Commission on Human Rights

CITY OF ALBANY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CITY HALL 24 EAGLE STREET, ALBANY, NY KATHY M. SHEEHAN MAYOR MEETING MINUTES Meeting Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 Meeting Time: 6:00pm Location: Mayor’s Conference Room & YouTube Meeting Facilitator: Aaron Moore, Chair - Absent Invitees: Thomas Mueller, Vice Chair - Present Kate Shelly, Secretary - Present Valerie Alexander-Moseley, Commissioner - Present Natisha Alexander, Commissioner – Excused* Richard Conti, Commissioner - Present Celia Evers, Commissioner - Present Rosie Love, Commissioner - Present Kimberly Young Wilkins, Commissioner - Present via Zoom Ann Marie Salmon, Commissioner of Administrative Services - Present Raisi Mobele, Assistant Corporation Counsel - Present Marissa Tuszynski, Deputy HR Director - Present Meeting called to order by Vice Chair Mueller at 6:01PM I. Approval of December 12, 2023 Minutes • Vice Chair Mueller requested a motion to approve the 12/12/2023 meeting minutes by the general consent of the Commission on Human Rights (“CHR”). Motion approved by Commissioner Alexander-Moseley, seconded by Commissioner Conti. The CHR voted unanimously to pass the motion. II. Old Business a. Confirmation of Standing Committee Members • Vice Chair Muller requested to be added to the Community and Non-Profit Engagement and Events, and Communications and Social Media sub-committees. Commissioner Love expressed interest in being added to the Investigations sub-committee.  • The CHR discussed who will be responsible for coordinating the sub-committees. Assistant Corporation Counsel Mobele confirmed that, per sub-committee by-laws, committee Chairs will lead the coordination of sub-committee meetings. • Vice Chair Mueller requested that CHR members email Commission Chair Aaron Moore if they are interested in becoming a sub-committee chair, prior to the next regular commission meeting. III. Election of Officers a. Chair b. Vice Chair • Commissioner Salmon noted that she did not see elections of Officers recorded in prior meeting minutes and that the CHR by-laws require annual election of officers. Vice Chair Mueller proposed that the CHR adds this item to agenda for the next regular meeting, and that CHR members email Commissioner Moore nominations for Chair and Vice Chair. Corporation Counsel Mobele noted that nominations should be received two weeks prior to the next meeting. IV. New Business a. Proposed timeline for 2024 Equity Agenda Report • Commissioner Salmon reviewed the proposed Equity Agenda Report Timeline with the CHR. Discussion points: o The CHR should plan to get ahead of a specific departments that they would like additional information/ clarification on data from. Invite Department members to join a CHR meeting. o Next year’s Equity Agenda Report will cover calendar year 2023. The CHR is looking to see more comparative information year over year in the next report. o The CHR is in favor of the proposed timeline. It aligns better with the City of Albany budget timeline.  In favor of beginning the Equity Agenda Report process earlier in the year to be able to further clarify the data being requested by the CHR from the City of Albany. o The CHR expressed concern about if there will there be enough time to review the Equity Agenda Report, as they do not hold regular meetings in July and August. o Recommendation to amend the Equity Agenda Report Timeline to bake in additional time for review as a Commission, with discussion proposed for the October CHR meeting. • Vice Chair Mueller requested a motion to adopt the Equity Agenda Report Timeline as amended. Commissioner Alexander-Moseley made a motion to approve, seconded by Commissioner Conti. The CHR voted unanimously to pass the motion. b. 2024 Human Rights Recognition Reception and Forum • Last year’s event was held at The Hollow restaurant and it was a great experience. o Recommendation to rent parking spaces at the garage across the street for this year’s event, if the CHR holds it at the Hollow again. o Commissioner Conti noted that the event should be as open to the public as possible. Last year was an invite-only reception. o The CHR should implement a call for nominations to solicit the public more generally. Last year did not publicize who the honorees were well enough. o Consider as a commission how to move forward - Add to the February agenda for further discussion. o Commissioner Love made a recommendation for an open call ahead of time in order to gauge interest level/ headcount for the event. o Assistant Corporation Counsel Mobele suggested the CHR could do separate sections of the event, partially public (reception) and private smaller dinner. c. Commission on Human Rights Annual Reports to the Common Council 1. Annual Report o Commissioner Salmon reviewed the proposed City of Albany CHR 2023 Annual Report. The 2023 report was drafted in the same format as the prior two years. o Discussion points:  Does the Common Council want to see additional information about what events were done in the community?  