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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitizen Review Board - Minutes - 11/15/2000Citizen Review Board Regular Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2000 City of Fort Collins Human Resources Conference Room Present: Rick Aulino, Monica Garcia, Maria Martinez, Becky Richardson, Carole Stansfield, Brian Carroll. Staff: Karen Carlson, Greg Tempel, Vicki Mesa Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. The October 18, 2000 meeting minutes were reviewed and corrected. Carole Stansfield made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Maria Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. Voice Mail: Becky Richardson reported that she has not received any voice mail messages. She stated that she sent an email message to the Black Student Alliance Group regarding its recent meeting as well as CSU Professor Amory Starr regarding feedback from her students who had recently observed a Board meeting for her class. She reported she had not heard back from either. Becky Richardson spoke of a phone call she received from an individual who she felt was considering filing a report against an officer. She told the Board that she informed the person of the steps he needed to take and clarified the function of both the HRC and the CRB. She stated that she felt it was inappropriate for Board members to participate in meetings between a potential complainant and the City Manager and/or Police Department. Lt. Carlson told the Board that she was aware of the individual that Becky was talking about and said the individual was also upset with the District Attorney's Office and had picked up a complaint packet but had not submitted it to the police department. The police department had nevertheless reviewed the information and found that officers had followed proper procedures. Brian Carroll spoke of the need to inform the HRC of possible referrals, and of the need to discuss how the "system" works to Bob Link, the Chair of the HRC. i Rick Aulino passed out handouts and read for the board the Public Notice posting for canceling the December board meeting. After Board discussion regarding posting notices of meetings and cancelled meetings, Greg Tempel confirmed that notice of subcommittee meetings must also be posted prior to the meeting. Bylaws: Greg Tempel reported the Bylaws could not be adopted until the next regularly scheduled Board meeting and the Board reviewed the proposed amendments to the current Bylaws. Canceling December Meeting: The Board discussed canceling the December meeting because of the meeting date being so close to the Christmas Holiday. Lt. Carlson responded to questions from the Board and noted she had requested a thirty -day extension for the pending case. Rick Aulino made a motion to cancel the December Citizen Review Board meeting. Carole Stansfield seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. New Board member Appointments: Lt. Carlson reported that City Council would be appointing new Board members at its December 19, 2000 meeting. She told the Board that she would email them the names of the appointed volunteers after the December 19, 2000 meeting. Work Plan: Lt. Carlson stated that she would complete and submit the Citizen Review Board's Work Plan. The draft of the work plan would be sent to board members via e-mail for approval before it is submitted. She also stated that she would update Board member's Police Department Policy Manuals and requested that board members bring their manuals to the January meeting. The Board discussed the following items for the Work Plan. Continued Training Opportunities Training for new Board members _ Review Cases Continue Updating Web Page Liaison with Appropriate Boards and Commissions Educate the Public about the Function of the Citizen 2 Review Board Identify and Establish Relationship with Specific Community Entities Voice Mail The Board discussed various ways in which they could educate the public of its function. There was discussion that inserts could be placed in utility bills, as well as advertising (press releases) in the Collegian. The Board also discussed how non-English speaking citizens could be included in the education process. Brian suggested that each Board member chose a project or organization to promote the Board. Becky requested that members bring ideas of the project or organizations they would be interested in working with to the January meeting. New Business: Lt. Carlson spoke of information she had received at a staff liaison meeting regarding the Board's scope of authority and stressed the importance of staying within that scope. She said board members can be liable and are not covered by governmental immunity if they do not stay within the scope. The Board discussed conflict of interest issues and procedures when a conflict arises. There was discussion regarding training for the new members and Lt. Carlson stated she would let everyone know when that training would be. Rick Aulino reported that he would be meeting with Karla Smith in the City Clerk's Office to discuss the Citizen Review Board's web page. Carole Stanfield commented she would like to see, and attend if possible, an advanced Citizen Police Academy. Brian Carroll reported on a recent article in a Washington D.C. newspaper regarding Police complaints and the role of the Citizen Review Committees in various cities. He stated the consensus of the Committees was that they lacked real authority to do anything. Rick Aulino stated he would search the Internet for the article and make it available at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board discussed asking Silka Hansen from the Department of Justice, in Denver, to inform the Board when it would be meeting in Fort Collins again. 3 E Adjournment: Rick Aulino made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Maria Martinez seconded the motion. There was no discussion and the motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 17, 2001, at 5:30 p.m in the HR Conference Room 4