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DARTMOUTH YOUTH COMMISSION
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2004
DARTMOUTH TOWN HALL, ROOM 103, 7:00 P.M.

Present:            Gale Schultz, Valerie Alves, Jay Swanson, Lorraine Gagne, Kevin Lee, Youth Advocate and Justine                             Clarke, clerk

Regrets:            Alyson Bellora, Debra Brejcha and Tony Martin, Bonnie Escobar

           

AGENDA

*Please note:  The meeting will be held in the Youth Advocate’s Office.

Approval of Open Session Minutes from February 11, 2004.

Old Business:

  1. Update on Dartmouthyouth.com.
  2. Report from Kevin, Valerie Alves and Tony Martin regarding corporate mailing list for Alvin Glaser Memorial Family Assistance Trust Fund.
  3. New Business from the floor

Youth Advocate’s Report:

New Business:

  1. Review budget accounts:
    1. Youth Commission budget expenses
    2. Youth Commission gift account
    3. Youth Commission Web site gift account
    4. Alvin Glaser Memorial Family Assistance Trust Fund
  2. Report from Gale Schultz and Jay Swanson regarding their meeting with Michael

     Gagne.

  1. Discuss ideas/suggestions on method of reviewing Kevin’s work performance as the Youth Advocate.
  2. Begin process of renewing the Youth Advocate’s three-year contract.
  3. Finance Committee has set a date for Youth Commission budget review on Thursday, March 11, at 8:30 P.M. at the Dartmouth Town Hall.
  4. New Business from the floor.

Enclosures

Youth Commission Minutes – February 11, 2004
Memo to Kevin Lee from Claire Karvonen, dated 2/23/04
Form C (Employee Absentee Report)
Youth Commission budget report
Gift account budget report
Web site budget report
Alvin Glaser Memorial budget report
Youth Advocate Employment Agreement
Job description Youth Advocate

Due to lack of a quorum, this was an informal meeting between Commissioners in attendance.  The meeting began at 7:15 p.m.

Old Business:

Update on Dartmouthyouth.com

  • Kevin reported that he has been updating and refreshing some pages on the Web site, and creating new sections as well.  On average, Kevin spends two to three hours a week maintaining the site.  He stated that he would be rebuilding the search engine on the Web site to Google.
  • Kevin informed Commissioners that he was recently contacted by a national Web site requesting permission to be linked to our Web site.  Kevin did some research on their site and was impressed and granted them permission to be lined to Dartmouthyouth.com
  • .Kevin stated that he has been in contact with Greg Stone, a retired computer science professor from Umass Dartmouth.  Kevin is hoping Greg will help to install a Web-based program called “movable type” on our Web site.  This will make the site more interactive with residents who use this resource.  Kevin is hoping this will happen next year.

Report from Valerie regarding corporate mailing list for Alvin Glaser Memorial Family Assistance Trust Fund.

  • Valerie stated that she, Kevin and Tony will meet March 18, 2004 to discuss creating a corporate mailing list for the Glaser Fund.  Valerie noted that this has been a busy time for Tony due to tax season.  Tony also recently became a partner in his accounting firm.
  • Kevin reported that two donations were recently made to the fund.  One from Glaser Glass in the amount of $35.00 and one from the John Quinn Reelection Committee in the amount of $100.00.

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Old Business from the floor:

  • There was no old business at this time.

Youth Advocate’s Report:

  • Jay Swanson asked for an update on the Banana Splits programs.  Kevin reported that both groups have been wonderful.  He stated that the 2nd and 3rd grade group had their final meeting on March 9, 2004.  The 4th and 5th grade groups will meet for their final meeting on March 16, 2004. Both groups will begin again next fall.
  • Kevin informed Commissioner that the National Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) from New York City filmed the 4th and 5th grade Banana Splits Support group this past week.  Kevin stated that the film crew was very professional and the children enjoyed having them visit.  The student interns whose parents have been through a divorce were interviewed as well.  The name of the show on PBS is called  “In the Mix.”
  • Kevin reported that the Girl Power Group has four more meetings.  Kevin stated that the girls really enjoy the group and look forward to the weekly meetings.  Kevin also stated that parents have expressed their appreciation and pleasure with the Girl Power Group program.
  • Kevin informed Commissioners that “Kev’s Pretty Good Kickball Team” would begin April 20th.  It is held on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Kevin stated that it is nice to get outside with the youth and they look forward to attending.  Gale inquired about insurance in case a child was to get hurt.  Kevin stated that those in attendance would be covered by the Town’s insurance.
  • Kevin stated that the Caring Tree Grief Group would be held on June 11th, 12th and 13th at the YMCA in Dartmouth.  One of the activities planned is the ropes course.  Jay asked about liability coverage.  Kevin stated that any activity held at the YMCA is covered under their insurance; otherwise the Caring Tree Program is insured through its sponsoring agency, which is the Dartmouth/Fairhaven Visiting Nurses and Hospice program.
  • Kevin informed Commissioners that he and Karen Binder, Director of the Dartmouth YMCA, would be organizing a “Capture the Flag” game on May 16th (Sunday) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

