HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PCR-1992-08-15 POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS TASK FORCE
CITY HALL,ITHACA,NY 14850
Approved minutes from the Steering Committee meeting held on August 15, 1992 (4:25-
5:30 pm).
Present: Coordinator Alvin Nelson,Mayor Ben Nichols,Clay Hamilton,Irene Stein, Sara
Shenk,John Johnson,John Marcham, Chief Harlin McEwen and Drew Martin(had to
leave due to unforeseen circumstances)
Absent Amy Lewis(prior notice),Rick Williams,Gerald Dumay,Jose Montanez
1. Irene Stein explained the draft report of the Jury Selection subcommittee.
a. AI Nelson asked about the public education aspect of the report. Irene said that
the education aspect of the report was not specific. Al suggested presenting the
school district with some sort of curriculum to educate the non-college bound
students in parliamentary procedures. He said that most students lack the
knowledge of these procedures,therefore they end up not knowing what their
rights are.
b. Mayor Nichols brought up his concerns about the need for drawing jury pool
names from two strata in the county. Irene said that drawing from the two
strata would increase the likelihood for a more representative jury pool.
c. Al brought up the concern that choosing jury pool names from two strata could
be used negatively against minorities or other groups or individuals. Irene said
that the actual jury pool list is drawn in Albany,therefore decreasing the chance
of discrimination in relation to these groups.
d. Al also brought up the concern about the clerk having discretionary rights to
excuse individuals from jury duty. Irene explained that the report suggests that
the reasons for exclusion from jury duty be written down to reduce the chance
for unfair/unlawful exclusion.
e. Irene suggested that the Steering Committee look over the report and bring any
changes,corrections,or additions to the next meeting.
2. Minutes from the 8/10/92 Steering Committee meeting were presented.
Corrections and additions were made.
Vote carried,minutes approved.
3. Clay Hamilton presented the minutes from the Training Subcommittee,as well as a
draft of a questionnaire to be given to police officers at a later time.
a. Clay explained the proposal that was alluded to in the minutes. He said that the
subcommittee is talking about adding a pilot/model community policing
program for the Northside/Southside community. Tentative discussions were
held with the Police Chief,and the possibility of adding two and a half more
police officers to complete the proposed program was suggested. A more
complete explanation of the program will be presented at next week's meeting.
b. Another suggestion was to continue the training process by having the Training
subcommittee become a subcommittee of the Community/Police Board
specifically for training the community and the police and for keeping up the
relations between the two.
c. Al suggested adding a member from each of the Task Force's subcommittees to
aid the Community/Police Board in police-community relations.
d. Clay noted that the questionnaire is voluntary and anonymous.
4. Mayor Nichols noted that there is an opening on the Community/Police Board.
a. Sara asked if there has been a formalized process for getting suggestions for
members of the Community/Police Board. Mayor Nichols said that there
wasn't,but he will be sending out a press release to announce the vacancy,
hopefully to get suggestions from some relevant organizations for a new,
interested member.
5. John Marcham presented the tentative proposal from the Community/Police Board
subcommittee.
a. Irene said that the initial investigations of the cases presented to the
Community/Police Board,proposed by Rick Williams,underlining what she
thinks are the fundamental issues for the subcommittee have not been addressed
in the report. She suggested adding that some other group conduct the
investigations after the Task Force has dissolved. John Johnson said that the
issue was addressed in a subcommittee meeting. Sara said that she had
conducted investigations,and that it was difficult at times because not all the
information needed was available. The Community/Police Board is taking steps
to solve this problem. Sara also said that Rick's idea was dropped because of
problems with resistance and confidentiality,among other things. John
Marcham said that the issue was not put into the minutes of the subcommittee,
and asked that if the Task Force is not satisfied with what the subcommittee has
done so far,is there time to address this concern before the report is finalized?
b. Clay brought up the other question of whether there is going to be an individual
ombudsperson added to the Community/Police Board's processes. John
Marcham said that the issue was discussed at the subcommittee meeting,and
that there is a problem with where that person would fit into the Board.
c. Irene noted that the issue of having a seat on the Board specifically reserved for
a minority member of the community,chosen by the Mayor from a list of three
people suggested by relevant organizations(Southside,GIAC,etc.), should be
noted in the report because there was some discussion on the subject,and some
support was expressed.
d. Sara expressed her concern that John Marcham will be on vacation until 9/9/92,
leaving the chairperson seat open again.
6. Rick Williams's resignation was discussed.
a. Mayor Nichols noted the issue of the independence of the Community/Police
Board from the Police Department. John Marcham said that some of Rick's
suggestions were being pursued,such as the intermediary/ombudsperson
suggestion.Mayor Nichols suggested a staff person to interact with the
community to do clerical work, make sure all the forms are completed,etc. to
ensure that the investigations are done in a timely fashion. Sara suggested
putting some money in for neighborhood legal services for that purpose.
b. John Marcham suggested Marilyn Ray as the interim chairperson. John
Johnson supported that suggestion,and said that he would approach her with
that proposal.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.