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Hawkeye Area Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa
Minutes of the October 5, 2008 Board Meeting
Board Members Present: Dean Abel, Evan Fales, Peter Hansen, David Muller, David Redlawsk, Rebecca Reiter, Elizabeth Sparks, Ruth Spinks presiding.
Board Members Absent: Marty Condon, Caroline Dieterle, Robert Givens, Nathan Handler
Presiding Vice President Ruth Spinks called the meeting to order at 1:37 pm in Meeting Room E of the Iowa City Public Library.
Old Business
- Approval of the August 17 Minutes: The minutes were approved, with one typo noted that has been corrected.
- Treasurer’s Report: Dean Abel reported that the account balance remains at $512.48, as Nathan Handler has not yet cashed the check for $50 that was given to him. Dean will contact Nathan about this. When that is cashed, our balance will be 462.48.
- ACLU-Iowa Board Report (Dave Muller): TBA.
- Hawkeye Chapter Website (Nathan Handler): Handler was absent, so no report was given.
- Iowa City Police Review Board: Dean Abel reported that he is no longer able regularly to attend because of other duties. At the recent public forum of the PRB, it was learned that the members of the Board in fact are not provided with the name, or even an individual number, for police officers against whom complaints are filed. However, they are provided with the identities of complainants. This means that the Board has no way of identifying officers against whom multiple complaints are filed, or even whether there are such officers. On the other hand, as Spinks noted, repeat complainants can be identified and potentially find their complaints easily dismissed because they are branded as “complainers.” It was noted that the Board receives 4-5 complaints per year. There was discussion of what response, if any, the Hawkeye Chapter should initiate concerning this policy.
Peter Hansen noted that the PRB can make policy recommendations (to the police? to City Council?), contrary to information that Carol Spaziani had.
- Cameras in the Iowa City Public Library Restrooms: Ruth Spinks reported that new signs are in place in the women’s restroom. Rebecca Reiter had spoken further about the matter with Susan Craig and had reported this conversation to HCACLU board members. We have been assured that the cameras respect restroom privacy. Peter Hansen suggested, with the others agreeing, that this issue has adequately been dealt with.
New Business
- ACLU Table at the Connections GLBT Event in Iowa City: It was decided that because there was insufficient time to get ACLU materials for this event, and because it conflicted with the second Presidential debate, we would this year not send someone to the event to represent the ACLU.
- Our next meeting has been scheduled for 1:30 pm on Dec. 7, 2008 in the Iowa City Public Library.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Evan Fales
Secretary, Hawkeye Chapter of the ACLU of Iowa
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