HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/04/1990MINUTES
MAPLEW0OD HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Monday, June 4, 1990
7: 15 P.M.
Maplewood City Hall
Present Absent
Karla Sand Carol Engel
Sister Claire Lynch Scott Rostron
Dawn Vassar Pat Williamson
Paul Sand
Gretchen Maglich
Mike McGuire
1. MINUTES
Motion was made and seconded, and members voted to approve the May 1, 1990,
minutes as presented.
2. OLD BUSINESS
A. Maplewood Human Rights Day - Whether to develop a separate Human Rights
Day for Maplewood or to do more to focus local attention on Internation-
al Human Rights Day was discussed. In either case, the support of the
city council in recognizing Human Rights Day and participation of the
schools in conjunction with the Mayor will be discussed in September.
B. Response to City Council - We reviewed Karla's updated memo regarding
the John Glenn incident. Mike suggested that the report be presented
at the June 25 meeting of city council. Karla and perhaps others will
attend.
C. Response to Acts of Bias and Prejudice - The League of Human Rights
Commissions will be asking each local commission to compile a list of
community groups which might aid victims of harassment or discrimina-
tion, to appoint a liaison, and to compile data for the League to use
for proposing legislation, presenting information to the media, and
preparing its annual report.
D. Review of 1989 Activities - Sr. Claire questioned the rationale and
efficacy of the Human Rights Essay Contest and expressed concern about
the amount of participation in the Human Rights Award Contest. Dawn
would like these activities to continue, with refinement to better ap-
peal .to the interests of individuals in school and community. Karla
recalled previous mention of a Human Rights Award for youth possibil-
ity and expressed concern that Black History Month was not visibly
focused upon last year by the schools.
E. Citizen Advisory Committees - Karla called Dr. Kathleen Huyen who en-
courages our involvement as community members or parents to participate
on school-sponsored citizens' advisory committees. Scott is already a
member of P.E.R. (planning, evaluating, and reporting) , which is re-
viewing the school district's proposed multicultural and gender-fair/
disability awareness policy. Pat is also on a committee.
p.2
MHRC, June 4, 1990
3. NEW BUSINESS - None.
4. REPORTS
A. City of Maplewood - Gretchen showed a brochure received from the Minnesota
State Council on Disabilities.
B. League of Human Rights Commissions - Karla announced that Dr. A. Harkins
will speak at the Oct. 13 League meeting. He will discuss human rights/
relations from a futuristic point of view.
The state has legislated that individuals filing worker's compensation
claims cannot also be filing human rights grievances for the same issue.
Minnesota was mentioned in the New York Times as not requiring a grievant
to bear the burden of proving that s/he was wronged (contrary to Supreme
Court decision) .
Karla also showed flyers for a course approved by some state agency to
license realtors, sales people, landlords, and managers, which accuses
the Minnesota Department of Human Rights of using secret agents and
being biased against these groups.
5. ADJOURN
Next meeting: Tuesday, September 4, 1990
Agenda items:
Planning for Fssay Contest (topic selection, contest rules, targeted population,
promotional strategies)
Involvement of city council, Mayor, and schools in a local and/or international
Human Rights Day
Report on Seniors and Others with Special Living Needs
Report on P.E.R. and school district's MCGFDA policy