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HAAB Minutes 04/02/1992 R Minutes Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting April 2, 1992 Collier County Board of County Commissioners Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Minutes of Meeting April 2, 1992 6:40 p.m. Members Present Nelson A. Munoz Gloria E. Dominguez Bernardo Garcia Eduardo Galvan Antonio Perez-Benitoa Jaime Gutierrez Melinda Paniagua Riddle Members Absent Zac Lucio Jorge Perez Avila Staff Present Ramiro Manalich Staff Liaison to Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board The meeting of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board was held at 6:40 p.m. on April 2, 1992 in the East half of the Board Room, Third Floor, Building F, Collier county Government Center. - Mr. Eduardo Galvan, Acting Chairman of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board called the meeting to order. He welcomed all present including our Guest Speaker Mr. Thomas Whitecotton, Director, Collier County Human Resources. The Board members approved the minutes of January 27, 1992. A motion was made to alter the order of the agenda by listening first to our Guest Speaker. It was seconded and passed unanimously. Guest Speaker Mr. Thomas Whitecotton, Director of the Collier County Human Resource Department stated that 300 people were hired in FY 1989/90 and 150 positions were filled in FY 1990/91 at all levels. He informed the Board that hiring activity this fiscal year has been slow and is lower than last fiscal year. He also presented the following information: Outreach Activities The Human Resources Department has established several plans to encourage qualified minorities to apply for vacant positions. Examples included the PIMA (Plans to Increase Minority Applicants) network, sending postings to minority organization's, meeting with a representative from the Human Resources Department when an applicant applies for a position to ensure the application is properly completed. Hirinq Freeze The Board has adopted a plan to eliminate 27 positions, but all efforts are being made to place these employees in other positions. Mr. Whitecotton also informed the H.A.A.B that there are few vacancies which combined with the cut-backs, have hampered the recruitment process. The H.A.A.B. members and public were concerned about the numbers of minorities in managerial positions and it was suggested that an equal opportunity plan package be presented to the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Tribble from the Black Advisory Board distributed a copy of the proposal for the establishment of the Collier County Department of Equal Opportunity which has been presented to the C.C.B. of C.C. Since this proposal was unknown by the majority of the H.A.A.B. it was suggested that the members review the proposal and present their concerns at the next scheduled meeting. A motion was made to create a subcommittee to review the proposal for equal opportunities and to attend the Black Advisory Board meeting and workshop, and also to report to the H.A.A.B at its next scheduled meeting. It seconded and passed unanimousJy. Mr. Bernardo Garcia and Ms. Melinda Paniagua Riddle volunteered to carry out this assignment. Mr. Galvan thanked Mr. Whitecotton for his presentation. Mr. Perez-Benitoa excused from part of meetinq Mr. Perez-Benitoa was excused from the meeting at 8:15 p.m. due to illness. Mr. Perez-Benitoa therefore did not vote on the approval of minutes, the two motions regarding the Valdes/ Rodriguez documents, the regular meeting date motion, the motion for continuing part of the agenda to the next meeting and the adjournment motion. Approval of Aqenda and Minutes The minutes dated January 27, 1992 were approved with a correction on Mr. Garcia's motion to reject any more documents 2 . ~...'.~_._~_._""_.~__._~_.. ._ _.,', .._..__,._'____~M~ ~._~,.__,._~~~"_._,._ presented by Mr. Valdes and Mr. Rodriguez to read "rejected" not "approved." Chairman's Report Mr. Eduardo Galvan informed the Board that he attended a meeting in Immokalee with Judge Turner about Juvenile delinquency. He reported that a large percentage of Hispanics are driving without a driver's license. He also informed the Board that the schools are preparing students to obtain licenses. It was suggested to inform Mr. Jorge Avila, Chairperson of the law enforcement committee about this matter. staff Report Mr. Ramiro Manalich will report on the Hatch Act at our next scheduled meeting. He also read about the interpretation of public documents (See attached memorandum dated 04/02/92). Mr. Manalich info~med Board members that Mr. Jorge Perez Avila was excused from attending the H.A.A.B meeting. Mr. Mafialich also welcomed and introduced Mr. Tribble from the Black Advisory Board and Mr. Whitecotton, Director of the Collier County Human Resources Department. Mr. Manalich consulted with Mr. Cuyler regarding the Rodriguez/Valdes documents and it was stated that the documents presented to the H.A.A.B by Mr. Valdes and Mr. Rodriguez should be considered public record. Ms. Melinda Paniagua Riddle made the following motions: 1. Move that the Board establish future policy of not accepting documents from the public unless they clearly relate to the business of the Hispanic Board or the Hispanic Board votes to o~herwise accept the documents. 2. Move that all past records/documents involving Valdes/ Rodriguez be rejected and returned to Mr. Valdes and Mr. Rodriguez as not pertaining to official business of the Board. The first motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The second motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Mr. Mafialich informed the Board that he would consult with the County Attorney because, as custodian of the public records under the Public Records Law, it was his opinion that the Valdes and Rodriguez documents would have to remain in the Hispanic Board file as public records. Old Business Mr. Jaime Gutierrez presented a field inspection report on Mrs. Lozano's residence located at 5312 Texas Avenue, Naples, FL. (See attached photocopy) 3 Subcommittee Reports Subcommittee reports were not presented at this meeting. Mr. Perez-Benitoa will present his report at the next scheduled meeting. 1. A motion was made to have a meeting every fourth Thursday of the month. 2. To have the meeting held alternatively in Naples/Immokalee at 6:30 and 7:00. 3. To listen to Subcommittee Reports and old business at our next scheduled meeting. All three motions were seconded and passed unanimously. New Business Ms. Gloria Dominguez presented to the Board members a derogative article about Hispanics in Collier County which was published in the Naples Daily News. (See attached photocopy). Ms. Melinda P. Riddle informed the Board that she had seen the article but that she did not feel the timing was appropriate for Board action on the matter. Ms. Mirna Perez suggested that all public speakers should have a time frame for each topic to be discussed. Mr. Frank Rodriguez of "The Hispano" newspaper was of the opinion that public participation is needed and that meeting of the H.A.A.B. should be scheduled in different Hispanic communities. Next Meetj-nq The next meeting of the H.A.A.B. is scheduled for at 6:30 p.m., Building F, Third Floor Board Room. was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. April 23, 1992 The meeting Respectfully Submitted, Gloria E. Dominguez, Secretary Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Approved by the Board on , 1992 Eduardo Galvan, Acting Chairman Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board gd/kn-kke/5830 4