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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 12/08/1977CITY OF FORT COLLINS M E M O R A N D U M DATE: January 9, 1978 TO: Fort Collins Human Relations Commission FROM: Mary Ann Dennaugh, Secretary RE: Minutes of the December 8, 1977 Regular Meeting I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Napheys, City Council chambers, 300 W. LaPorte. II. Role Call Members Present: Staff: Ben Napheys John McGraw, Human Resources Director Don Lambert Rosita Bachmann, Human Rights Officer Don Shoemaker Mary Ann Kennaugh, Secretary Bob Zimdahl Members Absent: Pam Sysum, excused Ken Drieth, excused Kelsey Smith Steve Smith With no quorum present, those members present acted on the following items as a subcommittee of the whole. III. Consider Approval of the November 10 1977 Regular Meeting Minutes Hearing no changes or additions to the minutes, Chairman Napheys considered the minutes approved. IV. Receive an to Ci Tg Po ationsns All members indicated they had received copies of the letters and approved. Human Relations Commission Minutes of the December 8, 1977 Regular Meeting Page Two V. Police -Grievance Procedure Chairperson Napheys indicated he would be attending a meeting December 14, 1977. Those present will include City Manager Arnold, Assistant City Attorney Lucia Liley, Police Chief Smith, Paul Salas, and representatives of the patrol division of the Police Department. The meeting will be an attempt to resolve the problems regarding the proposed precedure. Napheys: There was an article in the paper and an item on KCOL regarding the procedure. The Human Relations Commission is to give advice to the City Council ---the Human Relations Commission letters of September 8, 1977 and November 23, 1977 set forth the Human Relations Commission's stand- point on the procedure as accurately and strongly as possible. I will not go into the December 14, 1977 meeting with any changes in form. The procedure is worth an effort towards getting it adopted. The tone of the Human Relations Commission is not to encourage frivolous complaints nor to discourage filing a complaint. McGraw: Lucia indicated that one Police Department concern was the possi- bility that a complaint may be left with no determination being made; therefore, the word "shall" was recommended by department representatives in place of the word "may," prefacing the words "be dismissed," to assure the provision of a foreseeable resolution to the complaint. Lucia wondered if there was any confusion on this point among Commission members. Zimdahl: A comparison of Section IV, Article X, Subsection 1 with the pro- posed change of wording from "may" to "shall" ("If a Complainant is so requested and refuses to take a polygraph, the investigation shall be terminated at that point") and Section IV, Aricle W, Subsection 2 ("Failure to take a polygraph when so ordered may be grounds for dis- missal from the Police Department") seems to show inequality in how the Complainant and the police officer are treated. Napheys: The Human Relations Commission does not accept the proposition that the polygraph is the only way to resolve a factual issue. Zimdahl: The way I read it, the police officer will not be asked to take the polygraph unless the Complainant is first asked to take it. Napheys: In essence, what the Human Relations Commission is trying to express is that, if the Complainant chooses not to go along with the polygraph, it could not be grounds for dismissal of the case. Zimdahl: The polygraph will not necessarily resolve the issue; we don't accept it. McGraw: If City Council decides to maintain "shall," what will the Human Relations Commission position be? (Napheys: As advisors to the City Human Relations Commission Minutes of the December 8, 1977 Regular Meeting Page Three Council, we will follow their direction and do the best we can with what we have.) (Zimdahl: We can review the procedure after six months and find any problems then.) Who will review the procedure? (Zimdahl: I assumed it would be us.) VI. Community Representation on City Boards and Commissions Chairperson Naphey requested that John McGraw introduce this item. McGraw: The Board and Commission Manual indicates that the nominating com- mittee of each board and commission should make every effort to get wide representation of the entire community. Currently only two out of 200 City board and commission members have Spanish surnames. The City Council may not be aware of the situation. A quota system would not be appro- priate, but trying to get better representation is certainly called for by the City Council. The Human Relations Commission seems to be the most appropriate Council advisory body to assist in this area. Zimdahl: Has anyone checked the applicant lists to see if Spanish Surnamed persons are applying? McGraw: No! Zimdahl: Maybe Spanish Surnamed persons are not applying. Bachmann: It appears from the board's and commission's membership lists that women too are under -represented although many apply. Lambert: Vacancies on the various boards and commissions are published in the newspaper; not everyone reads the newspaper. Perhaps another step toward greater representation would be to contact people, e.g. Commission members could get a list of possible candidates. McGraw: The Human Relations Commission could offer their services to recruit members, e.g. appoint a sub -committee made up of minority representatives to recruit applicants. Napheys: There is a dual problem: 1) Getting Spanish Surnamed persons to apply, and 2) The actual appointment of women. The March agenda is scheduled for the City Council Advisory Committee, and this is a subject of City Council advisement. The situation will probably need some investigation and a report. No action is necessary tonight, but the issue should not be put off. Bachmann: Boards and commissions are generally comprised of professional people who dress professionally and who have a good command of the language. It takes a positive self -perception to apply for a board or commission if you feel that you can not dress or speak as well as other members. Human Relations Commission Minutes of the December 8, 1977 Regular Meeting Page Four Zimdahl: Part of the problem is with the people themselves, and part is the board's and commission's who project that feeling of professionalism. Perhaps the Human Relations Commission could meet in a less "intimidating" setting e.g. Juan Vega's church in Andersonville. We could also express that feeling to Council. (Zimdahl indicated that he would work with the other two members of the City Council Advisory Sub -Committee on this item.) We must lay the groundwork for such actions --we can't just "descend" on Spanished Surnamed people. McGraw: Paul Salas could be a good contact for accessing the minority pop- ulation and for helping with the ideas expressed. The City Council Advisory Committee will report on this item in March. VII. Other Business A. Chairman Napheys noted the vacancies created on the Police Community Relations Committee and the Handicapped Advisory Committee due to the resignation of Gloria Hershberger. He further indicated he would check with those members absent and with the new member (to be appointed on January 3, 1978) to see if they would like to serve on these committees. B. Don Shoemaker expressed his interest in attending the meeting on December 14, 1977 with Chairperson Napheys regarding the Police Grievance Pro- cedure. Rosita Bachmann also expressed interest in attending that meeting. Napheys: I was invited by the City Manager; I will include Don Shoemaker in that invitation. I have no objection if Rosita Bachmann attends the meeting; however I assume that it is an administrative decision. C. Lambert: We have three special committees --how long are they good? (Napheys: Until next July.) Do we need a special committee to deal with the board's and commission's membership issues discussed earlier? (Napheys: No. The City Council Advisory Committee responsibilities would include this item.) VIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.