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DARTMOUTH YOUTH COMMISSION
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003
Present:
Gale Schultz, Lorraine Gagne, Alyson Bellora,
Debra Brejcha, Valerie
Alves, Kevin Lee, Youth Advocate and Justine
Clarke, clerk
Regrets:
Allison Nastanski and Paul Foucart
Note: Ms.
Gale Schultz agreed to chair the meeting.
Ms. Schultz called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
Kevin informed the Commissioners that Debra
Smith has submitted a letter of resignation effective March 11, 2003 from the
Youth Commission. Ms. Smith met
with Kevin and explained she has taken on extra responsibilities in both her
professional and personal life and will not be able to devote the time needed to
serve on the Youth Commission.
Kevin stated that she was a valuable member
of the Youth Commission and she will be missed.
Because two Commissioners were not present,
the Commission postponed appointing a new chairperson until the next scheduled
meeting.
Approval of January 8, 2003 minutes:
Lorraine Gagne made a motion to accept the
minutes of January 8, 2003. Ms.
Alves seconded the motion. Voted
unanimously.
Old Business:
Update on Dartmouthyouth.com
- Kevin
stated that student intern Nicole Pitts has been spending less time working
at his office due to her need to focus on her schoolwork.
Kevin and Nicole have been working on a new graphic logo for the
Dartmouthyouth.com home page.
- Kevin
has been in contact with parents that have expressed their concern in
dealing with their children regarding the effects of the war.
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Appoint a Commissioner as overseer or
administrator of the “Alvin Glaser Memorial Family Assistance Fund”
- Kevin
stated that a sum of $2,500 was recently transferred from the High School to
the Youth Commission. It is now
in a separate gift account named “The Alvin Glaser Memorial Family
Assistance Fund.” The Youth
Commission will oversee this account.
- Ms.
Schultz inquired as to how many gift accounts the Youth Commission currently
has. Kevin stated there are
three. Explanation follows.
1.
Gift Account --- In the past, funds from this account were used to help
families in need of assistance with food, clothing and occasionally medical
care. The Gift Account is also used
to purchase other items, from time to time, which fall outside regular budgeted
items.
2.
Dartmouthyouth.com Gift Account --- Monies from this account are
used
for ongoing development and promotional items having to do
with
the Web site.
3.
Alvin Glaser Memorial Family Assistance Fund – Monies from this
Account, in
accordance with the donor’s wishes, will be used to assist families and
individuals who are in need of food, shelter, clothing or medical care.
This fund will be overseen by an appointed administrator/commissioner.
- Ms.
Schultz would like to see the current budget report for all three gift
accounts at the next scheduled meeting.
Kevin stated that in addition to recommending an administrator to
oversee this fund, he further suggested that the fund’s administrator
might also approve requests for disbursement and sign off on applicable
vouchers.
- At
this time, there were no volunteers for this responsibility.
The Commission hopes to appoint one of its members at the next
meeting.
Youth Advocate’s Report:
- Kevin
thanked the Commissioners for their support, which made it possible for him
to attend the Child Welfare League of America’s annual conference in
Washington, DC. Funding to
attend the conference was made possible through an education/training fund
under the care of the Executive Administrator.
Kevin noted that he was able to save the Town over $600.00 by staying
at a Quaker conference center for only $35.00 a night.
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- Kevin
stated his client workload has been extremely busy.
The Banana Splits program has two more weeks until it ends for the
year. The Caring Tree Grief
Group held on Thursday evenings between 5:30 and 8:30 PM started two weeks
ago and will run for eight weeks. Six
families are enrolled in the program this year.
Kevin reported that
he would organize and lead a series of popular kickball games again this spring.
This event will take place on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 5:30 PM.
Even though this program generates clients, referrals and requests for
services from residents, Kevin considers this activity, now in its 5th
year, to be after hours and inn addition to his regular duties.
- Kevin
reported that he has been attending a course called CERT, (Community
Emergency Response Team) on Monday evenings. This eight-week program is sponsored by the Town’s
Emergency Management Agency. Kevin
also was a presenter for one of the training sessions on the psychological
and emotional impact of trauma upon communities and groups.
New Business:
Budget cuts:
- Kevin
reported the budget cuts made by the State are affecting all towns.
He indicated that it is still too early to predict how the State
budget crisis will impact our community, and especially the Youth
Commission.
New Business
from the floor:
- Ms.
Schultz is in the process of drafting a letter to Christian Broughton
thanking him for his years of service to the Youth Commission.
- Kevin
will have a draft letter at our next meeting detailing the “Alvin Glaser
Memorial Family Assistance Fund.”
- Ms.
Schultz has been unable to contact Mr. Caslin regarding filling a vacancy on
the Commission.
·
Valerie Alves recommended Mr. Jim
Matthes, Executive Director of the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Alves will contact Mr. Matthes to inquire if he would be interested
in becoming a member of the Youth Commission.
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·
Kevin stated that due to recent
budget cuts within the Dartmouth Police Department, the position of School
Resource Officer (SRO) held by Detective Bonnie Escobar, has been eliminated as
of March 8, 2003. Officer Escobar
has returned to regular patrol duty. Kevin
expressed his disappointment in the elimination of this position and hopes that
it will eventually be
restored.
Review
Budget Accounts:
·
Ms. Lorraine Gagne made a motion
to accept the following budget accounts:
1.
Gift account budget report (December 2002 – January 2003)
2.
Year-to-date expense report (December 2002 – January 2003)
3.
Year-to-date expense report for February 2003
Ms.
Valerie Alves seconded the motion. Voted
unanimously.
The
next meeting of the Dartmouth Youth Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, May
14, 2003 in Room 318 at the Dartmouth Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Ms.
Schultz made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Ms. Gagne seconded the motion. Voted
unanimously at 9:10 p.m.
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