GARRETT COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE COALITION Minutes of Meetings The next FVC meeting will be at 9:00AM at the GC Department of Social Services on June 8, 1999

                                        GARRETT COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE COALITION
                                                        Minutes of Meeting May 11, 1999
 

Attending: Bob Stephens, GC OCYF; Henry Brown, Department of Social Services; Lisa Thayer Welch, Garrett Co. State’s Attorney’s Office; Mary VanSickle, GCMH; Lt. Randy Resh, MSP – McHenry Brk; Melissa Hinebaugh, Housing Dept. GCCACD; Peggy Nelson, GCFVC Coordinator; Larry Bruch, Department of Social Services; Lt. Larry Gnegy, Sheriff’s Office; Lucia Ayers, Community Representative; Lyz Biser, Mettle Workers; Rev. Samuel Wachter; Sue Sines, GC Lighthouse, Carol Bass, GCHD; Carolyn Taylor; Barbara Smith Parole & Probation; Erica Mowbrey, Department of Social Services; Rick DeWitt, Department of Social Services; John Sines, Oakland Police.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, June 8, 9:00 a.m. at the Garrett County Department of Social Services.

Lisa Thayer Welch called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.  Mary VanSickle moved that the minutes be accepted as presented.

Committee Reports:

Professional Awareness Team:

Lisa Welch reported that the Professional Awareness committee grand rounds session for the Garrett County Medical Community with Dr. Michael Weddell from Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland scheduled on June 18, 1999 is in place.  The Committee is working with Mary Alice Arnold from Sacred Heart to secure Continuing Education credits for other medical staff planned for October or November.  It is hoped that this educational program might be co-sponsored by the Garrett Medical Group.

Public Relations:

Lyz Biser reported that she received a check for $375 from the Women’s Civic Club of Oakland that rounds out the monies needed for the production of the last slides and the purchase of the “Keeping the Faith” books for the Dove Center.  This was great news.

The BPW sponsored event at Garrett Community College on April 26th was well received by approximately 50 students and others.  The Silent Witness display has been refurbished.  It will be on display May 20th at the Lighthouse Open House and at the Deep Creek Firehall from May 20 – 30th.  Phyllis Trickett has agreed to be the master
scheduler for the Silent Witness displays.  If anyone knows of a place that would be willing to host the displays, please contact her.

Lyz met with Ernie Gregg to discuss the challenge he made in response to the Dove Center requesting county funding.  The response to the challenge was for time and materials to renovate the space that Linda Spassil has found for an office in the Grantsville area.  Mr. Gregg hoped that the community would response with help of time and materials for the renovation.
 
The next PR committee is scheduled for May 24th at 9 a.m. at Lyz Biser’s office.

Data Mart Team:

No report was available from the committee.

Strategic Planning Team:

Peggy Nelson announced that the strategic plan for the next year has been completed and will be incorporated into the renewal grant for the Coordinator position.  If anyone would like a copy of the plan, she will make it available.

Maryland Network Information:

Peggy passed out a copy of the legislative bills passed in the General Assembly that affects domestic violence issues.  Elaine Gast was not present.

Continuing Business:

Shelter Update:

Linda Spassil reported the Shelter’s new administrative offices at 12978 Garrett Highway.  Moving out three offices opens up more bedroom space at the Shelter.  She received good comments about the BPW sponsored event.  She knows that the Clothes Line display is not fully understood.  The most recent newsletter had an article about the display.  She hopes to expand the display.

Linda will be a presenter at the statewide conference for BPW at Rocky Gap Conference Center later this month.  Attendees at the conference were asked to bring items to meet some of the shelter’s needs.  Those items will be divided between the Allegheny and Garrett shelters.  There are a number of events that the Shelter is participating in and will receive donations from during the months of May and June.

One family just left the shelter and one family remains in shelter.

Linda was asked how many persons could be housed at the shelter.  The fire department approved 17 at one time.  Linda would prefer no more than 10 persons in the house at one time.  Children may have to sleep on the floor.  A & A Reality has given the Dove Center a much reduces monthly cost for the space.  This is a community donation from A & A Reality.

Sheriff’s Office:

Larry Gnegy reported eleven (11) domestic violence complaints, five (5) assault; twelve (12) Ex Parte order; two (2) protective orders; five (5) arrests for domestic assaults; and zero (0) arrests for violation of restraining orders.  There was discussion about why there were not more protective orders issued through the Sheriff’s Office.  Some of the protective orders are issued through the courts.  Linda Spassil announced that she hopes to have an advocate at the courts in the near future.
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Jim Hovis reported that he received five (5) DV complaints resulting in arrests in all three cases. Lisa Welch, Larry Gnegy, Brenda LeMay and Linda Spassil completed training for 35 State Police officers who had not received Pro-Prosecution training.

DataMart Updates:

Bill Flockhart reported that all the hardware is in place and the prototype for the database is ready to have information entered.  The hold up for the completion of this year’s funding is the need to find a programmer to do the hashing function.  At the present time the database tracks incidents with key values for data integrity with the date and time, incident location and reporting agency.

A discussion followed as to where advertisements appeared.  It was requested that we expand the advertising in the Republican, the Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas.  There are some local firms that may be able to offer such services.  A programmer needs to be hired quickly.  The renewal grant for the DataMart will request funds for maintenance.

Peggy Nelson will provide a complete report of the incident repots at the next meeting.

 New Business:

The Nominating Committee reported the present Executive Committee has agreed to serve for another year.  Bob Stephens made the motion to accept the slate of officers as presented.  The motion carried by general consent.

Announcements:

Lisa Welch announced that letters of support are needed for the renewal grants.  Please get them to Henry Brown.
Bob Stephens showed the new posters OCYF just received for Maryland’s Month of the Child.

Lucia Ayers announced that artwork from the Caring Kids Program will be displayed at GCC on June 22nd instead of May 22.  She still needs judges.  Please contact her if you are interested.

Linda Spassil announced an outreach program at the Hoyes United Methodist Church.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m.