Juvenile Welfare Board Conference
Room B
Present: 31
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Jackie
Griffin-Doherty—Operation PAR (Chair) |
Tammy
Hillier-Flowers—Boys & Girls Club (Vice Chair) |
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Stephanie
Prestwood— Parent (Secretary) |
Tony
Hinson—Juvenile Welfare Board, (Parliamentarian) |
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|
Michael
Whalen—Suncoast Center for CMH |
John
Feeney-Minister/Advocate |
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|
Bonnie
McClelland—Suncoast Yellow Ribbon |
Martha
Maxey- Parent |
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Cathy
Corry, Advocate |
Timothy
Niermann—Dept. of Juvenile Justice |
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Tom
Camp—Operation PAR |
Gordon
Hawkins, DJJ |
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|
Pat
McGhee—Dept. of Juvenile Justice |
Ashley
Mercer, student |
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Jeannie
Lewis—West Care |
Diana
Boyce, DJJ Coordinator |
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|
Carol
Madura- Pinellas County Schools |
Erin
Fitzgerald—YMCA of the Suncoast |
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Rev. Bruce
Wright—The Refuge/Solid Rock |
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Stacey
Welton—Family Resources |
Frank
Valdez- Community Member |
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Matthew
Sullivan-Medic Alert |
Diana
Matthews—justice4kids.org |
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Tim
Burns, DCJS |
James
Myles—Bethel Community Foundation |
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Dennis
Segall, CRYS |
Ed
Short, PCSO |
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Dave
Plyer, justice4kids |
Leah
Kizola, Critical Resistance |
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Miquel
Hernadez-Critical Resistance |
Kaye
Thompson—Clerk of the Circuit Court |
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Absent: 52
|
Mary Jo
Kurchinski—Sheriff’s Office |
Stephanie
Bell—E.D.I.P. Daniel Memorial |
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Nancy
Zambito—Pinellas County Schools |
Monica Quioco—Boley
Centers |
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Curtis
Anderson—Boley Centers |
Anita Hartley, JSP |
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Marty
Fogel-Juvenile Arbitration |
Linda
Jones—Pinellas County School Board |
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Donnie Williams—St.
Petersburg Police Dept. |
Gayle McNeil- PEHMS |
|
James Uliasz—Dept.
of Juvenile Justice |
Elka Zwick-
Community Member |
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Judy
Smith—Clearwater Police Department |
Kathleen
Peters—YMCA of Greater St. Pete |
|
Vance Arnett—State
Attorney’s Office |
Joe
Zawolski—Directions for MH |
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Sally Zeh—PACE
Center for Girls |
Karen Segerberg-
DJCS |
|
Joe
Aschenbrenner—Family Resources |
Todd Hoover—Sport
Story Publishing |
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Troy
Adams—Coalition for a Safe/Drug Free St. Pete |
David
Archie—Citizens Alliance for Progress |
|
Mary Ann
Assiff—Youth Arts Corp |
Rod
Bisson—Sheriff’s Office |
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Tina Booze—Smart
Fighter Institute |
Isabella Cox, JSP |
|
Linda
Cooke—Sheriff’s Office |
Terri
Costello—Girls Scouts of Suncoast Council |
|
Chris Ortiz-
Community |
Beverly
Eller—Community Member |
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Pat Gerard—Family
Resources |
Khush
Jagus—Pinellas County Schools |
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Ben Shirley- DCF |
Marshall Lester,
Jr.—R’ Club Child Care |
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|
Randy Tennant—Dept.
of Juvenile Justice |
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Julie Matheney—The
Refuge |
Lynn
Mattiace—Pinellas County Schools |
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Sharon
Monteleone—United Way |
Herbert Murphy,
Sr.—Boys & Girls Club |
|
Barbara Bennett
–Westcare |
Lonnie
Reddick—Dept. of Corrections |
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Donna
Sicilian—Pinellas County Schools |
Stephen
Slaughter—Largo Police Department |
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Tom Toy—Juvenile
Arbitration |
Jane Gallucci-
Pinellas County School Board |
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Lilly Lubin- Public
Defenders Office |
Daniel Warshowsky-
The Refuge |
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Elizabeth Shaw-
GCCC |
David Parham-
Parent |
|
Ann Kelley,
Directions for Mental Health |
Robert Matthews-
The Refuge |
|
Edwin Bryant-PCSO
Boot Camp |
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Call to Order, Welcome, and
Meeting Dedication: The meeting
was called to order by the Parliamentarian Tony Hinson at 11:00 a.m. There was no meeting dedication.
