11:00AM
Henrico Sheriff’s Office
Council Members Present
Officers:
Jeffrey W. Haislip (Fluvanna County), First Vice Chairman
Colin D. Stolle (Virginia Beach), Second Vice Chairman
Theo K. Stamos (Arlington County/Falls Church), Secretary
Patricia T. Watson (Greensville Co./Emporia, Past Chairman
Council District Representatives:
2. Nathan R. Green (Williamsburg/James City County)
3. Georgette C. Phillips (Isle of Wight)
6. David L. Ledbetter (Waynesboro)
8. Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria)
9. Charles H. Slemp, III (Wise County)(via teleconference)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
John L. Mahoney (Caroline County)
Eric L. Olsen (Stafford County)
Beverly P. Leatherbury (Northampton County)
Gregory D. Underwood (Norfolk)
Susan O. Fierro (Prince George County)
Marsha L. Garst (Rockingham County/Harrisonburg)
W. Lyle Carver (Amherst County)
Shannon L. Taylor (Henrico County)
Christian E. Rehak (Radford)
Derek Davis (Surry County)
Daniel Rutherford (Nelson County)
Nancy Parr (Chesapeake)
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorneys Present
Lori DiGiosia (Stafford County)
CASC Staff Present
Jane Sherman Chambers
VACA Staff Present
Michael R. Doucette, Executive Director
Call to Order
Mr. Haislip called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the August 1, 2019, and August 4, 2019, meetings were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
First Vice-Chairman Jeffrey Haislip reported that he would be conducting the meeting on behalf of Chairman Roy Evans. Mr. Haislip reported that he attended CASC’s recent DUID class and that it was excellent. He complimented CASC’s new TSRP, Jake Lambert, saying that he did a great job running the program.
Administrator’s Report
Ms. Chambers reviewed the agenda items:
Old Business
CATF Update
Ms. Chambers reviewed the CATF balance sheet reflecting account activity through September 30, 2019.
Richmond Office & Meeting Space Rental Update
Ms. Chambers reported that while the lease had been signed in July, one document remained at issue. The Office of the Attorney General represented Council in negotiating the matter and a resolution was quickly reached. Ms. Chambers expects the lease to be finalized soon and occupancy to begin on March 1, 2020. Improvements will be made prior to occupancy.
2019 Curriculum Committee Retreat Recap
Ms. Chambers reported that the Curriculum Committee met on September 12 – 13, 2019, and finalized agendas for the 2019 Executive Program, the 2020 Spring Institute and the 2020 Annual Summer Conference. She reviewed the Executive Program agenda in detail and circulated copies of the agendas for the other two programs.
2021 Executive Program
Ms. Chambers reported that a contract has been finalized with the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville for the 2021 Executive Program.
2019 – 2020 CASC & VACA Meeting & Events Schedule
Ms. Chambers reported that she has received several requests for the 2019 – 2020 meeting schedule, so she circulated it again as an attachment to today’s meeting agenda.
New Business
Vacancy on CASC’s Standing Committee on Ethics
Mr. Haislip asked for a volunteer to fill the vacancy on the CASC Standing Committee on Ethics that was created by Thad Cox’s retirement. Mr. Slemp was nominated and his selection passed unanimously.
UNC-Chapel Hill Study on Prosecutor Associations
Ms. Chambers reported that she has become aware that UNC-Chapel Hill will be conducting a study on prosecutor associations. The National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators (NAPC) has advised them that NAPC does not speak for prosecutor associations as a group and that each association will need to be contacted separately.
DFS Customer Working Group (CWG)
Ms. Chambers reported that Amy Curtis from DFS gave a presentation at the VACA Justice & Professionalism Committee (J&P) meeting last week. Her presentation addressed the recently-released white paper about forensic evidence submissions that was prepared by the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence (PCE). Among other things, the white paper outlined the benefits of creating a forensic lab Customer Working Group. J&P recommended that this be a CASC project, so Ms. Chambers asked for Council approval to move forward on this. Ms. Phillips so moved and her motion was seconded and unanimously passed. Mr. Chambers added that all of DFS current submission policies were sent to all Commonwealth’s Attorneys last week.
State Agency Budget Requests
Ms. Chambers reported that last week was the deadline for submitting budget requests. She has requested full-funding for the Violence Against Women Resource Prosecutor position, currently being held by Nancy Oglesby. That position currently is funded largely by a V-STOP grant. Ms. Chambers is concerned about that funding source remaining stable because the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization appears to be indefinitely held up in the U.S. Senate.
Public Comment
None.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 12:24 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is November 6, 2019, 12:00 noon, at the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office Conference Room.