Pinellas County Juvenile
Justice Council
October 27, 2005
Park Station
5851 Park Boulevard
|
Jackie Griffin –Doherty, Operation PAR (PCJJC Chair) Active, Voting if Tie; DJJ Provider; Vice Chair of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board |
Tammy Hillier-Flowers, BGCS (Vice Chair), Active, Voting, Business Community |
|
Stephanie Prestwood, DCF (Secretary)Active, Non-Voting; Agency Limit, Designee for Ben Shirley; Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board Member |
Tony Hinson, JWB (Parliamentarian), Active, Voting; Children Services |
|
Karen Segerberg, DJCS, Active, Voting; Board of County Commissioners |
Robert Gardner, Public Defenders Office, Inactive, Non-Voting, Judicial System, Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board member |
|
Stacey Welton, Family Resources, Active, Voting; DJJ Provider |
Dennis Segall, CRYS, Active, Voting; Advocate |
|
Avery Slyker, YMCA of the Greater St. Petersburg, Inactive, Non-Voting; DJJ Provider |
Anita Hartley, JSP, Active, Voting; DJJ Provider |
|
Ed Short, PCSO, Active, Voting; Local Law Enforcement |
Cathy Corry, Active, Voting; Community Member |
|
Major Donnie Williams, Active, Voting; Local Law Enforcement |
Dave Plyer, Justice4kids, Active, Voting; Advocate |
|
Craig Humphrey, Boley Centers, Active, Voting; DJJ Provider |
Diana Matthews, Active, Voting, Parent Advocate |
|
Matt Sullivan, Active, Voting; Business Community |
Serge Kostin, Active, Voting, Citizen |
|
Rachel Rogers, PEMHS, Inactive Non-Voting, DJJ Provider |
Phyllis Cloman, Marriage and Family Center, Active, Voting; Other Interested Entities |
|
Bruce Wright, Solid Rock/Refuge, Active, Voting; Faith Based Community |
Stephanie Bell, EDIP, Active, Voting; DJJ Provider |
|
Pat McGhee, DJJ |
Deborah Joy Browning, Active, Voting; Citizen |
|
Diana Boyce, DJJ Partnership Coordinator |
Braden Malnic, Operation PAR, Active, Non-Voting, DJJ Provider, Agency Limit |
|
James Uliasz, DJJ Tim Niermann – DJJ |
Vinnie Giordano, Operation PAR, Non-Active, Non-Voting, Agency Limit; DJJ Provider |
|
Gordon Hawkins, DJJ |
Jeffrey DeSimone, Operation PAR, Active, Non-Voting; DJJ Provider, Agency Limit |
|
Bonnie McClelland, SunCoast Yellow Ribbon, Active, Voting; Other Interested Entities (Parent/Advocate) |
David Rosynsky, Operation PAR, Active, Non-Voting, DJJ Provider, Agency Limit |
|
Harry Harvey, Invited Guest, NAACP-St. Petersburg Division |
Cliff Burney, Invited Guest, NAACP-St. Petersburg Division |
|
Karen Ogden, Big Brother Big Sisters of Pinellas County, Inc., Inactive, Non-Voting, Business Community |
Debi Timperio, PEMHS, PRJDC, Inactive, Non-Voting, DJJ Provider |
|
Maria Lodge, Family Service Center: Catalyst Program; Inactive, Non-Voting, Provider |
Steven Nelson, Family Service Center, Inactive, Nonvoting, DJJ Provider |
|
Sheila Grant, DCF, Inactive, Non-Voting, Agency Limit, sent by Ben Shirley. |
Kathleen Mannion, Active, Voting, Parent |
Welcome; Call to Order: The Chair called the
meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. The Chair
welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked him or her for their participation
in this meeting. The Chair announced that there were registration forms available
on the sign-in table and when completed the Parlimentarian Tony Hinson would
collect them. The Chair announced that
there would not be a tape recording of the meeting as the tape recorder was
broken and that the written notes taken by the Secretary would stand as the
official minutes of the PCJJC meeting.
She further stated that on the Agenda item 8b is reserved for public
comment at 10:30 a.m.
