MCCGJA Meeting
Board of Supervisors’ Chambers
Minutes – May 17, 2007
Members Present:
Betty Mattea, President; Shelly Wolff, Vice
President; Catherine McKown, Secretary; Irwin, Taranto, Treasurer; Directors-at-Large:
Gene Dyer, Ted Freeman and Dennis Brown; Members: Owen Haxton, Nick Clark,
Don Graff, Karin Hern, Ken Howard, Frank Keenan, Connie Kloh, Al Lozano, and
Ron Lucas
The
meeting was called to order by President Mattea at 9:34 a.m.
Report from Foreperson Hern – Accompanying her were
three of the lead authors of final reports. The jury has published seven
reports; yesterday the disability retirement report was released. They will
shoot for June for remaining principal authors to speak to the membership.
Aging report – Connie: This was an
interesting report; 4 separate reports were involved. They eliminated
affordable housing and transportation. The challenge was how to cover the other
elements, including alcohol/drug, elder abuse, social contacts, and home care.
It is 31 pages long; they did 50+ interviews, and it took 5 months to write. Q:
How does this reconcile with the Marin Commission on aging? A: That wasn’t the
focus. Buck Research stated, “This is good stuff.” Official responses are not back
yet. The jury “invited” several responses (although these are not required by
law).
Frank
– Wellness Center report – This
topic evolved through other projects. “The train had left the station” (the
property had already been purchased). There is a disparity between IJ article
and the actual report. The IJ article did not address the jury’s
recommendations. Criticism of IJ. Recommended that they (the Board of
Supervisors) put the project on hold until questions are answered. The report
expressed that there was not community outreach except for the Canal district.
Other places have need. The focus should be on the whole County. No
alternatives to address health care of whole county. There are other important
issues such as Marin General Hospital. Underlying concerns: 71 million dollars
and not one penny toward services. No changes in H/HS budget (center is a new
domicile for existing services). Comments: The jury felt the money burning a
hole in County’s pocket: tobacco lawsuit money. Hoping that tobacco companies
are successful. Why spend the money on bricks and mortar? Where are funds for
aging population? Money fungible? Other counties have done other things.
Restrictions for use are weak. We could see opportunities for health care
services. Roots of project go back a decade (services to central part of
county). 2000 was the foundation for need for this - Ginsler and Associates (7 years ago). Need to review or rerun.
Too soon to know about response. “Asked” for other responses. This will have a
bearing on what happens next. Did the County prioritize their needs? They felt
this was a top priority, but it’s not delivering most to citizens of Marin
County. A lot of presumptions were made without looking at the alternatives.
Where is the needs study? Point of confusion re. Marin Community Clinic pulling
out. It is in a nearby building but not in the Wellness Center. Clinic has a
lease/purchase on periphery of complex, adjacent to the Wellness Center. Clinic
is a non profit; hence, no sharing of documents/medical records.
Ken
– College of Marin report –
discussed 5 issues: modernization, enrollment issues, accreditation problems
(warning status) + 2 other issues: finances of college and how the Board of
Trustees does its job. COM is on the brink financially – 3% reserves – the
state recommends 5%. Basic aid rewards for bad enrollment – 14 million through
apportionment. The current arrangement is a risk. Reserves should be increased
in case basic aid goes away. How has the Board of Trustees done its job. For
example, what has Indian Valley College (IVC) done to promote business
partners? They need to establish goals that are smart, specific, and
attainable; they need more details to accomplish these goals. One issue is in
the appendix (no recommendations) … why the IVC campus (in appendix)? There are
enough voters in northern Marin, and they are willing to pay for it. Worst
usage for that acreage … read appendix and history. A 1984 GJ report addressed
these issues. Q: is Francis White providing leadership? A: We commend her
administration in general … came on in July 2004 and replaced others. She’s in
the “cat bird seat” re. salary. At California Community Colleges, there’s almost
50% vacancies in CEO positions.
Re.
accreditation: The College of Marin has completed 4.5 out of 5 items cited
(program review) by WASC. Comments: No lack of courage on this jury, but you
could have reached a conclusion re. IVC. A: This issue has been plowed … enough
voters are willing to pay for it. COM has increased enrollment; it’s the situation
we have and we work with it. Q: How does COM compare to other community
colleges? A: A number of small classes – state study that makes comparisons …
bunched together by demographics. COM spends 2.5 times per student ($12,500)
than on the average community college student. Basic funding is $5000 per
student. Long-term prognosis is not great for enrollment; it’s been flat for
the last year. We are a small county with a shrinking population. Q: Talked to
Board members; they never had a needs assessment done with recommendations. Too
complacent re. state aid. The Board is not willing to look at IVC, and that is
something that has to change. A: The bond measure passed by 60%. Q: Lack of accountability … they should look
into it. A: The Board of Trustees needs to be more concrete, to have specific
goals, and how to achieve them. Q: Is SF State going to use IVC? A: Someone was
hired in 1/07 to deal with this issue. New position – they are saying things
will move forward.
