a source of revenue, Perl stated.

She was not present at the March 20 meeting.