GARRETT COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE COALITION Minutes of Meetings The next FVC meeting will be at 8:30AM at the GC Department of Social Services on September 8, 1998

GARRETT COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE COALITION
Minutes of Meeting July 14, 1998

Attending: Barbara Smith, Parole & Probation; Edgar Harman, Rep Garrett County Commissioners; Donna Shafer, Interested Party, Elizabeth Biser, Lucia Ayres, Community Representative; carol Bass, GCHD; Kellie Warnick, GCCAC; Larry Gnegy, Sheriff’s Office: Lisa Welch, Patrick Kelly, State’s Attorney’s Office, Linda Spassil, DVSARC; Lt. Ray Milburn, Sgt. Dan Stanton, MSP, June Heseslbach, AAoA; Henry A. Brown, GCDSS

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be August 11, at 8:30 a.m. at the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office meeting room

The June 9 minutes were amended to reflect the following corrections.  Page three, paragraph one should read, “Lucia will also present the WebPages at the luncheon on June 19, at Will O’ Wisp.”  Paragraph three should read, “minutes be approved.  Carol seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

Lisa Welch introduced Linda Spassil to the Coalition.  Linda is the new director of the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Resource Center.

Committee Reports:

 The Professional Awareness Committee is preparing for a mini-seminar at Garrett Community College on September 29, 1998.  The focus will be identifying and reporting domestic violence.  Members of the clergy and other associated fields will be invited to attend.  The next meeting of the Professional Awareness Committee will be Wednesday, July 22, at 9:00 a.m.  The meeting will be held at the State’s Attorney’s Office.

 The Public Awareness Committee continues to exhibit the Silent Witness Display. The display was in Grantsville for Grantsville Days.  There are plans to have the display in Accident, Friendsville, and Kitzmiller in the near future.  Kellie Warnick is working with a reporter from the Cumberland Times on a story about the exhibit.  Henry asked the group about any comments they had heard about the display.  Some comments indicated were unsure of what the display depicted.  A suggestion was made to release pre-exhibit publicity so that communities would be familiar with the purpose of the display prior to exhibition.
 
 

 The Data Collection Committee is waiting for S*T*O*P grant funding for the data mart.  The plan is to extract information from various agencies, which will demonstrate a five-year trend.  Lucia was asked if zero tolerance webpage had a counter.  She explained that a counter might be downloaded from the Internet.  She will place one on the webpage.

Old Business:

 The announcement was made that Linda Spassil, as director of DVSARC, will assume the position of Vice-Chair, which was held temporarily by Pat Kelly.

 The shelter did not house residents the previous month.  Kellie Warnick stated that she was aware of some situation, which could have resulted in placement in the shelter; but placement was avoided through other arrangements.

 “Hot Spots” funding news should be out August1.  Activities continue under the assumption that funding will be granted.  Sgt. Stanton expressed that all those involved in the initiative feel funding will be received.  Lisa stated grant funding is available for continuation of
For youth prevention.  Modification requests for leftover funds can be submitted to use funds after July 1, 1998.

 Lt. Gnegy reported that in June the Sheriff’s Office had 12 domestic violence complaints.  There were 2 domestic assaults, which resulted in 1 arrest for domestic assault.  Twelve restraining orders were processed.  Two arrests were made for violation of ex parte orders.  Approval for continuation of the domestic violence advocacy program has allowed the program to move forward.  Lt. Gnegy also reported good attendance at the pro-prosecution training with some 25 – 30 law enforcement officers participating.  Forest and parks officers and two investigators from the State’ Attorney’s Office also participated.  Additional manuals from the training are available.

 Elizabeth Biser distributed Mettle Workers statistics for the period ending July 13, 1998.  A question was asked concerning the final statistic on the sheet that indicated one of the five graduates from the program had been arrested for 2nd degree assault.  In response, Elizabeth indicated that the assault victim was the same victim that was previously assaulted.

 Henry Brown reported on the results of the S*T*O*P grant proposal.  The proposal submitted requested funds for supp9rt service and more the $100,000 for the data mart.  Notification had been received and funding for a half-time coalition coordinator position will be available.  Henry discussed with Debra Bright, Governor’s Office, funding approved for data collection.  There will be $20,000 that may be used to purchase a server unit and three personal computers to be place in critical agencies.  Also, $10,000 will be available to purchase computer programming.  The Data Collection Committee will have the assignment of determining exactly how those data collection funds can best be used.

 The meeting of the Strategic Planning Sub-committee was rescheduled, as no one involved in the original process was unable to attend.  The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at Social Services.

 The Family Violence Council Awards will be Monday, July 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Those attending to accept the award for the Sheriff’s Office’s Domestic Violence Advocacy Program Award will include Brenda Arnold, Lt. Larry Gnegy, Sheriff Sanders, and Debbie Holler.  Lisa Thayer Welch, in-coming Chair, and Henry Brown, out-going Chair, will accept the award on behalf of the Family Violence Coalition.

Lisa commented that the pro-prosecution training was good, though no state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney would travel here to do a presentation.  A video was used which did contain helpful tips on evidence gathering.  In June, a man was convicted using pro-prosecution techniques.  This case may become more public in the future following the pending court case.

 Lucia reported that the Health Department telephone survey had 186 responses.  A report should be available soon with the results.  A press release will be prepared related to the findings on the need for community education.

 Elizabeth Biser informed the group that a Safety Safari is scheduled for August 21, 1998, in the elementary schools.  Brenda Arnold, Domestic Violence Advocacy Program, will be assisting

 Linda Spassil inquired of the group if the Sheriff’s Office statistics on domestic violence were published in the local newspaper.  She stated that it had been the practice to publish such statistics in the area where she previously resided.  The feeling was that it increased public awareness of the domestic violence problem.  The coalition felt this could be a useful tool in our community.

New Business:

 The coalition agreed that a press release should be prepared to make the community aware of the vacant community representative position.  Individuals may send letters of interest to Lisa Welch.  Henry Brown stated that he contacted Dr. Teets, again, in an attempt to locate a permanent representative for the Board of Education.  Dr. Teets indicates he is working on this matter.

 Lucia Ayers addressed the group again on the issue of amending the by-laws to add a representative for the Area Agency on Aging.  The Strategic Planning Sub-Committee will review the by-laws following the sub-committee meeting to determine if amendments are required.

 The new coalition coordinator position can be designed specifically to meet the needs of our coalition and community.  The title may be classified as a Coordinator of Special Programs with a salary of approximately $13,000. Edgar Harman, Brenda Arnold, and Henry Brown will form the committee that will write a job description and determine selection procedures for the position.

 Linda reminded the coalition that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and asked if any special activities were planned.  The Silent Witness Display will be exhibited during Autumn Glory in October.

 Carol Bass requested the coalition review the Pathways to Freedom booklet to determine if updates are required.  Distribution points may need to be checked to see if the supply of the booklets have bee depleted.  Also, the group revisited the plans to make copies of pages 2 and 4 only to be distributed.  Lucia volunteered to publish the pamphlet with any corrections if the coalition could provide her with some compensation.  She would also like to publish “Pathways” on the webpage after it has been updated.

 Lucia suggested the coalition have someone do a presentation on the sexual offender laws so coalition members can better understand the central registry requirements

 Meeting adjourned 9:45 Am.
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