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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Judicial Selection Advisory Board - Meeting Date: 1/12/2017 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE JUDICIAL SELECTION ADVISORY BOARD January 12, 2017—6:00 p.m. Glendale Municipal Complex, Council Chambers 5850 West Glendale Avenue Glendale,AZ MEMBERS PRESENT: Justin Beresky, Chair Judge Chuck Whitehead, Vice Chair Nora Greer, Board Member Michele Tennyson, Board Member Judge Elizabeth Finn,Non-Voting Member STAFF PRESENT. Jim Brown, HR and Risk Management Director Alyssa Bethel, HR Business Partner and incoming JSAB Staff Representative Katie Douglas, HR Business Partner and JSAB Staff Representative MEMBERS ABSENT Marc Eaton, Board Member Judge Andrew Gould, Board Member CALL TO ORDER Chair Justin Beresky called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2016 MEETING Board Member Michele Tennyson moved to approve the minutes as presented and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion. It was voted unanimously to approve the Minutes as presented. CALL FOR A VOTE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Chair Justin Beresky called for a vote to enter executive session. The motion carried unanimously. CALL FOR A VOTE TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION Chair Justin Beresky moved to reconvene into Open Session and Board Member Nora Greer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. CALL FOR A VOTE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Chair Justin Beresky moved to enter into Executive Session and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion, which carried unanimously CALL FOR A VOTE TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION Chair Justin Beresky moved to reconvene into Open Session and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. INTERVIEW PROCESS BRIEFING Glendale Human Resources and Risk Management Director Jim Brown provided a judicial reappointment interview process briefing. REAPPOINTMENT INTERVIEW OF MANUEL DELGADO FOR CITY JUDGE The Board interviewed City Judge Manuel Delgado. The interview was videotaped, a copy of which will be provided to the Mayor and City Council for their review along with a copy of the interview questions asked of Judge Delgado. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no comments from the public at this time. REAPPOINTMENT INTERVIEW OF ELIZABETH FINN FOR PRESIDING CITY JUDGE The Board interviewed Presiding City Judge Elizabeth Finn. The interview was videotaped, a copy of which will be provided to the Mayor and City Council for their review along with a copy of the interview questions asked of Judge Finn. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no comments from the public at this time. CALL FOR A VOTE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Chair Justin Beresky moved to enter into Executive Session and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. CALL FOR A VOTE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION Board Member Judge Finn was dismissed and Board Member Nora Greer moved to enter into Executive Session and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion, which carried unanimously CALL FOR A VOTE TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION Chair Justin Beresky moved to reconvene into Open Session and Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion, which carried unanimously REAPPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATION FOR MANUEL DELGADO Board Member Judge Finn stated that Judge Delgado mentioned that he has been tasked with presiding over some unusual unique motions, and she just wanted to echo that this is true. He has brought some motions to her and she has agreed that they were unusual. Everything he said was accurate and true, and she thinks he's been a great asset to the court as a judge because of the fact that he does go and do his own research. It's benefited everyone in court, in terms of the judges and staff, the way he approaches things. Regarding the diversity aspect, she thinks it's important when the citizens and defendants come in and see people who are like them. She thinks their court does that in both the judicial perspective and the staff perspective. After consideration of the interview with City Judge Manuel Delgado, as well as additional information provided to the Board, Board Member Nora Greer moved to recommend reappointment of Manuel Delgado to City Judge for a four-year term. Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion and the.motion carried unanimously. REAPPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATION FOR ELIZABETH FINN After consideration of the interview with Presiding City Judge Elizabeth Finn, as well as additional information provided to the Board, Board Member Michele Tennyson moved to recommend reappointment of Elizabeth Finn to Presiding City Judge for a two-year term. Vice Chair Chuck Whitehead seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. SUGGESTED ENHANCEMENT TO STRUCTURE OF FUTURE MEETINGS Chair Justin Beresky suggested including time allocation for future agenda items to assist in moving the meeting along and not get bogged down. Board Members could always move to expand the time if needed. Board Member Nora Greer suggested this may be more of a staff function. Chair Beresky clarified that the Board could move to table an item or expand the time for each agenda item, which may assist in keeping things focused when discussions go off on a tangent. Board Member Nora Greer stated she didn't think it was a bad idea. Board Member Michele Tennyson stated she would expect the Chair to reel them in if the Board was wandering off subject. Chair Beresky stated he was not asking for a vote on this tonight,but it was just something to think about in the future. DETERMINE WHETHER TO SCHEDULE A FUTURE MEETING TO CONSIDER THE USE OF ALTERNATE SURVEYS FOR PRESIDING JUDGE Chair Beresky suggested setting a future meeting in September. The Board asked about the timing of the next survey process and reappointment. Staff Representative Katie Douglas indicated that the survey process typically begins 14 months prior to the expiration of a term, and that the Board could vote on Chair and Vice Chair at the next meeting as well. Chair Beresky asked the Staff Representatives to propose some dates in September or October. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no comments from the public at this time. STAFF REPORT Incoming Staff Representative Alyssa Bethel advised the Board that a replacement to the Board for prior Chair Frank Sisti was being worked on, along with upcoming reappointments in April 2017 for Board Members Marc Eaton and Michele Tennyson. BOARD COMMENTS Board Member Michele Tennyson suggested that reappointment packets need not be printed by both Board members and staff Chair Beresky indicated it was helpful for staff to print and have available in case any members left their packets behind. Board Member Nora Greer stated she thought the Council should know that the JSAB had received uniform positive comments on all the judges. She said she had not read in the packets or received any negative comments about the judges in the court. Some of the problems mentioned were the juror chairs and infestations, which sound like problems being worked on which the judges had little control over. There are quality people on the bench in Glendale, and if people are unhappy with the way their court is running they're not telling us. Chair Beresky stated that the Board is impressed with both candidates today. It's nice to hear people are happy to come to work and truly enjoy their work, especially after so much time on the bench. The Board appreciates the judges and their service. Judge Finn thanked the Board for taking the time to serve. Board Member Michele Tennyson asked if there was anything the JSAB could do to advocate for the condition of the courthouse. Judge Finn stated that the Council is well aware and staff are continuing to work on improvements. CALL FOR FUTURE MEETING The Board will meet next in late September or mid-October to further discuss the JSAB survey process. ADJOURNMENT Chair Justin Beresky adjourned the meeting at 7 14 p.m. S itt by Brown oard Liaison