HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 03-08 HRC MinutesMarch 8, 2011
Human Rights Comm ission Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Council Chambers, Maplewood City Hall
1830 County Road B East
1. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order
at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Kringle.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners
Jon Brandt, Commissioner Present
William Joanis, Commissioner Absent
Jeffrey Kringle, Commissioner Present
Arianne Maxwell, Commissioner Present
Marie Ridgeway, Commissioner Present
Laurie Rose Simon, Commissioner Present
Charlotte Winnen, Commissioner Present
Staff
Chuck Bethel, Labor Relations Attorney
Alan Kantrud, City Attorney
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Maxwell requested tabling 5 d. Yellow Ribbon Committee until the meeting in April.
City Attorney Kantrud stated a visitor is present who was going to speak during Visitor
Presentations. City Attorney Kantrud recommended moving Visitor Presentations ahead on the
agenda so the visitor doesn’t have to wait through the remainder of the meeting. The commission
agreed to the amendment.
Commissioner Simon moved to approve the agenda as amended.
Seconded by Chairperson Kringle. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
Bob Zick, North St. Paul addressed the commission. Mr. Zick handed material out to the
commission regarding Visitor Presentations at City Council meetings. Mr. Zick gave his opinion
regarding freedom of speech and asked that the commission make a recommendation to the City
Council to request that Mayor Rossbach step down as Chair of the City Council meetings.
5. APP ROVAL OF MINUTES
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Human Rights Comm ission Meeting Minutes
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Approval of the February 8, 2011, Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes.
Commissioner Simon moved to approve the February 8, 2011, Human Rights Commission
Minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Ridgeway. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Presentation of the Commission Handbook
i. City Attorney, Alan Kantrud gave the report on the Commission Handbook and answered
questions of the commission.
ii. Labor Relations Attorney, Chuck Bethel addressed and answered questions of the
commission.
b. Presentation on Equal Rights Organizations in Local Schools
i. Commissioner Ridgeway gave a power point presentation on Equal Rights Organizations
in Local, Public, Private and Alternative High Schools in Maplewood, North St. Paul and
Oakdale. Commissioner Ridgeway recommended having an essay and art contest on
Human Rights for the schools in Maplewood, North St. Paul and Oakdale.
ii. Human Rights Attorney, Chuck Bethel addressed the commission on this subject matter.
c. Presentation on Getting to Know Your Neighbors
i. Commissioner Simon gave a brief presentation on Getting to Know Your Neighbors.
Chairperson Kringle moved to further explore getting to know your neighbors and offered to assist
Commissioner Simon with this project and bring it back to the commission.
Seconded by Commissioner Winnen. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
d. Presentation on the Yellow Ribbon Committee – (Tabled until April)
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
Commissioner Winnen shared her background and interests serving on the Human Rights
Commission.
Commissioner Brandt stated that the commission is open to hearing issues that the community
has and recommended that the public bring those issues forward during Visitor Presentations at a
Human Rights Commission meeting.
Commissioner Brandt stated he would like to bring some type of presentation forward at the April
Human Rights Commission meeting but wasn’t sure of the subject matter at this time.
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Commissioner Winnen offered to put together Human Rights topics and ideas for focus groups
and bring a proposal back to the commission.
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Labor Relations Attorney, Chuck Bethel said there are many areas that the commission could
have a focus group for therefore, he suggested narrowing the scope of ideas down for a focus
group such as People Getting Older in the Work Force or Discrimination in Housing and
Employment. Mr. Bethel stated that coming up with questions for a focus group will be a
process in itself.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Kringle adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.