Dorothy Boberg Report of 9-6-01 DONE meeting

As acting President of the Northridge Community Council, I was asked by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) to attend a meeting at Van Nuys City Hall. I meet with Megan Jones and David Larkin of DONE, Harry Coleman and Bobbie Fiedler of Sherwood Forest Homeowners and Don Larson of Old Northridge to resolve differences among the three groups. Present also were Jamiko Bell-Potts, Senior Project Coordinator of DONE.

The aim of the meeting was "to come out with some resolution to move forward with organizing neighborhood council(s) in Northridge." Each group was asked to "envision the ideal for the organizing effort and isolate significant points of contention with current council organizing efforts."

I stated that (after 10 months of considering bylaws) I believe agreement with Harry Coleman now seems so remote that perhaps we should just proceed under our interim bylaws and start considering neighborhood issues at our next meetings.

Don Larson said he is joining with Harry Coleman in a new neighborhood organization because he sees too much conflict and poor leadership in the present organization and he has different goals. I said I had hoped that he would organize other precincts to increase membership.

Harry Coleman said he and Bobbie have organized a new Northridge Community Council made up of leaders with many years of experience who have elected officers and a board and adopted bylaws. Their actions seem to be counter to their public position as his group attempted to get this motion passed at our 8-15-01 meeting.

"Motion to table any action on bylaws, boundaries or elections until such time that all stakeholders are contacted directly and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) resolves their own leadership, commission appointments and new modifications or restructuring of the DONE plan."

This motion was an attempt to stop us from proceeding in public while Harry Coleman ; went forward in secret notifying only his supporters.

I asked for a copy of his new bylaws and names of his officers. Harry refused; with the suggestion that I would be told in due time. I asked if I had been invited to participate in this organization and he said "no". (I asked this not to elicit a personal invitation but to test the openness of their group, which appears to be a secret society).

After questioning from Megan as to whether or not the new organization would file for certification, Harry said it would be up to the new board to decide. However, Harry had a stream of negative comments about DONE. He also said DONE is to communicate only with him and not with the new (unnamed President).

When asked, I said it was the intention of the Northridge Community Council to request certification. (Harry said his new organization is also called the Northridge Community Council and is to be incorporated under that name.)

Jamiko Bell-Potts said our organization would not be certified as long as a dispute is occurring among the groups represented here. (I assume then that no group will be certified but all may request certification).

I asked whether all the members of our organization would be welcome to attend the meetings of the other organization and Harry Coleman named certain persons as exceptions who could not attend which was not agreeable to the DONE who explained the need for all-inclusiveness. They said it is necessary that all stakeholders be welcome to participate in open meetings and board elections.

I was asked by the DONE representatives to communicate to our organization how we wish to proceed: How can the 2 (or 3) organizations come together? Do we wish to join Harry's group? Or how can we facilitate working together in Northridge?

I agreed to present this information to our members. I must express surprise, however, at the attempted usurpation of our name and the new group's secret and separate organizing efforts, as Harry Coleman's 's group has objected so strenuously to our organization's efforts to be up and running with adoption of bylaws at the last several meetings.

The agenda for our open September 19 meeting will have on the agenda an item to join Harry’ Coleman's secret version of a Northridge Council or continue on our public version.

We will also vote on adopting of new bylaws. If no new bylaws are adopted, we will continue under the interim bylaws. See website: www.northridgecouncil.org for information or call me at 818-363-6502.

Dorothy Boberg

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