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Jumping out of that fascinating Webster school board meeting to monitor tonight's @RochesterPAB meeting. You can follow along here:
Executive Director Conor Dwyer-Reynolds is going over the policies and procedures dictating how the nine-member volunteer board is appointed.
(I imagine this might lead to a discussion on hiring practices within the city and the board's inability to hire its own staff.)
(I imagine this might lead to a discussion on hiring practices within the city and the board's inability to hire its own staff.)
Dwyer-Reynolds is asking for the board to approve rules governing how the board members are named, especially since some of the board member terms are up at the end of next month.
Terms for vice chair Celia McIntosh, Danielle Tucker, and Dr. Bob Harrison have terms that end June 30, 2021.
Other board members have terms that run through 2022 and 2023.
Other board members have terms that run through 2022 and 2023.
Of note, the PAB, under its current budget, is still looking to hire two full-time staff members. One is a chief of administration and the other is a chief of education and community engagement.
City Council seemingly has some oversight over board nominees. So that's being discussed.
FWIW, here’s tonight’s beverage for the PAB meeting
The PAB just unanimously approved rules for this process.
Now the PAB is discussing outreach events (talks and two future events where they will discuss RPD department policy and something involving UCLM).
the board is discussing creating a promotional video, potentially 5 to 7 minutes, to outline what it does and how much it needs the community to aid in its work, board member Arlene Brown says
Ida Perez, PAB member, says its imperative the outreach is also done in Spanish.
Next update is about oversight investigations and the pending memorandum of understanding the city wants the PAB to sign to dictate how information is turned over.
Remember, the PAB hired an outside law firm in March to help in these decisions. The firm is working pro bono: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/03/25/police-accountability-board-outside-counsel-rochester-police-department/6984353002/
Dr. Bob Harrison, PAB member, says the board is losing traction and should do something with the information it has already obtained about the Harris Street incident (where a 9-year-old was handcuffed and pepper sprayed in January).
Board chair Shani Wilson says this should be a priority, as well as budget education. She said she agrees with Dr. Harrison here.
Rabbi Drorah Setel, a PAB member, says without a memorandum of understanding it's not clear if more headline-grabbing incidents have happened since the Harris St. incident.
"We need more than just volunteer help from the community, we need a paid staff," Reynolds says.
Onto the next update...
Hiring.
Onto the next update...
Hiring.
Reynolds said these two open positions are imperative. We need full-time staff. All of the work is being done by nine volunteers and one full-time staffer.
Reynolds said they found two candidates they want to hire -- two highly qualified women of color.
Reynolds said they found two candidates they want to hire -- two highly qualified women of color.
Reynolds says the city won't let them hire these candidates.
Civil service rules don't apply here. Every person who works for the PAB is exempt from these rules, he said.
The first candidate is a “dream candidate,” Reynolds says
The city has other people working in other similar positions. Here are the differences, he says:
Here is what the candidate asked for:
Less qualified white people make more money, Reynolds says.
And Council President Loretta Scott controls PAB hiring, despite the city charter saying otherwise, he says
And Council President Loretta Scott controls PAB hiring, despite the city charter saying otherwise, he says
If you want equity, you shouldn’t consider prior pay, because that negatively impacts women of color, Reynolds says
This is what Mayor Warren wrote in an email, Reynolds says:
this candidate previously worked in the non-profit sector, Reynolds says.
Dr. Harrison says: Who does the hiring and who sets the salary is really the ultimate question in any organization. What you're telling me is that somehow or another you (Reynolds) doesn't have that authority, but President Scott does?
Reynolds: Yes, that's the city's position,
Reynolds: Yes, that's the city's position,
Board member Ida Perez: I don't want to start a war, but if we fight, what chance do we have to pay these people equitably if the city has already made up its mind?
Reynolds: I don't think most of City Council knows this is happening, same with the general public.
Reynolds: I don't think most of City Council knows this is happening, same with the general public.
Reynolds: I haven't yet reached out to Cephas Archie, who heads the city's equity efforts. I am frustrated. I want to get to work. But the most frustrated people are the two women of color we want to hire.
Reynolds: I wouldn't be surprised if our candidates walk.
Perez: It doesn't matter what we do, because there is always an obstacle.
The board is clearly frustrated and exhausted with the lack of progress and seemingly the lack of cooperation from the city, despite being approved by an overwhelming number of voters in 2019.
The board is clearly frustrated and exhausted with the lack of progress and seemingly the lack of cooperation from the city, despite being approved by an overwhelming number of voters in 2019.
Arlene Brown: We don't have to take this personally. We're all on the same team. It's all to better the city of Rochester. We should do as much as we can to get the highest salary possible.
Brown: Let's raise the expectation for how this city values its employees.
(She appears to be a fan of the mayor. Brown is now referencing all of the downtown construction.)
We do things with excellence, she concludes.
(She appears to be a fan of the mayor. Brown is now referencing all of the downtown construction.)
We do things with excellence, she concludes.
McIntosh: What does a police officer with a high school education and six months out of the academy make?
Danielle Brown, board member: Average starting salary for RPD is around $46,000.
Danielle Brown, board member: Average starting salary for RPD is around $46,000.
McIntosh: This is not the first time I've heard of this unequal pay. Could these two candidates be hired in the communications department and be hired at the higher salary? Is there another option? I don't think this is fair.