The
Chair requested that all Council members abide by the House Rules:
1. Respect
2. Manners
3. Trust
Attendance; Quorum Count: The Parliamentarian proceeded with the roll call and attendance. The certifying voting status and quorum count was delayed based on the following items outlined on the agenda.
· The Chair stated there is a grey area in the Bylaws.
· Council member Plyer stated to the Chair “Point of Order”, the Chair cannot make a motion. The Chair stated she did not make a motion.
· The Chair again stated that in our bylaws there is a grey area in reference to attendance and quorum count. Are PCJJC members all active and eligible to vote? Or, must members attend two consecutive meetings, which may imply that due to the new fiscal year, no Council member would be eligible to vote until the second meeting held, November 17th.
· The Chair read the bylaws Article II Membership - Registration and Active Membership 2.2.1, 2.2.4 and also Term of Membership 2.4.
· Council member Plyer stated “Point of Order.”
· Council member Sullivan made a motion to move on and was seconded by Council member Plyer. The Chair stated how could we vote if we have no certified voters?
· Council member Sullivan asks if the Chair has the right to make a motion.
· The Chair stated she did not make a motion.
· Council member Sullivan stated “Read the Manual.”
· The Parlimentarian stated to Council member Sullivan “Out of Order.”
A motion was made by Council member Sullivan to move to the next item on the agenda. The motion died from lack of a second. The Council proceeded to the next item on the agenda.
Announcement of
Special Guest
The
Chair announced that a presentation on the School Discipline issue would be
presented by NAACP-St. Petersburg Division, Cliff Burney, Chair of the
Education Committee and Robert Gardner, Director of the Juvenile Division of
the Office of the Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit and designee for Bob
Dillinger as a member of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board.
Mr. Gardner stated that juvenile arrest records are public. He further stated they are compiled and kept by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and are available to the Military and the public for a fee. He further stated kids have no clean slate at 18 any longer. He further stated even such offenses as disruption of school function where kids are arrested and found guilty goes on their permanent record.
Council member Corry presented the School Discipline Fact Sheet and stated this is available on her web site. Ms. Corry further stated she believed there should be a moratorium in schools on the following offenses: disorderly conduct, disruption of school environment and trespassing. Ms. Corry also spoke of the Advancement Project and the two reports they have put out “DERAILED!” The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse and Education on Lockdowns: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse track. Both of these are available on her website.
Mr. Burney stated there are solutions for all of this and it can start with providing the schools with the resources necessary to intervene at an early point of their acting out and also advocating for these in public forums or meetings.
The Chair asked for Mr. Burney’s recommendations as to the most effective method of assisting the NAACP with this issue, since it pertains to issues surrounding Zero Tolerance in the Council Strategic Plan. She also expressed her concern that some community stakeholders believe that the Council has a tarnished reputation as an organization that does not work collaboratively with the community at-large.
Mr. Harvey stated that it is imperative to have parental involvement, this is a systemic problem, so do not dump it all on the school system. He further stated that parent(s) need to be held responsible, churches need to be involved and lastly it takes a community and holistic approach.
Council member Sullivan stated, "Is it not true that no one from the School system was present at the Public Forum?”
Mr. Burney stated there was a school person present at the forum but also the School Board was meeting that same night. Council member Sullivan stated that they (school board personnel) do not attend the PCJJC meetings and it is required in the Statute.
Mr. Burney stated that the Pinellas County Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent were in attendance at the follow-up meeting and that the problems are multi-faceted. Mr. Burney stated he has more confidence with the new Superintendent Wilcox and that we meet with him on a regular basis. He further stated he has recommended that the School Resource Officers (SRO’s) need to be well trained in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and we all need to work collaboratively and collectively.
Council member Wright stated that over the last 6-8 months we have addressed this issue and it is in the Council’s Strategic Plan. He further stated that the Zero Tolerance Committee meetings were held and we had (0) participation from the school system. He further stated the Council’s reputation was tarnished prior to that. He further stated that the Council used to be a place to get providers both public and private to get funding streams and pat each other on the back and get nothing done. He further stated that the find this disturbing that the Board has the authority and the power and nothing has been done. This is a systemic problem that makes it impossible for single parent and even two parent homes to survive and make it. Also, we identify kids based on ageism and racism.
