OAALJ ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
November 12, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m., at the Quality Inn, in Salem, Oregon, by President David Marcus. A quorum of more than ten members was present.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT: Mark Braverman reported that the conference was a success. There were 269 attendees, the greatest number ever at a national conference. Although the accounting is not yet complete, Mark expects that OAALJ will net between $9-12,000 from hosting the event. OAALJ's standing has been enhanced by the conference.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT: David Marcus reported that we currently have 65 members, for an all-time high. There are 10 additional members who have not yet renewed their memberships.
- Members are from 13 state agencies and the private sector;
- One-third of the members joined in the last 18 months;
- There are 29 women members (45%);
- We have more money in our bank account than ever before;
- OAALJ has unprecedented cultivated ties with NAALJ, NJC, WN Assn of ALJs, and other state affiliates;
- Our website receives about 10 hits/day; it has received over 3,000 since the site was established;
- The Ethics Committee is working and has changed leadership; Steve Rissberger now chairs the committee.
David presented a plaque in appreciation to Shirley Gunther for her diligent work with the conference; Dean Ackerman, Willamette University College of Law for his support; Mark Braverman for being the conference coordinator. David also presented Mark with a gavel in appreciation for his hard work with the organization as he retires from the board.
Doug McKean presented David Marcus with an engraved gavel in appreciation for his hard work and leadership with OAALJ. David is retiring from the board and the token acknowledged his twice having served as president, being a member for over 12 years, performing much of the organization's administrative work, starting OAALJ's annual conference which has evolved into our relationships with Willamette U.and hosting the NAALJ conference this year, and serving on the Governor's task force for the central panel project.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to members who served as hosts/hostesses for NAALJ presenters and officers.
MINUTES FROM 1997 ANNUAL MEETING: There was a motion to accept the minutes as presented. It was seconded and passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Daina Upite reported that the balance in the account is $9,560.75. There was a motion to accept the report. It was seconded and passed unanimously.
ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT: Steve Rissberger reported that he sent a letter to committee members and plans to hold a committee meeting where the members will discuss the various versions of ethics codes that are available. He is interested in any new members who may wish to participate. He plans to expand the committee.
OAALJ NEWSLETTER: The next Newsletter will be released in early December. Articles are due to Bill Young by December 1, 1998.
CENTRAL PANEL LEGISLATION: David reported that the Governor's task force on the central panel has no more meetings scheduled and is revising the draft legislation that David made available to members at the meeting. He reported that the proposed legislation would bring several agencies' ALJ units together under the Employment Department. The Governor has stated that no new agency for a central panel would be created during his term.
There was discussion about the history of central panel legislation in Oregon. The concept of a core agency was submitted originally in 1980 by OAALJ. In 1995, HB 854 had evolved from the original OAALJ legislation. It did not pass. The legislation that did pass in 1997, HB 2948, was vetoed by the Governor. The Governor then formed the work group of which David is a member. There are issues regarding ex parte contact and standards of review of facts which remain issues in the current legislation.
There was a great deal of discussion about whether OAALJ should take a position with regard to central panel legislation, and if so, what that position should be. After other motions had failed or been withdrawn, the membership voted unanimously to support the following resolution:
RESOLUTION: OAALJ supports impartial adjudication of contested case hearings in the public interest and believes the most appropriate structure to assure impartial adjudication is the establishment of a central office of administrative hearings as a separate agency in the Executive Branch, rather than any consolidation of hearings' functions in any existing agency.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
There was discussion about the activities OAALJ should engage in during 1999. Suggestions were:
- Save the treasury and only use the interest on the money for activities;
- Use the treasury to do money-making projects;
- Provide a grant to a person/organization for public education in the area of increased awareness and appreciation for administrative law;
- Expand the scholarships to NJC;
- Provide financial support for a member's attendance at NAALJ conference;
- Sponsor an annual educational conference for statewide ALJs, whether members or not, similar to the statewide judicial conference;
- Create a training program or educational library for new ALJs; establish a core curriculum; provide "certificates of competency;"
- Collect training materials from various agencies;
- Bring instructors from NJC to conduct a training for ALJs in the state;
- Establish mentor relationships with new ALJs;
- Work on relationship with Willamette U. and improving its state administrative law courses.
ELECTIONS OF OAALJ BOARD MEMBERS:
There are four vacant positions (those positions currently held by David Marcus, Mark Braverman, Doug McKean and Bill Young). Nominations of the following people were made by the Nominating Committee:
Bruce Black; Erika Hadlock; Abigail Herman; Alan Scott (who declined the nomination); Betty Smith (not present); Lynn Wherlie (not present).
The nominations were seconded and passed. There were no nominations from the floor. The nominees each made short statements of interest and experience. Speeches were made on behalf of Lynn and Betty, who were absent. There was a tie vote between Betty and Lynn. A run-off vote was held. The elected board members for 1999 are:
Bruce Black; Erika Hadlock; Abigail Herman; Lynn Wherlie
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlotte Rutherford