Feedback from the HANC Town Hall on September 7, 2011

These comments were received by the Harbor Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (HANC) members at their September 7, 2011 meeting.

Training Motion

• Easier to pass out manuals and CD/DVD’s of the training to the Board
• Some training is necessary because a few people don’t have a clue, but the specialized training of sexual harassment/workplace violence should only be for those Board members who are interested in it
• Ethics training should be mandated, but online and relevant to Neighborhood Councils
• Role of the Department should be as counselor and coaches in effective meetings and parliamentary procedures
• Problem with all motions is that they are addressing front page of newspaper problems, but trainings need to be relevant, interesting, and widely available - there needs to be leadership training that teaches them to be collectively responsible and remove Board members who don’t take the training, which should be voluntary
• Certificates of training from other jobs should be accepted for sexual harassment, ethics, etc.
• Neighborhood Councils should determine consequences of not taking training
• Training should be every 2 years because laws change
• Ethics training should be every 2 years, but basic funding and Neighborhood Council training should be once
• Prior to elections, have candidates promise to take part in trainings
• Incentivize training and give Neighborhood Councils reward money for 100% compliance

Grievance Motion

• All grievances should be sent to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners for resolution
•  Eliminate grievance system and set up an ombudsman system
• Supports Department’s sample solution
• Publicize decisions of all cases and resolutions for case history
• Use a mediator and have fees for filing and for Neighborhood Council’s who violate laws
• Peer grievance panel members need to have training to prevent liability and lawsuits
• Limit the topics for review by grievance panel
• Regional grievance panel members should not be financially liable
• Regional grievance panel should have staffing by the City Attorney and a minutes taker
• Grievance would scare away people from participating in Neighborhood Council system

Regional Governance Motion

• Neighborhood Councils should take control of their own bureaucracy – minutes taking, funding reports, websites, etc., and build a cadre of people (not city employees) who can help
• Neighborhood Councils should not be forced into hiring people if they have good people on the Board who can do it for free
• Temp agencies cost too much
• Don’t need a regional governance system – what’s the point?
• Would rather have the Department have more staffing than have temps
• Temp help is typically no good
• Put a page on the website of good vendors
• HANC could act as the regional group – don’t need another separate entity
•  Would this motion officially recognize HANC or would regional bodies be recognized?  Answer:  the motion would not necessarily have to officially recognize HANC.  Some members stated that HANC did not officially need to be recognized so long as they recognized themselves

Funding Motion

• What are the operational costs of a grant program?
• Too much work to use a grant system when system is already too complicated
• Project specific rollover is too specific with the suggested projects – needs to be broader
•  Section 918 of the City Charter states that City Council cannot take the Neighborhood Council’s money so instead of dealing with this motion, Neighborhood Councils should challenge the right of the City Council to take the money.  Section 911 states that City Council can appoint Neighborhood Councils to hold citywide hearings.  Why not do it for all the motions?
• Would need grant writing training and it takes too long with Board members’ limited time
• Give priority to demand warrants and find another cut off date
• All for Neighborhood Councils to roll over the money in the last quarter of the year if going to cut off demand warrants on April 15^th
• Any funds that are swept should remain in the Neighborhood Council system for outreach