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Minutes 10-30-87 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD AT PINELAND PLAZA, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1987 AT 5:15 P. M. PRESENT Nick Cassandra, Mayor Ralph Marchese, Vice Mayor Ezell Hester, Commissioner Leonard Mann, Commissioner Dee Zibelli, Commissioner Peter L. Cheney, City Manager Betty S. Boroni, City Clerk Raymond A. Rea, City Attorney Mayor Cassandra called the meeting to order at 5:15 P. M. Mayor Cassandra stated that the purpose of the meeting was for the City Commission to address/endorse the recommen- dations he would make for their consideration. He con- tinued to give some background stating that during the past five years he had no telephone call or written report of brutality or harassment. He noted that the only request he had received was to rid the City of the drug dealers to save the children. He stated that two incidents arose from police action - a drug raid where people (guilty and inno- cent) were pushed to the ground and an incident of a police shooting where one officer was allegedly protecting another officer. Mayor Cassandra noted that these incidents were followed by a presentation to the City Commisison by citizens who were concerned about police brutality and harassment. Mayor Cassandra asked the City Commission to approve and endorse the following proposal from: 1. Police Department - Due November 6, 1987 Citizens' complaints filed over the last year - How many Officers involved Other prior complaints Disposition against those officers, if any Citizens involved, prior arrests and convictions Disposition of outstanding complaints Types of pending complaints and number Comparison with other cities, such as Delray and West Palm Beach, giving numbers and types Outline of Citizen Complaint Process - where this pro- cess is used, is it consistent with other procedures Number and types of documentation of incidents against police over the past year. -1- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 30, 1987 2. Risk Management Department - Due November 6, 1987 Present and past police litigation dealing with force/ arrest problems. Litigation outcomes A six month summary report on Litigation Outcomes 3. City Manager and City Attorney - Due November 6, 1987 Meet with Gloria Skinner or appropriate designee from the Concerned Citizens group - problems and discussions and how other Cities confronted similar problems, reference Task Force. City Manager directed to demand that the Grand Jury pro- cess be expedited in reference to the police officers under investigation on the shooting incident 4. Community Relations Board Members meet with concerned citizens and report back to the City Commission prior to November 16, 1987. Commissioner Zibelli stated that she has served as the Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Community Relations Board for several years. She feels this is a very viable Board and that it has not been used to the extent that it could be used. She suggested that the City Manager direct the Community Relations Board to call a special meeting and report to the City Commission prior to November 15, 1987. She noted that this was to be a preliminary fact finding board only where concerned citizens could give input regarding specific allegations of misconduct (who, what, where and how). Reports from citizens of proper conduct would also be welcomed. The Community Relations Board would then come back to the City Commission with their report. Commissioner Zibelli again stated that she feels this is a good board and should be used. Mayor Cassandra stated that he agreed with Commissioner Zibelli as this Board is made of Mrs. Newton, Ms. Wright, and Mrs. Girtman - 2 representatives from Village Royale on the Green (VRG) and 3 representatives from the south end. He noted that this Board covers the whole City. He felt there would probably be more open communication between mem- bers of this Board and the citizens than would be possible with the City Commission members. Mayor Cassandra stated that a special meeting of the City Commission would be called for November 16, 1987 after the -2- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 30, 1987 reports are all in to decide on the action that the City must take - based upon facts. The Commission would then be well informed and able to say that a problem exists, what the problem is, and how the problem can be solved. Commission Zibelli made a motion to accept the recommen- dations made by Mayor Cassandra. Motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Marchese. Gloria Skinner interrupted and asked to speak prior to the vote on the motion. Mayor Cassandra stated that the Commission could take the motion off the floor and allow Mrs. Skinner to speak, but he gathered that she had a problem with the route the Commission had decided to take. Mrs. Skinner stated that she felt there was a problem on both sides and requested a Task Force be appointed to study the issue. Mayor Cassandra stated that the problems which concern Mrs. Skinner would all be addressed with the direc- tion the Commission has decided to take. He suggested that she go before the Community Relations Board and address anything of concern to her. Mayor Cassandra called Mrs. Skinner out of order and called for a vote on the motion. Commissioner Mann asked if Mayor Cassandra was responding to the request for a Task Force by turning this over to the Community Relations Board? Mayor Cassandra stated that he never said that and would not answer that question, and he was responding to a problem and not to a Task Force. Commissioner Mann asked if the date of November 6th was set for another meeting. Mayor Cassandra stated that date was set for expediting purposes and another meeting would not occur until after November 15th, if another meeting is necessary. Commissioner Hester stated that he would go along with the motion and he agreed that documentation is needed before anything can be done. He noted that he did not personally know of any police brutality. He stated that the Commission must have some facts to go on and documentation would be that proof. Vice Mayor Marchese congratulated Mayor Cassandra on the plan he had presented. He stated that this suggestion would allow the Commission to look at both sides of the coin and then make a deciSion. Commissioner Zibelli clarified that the Commission woUld be making their decision based on input from the Police -3- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 30, 1987 Department, input from the citizens, input from Risk Management, and input from the meeting of the