Human Relations

Human Relations Commission September 17, 2009 Minutes (Final) CITY OF NORWALK HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 ATTENDANCE: Carol Frank, Chairperson; Daisy Franklin; Rev. Julius Gamble; Rahoul Dupervil; Elizabeth Merced-Surapine; Vicky Su. STAFF: Adam Bovilsky, Director, Human Relations and Fair Rent CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by Ms. Frank APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MAY 12, 2009 REGULAR MEETING Mr. Bovilsky provided copies of the minutes, edited electronically, reflecting the following changes: Page 1: Under Call to Order: replace Director Mr. Bovilsky with Andrew Mattiello in both sentences. In the footer, change Committee to Commission. Page 2: Under Budget, second sentence: add “In addition to the major personnel cuts,” before “Most”. In the third sentence replace “All of these items” with “Seminars and Conferences” and change the next sentence, to read “If staff wishes to attend conferences, we should request funding from the Mayor. In the last sentence in that paragraph add “critical items such as” after “pay for”. Under Priorities/Goals: In Item 1: Replace “massive” with substantial, delete “for” and add “on a case involving” before a Mother. Under Item 3. add “the new” before Affirmative, replace Plan with “Program.” Replace “all energies” with “more energy” and add “Transition Plan” after “Disabilities Act.” Page 3: Under Executive Session, replace Mr. Bovilsky with Rev. Gamble. ** MS. FRANKLIN MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MAY 21. 2009 MINUTES WITH CHANGES AS NOTED. ** REV. GAMBLE SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED WITH THREE VOTES IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED, AND THREE ABSTENTIONS (MS. SU, MS. FRANK, MR. DUPERVIL) Human Relations Commission Minutes – September 17, 2009 Page 1 of 5  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: AUGUST 11, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING Mr. Bovilsky submitted edited version of the minutes with several changes made electronically. Ms. Frank asked why so many changes were required, and Mr. Bovilsky stated that the minutes reflected the telephone conference which was difficult to capture with the legal wording required, and the detailed changes were required to represent more accurate usage of legal terminology, as follows: Throughout: Correct the spelling of “Tomica” to “Tamica” and “Cheney” to “Channie” Page 2: Paragraph 1: replace “Centatour” with “Senatore”. Replace “THE COURT ORDERS AND DECREEES THE FOLLOWING” with “AND IT IS ORDERED AND DECREED THAT” Paragraph 2: Replace “particularly as if the name of the plaintiff was given error.” After cases in the next sentence add “in which a substitution of Plaintiff was allowed during the pendency of a Motion to Dismiss. The next sentence should read “One involved a substitution of a corporation for the names of the owners of the corporation. Add the following sentence after “motion to dismiss was filed”: “The key issue in those cases was that the Plaintiff was identified sufficiently for the Defendant to be able to prepare a defense and that the matter required the change of a Plaintiff to proceed. Page 3: Paragraph 1: The last part of the last sentence should read “bring the case to the Commission, but that this error had been remedied.” ** MS. FRANKLIN MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 11, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES WITH CHANGES AS NOTED. ** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT Ms. Frank reported that she had attended a meeting with Congressman Jim Hines who spoke about two bills that are being proposed: HR4297 and HR 3126. She stated that Congressman Hines serves on the House Financial Services Committee and is pushing for the passage of the Consumer Investment Protection Act which is designed to address non-banking entities and procedures to prevent a further crisis with defaulting bank loans. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Director Bovilsky provided his written report on statistics and highlighted that intakes are up compared to previous years, and noted that there was a significant increase in the routine work of the office intakes and follow-up contacts. He acknowledged Nilsa Martinez and her new position and stated that the Department is thrilled to see her move into this more senior position. Human Relations Commission Minutes – September 17, 2009 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Bovilsky added that they were able to keep the Field Representative’s position as full time for 2009-10 and noted that press clippings related to the negotiations between the City and NMEA were enclosed. Mr. Bovilsky summarized that he was focusing his efforts on investigation phase of case 231-09N, preparing statistical analysis required to set goals under the new Affirmative Action Program, and planning completion of the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. He stated that he would answer any questions from the Commission regarding the report on the budget, priorities and goals, and there were no questions about the Director’s Report. EXECUTIVE SESSION ** REV. GAMBLE MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE TO DISCUSS APPEAL OF CASE #228-08E AND CASE #231-09N. ** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The Committee went into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. and reconvened into Public Session at 8:00 p.m., and Ms. Franklin stated that no actions were taken. MOTIONS ON CASES There were no motions on cases. BILLS AND COMMUNICATION Mr. Bovilsky presented a draft of a letter of appreciation to Janice Joyner thanking her for her work on the Neon Celebration of International Human Rights Day at Ben Franklin Site. Ms. Frankin thanked Ms. Franklin and stated that she had worked closely on the project with Ms. Joyner. Mr. Bovilsky asked for Ms. Frank’s middle initial and asked if he should sign her name, and Ms. Frank responded that her middle initial was “L” and that she did want to sign the letter herself. Mr. Franklin requested her name to be included on the letter to Ms. Joyner, and the Commissioners agreed. ** REV. GAMBLE MOVED TO GO ACCEPT THE LETTER AS CORRECTED WITH THE ADDITION OF MS. FRANKLIN’S NAME. ** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Bovilsky distributed what he referred to as copies of four months press articles featured in The Hour newspaper. Human Relations Commission Minutes – September 17, 2009 Page 3 of 5  UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. IHR Day Committee 1. NEON Child Development Program, June 9 Ms. Frank thanked Ms. Franklin and stated she had done a great job and had given a beautiful speech at the Neon program. Ms. Frank added that it was a wonderful ceremony with the children and the flower garden, and Mr. Bovilsky distributed photos of the program. Ms. Franklin added that the flowers represented the nurturing concept of children that need to be “fed” as do flowers with love and attention, and agreed with Ms. Frank that the program was very well done. 2. Program on Rwanda and Darfur Ms. Franklin stated that she had requested this to be put onto the agenda because she had recently attended a presentation from a woman who had returned from Africa, and she was very moved by the issue of genocide and the Commission should do something. She added that there was a CD she could share with Mr. Bovilsky and stated that she felt it was too important of a world crisis not to be incorporated as part of a Human Relations Commission program. Ms. Frank suggested to Ms. Franklin that she put together a recommendation on how and when to do a program for the community on this issue, and Ms. Franklin agreed. Mr. Bovilsky mentioned that with staffing issues, it would be difficult for the department to add another program, but that a sub-committee could be formed to perhaps incorporate a Rwanda and Darfur presentation in with the next International Human Relations Day program. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and Vote on Proposed By-Law Amendments Mr. Bovilsky distributed copies of the proposed amendments to the Commission By- Laws, and the first item reflected adding powers to the Secretary position. Ms. Frank stated that it adds an extension to the Executive Board and she was very much in favor of the change. Ms. Franklin stated that she also supports the position, and Ms. Su questioned the need of a Secretary position since those duties are covered with the minute services. Mr. Bovilsky added that the first amendment revision helps cover the absence of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, and the second revision aligns the Commission with City practices. ** REV. GAMBLE MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE REVISED ARTICLE IV OF THE BY-LAWS ADDING POWERS TO THE EXISTING SECRETARY POSITION. ** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED WITH FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED AND ONE ABSTENTION (MS. SU). Human Relations Commission Minutes – September 17, 2009 Page 4 of 5 ** MR. DUPERVIL MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE REVISED WORDING FOR ARTICLE III OF THE BY-LAWS CHANGING EXISTING QUORUM RQUIREMENTS TO MIRROR THOSE IN THE CITY CODE §60-4(B). ** REV. GAMBLE SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. b. Election of Officers Rev. Gamble presented the Nominating Committee Report dated August 27, 2009 listing the following nominations for the slate of Executive Board: Ms. Carol Frank, Chairperson; Mr. Raul Dupervil, Vice-Chairperson Andrew Mattiello, Secretary Ms. Frank called for nominations from the floor and by ballot, and there were none. ** REV. GAMBLE MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE SLATE OF NOMINATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. ** MS. SU SECONDED. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The vote to accept the slate of nominations was unanimous. Ms. Frank thanked the Commissioners for their continued faith and support, and Mr. Dupervil apologized for not attending a few meetings, and stated that it was due to his health issue. c. Appointment of IHR Day Subcommittee Chair. Ms. Frank appointed Ms. Franklin as Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Relations Day, the Commissioners were in agreement, and Ms. Franklin accepted the appointment. ADJOURNMENT ** MS. SU MOTIONED TO ADJOURN. ** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED. ** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Knox Telesco Secretarial Services Human Relations Commission Minutes – September 17, 2009 Page 5 of 5