The Chair advised Council members that her recommendation for the Council would be to find healthy common ground and methods of building solutions to address the issues outlined in the Council’s Strategic Plan. She further stated that it is imperative that Council members should demonstrate respect for one another in our actions and treat one another politely, using diplomacy and manners, even if Council members disagree on certain issues.
Council member Kostin stated that not everyone clapped. That’s not showing compassion. Council member Segall stated there are no children in attendance. We do not care; kids do not come because we are apathetic.
Council member Wright inquired on why we have not talked to the Chief of Police or the Mayor and that nothing happens outside these four walls.
Council Member Humphrey stated his agency (Boley) has staff in school to intervene with these kids, but we need more resources.
Mr. Burney stated that staff of the PCSB would attend cultural competency training. As we all know some teachers are young and inexperienced. All teachers need to be kept abreast with in services before, during, and after tenure. Mr. Burney stated he is a new member of the PCSB District Monitoring team and all are welcome to the Public meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the PCSB office in Largo.
DJJ representative Gordon Hawkins stated that there is a new program with the State Attorneys Office that rather that a child being arrested they would go to Teen Court. He further stated the problem is that the SAO is running it and they are part of the criminalization. Mr. Hawkins further suggested that unless a school infraction warrants a ten-day suspension the child should not be criminalized.
Maria Lodge from the Family Service Center Catalyst’ Program – which offers Anger Management and Sex Offender classes, stated that all her referrals come from DJJ, so they are criminalized then referred. She stated that her number is out there and the resource should be attempted before they are criminalized.
DJJ representative McGhee stated that the Delinquency Prevention grants would be released in February 2006.
Public
Comment/Announcements:
Council Member Welton wanted to publicly congratulate Jackie Griffin Doherty for being elected as the Vice Chair of the C6 Juvenile Justice Circuit Board.
Parent M. stated that the Council needs to be here for the community and parents and that the Council should seriously consider moving the meeting time of the Council so that parents, teachers, and kids could attend. She further stated that last week her son had been holding a sign on the sidewalk protesting the war. He was approached by a Pinellas County Sheriffs Officer and asked to show identification. She further stated her son was then arrested and held for 25 minutes while they (PCSO) decided what to charge him with. Her son was then transported to JDC. Furthermore, an article ran in the paper on Sunday St. Petersburg Times stating her son had been arrested for impeding traffic and using profanity to a Sheriff Officer. She further stated he was not using profanity that she was.
Approval of the 7/28/05 and 8/25/05 PCJJC minutes:
The Chair stated that the Council would review two sets of minutes from meetings held July 28th and September 22nd. A motion was made by Council member Hartley to dispense the reading of the minutes. Council member Williams seconded that motion. There were 18 in favor. The motion carried.
The Chair requested Council members to submit their recommended changes in writing. She further stated recommended changes to the minutes would be voted on individually when the Council makes the motion to amend. She requested that Council member Corry read her requested changes to the minutes to the Council.
Council member Corry read her requested corrections for the July 28, 2005 minutes. A motion to accept the changes as read by Ms. Corry and approve the minutes was made by Council member Segerberg and seconded by Council member Hartley. There were 18 in favor. The motion carried.
Council member Plyer read his recommendation for changes to the July 28, 2005 minutes. A motion to accept the changes of Dave Plyer was made by Council member Segall and seconded by Council member Wright. The vote was 8 opposed and 7 in favor. The motion failed.
Council member Corry stated “Appeal the Order of the Chair.”
DJJ McGhee stated her FY 04-05 Delinquency Prevention Grant Report was available. and she provided copies of these reports to Council members.
Adjourn: A motion was made by Phyllis Cloman to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Next meeting date: The next meeting is scheduled for:
November 17, 2005 (3rd
Thursday) 6:30
p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Union
Academy, Neighborhood Family Center
401
East ML King Jr. Drive
Draft Minutes with Amendments prepared by Jackie-Griffin Doherty, Chair, on November 14, 2005 and November 2, 2005
First draft submitted on November 2, 2005, by Stephanie Prestwood, Secretary