LOUISIANA INDIGENT DEFENDER BOARD

 

                                        REGULAR BOARD MEETING

                              LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT BUILDING

                                SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM

                                              SEPTEMBER 16, 1994

 

 

                                             MINUTES

 

 

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Dr. Ben Barron; Samuel S. Dalton; Camille F. Gravel, Jr.; Leah Guerry; Wayne J. Lee; Robert McLeod; Walter M. Sanchez, Vice-Chair [acting Chair]; Sonja M. Spears, Secretary-Treasurer; and Henry Walker.

 

STAFF PRESENT:  Dr. Hugh Collins, Judicial Administrator; Anthony Gagliano, Deputy Judicial Administrator; and Jelpi P. Picou, Jr., Interim Staff Director.

 

          1.  Call to Order.  The meeting was called to order by Walter Sanchez, acting Chair of the Board.  Mr. Sanchez noted that Thomas Casey had notified the members of the Board and the staff that he would be unable to Chair the meeting due to a previous engagement.  The staff added that Mr. Bussie had called to say that he would be unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments in Baton Rouge.

 

          2.  Roll Call.  The acting Chair recognized the members of the Board present for the meeting.  On the basis of these introductions, it was noted that a quorum was present.

 

          3.  Welcoming Remarks of the Acting Chair.  The acting Chair welcomed the members of the board and the staff and briefly reviewed the agenda for the meeting, explaining the purpose and scope of the meeting.

 

          4.  Review of Actions of the Executive Committee.  The acting Chair explained to the Board that the Executive Committee had entertained a request for funds from the Orleans Indigent Defender Program concerning conflict counsel in a capital case.  The Executive Committee approved a total disbursement of $63,489, with a provision that OIDP would reimburse the Board for the expenses associated with assistant counsel if their budget allowed.

 

          The acting Chair also explained that the Executive Committee had voted to move the next Executive Committee and Board meetings from October 14 to October 21 in order to facilitate the review of applications for the CEO and Administrative Secretary positions.  It was also noted that the members of the Board should notify any qualified individuals of the Board's search for a CEO and an Administrative Secretary.

 

 

          5.  Consideration of August 27, 1994, Minutes.  The acting Chair then called for consideration of the minutes of the previous Board meeting.  Mr. McLeod commented that the minutes failed to recognize that he had attended the meeting, and the staff noted that Mr. McLeod's name had been left off by mistake.  Mr. Dalton moved, and Mr. Walker seconded, that the minutes be adopted with the changes noted.  The motion passed without objection.

 

          6.  Job Descriptions, Salary Levels, and Advertising.  The acting Chair then briefed the Board on the actions of the Executive Committee concerning the job descriptions, salary levels and planned advertising for the CEO and Administrative Secretary positions.  It was noted that changes to the job descriptions could be suggested by members of the Board and forwarded to the staff for final revision prior to hiring individuals for either position.  Members of the Board generally agreed that the descriptions were adequate and requested time to review them in detail.  The acting Chair agreed that time would be given for members to communicate suggestions to the staff. 

 

          Salary levels, as included in the meeting packet, were reviewed:  The beginning salary levels, as previously approved by the Executive Committee, are:  CEO--$63,797; Deputy CEO--$52,458; Senior Attorney--$34,186; and Administrative Secretary--$20,124.  The acting Chair clarified the point that the starting salary levels were not locked in, but were aspirational in nature.  The Board was free to negotiate salary levels with prospective employees, as long as the overall administrative budget was not exceeded.

 

          The floor was then opened for a discussion concerning the characteristics the Board members hoped to find in a CEO.  Among the items listed by the Board were:  personal commitment; excellent written and oral communication skills; no 9-5 attitude; no long lunch hours; independent; not faint-hearted; management and leadership skills; have an understanding of the legislative process; political savvy with no political baggage; persistence; a facilitator; the ability to deal with local boards; goal oriented; and racial and sex sensitivity.  The Board also agreed that the applicants for the CEO position should be required to compose a letter explaining how he or she would meet the challenges of the job.

 

          7.  Briefing on Surveys.  The staff next briefed the Board on the surveys prepared and approved by the Executive Committee to be sent to the district indigent defender boards and the chief district judges.  The Board was in general agreement that the surveys should be mailed as soon as possible.

 

          8.  Briefing on Rules Advisory Committee.  At the direction of the acting Chair, the staff briefed the Board on the work of the Rules Advisory Committee.  The staff began by noting that a list of the members of the Rules Advisory Committee was attached to the meeting packet for the convenience of the Board members.  It was pointed out that the work of the Rules Advisory Committee was moving slower than originally expected, but that constructive steps had been made to bring to the table the positions of all the parties involved, including the district judges of the state.  The staff complimented the Rules Advisory Committee on the amount of progress the Committee had made thus far and noted that at the close of the next meeting, standards for trial and appellate capital counsel would be completed.  The Rules Advisory Committee was also taking steps to work longer hours in order to meet the original drafting schedule approved by the Board.

 

          9.  Briefing on Budget.  At the direction of the acting Chair, the staff delivered a review of the Board's budget as of August 31, 1994.  The following was presented:

 

 

                   Approved Spending:           $ 32,740.33

                   Actual Spending:                $ 23,453.19

                   Difference:                        $  9,287.14

 

                   Income:                            $833,333.34

                   Disbursements          $ 23,453.19

                   Balance:                           $809,880.15

 

                   Dedicated Funds:                $  4,500.00

                   Working Balance:               $805,380.15

                   Approved Balance:             $800,593.00

                   Fund Surplus:          $  4,787.15

 

 

          10.  Other Business.  No other business was called to the attention of the Board.

 

          16.  Adjournment.  After completion of business, a motion was made, seconded and adopted to adjourn until October 21, 1994.