HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 07/13/2000Human Relations Commission
Human Resources Department Conference Room
200 W. Mountain
July 13, 2000, 5:30-7 p.m.
APPROVED 9/14/00
Council Liaison: Bill Bertschy Staff Liaison: Angelina Powell Phone: 221-6525
Chairperson: Bob Lenk Phone: 493-5809
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on July 13, 2000 in the Human
Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Avenue.
HRC Members present Tim Daugherty, Dan Devine, Mary Gomez, Shion Hung, Bob Lenk, