May 13, 2019
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Sales at 7:23 p.m.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance: Emily McCoy, Lee; Nancy Hopkins, Dranesville; Charlie Brown, Braddock; Chair Lisa Sales, Mount Vernon; Kayla Rothstein, Student Representative; Sondra Seba Hemenway, At-Large; Jane Materna, Mason; Helen Cole, Hunter Mill; Elise Helgesen Aguilar, Providence
Commissioners absent: Vice Chair Barbara Lippa, Sully; Michelle Russell, Springfield; Mattie Palmore, Minority At-Large
Staff in attendance: Michelle Mueller
Visitors: Briana Sewell of the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy
Photo
Commissioners took a group photo.
Visitor
Briana Sewell introduced herself.
April 2019 Minutes
ACTION: Ms. Rothstein provided a correction to the minutes: the Teen Summit planning group had met three times rather than twice. Ms. Hemenway moved to approve the April 2019 minutes as amended. Ms.Rothstein seconded the seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted in favor, except Ms. Aguilar, who abstained.
Chair Sales stated that the Commissioners would brainstorm project ideas for fifteen minutes at the beginning of each monthly meeting until July. Commissioners listed possible issues:
- Affordable Housing. There was a forum recently. This affects many women, particularly single parents and female headed households. Domestic violence victims sometimes can’t afford housing and are forced to stay in unsafe situations. Research would be needed on unique issues facing women. Contacts include Dean Klein of OPEH, Tom Fleetwood of Housing and Community Development, Vanessa Cullers of DSVS, and Mattie Palmore.
- Opioid Crisis. Issues include effects on women and criminalization.
- Gender representation on Boards and Commissions. Contacts include Karla Bruce of One Fairfax.
- Smartphones for Artemis House
- Courtwatch. There is also a firearms and protective orders workgroup planning a courtroom pilot project.
- Income inequality/nontraditional jobs and apprenticeships for women/affirmative action in County contracting
- Vocational schools and apprenticeships not receiving referrals of girls
- Treatment of women, workplace culture and oversight including the Fire and Rescue Department
- Sexual assault and harassment investigations should be done by third parties, not internally
- Pay equity
- Rape kit testing
- Paid family and medical leave
- Regional events including the suffrage centennial and the 2020 NACW conference
NACW Conference
Commissioners voted at the March meeting to sponsor two people to attend the NACW Conference in Chicago. Ms. Russell and Chair Sales expressed interest in attending the conference. Ms. Materna stated that she would be backup in case either of the others could not attend.
ACTION: Ms. Rothstein moved to send Chair Sales and Ms. Russell to the NACW conference, with Ms. Materna as backup. Ms. Hemenway seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Young Women’s Event
Ms. Rothstein reported that the event planning committee had been reaching out to potential panelists, including Kathy Tran, Jennifer Wexton, and the state champion DECA club. She presented a budget for the summit of $1,700. Any donations obtained would help reduce the cost.
ACTION: Ms. McCoy moved to authorize up to $1,700 for expenses related to the Youth Summit in September. Vice Chair Hopkins seconded the motion. Ms. Materna asked to amend the motion to $2,500. Ms. McCoy and Vice Chair Hopkins accepted the friendly amendment and the motion carried unanimously.
Policy Committee
Chair Sales updated that the Firearms Workgroup will organize a regional panel on firearms and protective orders. The Commission for Women will offer support to that effort.
Gender Representation on BACs
Commissioners reviewed their discussion with Cathy Ledec of the Tree Commission about representation of women and young adults on Boards and Commissions. Ms. Mueller reported that Ms. Zollicoffer will invite One Fairfax Coordinator Karla Bruce to a future Commission meeting to discuss gender equity in the County, on BACs and more broadly.
ACTION: Ms. Materna moved to table the discussion on gender and BACs and roll the discussion into the larger strategic planning discussion rather than isolate one issue for discussion. Ms. McCoy seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
June Meeting at South County
Ms. Mueller reminded Commissioners that the June 10 Commission meeting will take place at room 217 of the South County Government Center, and the Alexandria Commission will join the meeting.
Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
Ms. McCoy reminded Commissioners that TPSM will hold the Silent Sentinel awards fundraiser at the Army-Navy Club on June 6.
ACTION: Ms. Brown moved that the Commission pay half the cost of tickets for any Commissioners who register for the Silent Sentinel Awards. Ms. Hemenway seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted in favor of the motion except Ms. Materna, who voted against it.
DVPPCC
Chair Sales reported that the DVPPCC would meet on Thursday.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
Ms. Mueller reported that DSVS had hired two new staff members, the DVAC Coordinator and the Liaison to the Commission for Women, Emily Warner.
Community Reports
Ms. McCoy pointed out that there will be significant turnover in the Board of Supervisors.
Parliamentarian
Vice Chair Hopkins discussed the need for an assigned parliamentarian to help meetings run smoothly. Ms. Materna agreed to act as parliamentarian, and Ms. Cole agreed to serve as backup.
Smartphones for Artemis House
Chair Sales reported that Artemis House needs around 100 donated cell phones for victims, since the HopeLine program ended. She suggested that Commissioners ask their Supervisors to collect phones at their offices through notices in their newsletters.
ACTION: Ms. Cole moved that Commissioners contact their Supervisors to ask in their newsletters for 100 cell phones to benefit domestic violence victims in Fairfax County. Commissioners would collect the phones and give them to Chair Sales for donation. Ms. Aguilar seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Briana Sewell on Paid Family and Medical Leave
Ms. Sewell reported that the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy is a nonpartisan effort launched in January to support many issues facing women including family and medical leave. They will be showing the film Zero Weeks at the Angelika Theater on May 29 with state Rep. Jennifer Wexton and US Rep. Jerry Connolly to support legislation that would provide 12 weeks of paid leave, funded through a payroll tax. Ms. Mueller reported that she had checked with the County Legislative Director and was told that individual Commissioners could attend, but that the Commission could not sponsor the event, since the Board of Supervisors had not taken a position on the issue.
Extending the Meeting
ACTION: Ms. Aguilar moved to extend the meeting 5 minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Cole and passed unanimously
The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 p.m.
Next Meeting
The Commission will next meet on June 13, 2019 in room 217 of the Hyland South County Government Center at 7:15 p.m.
If you have any concerns, issues or thoughts that you would like to share, please send an email to Commission for Women. Your concerns and observations are important in helping the women and girls in Fairfax County.