McIntosh: Me, as a Black woman, we tend to get paid less and it's problematic. I think this needs to be addressed.
Harrison: Who decided President Scott was the hiring authority and was it documented?
Reynolds: This is the city trying to make us a subset, subservient dept. under City Council.
Harrison: That seems to run counter to the law.
Reynolds: This is the city trying to make us a subset, subservient dept. under City Council.
Harrison: That seems to run counter to the law.
Section 18-6 of the City Charter says: "The Executive Director shall be responsible for hiring and supervising staff in accordance with the City Charter and the Municipal Code."
Continues: "All such persons and their immediate family shall be free of any conflict of interest, including but not limited to current or former employment with the RPD or any other local, state, or federal law enforcement agency."
You can read the charter here: https://ecode360.com/35278812
Harrison says the board should craft a letter and point out these issues to President Scott. He says other City Councilors should be copied in.
Wilson, PAB chair, also sounds exasperated: I don't know what else to say. There is a point where the city has to know this is happening. Enough is enough. I am hopeful there are more discussions to be had. ...We have to have better.
Wilson: We're an anomaly within city government, being community-approved and civilian-led.
"This is the fight," she says.
"This is the fight," she says.
I am counting on City Councilors who say they openly support us to help here, Wilson says.
Of note, a few City Councilors have expressed support for the mission of the board. But outside of Councilor Mary Lupien, very few have actually said anything on the record about the support.
I've even asked these councilors for reaction and they've declined comment.
I've even asked these councilors for reaction and they've declined comment.
Setel: I've been shocked by the pettiness and micromanaging.
Racial equity is at the heart of what this board is about, so how can we ignore it? Perez asks.
We can't underpay people and not support them.
Racial equity is at the heart of what this board is about, so how can we ignore it? Perez asks.
We can't underpay people and not support them.
Board member Rev. Matthew Nickoloff also expresses frustration.
How this culture exists, this culture of bullying, is part of police accountability, he asserts
How this culture exists, this culture of bullying, is part of police accountability, he asserts
City Councilors will assert the PAB is part of their legacy and put it on their campaign materials, but where is the real support?
He says this is how it actually works in the city. But we won't settle for it.
He says this is how it actually works in the city. But we won't settle for it.
The PAB is publicly calling out City Council.
And now Reynolds is saying what other city dept heads of communication make, noting they often earn more than $120K.
And now Reynolds is saying what other city dept heads of communication make, noting they often earn more than $120K.
this is getting spicy.
so we'll see if City Councilors respond.
The board is seemingly saying that some are more concerned with re-election campaigns than supporting a board they championed and helped create.
The board is seemingly saying that some are more concerned with re-election campaigns than supporting a board they championed and helped create.
Reynolds says the city has told the board it shouldn't pay anyone more than what Reynolds is paid. Reynolds says he asked for and received a smaller salary to free up more $$.
Reynolds says there doesn't appear to be a written rule for this practice.
Reynolds says there doesn't appear to be a written rule for this practice.
Reynolds says he doesn't have this assertion in writing.
Harrison: Why haven't we gotten the lawyers involved? To me, the big problem you've brought before is your authority being taken away. That needs to be dealt with in an uncompromising way.
Reynolds: It's not my authority, it's your authority. I report to you (the board).
Harrison: We need to stop pussyfooting around. This is the hill I am willing to die on.
Reynolds: These big issues need to be ironed out before we can proceed, because we don't want to have to face these issues every time something arises.
Wilson: The next step appears to be a letter to Council.
Harrison reiterates the lawyers need to be engaged. Tucker seconds that request.
Harrison reiterates the lawyers need to be engaged. Tucker seconds that request.
Tucker: Given everything we've faced, what will this letter accomplish? The city has taken away the power of the board and gone against its own charter.
Harrison: We're supposed to have the authority and various entities are trying to stop that. That's got to stop.
Reynolds: Next week, the head of the NYC civilian review board will be speaking to the board.
Update: It'll be the former head of the board.
Reynolds: We don't win behind closed doors. Every closed door meeting I've been in has been extremely unproductive.
Harrison: It might be a good idea to discuss these matters in executive session.
Reynolds: The public wouldn't know about this unless we talked about it here.
Harrison: It might be a good idea to discuss these matters in executive session.
Reynolds: The public wouldn't know about this unless we talked about it here.
Setel: We would love to hear from City Councilors about pay equity.
Then encourages the public to ask elected officials how they feel here.
Then encourages the public to ask elected officials how they feel here.
To clarify my earlier tweet about City Councilors voicing support for the PAB. This goes back to the process of drafting the legislation and supporting it in 2019 as voters decided on it.
And when I've asked various Councilors for comment on PAB-related issues, many have declined comment or ignored my requests.
So it's important to think about how actually supports the board and who is just using it is a campaign promise, some board members point out.
So it's important to think about how actually supports the board and who is just using it is a campaign promise, some board members point out.
Both of our candidates are so excited to get to work, Reynolds say.
The meeting has now ended.
I'll follow up with Mayor Warren and City Council tomorrow for comment.
(But for now, I really need to finish the draft of my PIC team ride-along story. Too much news.)
The meeting has now ended.
I'll follow up with Mayor Warren and City Council tomorrow for comment.
(But for now, I really need to finish the draft of my PIC team ride-along story. Too much news.)
