Loading...
HAAB Minutes 02/29/1996 Minutes Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting February 29, 1996 HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING February 29, 199~/ GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY CENTER 4701 GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY NAPLES, FLORIDA PRESENT: Ramiro Mafialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney BCC Liaison to HAAB David Correa, HAAB Member Eva Delashmet, HAAB Member Frank Loney, HAAB Member (Excused Absence) Neil Morales, HAAB Member Frank Rodriguez, HAAB Member Pedro Vazquez, HAAB Member Karie L. Arango, Guest Gloria Garcia, Guest Raguel Gonzalez, Guest Frank McClintock, Guest Christina Salazar, Guest victor Valdes, Las Naciones The regularly scheduled meeting of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board commenced at approximately 7:25 PM. A quorum of five was present. Member Frank Loney was recognized by the Board as having an excused absence since his family had contacted the Office of the county Attorney and indicated that he was unable to attend the meeting due to employment commitments. Frank Rodriguez began the meeting by inviting public participation in the meeting and explaining to the audience that if they only spoke Spanish their comments could be translated to English. He also emphasized that the Hispanic Board always wants to seek out community input that it can convey to the Board of County commissioners. The minutes of January 31, 1996 (prepared by HAAB vice Chairman, Neil Morales) were approved by a 5-0 vote after motion by member Correa and second by Mr. Morales. The approval is conditioned upon two corrections regarding press releases to be prepared in advance of Hispanic Board meetings and that member Vazquez has lived here for four years. Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Staff Laision, Ramiro Manalich, reported that, due to an oversight, the County Attorney's Office was not able to type and distribute the draft press release prepared by Mr. Rodriguez for distribution prior to this meeting. However, it was agreed that the Chairman and the County Attorney's Office would coordinate for such a press release prior to the next meeting of the Hispanic Board in Immokalee. Frank Rodriguez reported that he had prepared a proposed budget for letterhead and clerical support for the HAAB. He said this budget would enable the Board to meet its responsibilities under the controlling ordinance. The budget contemplates such items as fliers, envelopes, postage, mileage, forms, letterhead and contingencies. He estimated that approximately $726.00 would be needed. Frank indicated that this figure was contingent on knowing what was the rate per hour for secretaries at the County since these are the types of expenditures that would be covered by said budget. Frank estimated that twenty hours of secretarial time per year would need to be paid for. otherwise, an outside secretarial service would be required. Ramiro Mafialich clarified that under section 6 of the HAAB ordinance that the Board of County Commissioners must preapprove any expenditures claimed. Ramiro also mentioned that the HAAB may want its chairman to confer with Board of County Commissioners members individually before submitting an executive summary on this subject. There would also be a need to establish a reasonable estimate of the expenditures. Finally, Ramiro reminded the members that in the past the Board of County Commissioners had moved against the use of business cards by advisory board members. The subcommittee was created consisting of Neil Morales and David Correa to prepare an executive summary regarding letterhead and clerical support. It was agreed that said subcommittee is subject to the Sunshine Law and that the subcommittee would work with Ramiro Mafialich in the preparation of the agenda package. Ramiro Mafialich informed the members that County Attorney David Weigel wanted to know if it was necessary to have a county attorney present throughout the entire length of HAAB meetings. It was a consensus of those present that there would be frequent questions asked of the County Attorney Liaison throughout the meeting and that in the long run the presence of the County Attorney Liaison saves time and money. It was mentioned that perhaps at workshops and other information gathering meetings that the county Attorney liaison's presence could be reduced or eliminated. There was no "Old Business" to be discussed. The following items under "New Business" were discussed: Neil Morales mentioned a news article which had appeared regarding gang acti vi ty in Lee county. Neil was concerned regarding the mention of the "Latin Kings" in the article and the need for Hispanic Board involvement and solutions to the gang problem. He also indicated that Immokalee may have many of the same youth gang problems. David Correa suggested a forum on the issue. citizen Frank McClintock suggested using Immokalee school 2 principals as a resource on this topic as well as the youth relations deputy of the Sheriff I s Department. Ramiro Mafialich reminded the Board that any discussion of such a topic, under Section 7 of the HAAB ordinance, must be linked to matters affecting the Hispanic community. Frank Rodriguez reminded the group that the Sheriff has a task force for gangs and could participate in this subject. Eva Delashmet mentioned the many Hispanic parents do not read English and need to become aware of the Hispanic