|
|
|
Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council Council Meeting of February 26, 2009 Seminole Community Library 9200 -113 Street North Minutes – Approved as submitted 7/23/09 Call to order.— Chair Cathy Corry called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Call of the roll.—Registrar Brian Pitts called the roll and announced that there was a quorum.
Public comment.— There was no public comment. Approve minutes for 11/20/08 and 01/22/09 Council meetings— (1) Minutes of 11/20/08 Council meeting—Chair Corry stated that lack of a quorum at the last Council meeting (01/20/09) prevented approval of the 11/20/08 minutes. Chair stated that all members had a copy of the minutes in front of them and that all members were emailed a copy of the minutes prior to the meeting. Corry asked if there were comments or corrections. There were no comments or corrections. Chair announced that, hearing no comments or corrections and if there was no objection to waiving the reading of the minutes, the minutes would be approved as submitted. There was no objection. The Council approved the minutes of the 11/20/08 meeting, as submitted. (2) Minutes of 01/22/09 Council meeting—Chair stated that all members had a copy of the minutes in front of them and that all members were emailed a copy of the minutes prior to the meeting. Corry asked if there were comments or corrections. There were no comments or corrections. Chair announced that, hearing no comments or corrections and if there was no objection to waiving the reading of the minutes, the minutes would be approved as submitted. There was no objection. The Council approved the minutes of the 01/22/09 meeting, as submitted. Reports.— Chair reported no significant activity in January, 2009. Chair announced that the next meeting of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council (PCJJC) is Thursday, April 23, 2009, at the Seminole Community Library, Seminole, Florida, at 7:00 P.M.; that there is no meeting in March; that next meeting of PCJJC Executive Committee is Monday, April 13, 2009, at 7:00 P.M., at the Seminole Community Library—ten days before the Council meeting; and that all meeting information is on the Council’s website www.PinellasJJC.org. The other Council officers—Secretary, Vice Chair and Registrar—stated they had nothing to report. Presentation: "Restorative Justice, an Alternative to School Suspension and the Criminal Justice System" by Art Hansen—Mr. Hansen, a volunteer, shared his experiences in the use of "Restorative Justice" practices as a way to reduce school suspension and possibly reduce disproportionate contact of minorities with the juvenile justice system. Mr. Hansen’s experience is in Baltimore, Maryland but he sees benefits for Pinellas County. Mr. Hansen also addressed the planning, funding, staffing and training necessary to implement a restorative justice program. Mr. Hansen then answered questions from members of the Council and the public. A link to a short video on the use of restorative justice practices was sent to all council members in the Council’s public meeting notice. A copy of the Public Notice e-mail dated February 18, 2009, is provided for the record. New business.—There was no new business. Council member announcements.— (1) Member Corry read excerpts from a St. Petersburg Times column 2/26/09, concerning the Florida Commission on Ethics and complaints Member Dave Plyer has filed. (2 ) Member Pitts – announced (a) Pinellas County Commissioner Calvin Harris remains chair of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board (C6JJB) [his term expired and he has not been re-appointed to the Board]. (b) Blueprint Commission and DJJ differ on importance of Commission’s recommendations. DJJ presented bill with few of the Commission’s recommendations; (c) Changes proposed to increase Circuit Juvenile Justice Board members without consulting the various County Juvenile Justice Councils. (d) Federal rules for use of "stimulus money" restricts flow to youth services. (3) Member Keith Estes—Commented that during the recent Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board meeting he learned that juvenile arrests in Florida are down. (4) Member Greg Pound—Commented that Florida government entities exploit children to get matching federal dollars. Public comment.—A member of the public agreed with Council Member Pound’s announcement and voiced concern over lack of "common sense" discipline in schools and homes. Adjourn.— Chair Corry announced that there was no further business on the agenda and, if there was no objection, the meeting would be adjourned. There was no objection. Chair Corry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:25 P.M. Minutes prepared by Dave Plyer, Secretary, 04/15/09. |
|
|