Approval of Agenda – add item on state
association + training meeting in Sacramento. – M/S Approved.
Approval of Minutes – M/S discussion. Approved.
President’s Report Asked the question; should
we refund the money to the five who didn’t show up at the reunion? Bill Wilson
called the night before; he did not ask for a refund. Discussion. It amounts to
$125. The chapter paid for a set number of meals. Question: did we pay for
them? We gave a figure of 56 meals. M/S that we return the money to the 5.
Discussion? Amendment to the motion (M/S) to reimburse Bill Wilson and forgo
others. Vote on the main motion as amended. Passed.
President
Mattea reports that we did respond to Eula Nelson in Orange Co. Irwin has
communicated with her electronically … she would like the URL with login and
password.
Offer
to PR Committee of state – help with videotaping
at Conference. Chair of Conference
enlarged the offer to do all of meeting. In the past, CGJA has hired court
reporters. Bob Abeling would be happy to do 1-2 areas at the Conference; he
doesn’t want to do all of Conference. It costs $1800 for a Court reporter. The
chapter doesn’t want responsibility for this. Nick Clark offered to ask his
friend, who does videotaping as a business about what he might charge. Betty
will write a brief letter to the Chair of the PR Committee and state about our
offer of doing 1-2 sessions, only. We
originally made the offer through the PR Chair and he asked me to send him the
response to the revised “offer” so he could take it back to Annual Conf.
committee.
Award of Excellence in Media
Coverage.
Passed out form from last year. Discussion about nominating Brad Breithaupt as
a possible recipient. Refer to committee, headed by Shelly Wolff.
Possibilities, including Breithaupt, Spotswood, and the Soroptimists. Discussion:
award is believed to be for organization, not the individual reporter. The
committee will look into the criteria for the award.
Nomination Committee – Lozano and Freeman –
nominations:
President
- Betty Mattea
Vice
President - Catherine McKown
Secretary
- Myra Berkowitz
Treasurer
- Irwin Taranto,
Directors-at-Large
- Gene Dyer, Owen Haxton, and Neil Kugelmas.
There
are others who are willing to continue unofficially: Dennis Brown, Ted Freeman,
and Shelly Wolff. Asked if there were any additional nominations. M/S to close
nominations. Passed. M/S to accept by acclimation Discussion. Passed. New BOD as noted in Noms. report above.
Continuity follow-up – Karin will
follow up in a few weeks.
Treasurer’s report – $5220.01 in bank; the net
cost of the reunion was 150 to chapter.
CGJA News –Taranto The state association had a face-to-face meeting in
Sacramento on May 11-12. It was a unique meeting – friendly; they’re on the
right track now. Palmer is new to the Board.
This was the first time that Irwin met some of the members. Challenges: last year the treasurer was ill;
there was trouble with the IRS – working hard on this. They are looking for a
treasurer for the organization.
Irwin
has proposed that there be more information passed to the members; more e-mails
and a monthly supplemental to the Journal. There are ten e-mail lists … one can
“opt-in.” There are links on the website to all 58 counties. Most counties
produce final consolidated reports as we do individual final reports.
The
bad budget news is that most of costs incurred by the Training Comm. come in May/June
(binders, etc.), and the money comes in a month later in July. Please pay your state dues a.s.a.p.; this
will help CGJA’s cash flow.
Training Workshop – Freeman and McKown
attended: Thurs and Friday (May 10-11) in Sacramento. Those in attendance were
the seminar trainers and Training Committee.
Duane Mason did a fine job of organizing it. Gave/saw presentations to
look at for content as well as duplications.
Membership – Haxton … moving from
stagnant membership. He announced that we have 2 members for 07-08, later in
the meeting, updated to 6 members. Discussion of application form – M/S to
approve form – Passed.
Betty’s report from the
reunion is
attached to the Agenda.
Telephone Tree – have not followed up on
this; will work on this as soon as membership is declared.
Discussion/suggestions re. Reunion. Increase the social part
from ½ to one hour. Question whether or not to have every year; yes. Recognize
the current foreperson. Food was good. Kudos to Betty, Catherine and especially
Ann Marie for the event and to Owen for the folders.
Subjects not on the agenda – Irwin elaborated about
the Ventura County report that discussed embezzlement and blame for not having
proper auditing. He also wondered if we should have the annual Conference in
Marin in two years.
The
meeting was adjourned at 11:31 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Catherine McKown, Secretary