youth gang problems. A motion was made by Neil Morales, seconded by Mr. Vasquez to have a Hispanic Board forum on the subject of the Hispanic community and youth gangs. As part of this motion other expert agencies would be invited to participate. The Board voted 5-0 in favor of the motion. Neil reminded the Board members to be alert to Hispanic issues that appear in the media and to bring those matters to the attention of the Hispanic Board at regular meetings. The following discussion resulted from the Public Comments section of the agenda. Mr. victor Valdez, editor of Las Naciones newspaper, mentioned that there was a need for corrections to the minutes of the January 1996 meeting. Specifically, page 3 he clarified that his comment had been that he had won Board of County Commissioners approval of expenditures for reviewing records of the Sheriff's Department and not that he won thirty cases against the Sheriff's Depart- ment. He also mentioned that he had presented the six L's case to the Board of County Commissioners along with the cases of other Hispanics like Manuel Rodriguez, even though the Board of county commissioners had refused to hear that matter. Frank Rodriguez suggested that Mr. Valdez submit written clarifica- tions to Neil Morales. There was also disagreement between Mr. Valdez and Mr. Morales regarding whether Mr. Valdez had used the words "legal tricks". Public comment was received from Karie Arango. She mentioned that she had been looking for work for five months and that the market was not paying adequately for bi~lingual services of the type that she performs. She thought that the Hispanic Board should advocate to have public and private sectors increase pay for bi-lingual service providers. Eva Delashmet mentioned that she understood, from her own experiences, some of Mrs. Arango's complaints but that she considered that this was an employment decision for employers. Neil Morales said that he was sure that there was a preference given by employers in the hiring process to bi-lingual persons. However, he did not believe the Hispanic Board could require more pay for bi-lingual service providers. He felt this was an economic decision for the employer and that the market would address the matter on its own. victor Valdez brought to the attention of the Hispanic Board the Naples community Hospital rule curtailing the use of foreign languages at Naples Community Hospital. He thought 3 that review of that rule would be a good opportunity for the Hispanic Board. He mentioned that the Naples Daily News has criticized this rule and that he was considering approaching the EEOC about the rule. Hispanic Board Liaison Ramiro Mafialich was asked whether the Board could involve itself in this matter. Ramiro gave the opinion that section 7 of the ordinance is broad enough to allow the Hispanic Board to address this issue and report its findings to the Board of County commissioners if the Hispanic Board found that this was a problem significant and unique to the Hispanic community. specifically, since Naples Community Hospital employs and serves many people who use foreign languages, it would appear to fall within the realm of the Hispanic Board I s authority under the ordinance. Frank Rodriguez suggested that a special meeting should be held with hospital representatives. David Correa made a motion for a request for a meeting with representatives of Naples community Hospital to clarify the language policy set by the hospital. He further added that this meeting should take place within thirty days. The chairman should contact Naples community Hospital for a meeting of the Hispanic Board with the representatives of the hospital. A second was made by Eva Delashmet and a 5-0 vote in favor of the motion took place. Mr. Valdez also stated that for 4 ~ years he has been making complaints regarding the treatment of Hispanics by the Sher iff I S Department. He mentioned that there was a bloody incident in Golden Gate against a minority member which occurred last month. He said the state Attorney participated in a cover up of police misconduct under the guise that the defendant had been high on drugs at the time of the incident. To add insult, charges were actually brought against the minority member to force silence on the minority member defendant. A brief discussion was had regarding the underlying case facts and David Correa then opined that the Hispanic Board should not be worried about debatable criminal cases where the defendant is reported to be on drugs but rather should involve itself more to clear cases of abuse directed toward minorities. Mr. Valdez responded that he has suffered many personal examples of police abuse and that the lack of response from the Hispanic Board in such cases would indicate Hispanic Board support of sheriff abuses. Frank Rodriguez commented that no one on the Hispanic Board supports abuses by the Sheriff. He did not think however that this was a matter unique to the Hispanic community that should fall within the function of the Hispanic Board. He also said that the NAACP had already been involved in this case. The meeting of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board adjourned at approximately 9:40 PM. 4 Respectfully submitted by: Ramiro Mafialich Staff Liaison to the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board APPROVED BY THE HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BO~d ~- 2S:- 9C , 1996. Frank Rodr}~~ Chairman o~~~Boa f:haab/minutes 5