New Business:

Review Budget Accounts: (Not shown here)

  • Due to a lack of quorum, the budget accounts will be voted on at the next scheduled meeting.

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  • Kevin noted that our office expense line item is low.  For now, other line items within our overall budget have balances, from which we can draw.

Report from Gale Schultz and Jay Swanson regarding their meeting with Michael Gagne:

  • Gale reported that she and Jay meet with Michael Gagne in preparation for contract negations with the Youth Advocate. Kevin’s regular three-year contract ends June 30, 2004. Gale and Jay also spoke with Mr. Gagne about the Commission’s concern that as our community continues to grow, eventually another Youth Advocate would also need to be hired, subject to funding, etc. Mr. Gagne stressed the need to generate data that could be used to support such a proposal. Mr. Gagne suggested that Kevin speak with Mike Courvelle the Town’s Information Systems Manager, regarding the purchase of a hand-held device that would record and tabulate data, and client information, etc.

Discuss ideas/suggestions on method of reviewing Kevin’s work performance as the Youth Advocate:

  • Gale stated that she and Jay spoke with Michael Gagne regarding Kevin’s contract.  Gale asked if they should go into Executive Session and Kevin stated for the record he is not requesting entering into Executive Session.  Gale stated that Mr. Gagne suggested having the MMA Consulting Group classify Kevin’s position.  Kevin does not know if this could be done before his contract expires.  Jay stated that Mr. Gagne said it would only take a few hours for them to interview Kevin and he would need to fill out a questionnaire.  Based on the interview and the questionnaire administered by the MMA they would then be able to recommend a salary range to Mr. Gagne for the Youth Advocate’s position.
  • Kevin stated to Michael that he has noticed that over the last five years other department heads have jumped ahead in their pay scale enormously. Even though budgets have been tight the last three years some department heads have received merit increases, while Kevin has not.
  • Michael told Kevin to gather information on this for review by the Board of Selectmen. 
  • Kevin also reminded Commissioners that the Dartmouth Town Hall Employee Union has been trying to pull Kevin’s position, including several others in Town Hall as well, into the Union.  The Union has taken the Town to binding arbitration and the Town has lost.  The Town has appealed this matter to another State review board. Mr. Gagne stated that it could take a couple of years for that decision to be made.  Kevin feels that eventually, whether he wants to or not, he will be rolled into the Union.
  • Jay Swanson suggested that at the next meeting we consider sick leave, vacation, Etc.  Kevin stated that in August he will have been the town’s Youth Advocate for 20 years. 

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Gale asked how much vacation time Kevin has remaining.  She stated that last year he had a lot that hadn’t been used.  Kevin stated that because of his wife’s illness he has used up approximately six weeks.  He still has quite a bit left in reserve.  He plans on using up more this year.  He will find out how much vacation time he has remaining.

Jay asked if vacation time is forfeited from year to year if it is not used.  Kevin stated that it is carried over from year to year.  Either it is rolled over, by request, from one year to the next, or the Town has to buy it from you.

Finance Committee Budget Review

  • Kevin informed Commissioners that on March 11, 2004 the Finance Committee would be reviewing the Youth Commission budget account for the next fiscal year.  Kevin hoped that some Commissioners would be in attendance.  Gale Schultz stated that she would definitely attend and Valerie Alves stated that she would try to make it also.

New Business from the floor:

  • There was no new business at this time.

The next meeting of the Dartmouth Youth Commission is scheduled for April 14, 2004 in Room 314 of the Dartmouth Town Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

 

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