CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — The Clinton County Humane Society Board of Directors issued a statement in response to comments made by Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes. News 18 reported that during the city council meeting Monday night, the mayor said funds will not be approved because of a lack of transparency and accountability.

"No matter the dollar amount, it's $20,000 for next year, the board of public works and I, we will not approve a claim until we know number one that there is transparency occurring and that there is accountability in the program," said McBarnes Monday. 

Mayor McBarnes said he planned to ask Interim Director Ben Pfeffer questions at the meeting, but Pfeffer wasn't there.

The release said, in part: 

"Ben Pfeffer was not involved in running the TNR program; that was the responsibility of the former director. The Humane Society Board is disappointed that Mayor McBarnes is focusing on personalities invovled rather than the community cat program in Frankfort." -Nancy Elsea, Board President

The release also reitereated that they do not intend to comment on the firing of the society's former director, something McBarnes said he insists on before signing the program's budget.