Add information to the City of Albany CHR 2023 Annual Report about the CHR reviewing the Equity Agenda Report.  CHR to email Commissioner Salmon with any additional thoughts/additions/edits to the 2023 Annual Report, such as public events attended by Commissioners. o Vice Chair Mueller requested a motion to adopt the City of Albany CHR 2023 Annual Report, with additional information added about the Equity Agenda Report. Secretary Shelly made a motion to adopt the 2023 CHR Annual Report, seconded by Commissioner Evers. The CHR voted unanimously to pass the motion. 2. Annual Complaints Report o Commissioner Salmon accumulated responses from the EEO office email inbox and the CHR email inbox to populate the City of Albany CHR Biannual Complaints Report 2023 and reviewed the findings with the CHR. • Discussion points:  Should the nature of complaints be noted in addition to the number of complaints? This could assist in creating recommendations from the CHR.  Nature of Complaints and their jurisdiction will be added. Commissioner Salmon agreed that this could assist with researching the best organization(s) to address particular complaints (i.e. incarceration, health care, etc.).   Vice Chair Mueller confirmed that the CHR met in the prior year about a handful of complaints to discuss further however, complaints were primarily addressed by former Chief Equity Officer Jasmine Higgins.  Commission needs additional guidance on what complaints should be categorized as human rights violations specifically.  Corporation Counsel and Commissioner Salmon will research best practices for CHR investigations and if any trainings are available. • Vice Chair Mueller requested a motion to adopt the City of Albany’s CHR Biannual Complaints Report 2023 pending further revision. Motion to approve made by Commissioner Conti, seconded by Commissioner Love. The CHR voted unanimously to pass the motion. V. Updates from Commission on Human Rights Subcommittees • Vice Chair Mueller stated that the CHR Facebook page does not have the ability to tag or follow other organizations. The CHR page is not getting enough engagement because it is not linked to the right channels. Needs capability to repost. • Commissioner Salmon confirmed that someone from the City should be added as an administrator on the account and will follow up with IT and Communications Director. • Commissioner Love suggested that, by summer 2024, the CHR should develop written parameters around how often they post, what they post, etc. to help everyone get on the same page and improve consistency. • Commissioner Salmon added that an EEO Compliance Officer is anticipated to join the City of Albany on 1/22/24. This individual will join regular meetings going forward and be more hands on with the CHR and can support communications efforts. VI. Public Comment (limited to 5 minutes per person) • None Additional Business: • Commissioner Conti reviewed an informational pamphlet he drafted for the CHR. Discussion points: o CHR To add additional information, email Commissioner Conti with any comments/ additions. o Commissioner Love suggested that the introductory quote be updated to include additional protected groups. o Add photo(s) from last year’s CHR Recognition Reception Forum event.  Schedule a dedicated photographer for this year’s event so that CHR members are not responsible for taking photos.  • Commissioner Salmon noted that Department of Administrative Services staff can assist with formatting and graphic design when the CHR pamphlet is in final stages. • Commissioner Conti addressed general updates on the CHR website - Appointment expirations, current members, contacts, etc. o Suggestion to amend the code and bylaws so that expiration dates are made uniform. Create more balanced turnover. o Commissioner Salmon is working with staff and Mayor’s office to update the list to current. Reviewing appointment letters. Assistant Corporation Counsel Raisi to draft legislative change so that all terms expire on the same date every year. o Vice Chair Mueller and Commissioner Conti discussed the importance of increased presence by the CHR at Albany events. • Commissioner Salmon to address any CHR stipend payment questions/issues with CHR members individually. • Vice Chair Mueller expressed thanks on behalf of the CHR for the City of Albany staff’s, particularly Bailey Walz’s work on the MLK parade banner and the Cultural Affairs team’s production of the 2024 MLK March. VII. Adjournment • Vice Chair Mueller made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:01pm. *Minutes are amended to reflect Commissioner Alexander’s attendance is excused from lack of communication due to an incorrect email address on file. Minutes Approved on: February 20, 2024