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61 <br /> <br /> Mr.~ Toscano questioned whether ~ was advisable for <br />Advisory Board members to go out into the streets where drug <br />activity is prevalent and Mr. Henderson replied that he felt <br />it was important for members to have street sense. <br /> <br /> ImProving communitly education regarding drugs through <br />the following means was.discussed: PTO meetings, business <br />groups, neighborhood associations, churches and improved <br />media coverage. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters recommended that addi~ional~' members for the <br />Advisory Board be recruited to represent the University of <br />Virginia. <br /> <br /> Mr. Peterson raised the issue of whether alcohol should <br />be included in ~the charge of the ~dvisory BOard, adding that <br />alcohol is considered the number one gateway drug. <br /> <br /> Mr. ~Ron~.Hutchinson, representing Dr. Joseph McGeehan, <br />Superintendent of Schools and a Drug Advisory Board member <br />who could not be present, agreed that alcohol is the number <br />one problem of school aged children. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that the Advisory Board would discuss <br />whether alcohol should be included in their charge an~ make a <br />recommendation to Council', <br /> <br /> The appropriate size of the membership of the Advisory <br />Board was discussed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Whiting stated that she felt there were benefits <br />to having a larger Board which would allow for tasks to be <br />divided among subgroups. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that he was leaning towards favoring <br />a smaller Board which might better look-at the effectiveness <br />of the initiativ.es which are already in place,~ identify gaps <br />in services,~ and determine the cost of future initiatives. <br /> <br /> Mr. David Sheffield, temporary Advisory Board Co-Chair, <br />raised the possibility of the Advisory Board having a small <br />executive committee, with subcommittees which wOuld~be divided <br />into the areas of prevention, treatment, education, and <br />enforcement which had previously been identified by the Drug <br />Task Force~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Earl Pullen, Advisory Board member, recommended that <br />the goals of the Board and Coordinator be realistic. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever recommended that the Drug Coordinator have <br />the abilitY to reach across departmental lines and that the <br />Advisory Board report to Council, with the Coordinator acting <br />as staff to the Board. Mr. Vandever noted concern that the <br />proposed mission statement was not realistic. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she felt the mission statement <br />could be broad, with more specific Yearly objectives set. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that the mission statement for the Drug <br />Advisory Board would be drafted by the Mayor and considered <br />by Council at the next regular meeting. <br /> <br />Role of Drug Coordinator <br /> <br /> Ms. Page stated that She felt the eduCation and health <br />background of the Drug Coordinator was valuable. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she felt the Drug Coordinator <br />should identify gaps and overlaps in dr'Ug treatment and <br />shoUld spearhead the evalUation proceSs. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sheffield stated that he felt it was critical for <br /> <br /> <br />