COLUMBIA TWP. — Resident Barb Gibbons had a simple question Tuesday night for town­ship trustees after a fatal bear mauling last month at the Marks Road home of animal enthu­siast Sam Mazzola.

“What about our safety? That’s the bottom line,” said Gibbons, who lives on nearby Green­view Drive.

Mazzola, who attended the meeting with sev­eral supporters, invited Gibbons and other neighbors to visit and see for themselves the “really, really cool animals.”

“We have an open-door policy,” Mazzola said. “I guarantee you’re safe with them.”

Township trustees had few answers, except to say that the issue of regulating Mazzola came up in 1999 and discovered they had little or no power over his menagerie of bears, wolves, lions and tigers.

Instead, they said Mazzola answers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on safety issues regarding the exotic animals and to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on animals native to Ohio such as black bears.

Following the Aug. 19 fatal bear attack on Brent Kandra of Elyria, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called on the township for an immediate ban “in order to prevent any future incidents,” trustee Mike Musto said.

But that won’t happen without a change in state or federal law, Musto said.

“As township trustees, we have absolutely no jurisdiction,” Musto said. “It’s deemed agriculture or exotic animals, and we have no control over either one.”

If Mazzola were keeping the animals in a city, his critics could ask for a local law to be enacted, according to Assistant County Prosecutor Gerald Innes.

“Townships are just the opposite — they don’t have any authority and don’t have any power,” Innes said.

That didn’t stop residents from lodging complaints, including Margo Dodge, whose late husband was pinned by one of Mazzola’s bears more than 20 years ago.

Another resident wanted to know if Mazzola had a plan if there was a security breach.

Mazzola said he did, and told the man he was willing to tell him about it face-to-face after the meeting.

Another resident, Wayne Brassell, complained that Ohio is one of a handful of states with lax laws on exotic animals. If residents want change, trustees said, they should contact state legislators and Gov. Ted Strickland, who has promised to ban private ownership of exotic animals such as bears, lions, tigers, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes, crocodiles and alligators.

People who now have exotic animals probably will be grandfathered in — meaning they can keep their animals — with some exceptions, according to Strickland’s spokeswoman, Amanda Wurst.

Exotic animal owners who act irresponsibly or in general disregard for the well-being and safety of the public will not be grandfathered in and allowed to keep their animals following enactment of the ban, she said.

Mazzola’s supporters included Dave Garnek, who called Kandra’s death, which occurred at feeding time, “a tragedy.”

“Anybody who works with these animals knows there’s a possibility something can go wrong,” said Garnek, who continues to work with Mazzola’s animals.

Meanwhile, the three trustees said after the meeting they have mixed feelings.

Trustee Dick Heidecker said, “I’m on the fence — I can see both sides.”

Trustee Dale Rundle said he has visited Mazzola’s complex in the past and felt secure.

“The last time I was there, it was safe,” Rundle said.

“Until it becomes illegal, he has the right to be there,” Musto said.

In the near future, township firefighters will likely visit the property again to go over safety procedures, Fire Chief Raymond Anthony said.

“Sam’s been cooperating with us,” Anthony said.

Meanwhile, Gibbons, the resident who asked if people are safe, said she was toying with the idea of visiting for herself.

“Why doesn’t he take pictures of the area including aerial views?” Gibbons asked. “Show the public.”

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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