Meeting Minutes - LANC Board of Directors
December 9, 2005

Site/Location: Holiday Inn Express, Greenville, NC

Call to Order and Welcome

Glenn Barfield, Vice Chairman, called the public regular business meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. and welcomed all in attendance. Reid C. Adams, Chairman of the Board of Directors, was unable to attend the meeting.

Members Present

Leo L. Allison

Willie Dawson

Jim Maxwell

Glenn Barfield

Mary Flowers

Pearl Nealey

Leto Copeley

Hada V. Haulsee

John Vernon

Burton Craige

Nellie Kearney

Willis Williams

Sarah Davis

Members Absent With Prior Notification:

Reid C. Adams

Scott Lewis

Rhonda Shepherd

David Daggett

Pender McElroy

D. Clark Smith, Jr.

Richard Fay

Ray Owens

Saketta Spivey

L. Lynnette Fuller-Andrews

Frank Queen

Charles Ward

Olga Gomez

Robert Riddle

Administrative Office Staff:
George R. Hausen, Jr., LANC Executive Director
Dock Kornegay, Director, Public Relations & Communications
Chris Marks, Assistant Director of Finance & Administration
Celia Pistolis, Assistant Director of Advocacy & Compliance
Tonya Pruitt-Lyons, Administrative Assistant
Paula Spence, Office Manager

LANC Staff Members:
Charlotte Alexander, Managing Attorney, LANC-Greenville Office
Lynn Chance, LANC-Greensboro Office
Angie Dorsey, Managing Attorney, LANC-Asheville Office
Mary Hedgepeth, Clients Council Coordinator
Richard Klein, Regional Manager and Senior Managing Attorney, LANC-Wilmington-Office

LANC Affiliated Attendees:
Evelyn Pursley, Executive Director, IOLTA
John Quinterno, NC Budget and Tax Center

Executive Session

Vice Chairman Barfield reported that the board met in Executive Session prior to the public meeting. The Board unanimously approved a salary increase for LANC’s Executive Director George Hausen.

Approval of Minutes

Vice Chairman Barfield directed the Board’s attention to the Board of Directors general business meeting minutes of September 9, 2005. Following review and discussion of the minutes, a motion was made, duly seconded, and the Board unanimously approved the minutes as written.

Hurricane Katrina Report

Angie Dorsey, Managing Attorney of LANC Asheville, reported on LANC’s work with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The Asheville Office is handling all calls for assistance from Katrina victims and the calls are handled by one attorney and a paralegal. Pisgah Legal Services does not provide any assistance to the Katrina victims. There were approximately 500,000 displaced victims, with 6,000 currently residing in North Carolina. The largest numbers are located in the Triangle, Charlotte, Triad, and Ahoskie areas. She stated that there are approximately 700 hotel rooms in North Carolina accommodating evacuees as of November 24 extending through December 15, 2005. However, the Charlotte area hurricane victims have begun to experience early hotel evictions. There have been numerous calls received so far with the highest numbers coming out of Winston-Salem. Mrs. Dorsey also stated that there are multi-jurisdictional problems dealing with home insurance, customer services, and improper training to deal with questions, and rental assistance. FEMA has distributed assistance funds to many victims; however, there are problems when mult-generational families lived in one home. In those situations, only one family is getting help, while the others who had functionally different households are not.

Also, Ms. Dorsey discussed the new Medicare Prescription Drug and Benefits Plan effective January 1, 2006. LANC along with the NC Department of Aging and the NC Bar Association is sponsoring a seminar to address this new plan and how to appeal denials of benefits. LANC is performing community outreach to educate people about the new Medicare prescription plan.

Working Poor Families Report

John Quinterno with the NC Budget and Tax Center Project discussed the Working Poor Families Report that the NC Justice Center has produced. This report examined statistics, including population demographics and other data, that reveal an economic transformation affecting the workforce in North Carolina. This economic transformation is impacting low income persons across the state as their work options become limited. He further reported that education, training, and economic development are very important as they all affect the workforce system.