Roll Call, Introductions: The Parliamentarian proceeded with the roll call. The following people were introduced. Diana Boyce as the new DJJ Community
Partnership Coordinator, Circuit 6 – Pinellas and Pasco Counties, Tim Burns
designee for Karen Segerberg and Ed Short- designee for Mary Kurchinski.
Distribution of the minutes. The
minutes of 1/27/05 meeting and the informational handout regarding the results
of the website survey were made available.
Action Required- Approval
of Minutes of the January 27, 2005 Meeting.
The Chair
stated the first agenda item is approval of the 1/27/05 minutes. The
Chair stated that she was concerned that it took such a long time to approve
the PCJJC minutes.
The Secretary read
the Bylaws Section 3.1 and stated that from now on the minutes would only be
distributed at the next regular meeting.
Also, she wanted the Council to know that Ms. Corry was provided the
Secretary’s draft hand written notes the morning following the evening meeting
and that Ms. Corry received them the next day.
The Secretary stated that she is only required to submit the draft
minutes of the meeting within 7 days to the Council Chair and that the draft
version does not have to be typed.
The Chair stated that
since the Secretary position is a volunteer position that she did not want to
place unrealistic expectations on the Secretary. The Chair further stated that
she would welcome any Council members to volunteer to act as a Recording
Secretary during the meetings to assist in this capacity. Council member
Matthews stated she would assist.
Council member Wright
and Council member Plyer made recommendations for amendments to the minutes.
The recommendations are as follows:
Council member Wright
read the minutes where it stated, “Rev.
Wright stated that he solicits input from Law Enforcement and the school system, but does not welcome the reactions at council
meetings.” He further stated that this was misleading and that it
implies that he does not solicit their input. However, he said that he does
welcome their input, just not on things they were not involved in.
Council member Wright
requested that it be stated that the Zero Tolerance Special Committee had
solicited input from law enforcement and the school board involvement. Council
member Wright further stated that he had concerns in the Zero Tolerance Special
Committee regarding what he perceived as attacks on John Feeney and he wanted
it stated for the record that, “We stand behind his assertions and don’t
appreciate attacks on him through e-mails and correspondence.”
Recommended amended changes from Council Member Plyer:
Regarding footnote notations:
1st Notation - Although this was
not in the Secretary's notes, Council member Corry requested a notation be made
that this statement was "for the record" and requested it be added to
the minutes.
2nd Notation: Although this is
what was stated at the meeting. Council
member Corry requested that a notation be made to the minutes that the
statement written is not as she as she spoke it. Ms. Corry states she said, "This might
not be legal and that I had not yet taken the time to research the Statute.”
Council member Plyer noted his objections
below regarding the minutes as they pertained to Council member Wright’s
comments.
OBJECTION: What I heard were words
to the effect that Rev. Wright did not appreciate law enforcement and school
officials (member of this very council) who time and again failed to show at
ZTC meetings to present their concerns as the plan was being developed but were
quick to say what they did not like once the plan was completed. Therefore, I
want the wording in minutes to reflect what Rev Wright actually said.
OBJECTION: Finally, the draft
minutes state that "Rev. Wright read a letter prepared by Mr. Feeney to
the council" As I recall, Rev. Wright said that he was making a statement
on Mr. Feeney's behalf... There is a significant difference between a statement
written and presented by a third party, Rev. Wright, and "Rev Wright read
a letter prepared by Mr. Feeney..." I want the wording changed to reflect
what Rev. Wright actually said.
There was a motion
made by Council member Wright and seconded by Council member Plyer to accept
the January 27, 2005 minutes with the recommended changes. Eighteen members were in favor and there was
one abstention. The motion carried.
Website:
Council member Plyer
read the message he sent to members asking what they wanted to see in the
proposed website. Council member Plyer
read the comments received from his inquiry.
