11:00AM
Delta Hotel (formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel), Richmond, VA
Council Members Present
Officers:
Jeffrey W. Haislip (Fluvanna County), Chairman
Colin D. Stolle (Virginia Beach), First Vice Chairman
Shannon L. Taylor (Henrico County), Secretary
Roy F. Evans (Smyth County), Past Chairman
Council District Representatives:
1. LaBravia J. Jenkins (Fredericksburg)
3. Georgette C. Phillips (Isle of Wight)
4. Lyndia Person Ramsey (Sussex County)
6. David L. Ledbetter (Waynesboro)
8. Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria)
11. Steve Descano (Fairfax County)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorneys Present
Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
Nancy G. Parr (Chesapeake)
E. M. Wright (Buckingham County)
John L. Mahoney (Caroline County)
Gregory D. Underwood (Norfolk)
C. Phillips Ferguson (Suffolk)
Susan O. Fierro (Prince George County)
Tracy Q. Martin (Halifax County)
R. Bryan Haskins (Pittsylvania County)
Paul R. Walther (Culpeper County)
Christian E. Rehak (Radford)
Parisa Deghani-Tafti (Arlington County/Falls Church)
Buta Biberaj (Loudoun County)
Stacey Davenport (Chesterfield County)
Jim Hingeley (Albemarle County)
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 11:07 a.m.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the January 21, 2020, meeting were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
None.
Administrator’s Report
Ms. Chambers reviewed the agenda items:
Old Business
CATF Update
Ms. Chambers stated that the most recent CATF balance statement was not yet available. She will forward it when it becomes available.
Richmond Office & Meeting Space Update
Ms. Chambers reported that she and Ms. DeBord have an appointment next week with Virginia Correctional Enterprises (VCE) to order furnishings for the new office and training space. CASC is trying to schedule a DUID training program in the space on May 21, but contractors have indicated that the ability to do so will depend on the speed of electrical permitting by the City.
Update of Special Committee for CASC Conference Security
Mr. Haislip indicated that he has not yet appointed members to this committee. In view of the fact that Spring Institute will soon be upon us, he asked for volunteers. Mr. Underwood, Mr. Ledbetter and Mr. Haislip volunteered. Ms. Chambers indicated that she and Mr. Casey also would serve. Mr. Haislip indicated that he felt that would be enough people to proceed.
DFS Customer Working Group (CWG) Update
Ms. Chambers reported that Amy Jenkins (formerly Amy Curtis) of DFS has compiled her CWG members and has scheduled their first meeting for March 23, 2020, at the Central Lab in Richmond.
New Business
CASC Travel Reimbursements for Non-Attorney Staff
Ms. Chambers reported that CASC has had non-attorney Commonwealth’s Attorney staff register for Spring Institute. She asked for guidance from Council as to whether or not CATF funds should be spent on travel reimbursements for non-attorney staff at training events designed to provide MCLE’s. She reviewed the language of the CASC Constitution as to permissible uses of the CATF funds. Mr. Evans made a motion that CASC not provide reimbursement for non-attorney travel expenses at CASC’s MCLE training programs. The motion was seconded and unanimously passed.
2020 Spring Institute Agenda
A copy of the most recent draft of the 2020 Spring Institute agenda was circulated with the agenda and reviewed by Ms. Chambers.
Other New Business
Ms. Chambers reported that she attended the recent National Best Practices meeting hosted by the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence (PCE). There were some excellent presentations that she believed would have benefitted prosecutors in Virginia. She inquired if anyone on Council would object to her seeing if CASC could help fund the videotaping of the National Best Practices sessions to post on Prosecutor’s Encyclopedia. No one expressed any concern about Ms. Chambers looking into this further.
Ms. Chambers also reported that many Commonwealth’s Attorneys have gotten letters from a company called CES which has purportedly contracted with the FDA to investigate underage tobacco sales. The letter asked CA’s to provide immunity letters to underage tobacco buyers working with them. Ms. Chambers reported that she has surveyed NAPC members to see if any other states have worked with CES and thus far no one responding has heard of them.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.