HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 11-10 HRRMMinutes of the Proceedings of
the Human Rights Commission of
the City of Brooklyn Center in
the County of Hennepin and State of
Minnesota
November 10, 1970
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The Human Rights Commission stet in regular session and was
--called to order by Chairman Leon Binger at.8a10 P.M,
Rrll Call: Chairman Leon Binger, Commissioners Arthur
Gustafson, James Monaghan, Marie Rasmussen, Mark Sazama and A.P.
Weyrauch. ethers presents Donn Escher. Staff members present:
'hem Loucks.
.Motion was made by Commissioner Weyrauch and seconded by
Commissioner Sazama to approve the minutes of the August 11, 1970,
---meeting as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Binger then announced that he had received a letter
-.from Senator Mondale in regard to legislation sponsored by him
and Senator Kennedy of Massachussetts as it related to the equal
opportunity to work and related problems in the area of
-,.discrimination.
Commissioner Weyrauch commented that the proposed legislation
is good, but felt that it is similar to the package of legisl-atinn
that has been brought forth at the Federal level in the past. He
further commented that perhaps there is a need for separate
.legislation with more effective control and standards.
The next item of business was a housing committee report given
by commissioner Gustafson. Chairman Binger noted that for the
.purposes of the housing study, that the Housing and Public Services
Committees had been merged into one and that Commissioner Winkelman_
-has been appointed general chairman of that committee. Mr.
Gustafson indicated that the Housing Committee obtained information
.in regard to homesoin the southO st neighborhood by utilizing the,. -
-CityAssessor's records and determined that there are approximately
32.homes that could be classified as poor tf~ marginal in the area
and that nf these 32 homes, 8 are rental units and 24 are owner
occupied. He indicated that at a previous meeting, the Committee
had discussed approaches that should be taken to contact the
dwellers of these poor or marginal htiames, and to further question
them in regard to any problems they may have. He indicated that
the Committee had discussed utilizing a questionnaire to be filled
"out by the-occupants of the homes and further that a fallow-up bq
by a member of the Commission in person had been suggested.
-Commissioner Sazama noted that a questionnaire of the type that
has been suggested would not be an effective means of determining
if there are problems incurred by occupants of these homes and
further stated that he felt an on-site meeting with the occupants
would be much more desirable. Mr. Gustafson stated that a question
naire should be prepared for those members of the Commission that
would be doing the personal interviews so that the interviews would
not be conducted in a haphazard fashion. Chairman Binger then
stated that the approach to a questionnaire should recognize. that
the commission is interested in people and not just the condition
of the homes, and that the condition of these properties affect
the people that live within them.
The next item of business was a report by Commissioner
Weyrauch in regard to the WESEP Program. Commissioner Weyrauch
indicated that his committee is working actively to initiate a
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WESEP Program, however, they are running into some difficulty be-
cause of the type of funding to?: the program. He further indicated
that the Committee has not pursued all aspects of such a program
and would be submitting a more complete report at a future date.
The next item of business was a report by commissioner Sazama
in regard to articles to be submitted to the local news media as
they related to Indian problems. Mr. Sazama reported that they
are-progressing with such articles and that Mr. Monaghan, a
member of the Publi:: information committee,, .is completing such in
article to be submitted to the local newspaper.
The meeting recessed at 9:15 and reconvened at 9:30. Mr..
Sazama left the table for"the evening at 900 P.M.
The next ire-in of business was a report by Commissioner
Weyrauch in regard to the State HiLman Rights Commission's plane.
to issue certificates of compliance for bidders on all state
contracts. To qualify for a certificate of compliance, a con-
tractor would be required to have in effect an affirmative action
minority 'zirinq program. commissioner Weyrauch commented that
at a recent hearing at the State Capitol, industry= objected to
this particular legislation because the State of Minnesota
plans to require different types of reporting from what is now
being required by the federal Soy*errrment. Ne indicated that one
of the problems is that the paper woek involved in compliance
action is rather lengthy as required by -the 2ederal level of
government. fe felt that if the State of Minnesota required a
ai ferent set of erorting procedures, the administrative costs
incurred by industry in the State could become prohibitive. He
did indicate that he felt than Minnesota industry is willing to go
along with compliance act as established by the State Human Rights
Commission and 1--he State r.,egislature, but felt that the major prob-
lem was the double reporting systems that were being proposed.
Motion was made by Commissioner V eyrauch and seconded by,
rortmzissioner Monaghan to adjourn. The notion carried unanimously.
The Human Rights Commission adjourned at 10:05 P.M.
Chairman
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