CSC Minutes 12/04/1991 Children ' s Services
Council of Collier County
Minutes/Transcripts
December 4 , 1991
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The Children's Services Council of Collier County
Meeting of December 4, 1991
Council Members Present Council Members Absent
Judge Ted Brousseau (Tardy) Delores G. Dry
Alma Cambridge John Passidomo
Nelson Faerber, Jr . Dr . Thomas Richey
Lavern Gaynor
Bea Harper
Robert Ritz
Richard Shanahan
Mary Ellen zumFelde
A meeting of the Children' s Services Council was held on
Wednesday, December 4 , 1991 , at 7 : 00 PM, Collier County School
Board Room.
The meeting was chaired by Bea Harper . Chairman Harper gave a
brief resume of the Council ' s history and stated that completion
of the needs assessment study was another step in the council ' s
progress and expressed sincere thanks to everyone in the audience
for their interest and support .
Minutes of the previous meeting held November 1 , 1991 were
approved as presented. Motion made by Commissioner Shanahan,
seconded by Lavern Gaynor . Passed unanimous .
Mary Ellen zumFelde treasurer, $23 , 430 cash on hand as of October
31 , 1991 ; plus interest $56; less expenses of $6,087 ; with a cash
balance of $17 , 399 as of November 30 , 1991 . Motion made to accept
the treasurer' s report by Richard Shanahan, seconded by Alma
Cambridge. Passed unanimous .
Paul Pinson, executive director , reported on two important dates;
December 17 , 1991 , the date the Council would appear before the
Collier County Commission to place the referendum question on the
March 10 , 1992 , and March 10 , 1992 , the ballot date.
Mr . Pinson reported the final approved version of the needs
assessment study before each of the council members had been
received that morning and was , in essence, basically the same
document as the draft document reviewed by the council on Monday,
December 2 , 1991 , the only exception being his rewrites and the
addition of graphs , charts and trim-lines which will be of
extreme importance to the council as the campaign goes forward:
Mr . Pinson made reference to the trends of unmet needs in Collier
County which are all going up rather than down, as reported in
the study, and that the Council basically needs to vote this
evening on the acceptance of the study which will then give the
Council the opportunity to begin its deliberation. It was
pointed out that under the HRS reorganization plan, there is a
movement underway to develop matching funds for counties who have
Children' s Services Council in place.
Mrs . Harper referred to the December 2 , 1991 meeting in which the
final draft had been reviewed and admitted it is going to take
time for the council to digest all the data. For the benefit of
the audience, she commented on certain areas of unmet needs and
trends . Commissioner Shanahan moved to accept the study, seconded
by Alma Cambridge.
Nelson Faerber shared his concern about the study -- that , the
report is a statistical overview only of available services . A
thorough discussion was made by the council . The general
consensus was the study, from an outside objective viewpoint ,
substantiates and documents the unmet needs of children and
families in the county; it does not give all the funding
priorities nor advise how to spend every penny; the level of
specificity the council will finally arrive at, is the
responsibility of the council ; the study is not the final end
product the council needs to accomplish its goal ; a considerable
amount of work is required by the council ; the council should
accept , not adopt , the study . The council voted 6 to 1 to accept
the study , Nelson Faerber voting nay .
The chairman then introduced the March 10 , 1.992 referendum and
read the ballot language. The need for specificity of issues
was emphasized by Robert Ritz to which all council members
concurred. Mrs . Harper stated even though the statute allows up
to 1/2 mill , it was decided at the December 2 meeting, it would
be more advantageous at this time to ask for 1/4 mill . Richard
Shanahan commented since the council has met all criteria that
March 10 , 1992 be established as the choice for this referendum.
Nelson Faerber shared his concerns on the wording of the ballot
language. After a brief disussion, it was agreed the language
should be improved upon. A motion was made that the council
petition to appear before the Collier County Commission on
December 17 for approval to be on the March 10 , 1992 ballot .
Motion made by Richard Shanahan and seconded by Alma Cambridge.
Passed unanimous .
Barbara Hattemer , president , of the National Family Foundation
reported on "Children in Relationship to Parents" and also voiced
her concerns about the accountability of the council . Paul
Pinson responded it was very instructive for the council and
community to understand the many concerns which will be_ aired
and be willing and able to respond to the issues as they arise .
He then referred Mrs . Hattemer to the 3-page report on
accountability and powers of the council .
Dr . Denise Heineman, resident faculty member at the University of
South Florida College of Nursing, Ft . Myers , put aside her
prepared comments to address the the earlier suggestion to remove
the word health from the ballot language . In her opinion,
removal of the word health would emasculate the ballot and she
asked that the council think about the implications for future
funding should the word be removed. She supports the council and
its goals because, ethically speaking in terms of justice, the
public owes our children the best we can give them.
Joe Cox, co-chairman of the campaign, committee reported on the
organizational structure of the committee and the formation of a
Political Action Committee and encouraged everyone to participate
in the campaign process .
There being no further business , a motion was made to adjourn the
meeting . Alma Cambridge , seconded by Lavern Gaynor .
Respectfully submitted,
submitted, „^
Mary E1 en zumFe de,
Secretary