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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/1983 Maplewood Human Relations Commission Business Meeting February 1, 1983 The Priory - Maplewood Absent: Haynes, Rostron, Bryant Minutes of January 11: Approvalcarried forward to March business meeting. Many thanks to Sister Claire for hosting us to a fine dinner before the meeting. Sister informs us that the Priory can be made available for our meetings and/or workshops, given sufficient alert. Membership 1. Discussed and amended item that will be offered for print in the next issue of the MAPLEWOOD IN MOTION. 2. Ideally, the Commission should be composed of representatives from all precincts of the City. Next call for members will be worded accordingly. No Fault Grievance . With the attendance of Rostron and Haynes at a January workshop, all commissioners are now trained in the No Fault Grievance Process. . All printed materials on completed cases should be brought to the March meeting and turned over to the secretary. Larsen will catalog. As cases are completed they will be added to the special file. NFG Officers should remain sensitive to the confidential nature of these files and records. Material on cases still pending may be retained by case worker(s). . Of the eight cases handled since April 1982, five have been resolved. . Respondent follow up on two cases will be made mid February. League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions . Larsen and Fischer attended an Assessment Skills Workshop in January. Seven hours of concentrated training. Films on sexual harrassment, Bill Cosby on Discrimination, Scapegoating, others,plus specially planned exercises. . Larsen and Fischer plan to attend the League Board meeting last Saturday in February. General . Familial Housing Legislative Alert. Haynes submitted final draft of letter which will be sent to all apartment complex managers, trailer park manager/owners, realtors etc. The familial housing legislation is the newest amendment to the Human Rights Act and protects the rights of families with children. The letter is intended to educate on the intent of the law. Chair will take to City Clerk for typing and run-off on official letterhead. Out over Chair's signature. Suggestion that we send our minutes to our State representatives. Also, Annual Report. Page2 MHRC Business Meeting 2/1/83 Sister Claire has asked us to bring her news clippings and other historical materials for compilation. Council will be invited to April 5 meeting; roundtable orientation. At o::e time Council members were personally familiar and involved with the work of the Commission. Although we welcome the support they continue to give us, we do not feel that the Commissions goals and reasons for existence are clearly understood. Pat will add the goals notated in this report, to the mailing of the second to last draft of the Annual Report 1982. Goal is to have it almost finished by March meeting with final discussion that night and final typing one week later. Would like to have it available for Council hand-out in April. Williamson will mail out before March meeting. Secretary mandated to write letter to Manager and Council; 1. Invitation to April meeting 2. New officers 3. Notification of certification Goals - Brainstorming - Not in priority Order 1. Increasing Commission Visibility a. Press releases. Examples -- special presentations and awards, new officers, membership call, League involvement. b. Public Service announcements on radio/tv. Could be in conjuction with the Department of HR and/or League of MER Commissions. c. Design an informational brochure for public handout. Something that would explain the functions of the Commission to both a grievant and a respondent in the NFGP as an example. d. March of each year, updated insert in the MAPLEWOOD IN MOTION 2. High School Education Packet a. Expand use of special educational presentation to groups outside the school system. b. Presentation, quarterly, to Hill/Murray High School American Problems Course students. c. Expand presentation to other educational facilities e.g. Lakewood, North. d. At present Fischer is the only one putting on these presentations. Train other Commissioners for these presentations. 3. Council/Staff interaction a. Orientation meeting - once a year b. Copy them into monthly minutes c. Appointment of a staff liaison Page 3 MHRC Business Meeting 2/1/83 4. Workshops a. Human rights/relations concern workshop. In conjunction with(?) . a community organization such as the Chamber of Commerce. . League of MN HR Commissions . North Suburban Ramsey County HR commissions b. Can plug into prepared material or presentations from protected class or other HR agencies and civic groups. Example PACER (puppetry on the plight of handicapped children) . 5. League of Human Rights Commissions a. Maintain active membership b. A Maplewood Commissioner on League Board in June c. Promote the further amendments to the Minnesota Human Rights Act e.g. Handicapped amendment revision. d. Avail ourselves of the educational workshops e. Invite District 7 representative to business meeting. Ideally, within a month or two of appointment at Annual Meeting. f. Fischer and Williamson will continue role as active participants in Legislative "Watch". g. One Commissioner attending all board meetings until a regular takes an appointment on Board. h. Promote the establishment of local human rights/relations commissions thru the special task force. 6. No Fault Grievance Procedure a. All Commissioners certified in process b. Maintain strict confidentiality c. Active involvement in any program that will strengthen this process. d. Publicize the service. 7. Accessibility Study. Develop an alternative to the full study until funding becomes available. (Senator Hughes may be able to supply information on funding sources) 8. Continue self education by availing ourselves of the special workshops and seminars sponsored by other HR bodies/agencies. 9. Maintain liaison with Maplewood Housing & Redevelopment Authority. 10. Exchange Annual Reports with North Suburban Ramsey County Commissions and the League of MN HR Commissions. 11. Familiarize ourselves with North Suburban Ramsey County Commissions. Invite officers to a business meeting or combine a meeting with one of theirs. Individual commissions. Page 4 MHRC Business Meeting - 2/1/83 12. A full complement of nine commissioners this year X13. Reviewal of goals quarterly Next meeting March 1, 1983. Maria Larsen, Secretary