Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council: August 23, 2007 — Report from the Chair

Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board meeting July 16, 2007

• Judge Raymond Gross sat at the board meeting as the designee of chief judge Robert Morris. Gross apparently replaces judge Marian Fleming. Fleming  was the designee for former chief judge David Demers. No letter designating Gross was presented.
• PCJJC appointee Plyer asked C6JJB chair Harris to apologize for his “unprovoked and open hostility towards the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council.” Harris said nothing. Plyer then read, for the record, the Council’s email to Harris of June 27, 2007 that demands Harris’ apology. A copy of the letter was submitted for the Council’s records during the Chair’s report to the Council on June 28, 2007.
• Harris and C6JJB vice chair Paul McClintock announced their plan to change the Board’s bylaws to add three members to the C6JJB. This would bring the Board membership to 21, the maximum number allowed under FS 985.664 (7) and (8). The Board’s existing bylaws authorize 18 members: 3 statutory members—Chief Judge, State Attorney and Public Defender or their designees—and 7 appointees from the Pasco JJC and 7 from the Pinellas JJC. [C6JJB bylaws Article II Section A (5).] It is important to note that expanding the total to 21 members, would allow each council to appoint 9 members instead of 7. Harris apparently has members in mind.
• Harris and McClintock also announced their plan to change the C6JJB bylaws to remove the limit on the number of terms a board member can serve as an officer. The current limit is two consecutive two-year terms. [C6JJB bylaws Article II Section A 2.]
• PCJJC representative Plyer reminded the Board that amendments to the bylaws are made at the discretion of DJJ [C6JJB bylaws Article VII.]. Harris and McClintock said they would get DJJ approval of their plans. They would then send copies of the proposed bylaw changes to all board members prior to the next meeting of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board—probably in September, 2007.

Council receives copy of McCabe’s letter designating Arnett

The Council repeatedly asked Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board chair Calvin Harris for a copy of the letter from State Attorney Bernie McCabe to the Board that designates Vance Arnett to represent the State Attorney at Board meetings. After an exchange of 12 emails, during which Harris said he did have and did not have the letter, Harris concluded with “You need to get over it!”

On June 25, 2007, the Chair sent an email to Joslyn Wilson, at the Office of the Attorney General, asking her to intervene. On June 29, 2007, Lagran Saunders, representing Wilson, sent the Council an email with a copy of the McCabe letter. The letter is undated. A copy of the email, with McCabe’s letter, is submitted for the record. [Email Saunders to Plyer, 06/29/07.]

Investigation of DJJ’s 2007-8 delinquency prevention grant process in Pinellas County

On May 24, 2007, the Council asked DJJ for an explanation of its disregard for the Council’s grant recommendations. [Email Plyer to Jenkins, May 24, 2007.] After an exchange of emails, DJJ Deputy Secretary Rick Davison finally wrote, “We respectfully disagree with your position.” [Email Davison to Plyer, 06/16/07]

At the Council’s meeting of June 28, 2007, the members authorized the Chair to request an investigation by the DJJ Inspector General. An email was sent by the Chair, on behalf of the Council, to DJJ Inspector General Mary Eubanks. [Email Plyer to Eubanks, 7/10/07 and the attachment Request for Investigation: DJJ 2007-8 grant awards process.] This followed a similar request for investigation by Council member Corry speaking for her advocacy group, Justice4Kids.org. Eubanks opened IG investigation 07-0432. On July 18, 2007, Eubanks informed the Council that its complaint is unsubstantiated and “No further action will be taken by the OIG at this time.” On July 18, 2007 [July 23, 2007], The Council supplied Eubanks with additional information apparently overlooked in her investigation. There was no reply. The Council followed up on August 7, 2007. Eubanks has not replied.

Therefore, if the Council has no objection, the Chair will request that Melinda Miguel, Chief Inspector General, Office of the Governor, investigate DJJ violations of Florida grant review procedures.

Council appointee to the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board resigns.  On July 30, 2007, Susan Biszewski-Eber, Director of Middle School Programs YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, sent an email to the Council Chair confirming her resignation from the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board. The Council appointed Biszewski-Eber to the Board on October 26, 2006. A copy of the email exchange between Plyer and Biszewski-Eber is submitted for the record. [Resignation of Biszewski-Eber from C6JJB.]

Next Council meeting: 7:00 p.m. Thursday September 27, 2007 at the Seminole Community Library.

Council website: All Council documents submitted for the record, as well as minutes of all public meetings  can be found on the Council’s website, PinellasJJC.org.

This report is submitted for the record by Dave Plyer, Chair, Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council.

This site is maintained by the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council and was last updated on 10/21/07.