Clark County NAC forms ad hoc conflict-resolution committee after formal complaints

Neighborhood Association Council of Clark County members voted to form an ad hoc conflict-resolution committee to review two formal complaints filed against NAC leadership.

Marilee (county staff) told the council that two of the most recent complaints were written formal complaints forwarded to county management and then to human resources and legal for review. She said the county determined it does not have jurisdiction because NAC is “not an agency of Clark County government.” Marilee said the NAC complaint-resolution procedure adopted in 02/2009 requires election of up to three volunteers to serve on a conflict-resolution committee, which then presents recommendations to the full NAC membership.

At the meeting, a motion to form a single conflict-resolution committee to address the outstanding complaints was moved and seconded and carried. Three volunteers—Debbie Throop, Bridal Franklin and Eve Raine—offered to serve on the committee. The committee was instructed to schedule a meeting before the June NAC meeting, review the written complaints, and present recommendations at the June meeting; Marilee said county staff will provide the committee with the complaint documents.

Marilee summarized the process from the 2009 NAC policy: volunteers are elected by the membership, complaints may remain anonymous if complainants choose, the conflict-resolution committee hears complaints and proposes resolutions, and a recommendation is then put to a membership vote. She noted the policy language states: “there will be times when a resolution is not to everyone's satisfaction, but complainants and offending parties are to accept the will of NAC's majority vote as a democratic volunteer organization.”

Members who discussed the committee emphasized selecting volunteers who are as neutral as possible and excluding the complainant from serving on the committee. Several members noted constraints: the policy does not specify what happens if a membership vote on the committee recommendation fails, and that the committee is ad hoc—formed to address current complaints and dissolved afterward.

The committee volunteers were directed to contact Marilee to receive the complaint materials and to schedule their first meeting. NAC members agreed the committee would report back to the full council at the next meeting.

Ending

The committee formation was recorded as approved at the meeting; members asked that the committee follow the 2009 NAC complaint-resolution policy and present its recommendation to the membership at the June meeting.