Mr. Hausen reported that the numbers in the Working Poor Families Report are very important to LANC, as they will help in appropriating resources to assist low-income clients and their families.

Committee Reports

Resource Development:
John Vernon III, Acting Chair of the Resource Development Committee, reported that the planning for the Access to Justice Campaign is underway. George Hausen explained that during the first year, the campaign will focus on raising funds in the Triangle and Triad areas. Lynn Chance, a LANC Greensboro staff member assigned to the campaign, will work closely with Consultant Dennis Dorgan to develop the statewide campaign, scheduled to begin in January 2006.

George Hausen announced that Burton Craige and Marilyn Forbes have agreed to co-chair the Cy Pres Committee. The Cy Pres committee will focus on various class action cases that are likely to produce settlement funds from which a court could order some monies to be paid to LANC.

Evelyn Pursley was recognized to report on the Equal Access Commission, established by Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr., to expand access to justice to indigent persons in North Carolina. The Chief Justice will make appointments soon and an executive director will be appointed to work with the commission.

IOLTA Report
Evelyn Pursley reported that IOLTA anticipates grant increases in the coming year and replenishment of the reserve account. LANC’s general grant was increased to provide funding for the hotline project. The grant for Volunteer Lawyer Program was for the requested amount, approximately $400,000. The IOLTA Board has requested that Cumberland County volunteer lawyer efforts be examined to determine how IOLTA can best apply resources there.

Operations Committee:
Willie Dawson, Chair of the Operations Committee, reported that the committee met and discussed program priorities, program integrity, the Limited English Proficiency Policy, and the Eligibility Policy. Mr. Dawson reported that the committee reviewed and discussed the program priorities found on page 11 through 19 of the Board book, and recommended that the Board adopt the priorities as presented. Following further discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to adopt the priorities as recommended by the Operations Committee. A copy of the adopted program priorities is attached.

Mr. Dawson further reported that the Operations Committee discussed the Program Integrity Report, found on page 20 through 28 of the Board book. He reported that the committee reviewed that report and determined that LANC was in compliance. The Committee recommended that the Chair submit the certification to LSC prior to January 1, 2006. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMANIMOUSLY APPROVED to direct the Chair submit the certification and report to LSC. A copy of the approved Certificate of Program Integrity and accompanying report is attached.

Mr. Dawson reported that the Operations Committee discussed the Limited English Proficiency Policy found on Page 29 – 31 and recommended that the Board adopt the policy as written. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to adopt the policy as written.A copy of the policy is attached.

Mr. Dawson reported that the committee had discussed the revisions to the eligibility policy. LSC had revised Regulation 1611 in an effort to simplify for financial screening of client. Celia Pistolis presented the revised eligibility and assets policies and provided detailed explanations of the revisions. Specifically, she indicated that the LSC regulations now allowed programs to represent clients who were at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. LANC provides representation to clients at or below 187.5% of the guidelines provided certain factors are met. LSC did not provide any additional funding to serve more clients who would now be eligible. The revised policy maintained eligibility at 187.5%. Also, the assets policy was revised to comply with the regulation. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the policies as presented. Copies of the approved policies are attached.

Vice Chairman Barfield asked the Board to review the Local Advisory reports for the Pittsboro and Boone offices found on pages 32 and 33 in the Board book.

Personnel Committee:
Hada Haulsee, Chair of the Personnel Committee, reported that the committee addressed the current retirement plan which does not allow LANC employees to borrow from their retirement accounts. She reported that the majority of the members of the Personnel Committee are in favor of staff borrowing from their retirement account and asked that proposals be presented to the committee for consideration.

Ms. Haulsee reported that the Personnel Committee is currently reviewing a Conflict of Interest Policy for the board and staff. She stated that the committee’s expectation is to submit a recommendation for such a policy to the board at the March 2006 meeting.