City Manager and Gloria Skinner. Mayor Cassandra stated that all the information would be in front of the Commission by November 15th. He further stated that portions of the information would be available by November 6th. A vote was then taken and the motion carried 4-1, with Commissioner Mann voting against the motion. Gloria Skinner was then allowed to speak. She clarifed that it was the intent of the City Commission to decide whether or not a Task Force is needed after all the information is received on November 16th. Mayor Cassandra stated that this is correct unless a solution is reached prior to that date. Mrs. Skinner asked if Mayor Cassandra would investigate whether or not there are actual complaints on file at the Police Department of brutality. Mayor Cassandra stated that he was not planning to do anything, but that everything on file would be gathered and the people would have an oppor- tunity to talk to the Community Relations Board. All this information would then be brought before the City Commission. Mrs. Skinner stated that she was concerned that the main focus is on police brutality, and there are so many other problems which the Task Force should address. Mayor Cassandra stated that the problems which came to light were the two incidences which he mentioned regarding police brutality/harassment. Mrs. Skinner stated that her group is dealing with a lack of trust, and this includes the Community Relations Board. Commissioner Zibelli asked why this was so, and Mrs. Skinner stated that members had made statements that were derogatory. Commissioner Zibelli asked for proof. Mrs. Skinner requested a hand-picked Task Force be selected to investigate the problems. Commissioner Zibelli stated that the police harassment incident should be taken, investigated, and solved first. She stated that Mrs. Skinner was selling the Community Relations Board short, as she felt they would be able to perform as a fact finding board. Mrs. Skinner stated that they had set up a special committee to handle complaints of harassment and she would like that Chairman to speak. Mayor Cassandra asked that Mrs. Skinner give the Commission a chance to solve the problems. He noted that Mrs. Skinner was involved with the problem and he felt she could not be objective. Mayor Cassandra stated that he would not come to a conclusion until he has all the facts. Harold Miller, 229 N.W. Third Avenue stated that he felt the City Commission had missed the boat. He noted that the Task Force had been requested to look into the problems of the -4- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 30, 1987 community. He noted that police brutality is a minute part of that problem, but the overall problem is that the black community is frustrated as the citizens are being by passed by the City in several areas. He referred to the shortage of blacks in certain key positions, and the lack of blacks in managerial postions. He noted that the shooting incident was only the spark that "blew things up." Mayor Cassandra stated that he felt that the overall picture would be addressed by the action requested by the Commission. He noted that the citizens would be addressing all the problems to the Community Realtions Board. He noted that the reason police brutality was being addressed specifi- cally was because the people were carrying signs using those words at the last City Commission meeting. He stated that he saw no signs dealing with minority hiring or repre- sentation. He noted that these problems might need to be addressed, but the people will have a chance to address all their problems. Mr. Miller stated that Mayor Cassandra did not hear what Gloria Skinner was asking for. She was asking for a Task Force to address all the problems. He noted that the rela- tions were strained prior to the two incidences. Mayor Cassandra stated that Mrs. Skinner demanded and did not request a Task Force. Mr. Miller noted that a citizen has the right to demand. He suggested that the Personnel Department be requested to provide hiring facts as well. Mayor Cassandra stated that all problems brought before the Community Relations Board will be addressed. Mr. Miller stated there was a problem with garbage pickup. Commissioner Zibelli referred to a meeting which Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Newton attended along with other concerned citizens where garbage pickup was discussed. She noted that she felt the meeting went well. Mayor Cassandra stated that the problems will be addressed once the Community Relations Board has met with the con- cerned citizens. Mr. Miller stated that he knew the Police Department had a hard job and the complaints were only a small part of the problem. Mayor Cassandra stated that a Task Force might be necessary for the overall problems and not just police harassment and brutality, but the facts must be gathered first. Vice Mayor Marchese stated that the suggestions put in the record will put every problem before the Commission. He -5- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 30, 1987 stated that he is interested in solving the problems in Boynton Beach also, but that the problems must first be identified. Vice Mayor Marchese requested that the people be patient and allow the plan time to work. Mrs. Skinner stated that she had not demanded, but had requested action from the City Commission. She noted that she felt she was in a hostile environment when she made her statement. She referred to three white people who had come forward to speak to the Commission prior to her speaking. She stated that the Commission's demeanor with the white people was completely different from what she received. She stated that she wants to see change - social change and a change in attitude towards blacks. She noted that Commissioner Zibelli had stated that they were giving the blacks too much money. Commissioner Zibelli stated that she lives in the area just north of Mrs. Skinner and noted that they have the same problems in her area that Mrs. Skinner has in.her area - drug problem, improper housing, and boarded up homes. Commissioner Zibelli stated that cooperation was needed between the communities. Mayor Cassandra stated that this Commission has been con- cerned about the area bounded by U.S. 1 on the track, 1-95 from Boynton Beach Boulevard to the canal. He stated that they were so concerned about this area that $350,000 had been put in the budget for housing in that area. He noted that is for community development. The meeting adjourned at 5:45 P.M. ATTEST: Clerk Recording Secretary (One Tape) CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Mawr Vice Ma y/r~ Commissioner Commissioner