[lg policy] South Carolina: Lavonia leaders discussing language assistance policy

[Harold Schiffman]

Lavonia leaders discussing language assistance policy

    MJ Kneiser/WLHR FM-92.1/Special to Independent Mail
    Posted October 6, 2011 at 4:43 p.m.

LAVONIA — City leaders are working to put in writing a policy about
translation services for those with limited proficiency in English.
The city council met Monday and passed unanimously — on preliminary
reading — a new language assistance plan. The plan is being considered
after the city received a letter from the state’s Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council, which oversees grants to law enforcement
agencies. One of the recommendations in the letter related to
translation services for people who speak languages other than
English.

“A lot of folks are moving into the area who do not speak English or
have a hard time communicating,” city manager Gary Fesperman told the
city council. “We do not have a language policy in place, but the city
of Gainesville did, so we took a look at Gainesville’s policy. This
gives us the skills that we need to communicate effectively with all
persons seeking services within the city of Lavonia.”

While the city and the Lavonia Police Department have always had a
policy regarding translation services, it was not in writing,
Fesperman said. The policy discussed this week puts that program in
writing to satisfy a federal requirement for potential future police
grants.

Officers in the city already carry cards listing local translators to
contact when needed. If a resident speaks a language not on the list,
then the officer can call a 1-800 number and go online to find a
translation service. The same is true for employees in other city
departments who find translation services are needed to serve a
resident. Fesperman did not say how much either service costs the
city. Residents who make use of the translation services are not
charged for them.

No new full-time employee will be hired under the new policy, Fesperman said.

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/oct/06/lavonia-leaders-discussing-language-assistance-pol/

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