Ms. Haulsee reported that LANC is seeking outside counsel’s advice concerning a proposal that will require employees to notify their supervisors when there are pending criminal charges against them. The committee will review the proposal and will submit a recommendation to the board regarding this matter.

Ms. Haulsee reported that Chris Marks, LANC’s Assistant Executive Director for Finance and Administration, has presented information regarding LANC’s self insured health plan which reflects a five percent increase in overall premiums for health coverage. The policy has been that LANC would pay all of the employee premium and 50% of the family and plus one costs. In 2005, LANC paid 61% of the additional costs of family coverage and 50% of plus one. Ms. Haulsee stated that the recommendation of the committee is to decrease the amount that LANC pays for family coverage to 54%. This requires increasing the rate for employees selecting family coverage by $32.00 per pay period, with the goal of returning to the policy of paying 50% for family coverage. Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to accept the recommendation of the committee.

Ms. Haulsee directed the board’s attention to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) report found on pages 38 and 39 of the board book and asked that the Board approve the report as presented. She stated that this report is prepared annual and submitted to LSC. Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the report as prepared. A copy of the approved report is attached.

Finance Committee:
Leto Copeley, Chair of the Finance Committee, directed the board’s attention to the proposed 2006 budget found on page 41 in the Board book. She reported that the Committee had reviewed and discussed the proposed 2006 LANC budget and was recommending that the Board approve it.Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the 2006 LANC budget, as presented. A copy of the approved 2006 LANC budget is attached.

Ms. Copeley reported that the Finance Committee reviewed and discussed the 2006 proposed Client Council budget found on page 42 of the Board book. She reported that the budget had been reviewed and discussed at length and recommended approval of that budget. At the Board meeting, the Committee’s recommendation was amended to allocate the same level of funding as in 2005 to the Clients Council. Following discussion it was UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to accept the 2006 Clients Council budget, as amended. A copy of that budget as amended is attached.

Grievance Committee:
Celia Pistolis reported that there are no grievances pending.

Client Affairs Committee:
Willis Williams reported that he has accepted the position as president of the Clients Council. He further stated that the Client Affairs Committee had no further business to report.

Strategic Planning Committee:
Vice Chairman Barfield reported that the committee met and created subcommittees to focus on a developing a long term approach to address the organization’s mission. The areas include fundraising, direct delivery of services, coordination with other providers, CED and client involvement. The subcommittees are meeting to develop ideas for each of the subtopics.

Chairman’s Report

Vice Chairman Barfield gave the chairman’s report. He directed the Board to the Resolution for Allen Johnson found on page 51 in the board book. Mr. Barfield read the Resolution and asked the board to accept the Resolution as prepared. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to accept the resolution as prepared.

President’s Report

George Hausen, LANC’s Executive Director, directed the board’s attention to a handout of a report from the Legal Services Corporation entitled Documenting the Justice Gap in American. Also, he referred to a memorandum found on page 53 in the board book from Helaine M. Barnett, the President of the Legal Services Corporation. LSC is developing performance criteria and standards for a well run program to follow. He reported that the ABA has appointed a Standards Committee to take a look at this issue. Leo Allison, who currently sits on the LANC Board, is working with the ABA Committee regarding this issue.

Mr. Hausen reported the work plan process has been completed. The work plan will provide the basis for the board and local advisory councils to adopt the case acceptance policy for LANC and further show areas to place our resources.

Mr. Hausen reported LANC has 41 attorneys who continue to pay off their law school loans. NC LEAF has requested that LANC sponsor an attorney for loan repayment ($2,500 spread over a three-year period). Given the budget and the difficulty of selecting one attorney from our legal staff to sponsor, LANC was not in a position to be a sponsor at this time.

Adjournment

As there was no further business before the Board, Vice Chairman Barfield adjourned the meeting at 2:35 p.m.

____________________________
Mary Flowers, Secretary
LANC Board of Directors

 

 

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