Human Rights Commission

City of Morgantown Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes for August 20, 2015 Present: Matt Blair Tim Hairston – Liaison w/ State HRC Jan Derry, Chair Billie Murray Fran Whiteman Don Spencer, Secretary Meeting called to order by Jan Derry, Chair, at 6:40 p.m. Commissioners Marlene Robinson-Savino and Kristen Cooper reported inability to attend. Derry welcomed the new Commission members and asked everyone to introduce themselves. It was noted that the Commission web site has been updated by Chelsi Baker, the City’s media coordinator, and that there are copies of the past agenda, minutes, reports and resolutions available along with other work that the Commission has completed since it was reconstituted in 2012. Public Session: Public session attendee Nancy Jamison was present with an interest expressed in supporting the Resolution on Just Transition for Coal Workers. Communications: Don Spencer introduced George Lilley as a guest speaker for the meeting – noting that George has served as a past executive director of Valley Community Mental Health Center as well as an active member of several community organizations. George presented a summary of a week-long presentation he had participated in at the Chautauqua Institution this summer entitled “Boy Will Be Boys, Then Men”. He provided a two page summary of the presentation which explained new insights on understanding the development of the brain of boys growing into men and the misunderstandings which are represented in our treatment of adolescents in our criminal justice system and institutions. A NAACP Banquet will be held on September 18 in honor of Charlene Marshall, former Mayor of Morgantown and Delegate to the WV Legislature. On a motion by Fran Whiteman, seconded by Don Spencer, the Commission voted to place a business card ad in the banquet program – the cost of which to be borne by Commission members. Diversity Week at WVU is scheduled to begin on September 28. New Commissioner Billie Murray is on the planning committee and Commissioner Matt Blair is also active in the planning for the event. The matter of a need for additional invitations and awareness of the event in the community was considered. The Diversity Leadership Conference planned for September 29 and the Housing Action Workshop scheduled for October 23 were also discussed. 1 Jan Derry provided an update on the development of a new federal agency known as the Administration on Community Living. Among other services, it is providing a system of response related to neglect and abuse for protective service adults. Billie Murray and Matt Blair provided information on the “Kognito” program at WVU. The program involves participation in a one hour interactive step-by-step webinar on how to recognize persons at risk. Matt Blair also provided information or the “I-Serve” organization which is set up to enable students to participate in volunteer service projects in the community. Blair suggested this venue as a means for recruiting persons to assist on HRC projects as well as projects which could be identified by other community service organizations. Minutes: On a motion by Fran Whiteman, seconded by Don Spencer, the minutes of the July 16, 2015 were approved. Priority Items: Jan Derry presented an up-dated draft of the Resolution on Requiring Compliance with Accessibility Design Standards to replace the draft which had been circulated prior to the meeting. After discussion of wording changes, on a motion by Fran Whiteman, seconded by Matt Blair, the resolution was approved with out dissenting vote. The resolution will be on the City Council Committee of the Whole Agenda on August 25. Jan Derry will present the Resolution for Council action. The Resolution on Just Transition was presented by Don Spencer without changes from the draft distributed in advance of the meeting. He noted that the Commission has been considering the concept since the May meeting. The resolution has been shared by email and in several groups since the July HRC meeting without any negative feedback. After a discussion – in which Nancy Jamison was authorized to participate – on a motion by Matt Blair, seconded by Billie Murray, the resolution was approved without dissenting vote. Don Spencer will present the resolution at the COW meeting on August 25. Both resolutions were signed by each member of the Commission and will be circulated to other Commission members not present before submission to the City Manager. Fran Whiteman reported on the progress related to completion of the Municipal Equality Index for the Human Rights Campaign. The document has been prepared for the City to submit by the August 29 deadline. She and Don Spencer met with Jeff Mikorski in mid July to discuss the possibility for appointment of LGBT liaisons for the City Hall and for the Police Department. Although the meeting was very positive, thus far there is no action to be finalized for this year. The application does contain information on the activation of the 24/7 HRC telephone contact line and copies of the draft proposed job descriptions for LGBT liaisons being considered. Jan Derry reported on progress related to the refinement of table notes from the Town Hall meeting on March 28th. Thus far work has been concentrated on housing and transportation. The committee will need to meet with Marlene Robinson-Savino and Bob Jones to process the table notes on livable wage jobs and mental health/addiction services. 2 Don Spencer reported that Marlene Robinson-Savino has been working on activating the 24/7 telephone line. There are still a couple bugs in the system, but it is hoped that the complications can be addressed by IT persons soon. A new Commission business card design prepared by Chelsi Baker was presented identifying 1) directions to the HRC web site, 2) a new email address (humanrights@cityofmorgantown.org) as well as 3) the telephone contact number (304- 225-3582). On a motion by Don Spencer, seconded by Fran Whiteman, the Commission voted to request CDBG funds to purchase a Braille card embosser and a 1,000 box of printed cards. Spencer will confirm approval of the proposed expenditures with Dave Bott, Director of the City CDBG program. .Progress Reports: Don Spencer reported for Marlene Robinson-Savino, chair of the Diversity Representation Committee, that the committee is working on a first draft for a City diversity, equity and inclusion plan. A two page annotated outline has been prepared for the plan. Before completing his internship, Aaron Kaplansky assembled information on Congressional and State actions which have been passed to promote and protect diversity and equality. Spencer said that this information will contribute to creating a conceptual foundation within the new plan. Spencer also announced that a first meeting of a new council being organized by the WVU Division, Equity and Inclusion to provide guidance and decision-making relating to the annual human rights film festival will be taking place before the September HRC meeting. Time on the University calendar for the festival has been reserved for late October. New Business: There was no new business. Regular Meeting Items: Jan Derry directed the new Commissioner’s attention to a list of priorities in the agenda packet which the Commission is addressing in this calendar year. There was also an excerpt for observances in August and September from the list of Human Rights Annual Observances prepared by the Commission and posted on the HRC website. The next Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 8:39 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Don Spencer, Secretary 8.22.15 3