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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032997 rm min • 4 CITIZEN'S ADVISORY BOARD Minutes Wednesday, March 26, 1997 7:00 PM City Commission Chambers PRESENT: Martha Yancey, Lynn Stogner, Dean Ray, Richard Huber, Bernard Brown, Kevin Hipes, Earl Myers, Joan Campbell, Police Chief Joe Dillard, Deputy Police Chief Dennis Whitmire, Commander Willie Harden and Gracy Posley This meeting was called to order by Chairperson Yancey. Chairperson Yancey requests Miss Posley to read CAB Minutes of March 12, 1997. The minutes were read, motioned by Chairperson Yancey for the minutes to be approved as read since there were no changes or corrections. Chairperson Yancey request Miss Posley to start a sign -in list for members present. Chairperson Yancey request the by -laws sub - committee report. Mr. Hipes distributes a draft of the proposed by -laws for members; changes /approval to be discussed at the next meeting. These by -laws were compiled with the City ordinance incorporated. Mr. Hipes stresses by -laws (absences) re Board Membership and Term (C.6.). Mr. Hipes reads the by -laws. Mr. Stogner reports for the hearing process sub - committee. Mr. Stogner states he went to all City departments re hearing processes. His sub - committee has approximately 50 hearing process applications to sort through. Their suggestion of a hearing process application will be available at the next meeting. Mr. Ray disperses a handout re the people of Sanford sub - committee. He mentions the significance of CAB advertisement. Mr. Ray mentioned the idea of having a CAB suggestion box at the police department. He suggests mailouts to churches, local organizations, etc. re CAB's publicity. Mr. Stogner recommends flyers be distributed re CAB. Mr. Myers comments to utilize the local radio station WTRR, Oscar Redden is a contact. The program "Talk of the Town" of WTRR was also suggested. Chairperson Yancey starts discussion re the Sanford Police Department assessment sub- committee report. States herself, Mrs. Campbell and Sara Jacobson, chairperson is on this sub- committee. Ms. Jacobson appointed as chairperson to this sub - committee by Chairperson Yancey. Chairperson Yancey and Ms. Jacobson met re this sub - committee; Mrs. Campbell unable to attend. Chairperson Yancey welcomes Ms. Jacobson to the meeting. Gave background of Ms. Jacobson including running for Mayor in 1996 and having a section in the Sanford Herald, the NightMayor. Ms. Jacobson distributes a three page handout that was hand delivered to Police Chief Dillard re requests of material for review from the assessment sub- committee. Mrs. Campbell suggests an employee from the police department be placed on this sub - committee; Chairperson Yancey request a motion. Motioned by Mrs. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Hipes. Mr. Hipes suggests the Chairperson to select the employee and the Board to vote on the individual. Ms. Jacobson comments that she respects and thanks each member of being on CAB. She wants to be helpful to the Board. States the assessment sub - committee has analyzed the CAB ordinance. CAB can make recommendations and suggestions regarding law enforcement needs, hear problems from the public. Ms. Jacobson has started interviews with police department employees, states it is important to get input from employees. Ms. Jacobson read her memo addressed to The Men and Women of the Sanford Police Department. Police Chief Dillard begins to comment re the fax he sent to Mayor Dale re Ms. Jacobson's three page police department assessment document, Chairperson Yancey breaks in stating she will comment CAB Minutes March 26, 1997 Page2of3 re the fax. Mr. Stogner likes the arrangement of Ms. Jacobson's documents. Chairperson Yancey states Ms. Jacobson is a class act. The election for a secretary to CAB was conducted. Motion made by Mr. Stogner, seconded by Mrs. Campbell, accepted by Miss Posley for Miss Posley to be secretary to the Board. Chairperson Yancey begins to update the Board re items they were unaware of. She comments of her being shocked re Police Chief Dillard and the Mayor's understanding of the CAB ordinance and police department assessment sub - committee. She comments of her conversation and memo she addressed to Police Chief Dillard re him not being in agreeance with the CAB