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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969 09-16 HRRMMinutes of the Proceedings of the Human Rights Cammr+ission of the City of Brooklyn Center in the County of Hennepin and State of Minnesota September 16, 1969 The Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Leon Binger at 8:05 P.M. Roll Call: Vernon Backes, Mrs. Majel Berg, Leon Binger, Mrs. Jerry Niznik, Mrs. Leon (Bea) Rankin, Jesse Sandoval, Mark Sazama, Neil Smeaton, Marvin Stavig, Al Weyrauch, and John Winkelman. Non-Commissioners present were: Mrs. Marie Rasmussen, and Carl A. Sandstrom. Also present was: B. E. Peterson. Motion by Al Weyrauch and seconded by Neil Smeaton to approve the minutes of the August 12, 1969 meeting as amended. Chairman Binger announced that Commissioner Smeaton, Chairman of the Public Services and Accommodations committee,,-:has-asked 4o be relieved of his chairmanship. ChaL rman Binger announced that the new Chairman of the Public Services and Accommodations Committee will be Mrs. Majel Berg. At a subsequent meeting, Commissioner Berg will recommend to the Human Rights Commission one non-commissioner to fill a remaining vacancy on the Public Services and Accommodations Committee. For the first of the series of committee reports, Chairman Binger called on Vernon Backes, Chairman of the Education Committee to report to the Commission on the activities of that Committee. • Commissioner Backes announced that their study on the role of education in Human Rights in the Robbinsdale School District was almost complete and that the remainder of the Committee's reports will be ready by the end of October, in time for the November Human Rights Commission meeting. Chairman Binger next called on Marvin Stavig, Chairman of the Employment Committee to report to the Commission the activities of that committee. Commissioner Stavig stated that the Employment Committee was in the process of gathering information from Brooklyn Center Employers and also informing them that the Human Rights Commission through its Employment Committee was formulating a Human Rights Employment Program. Chairman Binger next called on Bea Rankin, Chairman of the Public Information Committee, to report to the commission on that Committee's activities. Commissioner Rankin stated that as a result of the last Human Rights Meeting of August 12, 1969, held with two consulting psychologists, Al Lipp and Sherod Miller, that the Public Information Committee proposes a series of human awareness and communication sessions under the supervision of these two consulting psychologists for the Human Rights Commission and Committee members. Commissioner Rankin further stated that the Committee recommends that future awareness sessions also include Council members and City staff. Relative to the above proposals submitted by the Public Information Committee, Commissioner Sazama reported that the Metropolitan Cultural Art Center will sponsor a play entitled "In White America" and that M.C.A.C. is in need of sponsorship of $200 or more. Commissioner Sazama further stated that he is not asking the Human Rights Commission to participate in this -1- sponsorship but that individual members of the Commission might want to personally contribute to the M.C.A.C. Sponsorship of the play entitled "In White America". After some discussion, Chair- man Binger recognized Commissioner Rankin and asked her to continue with the Public Information Committee's proposals reagarding the Awareness Programs. Commissioner Rankin made a motion which was seconded by Commissioner Sazama to request that the Human Rights Commission accept the Public Information Committees proposal regarding Awareness Programs for the Human Rights Commission and committee members. Chairman Binger then asked for a discussion of the motion. (At this time, Councilman Theodore Willard arrived at 8:35 P.M.) During the ~ ij:,.-assion, Chairman Binger recognized Councilman Wilard and asked him for his comments regarding the proposed motion. Councilman Willard commented that he was informed by the City Manager that money could possibly be made available in the present budget for financing the proposed Awareness Programs. He further stated that because of the forthcoming elections and in view of budget hearings it would be difficult for the Council members and City staff to participate in the Awareness Programs. He suggested that a later date be established. During review of the motion, Vice Chairman John Winkelman assumed the chair as Commissioner Singer asked questions of Commissioner Rankin. After further deliberation, a motion was made by Commissioner Binger and seconded by Commissioner Weyrauch to amend the main motion to allow the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Commission and the Chairman of the Public Information Committee to select additional people to fill out the group that would participate in the Awareness Programs as outlined by the Public information Committee's proposal. After further discussion, Vice Chairman Winkelman asked for a vote to amend the main motion. Voting in favor were: Vernon Backes, Mrs. Majel Berg, Leon Binger, Jerry Niznik, Mrs. Bea Rankin, Mark Sazama, Neil Smeaton, Marvin Stavig, Al Weyrauch, and John Winkelman. Voting against: Jesse Sandoval. The motion to amend the main motion carried. Vice Chairman Winkelman then asked for a vote on the main motion as amended. Voting for: Vernon Backes, Mrs. Majel Berg, Leon Binger, Jerry Niznik, Mrs. Bea Rankin, Mark Sazama, Neil Smeaton, Marvin Stavig, Al Weyrauch, and John Winkelman. Voting against: Jesse Sandoval. The main motion as amended carried. The Human Rights Commission recessed at 9:14 P.M. and resumed at 9:33 P.M. At this time Chairman Binger called upon Commissioner Smeaton present Chairman of the Public Services and Accommodations Committee, to present that committee's statement of purpose to the Commission. Commissioner Smeaton filed the Public Service and Accommodations Committee's statement of purpose with the Commission and stated that it intends to concentrate its primary effort in the transportation area with secondary considerations toward hotels, motels, restaurants and banks. The report also stated that the committee is concerned with the development of the Earle Brown Farm because iix the future it will provide an abundance of employment opportunity for minority groups. Following Commissioner's Smeaton Committee report, a brief discussion ensued. Under the item of new business, Chairman Binger announced to the Commission that he had been informed by the State Human Rights Department of a presentment they had received from a Northern States Power Company employee who filed a complaint because he had been refused apartment occupancy at 69th and Humboldt Avenue. The general nature of the complaint, as passed on by the State Human Rights Department to Chairman Binger, was that the male black complainant along with his male white friend were turned down for -2- + apartment occupancy at apartment complexes located at 69th and Humboldt Avenue due to insufficient monthly income and lack of transportation. Chairman Binger stated that the State Human Rights Department is investigating the complaint and that more information will be provided to this Commission at a later date. 9 0 • Chairman Binger reminded the Commission that the next regular Human Rights Commission meeting will be on Tuesday, October 14, 1969. Motion by Commissioner Sandoval and seconded by commissioner Berg to adjourn. The Human Rights Commission adjourned at 9:45 P.M. ecre .a y v Chairman