Meeting Minutes - LANC Board of Directors
March 15, 2006
Site/Location: Sheraton Imperial Hotel
& Convention Center
Durham, NC
Call to Order and Welcome
Chairman Cal Adams called the public regular business meeting to order at 2:45
p.m. and welcomed all in attendance.
Members Present:
|
Reid C. Adams |
Nellie Kearney |
Frank Queen |
|
Leo L. Allison |
Scott Lewis |
Rhonda Shepherd |
|
Glenn Barfield |
James Maxwell |
CR Ward |
|
Sarah Davis |
Pender McElroy |
Willis Williams |
|
Hada V. Haulsee |
Pearl Nealey |
|
Members Absent With Prior Notification:
|
Leto Copeley |
Mary Flowers |
D. Clark Smith, Jr. |
|
Burton Craige |
L. Lynnette Fuller-Andrews |
Saketta Spivey |
|
David Daggett |
Olga Gomez |
John Vernon, III |
|
Willie Dawson |
Ray Owens |
|
|
Richard Fay |
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 and Compliance
Tonya Pruitt-Lyons, Administrative Assistant
Paula Spence, Office Manager
LANC Staff Members:
Josune Drummond, Staff Attorney, LANC Centralized Intake Unit
Ted Fillette, Assistant Director/Senior Managing Attorney, LANC Charlotte
Patricia Harris, Administrative Assistant, LANC Centralized Intake Unit
Richard Klein, Regional Manager/Senior Managing Attorney, LANC Wilmington
Vilma Suarez, Senior Managing Attorney, LANC Centralized Intake Unit
Reynauld Williams, Regional Manager/Senior Managing Attorney, LANC Ahoskie
LANC Affiliated Attendees:
Michelle Cofield, Director of Public Service & Pro Bono Activity, NC Bar
Association
Dennis Dorgan, Consultant, LANC Access to Justice Campaign
Evelyn Pursley, Executive Director, IOLTA
Donald M. Saunders, Director of Civil Legal Services, National Legal Aid &
Defenders Association
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Adams directed the Board’s attention to the Board of Directors general
business meeting minutes of December 9, 2005. Following review and
discussion of the minutes, a motion was made, duly seconded, and the minutes
were UNAMANIMOUSLY APPROVED, as written.
Chairman’s Report
Chairman Adams noted that
the LANC Board meeting was being held in conjunction with the 2006 Legal
Services Statewide Conference. The conference is held every two years for
the entire legal services community and is hosted by LANC. He stated that the
conference presented informative sessions and was well attended. He commended
all key staff, especially the LANC Administrative Office staff, for their
efforts in making the conference a success.
Chairman Adams recognized Evelyn Pursley to give an update regarding IOLTA.
Ms. Pursley reported that in 2005, IOLTA earned its highest income ever. The
rise in income is a direct result of large bank mergers, interest rate changes,
increased attention from the banking community, more participating attorneys and
larger amounts in trust accounts. The income will be used to provide grant
increases for the coming year and to replenish the reserve account. She reported
that LANC’s general grant was increased to provide funding for the hotline
project, and that the Volunteer Lawyer Program grant was funded at the requested
amount. Ms. Pursley further commented that IOLTA is looking forward to a
better year next year.
At the request of Pearl Nealey, Chairman Adams read a thank you card expressing
Ms. Nealey’s appreciation to all Board members and LANC staff for their support
after her home was badly damaged by a recent fire.
President’s Report
George Hausen reported that the Centralized Intake Unit (CIU) was being
developed under the leadership of Vilma Suarez and should be operational in the
very near future. Mr. Hausen recognized the CIU staff, which consists of
Vilma Suarez, senior managing attorney; Josune Drummond, staff attorney; and
Patricia Harris, the administrator. This unit was designed to provide
immediate access to clients seeking legal assistance. Eight to ten
attorneys will be hired to work four hour shifts and interview clients who call
LANC. The unit will handle clients calling the Raleigh and Smithfield offices
and provide advice and brief service to callers. Cases needing extended
service, such as court representation, would be transferred to the appropriate
field office. LANC anticipates expanding CIU coverage to other service areas
and offices. Mr. Hausen reported that other LSC funded programs using a
similar model experienced a 50% increase in client access.
During the week of March 6, 2006, LSC visited LANC field offices in the western
part of the state, reviewing cases and interviewing staff. The LSC team
reported that it had found no discrepancies in these offices. LSC will visit the
field offices in the Triangle and eastern parts of the state during the week of
May 22, 2006. LSC will issue its report in the later part of 2006.
Hausen recognized Leo Allison to report on his work on an ABA committee charged
with rewriting program standards adopted in 1986. Allison commented that this
experience has been tremendous, and that the Committee expects to conclude its
work in August 2006.
Clients Council Update
Chairman Adams
recognized Willis Williams, Chair of the Clients Council, who reported that the
Clients Council had developed a work plan that includes training clients to
serve on local and state level boards. Clients had attended the statewide
conference and attended sessions designed to encourage client involvement and
participation, including a session on Medicare Part D that was particularly
informative.
Mr. Williams reported that there are currently two client vacancies to be filled
on the LANC Board: the public seat previously held by Allen Johnson and the
Triad Region client seat previously held by Susan Cole. The Clients
Council will present a slate of clients for these positions to the Nominating
Committee for recommendation to the full board at the June Board meeting.