One member suggested
that since we advise and provide direction to DJJ we should have our own
website.
Council member Whalen
presented unresolved issues involving governance of the site. In his view a
Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council Website is not only desirable, but
necessary link for the Council to communicate with the community about its
mission and activities. A Webpage is a
very powerful tool. It is the public’s
face of the organization it represents.
It has the potential to reach untold numbers of people. As such, he believes that it is very
important to be careful in consideration of what is to be presented and how
what is to be presented is decided on and controlled to ensure that it reflects
the will of the Council. He also
recognizes the efforts of the current web-steward: Mr. Plyer in designing an
attractive and functional site.
Mr. Whalen further
stated that the site’s content should consist of the following:
a)
Description of
the JJC, its mission, etc – brochure type information;
b)
Schedule of
JJC activities – meetings, etc.;
c)
Posting of the
approved minutes of those meetings;
d)
A link to the
Dept of Juvenile Justice.
However, at this time
Council member Whalen stated he has some serious concerns about the process
that has brought me to a point of recommending rejection of a proposal to
approve a website at this time.
·
There has been
no general discussion by the Council of their view of the benefits, style and
content or potential drawbacks, if any, by the Council.
·
The current
so-called “Test Site” content has been developed, and expanded by singular
input: that of the web-steward, not out of committee or Council discussion
·
There is no
process in place for the governance of website by the Council or any process in
place for checking any possible misuse of the website that is the public face
of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council. In my view, this needs to happen before
any website is put into operation for public consumption on the World Wide Web. We have, in effect, put the cart before the
horse.
To highlight this
point council member Whalen reported to the Council that in the process of
exploring the accessibility of the current “Test Site” he conducted a web
search on “juvenile justice council”.
First page results lead to a number of sites, some other very
interesting JJ Council sites from other states and to a “justice4kids” web
page. On that page is a “PCJJC Schedule”
link. Opening that link reveals the
entire Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council test site that is supposed to
be for Council Member access only. It is
entirely active and represents itself, with the exception of “This is a Test
Site” at the bottom of the page, as the website for Pinellas Co. Juvenile
Justice Council. If you have visited the
Test Site you have see it because it is the same site only transferred to the
“justice4kids” site.
To that end, I
propose the following: The “Test Site” be closed down at this time, unless
assurances and the means to accountability for these assurances be in place
that would limit access and practical functioning of the test site as it is
supposed to function and that the current question of the Website be tabled until
such a time that bylaws are in place addressing the pertinent issues. (Or if a
vote taken that members reject approval at this time, which would render the
discussion moot).
Council members
agreed that the website issue be sent back to the Outreach committee and then
to executive committee with procedures or bylaws which, among other issues,
would address:
·
Place the
regular operation of the PCJJC website as an Outreach Committee function.
·
Place control
of the website in the hands of the duly elected Council Chair by means of the
chair entering into agreement with the Web Hosting company and therefore having
the means to cancel the contract with the Web Host with approval of the Council
at large, should the need arise.
·
Define the
role and function of the Web-steward as limited to the general designing of the
site subject to approval by the Council, maintaining the site as defined by the
Council and adding content/links at the direction of the Council as expressed
by direct vote. The Web-steward would
report to the Outreach Committee chair;
·
Create a
process for approval of content/links by the Council. The Outreach Committee chair would coordinate
quarterly or bi-annual (as needed) presentations of suggested content links for
Council review and vote.
·
Seek solution,
with the help of all concerned parties, to the problem of the means of
accepting donation for funding this and other PCJJC activities.
A motion was made by
Council member Whalen that the test site be shut down. Council member Wright
seconded the motion. During discussion
one member stated that they would like to see a vote of the group and then form
a formal committee to come up with the answers to the formal committee.
Council member Plyer
also stated that he would shut down the pilot test site and the links to the
test site.
The Chair stated that
she has a problem with a pilot PCJJC website that was piloted for months
without the consent of the full Council.
The Parliamentarian
conducted a vote. There were 10 votes to
shut down the site 8 votes to not shut down the site and one abstention. The motion carried.
Exploratory committee for
Website:
Council member Feeney
made a motion to create an exploratory committee to study the creation of a
website.
