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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 08-15 HRRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA • • REGULAR SESSION AUGUST 15, 1979 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Weyrauch at 7:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Weyrauch, Commissioners Miller, Kuhar and Reichgott. Also present was Administrative Assistant Mary Harty and Councilmember Gene Lhotka. Chairman Weyrauch noted Commissioners Campion, Tolve and Lemke were not present and had been excused. DISCUSSION OF NO FAULT GRIEVANCE PROCESS Administrative Assistant Mary Harty explained she had spoken with Linda Gilbertson of the State Human Rights Department. Linda Gilbertson stated she had referred the questions raised by the Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission to the State Department of Human Rights Legal Counsel. She did not have the information but would relay the information to the Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission as it became available. Regarding the question of liability of the individual Commissioners and/or the City for actions taken or not taken as part of the No Fault Grievance Process, she stated it would be best to refer that question to the Brooklyn Center City Attorney. In response to questions from Commissioners, Administrative Assistant Mary Harty noted Linda Gilbertson did not yet have the information as to the number of complaints received from Brooklyn Center citizens to the Human Rights Department at the State. Commissioner Kuhar questioned when the informational seminars for the No Fault Grievance Process were to be held. Administrative Assistant Mary Harty noted there had been some seminars held already and other seminars would be held in the future. She noted the City of Brooklyn Center will receive notification of those. Chairman Weyruach questioned the Commission as to whether they wished to discuss the No Fault Grievance Process or wait for further discussion until information had been received from the State Human Rights Department. Commissioner Reichgott stated her decision would be dependent on information received from the State. Other Commissioners concurred. Commissioner Kuhar asked whether the question of liability could be referred to the Brooklyn Center City Attorney prior to the September meeting. Chairman Weyrauch stated that could be taken care of. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 7-18-79 There was a motion by Commissioner Reichgott and seconded by Commissioner Miller to approve the minutes of the July 18, 1979 Human Rights Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. 8-15-79 -1- DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF LETTERS SENT TO THE CHAMBER AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS Commissioners Kuhar and Miller had prepared a draft of a letter to be sent to the school districts. Commissioner Kuhar briefly reviewed the letter with the entire Commission. It was decided the letter should be sent to the Superinten- dent of Schools within the four school districts which serve the City of Brooklyn Center. Chairman Weyrauch noted he had spoken with two of the school districts concerning the program already. Administrative Assistant Mary Harty suggested the Commission might wish to include an additional paragraph explaining how the suggested program relates to the human rights area. A discussion ensued as to how this could be accomplished and minor changes were made in the letter. The Commission discussed how programs such as the ones they were suggesting for the school districts could be organized and what sort of legwork could be done. prior to receiving responses from the school districts. Commissioner Reichgott stated the Commission had discussed earlier programs geared to children recog- nizing certain problems in parents and learning how to cope with that and had also discussed workshops for parents and teachers. It was noted that the schools responding to the letter may have specific requests which would help the Commission tailor-make a program for them. Commissioner Reichgott suggested after responses are received from the letters, it would be helpful to sit down with the principals or superintendents on a one-to-one basis to attempt to devise a program which would be best suited for them. Commissioner Miller stated it might be wise to emphasize programs for elementary schools. He stated it appeared more of these programs are available in the junior and senior high and also there are more counselors available in the junior and senior high. The elementary schools may be the place where such programs are most needed. Chairman.Weyrauch suggested the Brooklyn Center Commission might wish to investi- gate working jointly with the Brooklyn Park Human Rights Commission. Council- member Lhotka stated he would like to see the Brooklyn Center Human Rights . Commission put the program together initially and at a later time if other cities expressed an interest in working jointly it could be arranged. OTHER BUSINESS Chairman Weyrauch noted Administrative Assistant Mary Harty was changing positions and would no longer be the staff liaison for the Human Rights Commission. The. Commission expressed thanks to Administrative Assistant Mary Harty for her work with the Human Rights Commission. In discussion of other business, Commissioner Reichgott noted she had spoken with the Commission at an earlier meeting concerning the Battered Women's Shelter Project. She questioned the Commission if they would be interested in hearing a speaker concerning the Battered Women's Shelter Project and how the Commission might be supportive of that project. She suggested if the Commission was interested, she would be willing to invite the Administrator from the Pioneer House to the September meeting. The Commission indicated an interest in hearing a presentation on the project. Chairman Weyrauch asked Commissioner Reichgott to invite the speaker and to make the arrangements for the September meeting. Chairman Weyrauch asked Commissioner Reichgott to contact him so that this item could be placed on the September agenda. 8-15-79 -2- ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Reichgott and seconded by Commissioner Miller to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Chairman • • 8-15-79 -3-