Syracuse Citizen Review Board Meeting - September 4, 2025
Syracuse Citizen Review Board Meeting - September 4, 2025
On September 4, 2025, the Syracuse Citizen Review Board (CRB) held its regular monthly meeting. The board approved August minutes, received reports from the chair and director, voted to purchase an evidence management subscription, established an external advisory committee, and adopted a media policy. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session to review pending cases.
Consent Calendar
- August Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously without discussion.
Discussion Items
- Chairman’s Report: Chair Don reported meeting with Councilman Marty regarding a new board member, and a letter was sent to a prior member being removed for absenteeism. Councilman Joel Majoke also has a new member pending council vote. Chair expects a full operating board by end of September.
- Director’s Report: Director Nalita detailed extensive community outreach during August, including Jazz in the City, Hanover Thursday, Comptroller’s Breakfast, and the Pan African Village at the State Fair (13 days). Ten new cases came in: eight specifically for Syracuse PD, one turned over to the county human rights specialist (Anthony Hurd), and one joint case with the Sheriff’s Department. 57 letters were sent to close out 2023 cases past the 18-month deadline; 15 were returned, 4 had no address. Six individuals met in-person for case updates. Intern David completed his On Point for College internship and will continue as a volunteer. New hires: Julie Boniface (legal secretary, started August 13) and Adonia Wade (community engagement specialist, starting September 10). Two vacancies remain (investigator and data analytics).
- Evidence.com Subscription: Nalita presented a quote: $978.96 per year for 60 months (total $4,894.80), allowing real-time access to SPD evidence, file creation, and unlimited storage. After discussion, the board voted to purchase an annual subscription (moving existing budget funds) rather than a five-year upfront payment. Motion carried unanimously.
- External Advisory Board: The board revisited the proposed external advisory committee to review and recommend bylaw changes. After discussion, a motion was made to establish a seven-person committee comprising three CRB board members, one common council member, two city residents, and the administrator. The motion passed. Members were asked to submit candidate names within one month, with a preference for non-relatives. A council member will be invited to participate.
- Media Policy: Chair Don proposed a policy that CRB members do not speak to the media about CRB matters; all inquiries should be referred to Director Nalita, or the chair if unavailable. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Key Outcomes
- Evidence.com Approved: Board voted to purchase the subscription annually at $978.96, funded from existing budget, to improve case review efficiency.
- External Advisory Committee Established: Committee of seven (3 board members, 1 council member, 2 citizens, 1 administrator) to review and recommend bylaw changes. Names due within one month.
- Media Policy Adopted: Members must refer media inquiries to the director or chair; no members speak for the CRB.
- Board Member Updates: New members from council appointments expected soon; chair will meet with them to onboard.
- Next Steps: Administrator to draft documentation for advisory committee candidates. Upcoming event: tabling at Westcott Fair (last Sunday of September). Board member announced a 3K walk fundraiser for October 18 at Onondaga Lake Park.
Meeting Transcript
Um, the Thursday, September fourth of the citizen review board is now in session. Um, so um we're gonna do the attendance, Alice. Uh, Linda present. Uh Ada? Here. Mike? Here. Harry? Here. Peggy? Here. And Samy has been excused absence. The first thing on the agenda is has everyone had an opportunity to review the um August minute. Oh my gosh. You can tell I don't sleep deprivation. Um, has everyone had an opportunity to review the um August meeting minutes? So I need to get a motion on the floor to adopt those minutes. Unless we have some discussion or someone uh disagree with the minute. No, I love the way they're set up. Okay, thank you. Very nice. Um I'll move it. Okay, we have a motion on the floor to accept the um August main uh minutes. Um can we get a second? Second. That's been moved and second uh in the discussion. All in favor? I have it. Motion uh to accept the uh August meeting is passed. We'll get those posted on the web uh tomorrow. Um so um next thing on the agenda is the chairman report. Um last week I met with um uh councilman Marty um who has suggested a new board member. Um we are now and then I also sent out a letter to um uh a prior board member advising them that um he was being removed off of the uh board because of absenteeism. Um and so we'll be having the new member. Um uh councilman Joel Majoke has also um has a uh new member that will be coming to the board. So we'll be one shy of having back a full board. So once those um the council has voted on on Cho Majoke's uh pick, so um I'll be meeting with that individual sometime next week. They'll bring them up to the par on the requirements for the board. Um, and then once the uh we get the letter back from um Olivia, we will then be moving forth with uh bringing the second board members on, and then um we'll get the third board member hopefully before the end of September, and we'll be at a full operating board by then. So um other than that, that's about all I have to report. Uh just been a busy uh month in the office, and I'm gonna turn that over to um oh um I'll turn that over to Nalita and she can um give you the background of what has taken place at the uh CIB office. Good afternoon, everyone. Um as Don said, we've been extremely busy throughout the month of August. Um, but we have definitely been out in the community. Don Johnson has gone um to the jazz and the city, which was held at various places, so he wasn't just at the the one place, but he uh went to a few. I've accompanied to uh one at least one of them. He was also present at Hanover Thursday that was hosted by Pamela Hunter. He also attended the Comptroller's Breakfast at the Marriott, and he has been at the Pan African village at the state fair. He was there for all 13 days. So we got a chance to um hand out brochures and things like that to let the community know that we are here and we're up and running again.
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