DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
COMMISSION
MINUTES
Wednesday,
March 8,
Commissioners
PRESENT:
Heidi
Simonson Kathy Loughlin Francesca Raphael
JoAnn Allen Charles Molnar Linda Starn
Larry Biggam Steve Robbins Bob Lee
Jackie
Grubelnik Alan Hiromura
Commissioners
Excused:
Melissa
Berrenge Gillian Greensite Scott MacDonald
Dee O'Brien Celia Organista Irwin Joseph
Mary Simoni Patrick Meehan
Commissioners
Unexcused:
Linda Byrum JoAnna Goodman Jewell Roberts
Others Present:
Jennifer Pike Kristie Clemens Todd Mayer
1.
Call to Order.
Chair Simonson called the
meeting to order at
2.
Roll Call:
Introduction of Members.
Each Commissioner
introduced him/herself.
3. Approval
of Agenda.
A motion was made by Alan
Hiromura and seconded by DA Bob Lee to approve the Agenda.
4.
Oral Communications from the Community.
Marilyn
Humphrey,
community member, attended but made no communications.
5.
Approval
of February Minutes.
A motion was made by
Francesca Raphael to approve the February Minutes based on the following
changes:
On Page 2, Item B. DVC
Retreat - Update, the following language is to be removed:
". . . $1,000 had been provided by
Women's Crisis and the SCSO and DAO agreed to cover the remainder of the
costs."
and replaced with:
"The Women's Crisis
Center has agreed to provide $1,000 towards this proposal, and the remaining
estimated cost will be equally shared by the member government agencies using
existing appropriations. "
DA Bob Lee seconded the
motion and JoAnn Allen and Heidi Simonson abstained.
6.
Old Business.
A. Annual Report Funding
Chair Simonson requested a
recap of last month's conversation.
Linda Starn reported that although placing the report on the DVC website
as a PDF was discussed, hard copies were requested. The Report is too much work to just be placed
on the website. Printing costs for 250
Reports was somewhere in the $1500 - $1700 range. Discussions were held with regards to
printing costs versus the amount of hard copies needed. Linda stated that there wasn't a less
expensive alternative for printing the Reports and discussions on how to
finance the printing were held. Alan
Hiromura suggested that a pro-rated amount be paid by each agency. DA Lee suggested that the commission approach
the Board and ask them to pay for it since it is actually a report to the
Board. Some commissioners opposed this
idea and others supported it. Chair Simonson believed that approaching the Board
was appropriate and asked for committee input.
Linda Starn asked where the Board gets their budget. JoAnn Allen stated that she is working on a
Grant and may have an alternative but there would be strings attached. If she receives the Grant money, she can
finance the Report and the Commissioners would need to agree to speak to
students about Domestic Violence. Linda
Starn made a motion to approach the Board of Supervisors, DA Lee seconded the
motion and the motion passed with one opposition from Alan Hiromura.
7.
New Business
A. DVC Retreat - Update
1. Introduction of Working Committees
Chair Simonson made a brief
report on the Santa Clara Board Meeting that she and other subcommittee members
attended. At that meeting, they learned
that the Santa Clara Domestic Violence Commission has its own staff person and
provides funding for the commission.
They also have their local Assemblyman to provide regular legislative
updates. Their commission is very
organized and they receive recognition by their Board of Supervisors. They are organizing a conference for October
for which they will receive funding, a facility and will provide food for those
who attend. Further, their subcommittees
meet before each monthly meeting to discuss issues and leave the monthly
meeting open so that the Commissioners can actually adopt issues.
2. Brief Oral Reports to Commission
DA Lee reported that Kay
Bowden has not presented her final bill for the Retreat yet although he feels
that the cost will be covered through private donations and monies from other
agencies.
Francesca Raphael reported
on community education. She stated that
their committee is researching ways to educate the medical community to respond
quicker to domestic violence cases and will provide an update at the next
meeting.
Sheriff Robbins reported
that his committee is researching how to improve the annual report efficiency
theme for this year with regards to Batterer's Intervention. Scott MacDonald will be the organizer.
3. Notification of Meeting dates/times for Committees
Chair Simonson asked for
each committee to report when they are scheduled to meet and how their project
is progressing. DA Lee stated that the
subcommittees must meet the requirements of the Brown Act, which requires an
agenda and minutes. He suggested that
Morgan Taylor attend the next DVC meeting to explain or Ron Garcia from the
B. Nominations - Officers and Members
Chair Simonson reminded the
commissioners that elections are due in May.
She is looking for recommendations for Chair and Vice-Chair.
C. Chair's Report
Chair Simonson addressed
the issue of absences and the effects this has on the efficiency of the
commission. Three unexcused absences can
result in termination as a commissioner.
DA Lee suggested that each agency have one proxy to appear in the event
a commissioner is unable to attend. He
recommended that it be the same person each time. Chair Simonson suggested that a subcommittee
be formed to approach the Board about changing the by-laws to reflect
this. DA Lee, JoAnn Allen and Kathi
Loughlin volunteered to be on this subcommittee. They will approach the Board with the
commissioner's suggestions that should be submitted within one week of this
meeting. This item will be placed on the
next Agenda.
8.
Announcements.
DA
Lee announced that the DAO has received a Grant to have a DA Inspector go to
Chair
Simonson stated that Melissa Berrenge and Commissioner Irwin Joseph were unable
to attend this meeting as they were attending the Family Bar Presentation for
Civility in
9. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned
at