August 27, 2020 | All Minutes
Attending:
Terry Johnson – Volunteer Committee Member
Marc Cassidy – Volunteer Committee Member
Jessieca McNabb – Volunteer Committee Member (joined at 5:46 pm)
Joshua Baron – Volunteer Committee Member
Jennifer Bliss – Volunteer Committee Member, Chair
Ted Dixon – Volunteer Committee Member, Vice Chair
Richard Wright – Volunteer Committee Member
Chief Scott Schaffrick – Chief of Police, Rosendale Police Department
Asst. District Attorney Marco Caviglia – Ulster County District Attorney’s Office (filling in for District Attorney Dave Clegg, a non-voting member)
Councilman Matt Igoe – Rosendale Town Council Member (non-voting member)
Councilwoman Carrie Wykoff- Rosendale Town Council Member (non-voting member)
Per ADA M. Caviglia, the ADA assigned to Rosendale, D. Blackmon, will participate in future meetings in place of DA Clegg.
2. Committee Member Richard Wright, lifelong Tillson resident and Pastor of Lighthouse Community Church, introduced himself.
3. Committee Secretary assignments: Cycle of assignments will rotate starting with today’s meeting:
R. Wright
J. McNabb
M. Cassidy
J. Baron
J. Bliss shared that she is working with Councilwoman Wykoff to determine best practices communicating with the public as to the progress of our committee and in regards to the NY State Open Meetings Law.
4. Google Drive: The Committee will be communicating internally via a Google Drive to decrease email traffic and organize shared documents. J. Baron offered assistance to anyone needing education.
5. Volunteer(s) to compile questions for Chief Schaffrick and the DA’s office: Councilwoman Wykoff offered to be the liaison between the committee members and Chief Schaffrick. Chief Schaffrick shared that Rosendale uses Lexipol to write their policies which has the benefit of having policies updated as soon as something changes. It is important, therefore, to ensure that we are reviewing the latest policy.
6. Committee goals and questions: Committee members have begun to post goals, questions, and data required to conduct our review of current policies and practices to the internal Google Drive. J. Baron will organize for the group and the Committee members will add to it between today and next week’s meeting to compile a comprehensive list prior to beginning to develop specific action plans. Committee discussed open meeting requirements and our interest in ensure transparency and openness
7. Daily Freeman article: J. Bliss briefly addressed the Daily Freeman article concerning the Town of Ulster Police Reform Committee which essentially served the purpose of a press release. J. Bliss and Councilwoman Wykoff briefly discussed the possibility of doing a press release for our Committee. If anyone has any comments about doing a press release, email J. Bliss. Councilwoman Wykoff stated that the Town Supervisor J. Walsh would want to review before releasing it.
8. Next meeting: Thursday, September 3rd 5:30 – 6:30PM. Secretary: J. McNabb