Human Rights Commission

City of Morgantown Human Rights Commission Minutes for Special Meeting January 14, 2014 – City Hall City Council Chambers Present: Jan Derry, Vice Chair Bob Jones – Research Consultant Mike Fike Anne Marie Lofaso Marlene Robinson-Savino, Secretary Don Spencer, Chair Fran Whiteman Visitors: None Meeting called to order by Don Spencer, Chair, at 12 noon at the City Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting was to sign resolutions on employment and housing non-discrimination and marriage equality, provide final review for the community human needs survey questionnaire before the printing, and to have a first meeting on the preparation of an FY15 HRC budget request. Public Session: No members of the public were present and wishing to speak. Discussion to Confirm State Legislative Priorities: The resolutions with amendments for the equality in marriage resolution approved at the last regular meeting on December 19 were reviewed and signed by each member of the Commission. It was agreed that the resolutions would be forwarded with a cover letter asking the City Council to endorse and /or concur with the resolutions so that copies can be forwarded to our County Legislative Delegation and chairs of appropriate committees at the 2014 West Virginia State Legislature. Mike Fike stated that the Resolutions will be brought to City council on Tuesday, January 21, in order to ask that they be placed on the Committee of the Whole agenda for January 28th. It is understood that if the resolutions are moved forward to a regular agenda, the vote is likely to occur on February 4. Spencer agreed to deliver the signed resolutions to the City Manager and to ask that they be placed on the HRC section of the City web site. Action of the Need Survey Questionnaire – Bob Jones presented the most recent draft of the questionnaire to the Commission for its review. Several changes and one addition relating to religion were made to the document. After an extended discussion, the questionnaire was approved by consensus. Spencer had gathered estimates from printers and agreed to expedite its printing with the City administration – hopefully in time for the MLK Art Exhibit planned for Friday, January 17. It was recommended at the previous HRC meeting that the questionnaire be made available at the MLK events at WVU and at the Met on Monday, January 20. 1 Budget Proposal - Spencer presented a first draft proposal of a FY15 HRC budget. It was decided to delay further discussion and action until the regular January Commission meeting on Thursday, January 16. Budget requests for CDBG funding are due on February 3. The meeting was adjourned by the chair with the approval of the Commission at 1:15 p.m. dls/AMR-S . 2