assessment committee. Subsequently, she states Chief Dillard pledged to give his support re the assessment. Chairperson Yancey had concerns re the Sunshine Law. She called the Attorney General's Office for do's and don'ts of the Board. She was advised if appointing someone from the community on the Board, she could appoint individuals only for fact finding. Ms. Jacobson explains she recently completely a study on the Sunshine Law, then explained the Sunshine Law. Chairperson Yancey was called for a meeting including Chief Dillard and City Manager Bill Simmons at the City Manager's Office. Chairperson Yancey states one of the questions Mr. Simmons asked her was, what was she doing with CAB. She was instructed by Mr. Simmons for CAB members to not talk to employees while on duty re the police department assessment. Chairperson Yancey read Chief Dillard's memo to police department Commanders re employees being able to converse with CAB during off duty hours only and interviews are strictly voluntary. Chairperson Yancey feels Chief Dillard's memo did not encourage employees to cooperate with CAB. Commander Harden comments in his opinion, Chief Dillard's memo to employees was positive and he has every intention of cooperating with CAB. Chairperson Yancey states CAB never had any direction from the City Commission /City Manager re CAB. Chairperson Yancey states she received a call from Mayor Dale re the fax he received from Chief Dillard re Ms. Jacobson's requests for assessing the police department. Chairperson Yancey advised by the Mayor, CAB is not to assess the police department. CAB is to cease everything re the assessment until the Mayor can meet with the Commission. Chairperson Yancey comments on CAB ordinance being unclear. Mr. Stogner comments he would like to give the CAB ordinance to his company's attorney for interpretation. Board agrees for Commission to review the ordinance further. Chairperson Yancey talks of the City hiring the assessment consultant. States the requests of Ms. Jacobson are public record. Chief Dillard comments re his fax to the Mayor. Advised the Board he felt the Mayor should have been aware of Ms. Jacobson's assessment requests. Chief Dillard expressed concerns the Mayor had re CAB's assessment. Chief Dillard apprised by Mayor the consultant firm will be doing the assessment. Mr. Stogner requests to hear from each member re CAB's purpose and the assessment. Mrs. Campbell mentions the CAB ordinance need to be clarified. Mr. Hipes addresses Chief Dillard, CAB and the Chief are to operate as a team. States opinions are recommendations. Mr. Huber comments CAB is to help the citizens and get an overall view from citizens for reasonable suggestions. States CAB cannot tell the Police Chief how to run the police department. Mr. Brown states he will await to hear from the Commission; that a parent can't take care of one child; Chief Dillard can't watch everything. Mr. Myers states he too would have contacted the Mayor re the requests made by the assessment sub - committee. Mr. Ray states requests from Ms. Jacobson should have come to the Board first. Ms. Jacobson asks Chief Dillard what is he comfortable with re the assessment? Chief Dillard comments the Mayor /City Commission is in the process of acquiring a consultant firm for the assessment and feels CAB should set their assessment aside. r CAB Minutes March 26, 1997 Page3of3 Ms. Jacobson comments CAB should analyze the findings of the consultant's results, Chairperson Yancey and Mr. Stogner agrees. Mr. Stogner comments CAB is a good Board for the City; he's proud to be a member. Motioned by Mr. Stogner, seconded by Mrs. Campbell for CAB to not go forward with anything until the Board hears from the Commission re clarifying the ordinance. Mr. Bob Ball speaks from the audience that facts should be given when advising the CAB. Mrs. Campbell has contacted Commissioner V. Williams re Rev. Ricky Scott have not attended any CAB meetings. Chairperson Yancey want issues cleared. Members to bring any /all comments at next meeting. Chairperson Yancey to memo the Mayor re the Boards concerns and the Commission meeting re CAB before CAB's April 9 meeting. Board members requesting an evening meeting and would like to attend. Members will be notified as to when the Mayor will meet with the Commission. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.