Committee Reports
Nominating Committee:
Chairman Adams recognized George Hausen to present the Nominating Committee
Report in the absence of the Chair Burton Craige. Hausen reported that the NC
State Bar, the NC Bar Association, the NC Association of Black Lawyers, and the
21st Judicial District Bar Association will submit their respective appointments
for Board seats to the Nominating Committee for recommendation to the Board at
the June Board meeting. Hausen further explained that attorney members who
are eligible to serve a second term have agreed to serve a second term.
Chairman Adams reported that he appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to consider
amending the bylaws to extend the terms of LANC officers from one year to two
years. The Ad Hoc Committee has begun work and will present its
recommendation to the full Board at the June meeting in accordance with the
current bylaws.
Finance Committee:
Chairman Adams recognized Chris Marks to give the Finance Committee report
in the absence of Chair Leto Copeley. Mr. Marks reported that there was
no new business, however, the primary concern is to meet the budget and manage
payroll which is 80% of the budget.
Personnel Committee:
Hada Haulsee, Chair of the Personnel Committee, reported that the committee met
and discussed the conflict of interest policy. She recognized Celia
Pistolis to give details regarding the Conflict of Interest Policy being
discussed by the Committee. Currently, LANC has separate policies for
board members and LANC employees. These policies are found in the LANC
Bylaws and the Personnel Policies respectively. Grant applications require that
these polices be submitted as part of the application process. Pistolis
reported that LANC funders had requested that LANC develop a single conflict of
interest policy that would apply to board members and employees. Following
discussion, Chair Haulsee assured the Board that the draft policy will be
consistent with the current Bylaws and Personnel Policies, and that a
recommendation will be presented to the Board at the June Board meeting for
approval. A bylaw change will not be necessary.
Chris Marks reported that the committee discussed and recommends that the LANC
retirement plan be modified to allow LANC employees to borrow against their
contributions made to the retirement plan. Employees would pay a processing fee
and interest on such loans, which would be administered by CDM, our third party
administrator of the plan, at no cost to LANC. Marks stated that a loan
provision will encourage employees to make more contributions to the plan.
Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to
authorize George Hausen and Chris Marks to take the necessary steps to have the
loan provision added to the retirement plan.
Operations Committee:
Chair Adams recognized Celia Pistolis to give the report in the absence of
Willie Dawson, Chair of the Operations Committee. She reported that
the committee met and discussed the new centralized intake system. Vilma
Suarez provided an overview of the process to the Committee.
Ms. Pistolis reported that the committee had reviewed the 2006 Income
Eligibility Guidelines promulgated by LSC and recommended that the Board adopt
them. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNAMANIMOUSLY
RESOLVED to accept the guidelines as presented. A copy of the guidelines
is attached.
Ms. Pistolis also reported that the Committee had discussed the effect of the
Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act on LANC representation of
non-citizen domestic violence victims and directed her to draft a policy to
address the provision of legal services in accordance with LSC guidelines.
The Committee recommended that the board approve Legal Aid of North Carolina
Policy on Provision of Services in Accordance with Reauthorization of the
Violence Against Women Act in 2006. Following discussion, it was moved,
duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the policy as presented.
A copy of the policy is attached.
Strategic Planning Committee:
Chair Adams recognized Vice Chair, Glenn Barfield, to give the Strategic
Planning Committee report. Mr. Barfield reported that the committee met
and created subcommittees to focus on a developing a long-term approach to
address the organization’s mission. Rough proposals are currently being
prepared and a report will be given at the June meeting.
Resource Development Committee:
Chair Adams recognized George Hausen to report on the work of the Resource
Development Committee. Mr. Hausen asked Dennis Dorgan, consultant on LANC’s
Access to Justice Campaign, to report on that campaign and the possibility of cy
pres awards. Dorgan reported that last year’s legislation allowing cy pres
awards from class actions to be awarded to legal services has not yet resulted
in actual funds designated to LANC. He noted that Alabama Legal Services
had exceeded their fundraising goal after receiving its first cy pres award.
Dorgan reported that the LANC Access to Justice Campaign has good solid
leadership in place, but there are few more leadership positions that still need
to be filled. Former ABA president, AP Carlton has agreed to co-chair the
campaign in the Triangle area and would like to meet with the LANC Board at its
June meeting. Dorgan encouraged the Board to invite him to that meeting.
Dorgan concluded his remarks by noting that a successful campaign requires that
the Board first commit that all of its members will participate in the campaign.
Grievance Committee:
Celia Pistolis reported that there are no grievances pending.
Client Affairs Committee:
Willis Williams reported that Board member CR Ward was the recipient of the
Community Service Award, which had been presented at the statewide
conference.
Other Business
Chair Adams recognized Michelle Cofield, who gave a brief report on Medicare
Part D and the Pro Bono Network. She reported that attorneys have received
training and are being asked to handle one appeal in cases involving denial of
benefits, prescribed medications, and proper enrollment in the new plan.
Chair Adams recognized Pender McElroy, who proposed that the LANC Board draft a
resolution to address the reduction of public funding of programs that support
persons of low-income or the working poor through federal budget cuts. He
further proposed a committee chaired by Glenn Barfield be appointed to draft the
resolution to support clients being affected by these cuts. He asked that the
proposal be presented to the board for approval at the June meeting.
Following discussion, it was moved duly seconded and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to
adopt a resolution as proposed by Pender McElroy.
George Hausen shared a PowerPoint presentation showing poverty in North
Carolina and how LANC is working to address the needs of the working class
poor in our state. The presentation also showed the types of cases handled
by LANC.
Adjournment
As there was no further business before the Board, Chair Adams adjourned
the meeting at 4:45 p.m.
____________________________
Mary Flowers, Secretary
LANC Board of Directors
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