MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER, CALIFORNIA GRAND JURORS ASSOCIATION

(Minutes of the Membership Meeting October 10, 2005)

Meeting Called to Order by President Haxton at 10:05 AM in Court Room N and he expressed the chapter’s appreciation to the court for making space available on short notice to accommodate our need for alternative meeting space. He also expressed appreciation to Patti Baseheart in recognition of her perseverance in pursuing meeting space for the Chapter.

Attendees: -- Dennis Brown, Gene Dyer, Conrad Kloh, Carol Fitzgerald, Ted Freeman, Donald Graff, Owen Haxton, Joan Holmes, Bob Johnson, Albert Lozano, Betty Mattea, Catherine McKown, Lowell Smith, Irwin Taranto, and Sheldon Wolff.

Agenda -- The agenda was approved after correcting the date of the next Chapter meeting to November 14.Minutes –After some discussion the minutes of the September 12 meeting were approved as submitted

Recommendations of the web site committee – Gene Dryer presented the material on the revised website designed by him, Irwin, and Dennis. (See Attachment I). Gene pointed out that the updated website now contains a Members Area, which contains special events, minutes, and schedule of meetings. There also is a new section entitled “Meet with Us/Join Us”. Gene proposed that the membership approve implementation of the new Website, which will retain its URL, that the committee be authorized to make modifications of the site from time to time, that the treasurer be authorized to pay the server setup fee, and that the treasurer be authorized to include a line item in the budget for annual server costs.

After some discussion including whether or not the website should emphasize that although the Marin has a civil grand jury, it can indict, the proposal regarding the website was passed as presented by Gene for his committee.

Comments from chapter members -- None

President’s report and announcements -- Owen Haxton indicated he wanted to change the format of the agenda from President’s report, Treasurer’s Report, etc., to “Comments from Officers.”

He indicated that the attendees to the CGJA conference in Burbank will report about the conference to the membership, and that there will be a written report.

There will be no meeting in December

Owen will inform us about the place of our November meeting as soon as the site has been determined.

Treasurer’s report – Irwin reported that we had received interest in the amount of $3.91 We have $5326.25. Of this $4003.37 is in a savings account where it can get some interest, and $1322.88 is in a checking account.

2005/2006 Foreperson’s report – Catherine McKown, the forelady, made a comprehensive report, (Attachment II).

Speaker: Joseph Spaeth, the county public defender was the main speaker. He was introduced by Connie Kloh, who pointed out that Spaeth came from Buffalo, New York and graduated from SUNY with a J.D. degree in 1969. He joined the office of the San Francisco Public Defender in 1973. He is a past president of California Public Defenders Association, and has a strong interest in Juvenile Hall and recidivism. He handed out four pages of detailed information on his office, including their performance plan and how they are approaching the county’s new “Managing for Results” program (Attachment III). He referred to the recommendations from an earlier grand jury, and pointed out that they now do have additional needed space (from the sheriff’s department) have a conference room, and have remodeled their front office. The social worker now has a private office that can be used for private talks with clients. Their information technology support is excellent, with virtually everybody having a computer on the desk, and many having laptops. This leads to less time being spent in the library, and provides more information.

There still is a need for more personnel, and not simply more secretaries. They were still deficient in not being present at all arraignments, which he would like his office to do. His office represents 85 to 95 percent of the indigents who come to court. Recidivism is about 70 percent, but 92% of juvenile first offenders don’t come back.

Speakers program: Supervisor Susan Adams will speak in November. She will be able to come at 11:15.

Orientation and Training: Betty reported that the committee, with some additions will meet during the second week in November to make necessary changes in the training manual. Henry Lese has passed on to her all of the comments and suggestions he received since the last revision.

Owen suggested that the committee be given authority to make changes without coming back to the membership. After some discussion it was noted that this would be all right for minor changes and grammatical changes, but that substantive changes should come before the membership.

Irwin pointed out that the committee could electronically distribute the suggested material to the membership before the meeting, much as was done by the website committee. The motion passed.

Excellence in reporting and in government: Don Graf, Lowell Smith, Ted Freeman, and Bob Johnson will get together on these issues.

Social: Don is the consultant on this issue. There are many possibilities, such as a luncheon, a picnic, a sit down dinner, etc., with or without a speaker. The membership was exhorted to send in comments and ideas early on, so that there will be adequate time to make arrangements.

Patti Baseheart thought that an appropriate time would be when the new grand jury comes in and could meet with the outgoing grand jury.

Adjourned at 11:47 AM

The next meeting will be November 14.

Sheldon Wolff

Secretary
Attachment I

I

New MGJA Web Site Presentation to Members - Oct 10, 2005

As suggested we have:

1. Re-constituted the Web Site committee

Members are Gene Dyer (Chair), Irwin Taranto and Dennis Brown

2. Conducted a survey of the members for suggestions relative to our web site content.

3. Found a way to improve its appearance – while retaining simplicity of maintenance.

4. Prepared and sent out for your review a proposed major revision. This revision:

a. Looks more professional – Thanks mostly to Irwin

b. Contains all of the functions of the current site, some by links to other sites

c. Adds a Members Area containing:

1) Schedule of Meetings

2) Minutes

3) Special Events

d. Adds a section titled "Meet With Us/Join Us"

5. Located a better server, which will cost about $40 per year after a $50 setup fee.

Note: This still requires the use of a credit card, but only once per year.

Note: The web site address would still be www.mgja.org

6. Received a number of minor corrections/comments, most of which have been incorporated into the master copy (not yet on-line)

The committee recommends approval of the updated web site and related financing and proposes the following motion for consideration by the membership:

"That the Association membership:

1. Approve implementation of the new web site,

2. Authorize the committee to make minor modifications from time to time (such as the addition of Meeting Schedules and Minutes, changes to the Officers listing, etc.),

3. Authorize the treasurer to pay the $50 server set up fee, and

4. Authorize the treasurer to include in the Chapter's budget a line item reflecting annual server costs.