Council member Whalen
asked to make a friendly motion that the website issue be moved to the Outreach
Committee.
Council member Feeney
asked to re-state the motion to state that the outreach committee explores
further the creation of a PCJJC website. Council member Whalen seconded the
motion.
Council member Feeney
then asked to withdraw his motion based on new information.
Council member Whalen
made a motion that the issue of the website is moved to the Outreach committee
for further discussion for the development of the bylaws to bring back to the
council for governance of the website and other website issues. Council designee Tim Burns seconded the
motion
The Chair reminded
the Council that a Bylaw revision requires 21-day written notice prior to the
vote to amend the By-Laws.
The Parliamentarian
conducted a vote. There were in 18 in
favor, 2 not in favor and 1 abstention.
The motion passed.
There was discussion
by many council members on why they voted the way they did.
One Council member
stated that she voted against it because in her opinion, “How can we manage a
website site if we can’t even manage a council?”
The Chair stated that
diversity is necessary for a council. However, it is absolutely critical that
in our diversity, we led by power of example and remain respectful to one
another regardless of our personal opinions. It is also important to consider
that no matter what our opinions are, we must treat one another with dignity,
courtesy and respect. At this time, the
Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council as a body does not do this well.
Juvenile Arrest Records/Public
Accessibility via Background Check:
Cathy Corry recommended that, in the interest of time this agenda item be postponed until the April meeting. No opposition was expressed.
Request that the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice
Circuit Board assist in the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Special
Committee Recommendations that were approved by the Council January 27, 2005:
The Chair of the Zero Tolerance Committee, Council member Wright addressed this by stating that we have on the books now recommendations from the Zero Tolerance Committee that are part of the Strategic Plan. For the strategic plan to be implemented in any affective manner the Circuit Board needs to be on board with us and behind this and they have to be the one that assist in the implementation as they are the next higher body above us.
Council member Corry made a motion that the council request to the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board that it assist in the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Special Committee recommendations, which were approved in the Three Year Strategic Plan of the PCJJC, January 27, 2005. Council member Feeney seconded the motion.
There was discussion among Council members recommending that the Zero Tolerance Committee needs to be more specific, or define what actions that they are requesting from The Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. One member stated the specificity is embodied within the body of the plan and we ask them to assist in the way they can. The Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board has the power to get things done and we need to be specific in what we ask them.
Tim Niermann asked
Council member Wright if there was a new date for the next Zero Tolerance
Committee to meet. Council member Wright stated he would set one and let him
know. Mr. Niermann requested that when the Zero Tolerance Committee meets to
please notify the Executive Committee so that he can send out a public
notice. Mr. Niermann stated that his
vision is to expand the entities involved, and expand the committee
involvement.
The Chair asked that
they submit a written report or a proposed statute change and provide to the Council for review at the next meeting.
Council member Corry
asked to restate the motion for the council to vote on whether they would agree
that the committee should come up with some verbiage to give to the Circuit 6
Juvenile Justice Board to request their assistance in the implementation. Council member Feeney seconded. There was
discussion in that the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board has much more the
expertise then us about this issue and they can make recommendations to the DJJ
legislative department that can move to make changes. Motion passed, they were
no objections.
Open
Discussion/Announcements
The Chair opened up
the floor to anyone with items related to Council business. Council member
Segall advised Council members about abuse at a school run by DJJ. Secretary Prestwood advised him as a teacher
he is legally mandated to report any alleged reports of abuse, neglect or
abandonment to the Florida Hotline at 1-800-96ABUSE. He concurred.
The Chair announced
that she did not receive any responses for the Juvenile Justice Week
recommendation form sent to all council members, therefor no youth will be
recognized or memorialized and that is a shame when we have youth sitting in
here who could be nominated.
There was a motion to
adjourn by John Feeney and seconded by Jeanne Lewis. All in favor.
None opposed. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:01 a.m. The next
meeting of the Council is March 24, 2005, at the Pinellas Park Training
Facility.
Final Minutes with Amendments prepared by Chair Jackie
Griffin-Doherty, April 28, 2005
First Draft submitted by Stephanie Prestwood, Secretary March
23, 2005
Changes made to the minutes approved on 4/28/05 were made
May 2, 2005 and May 19, 2005.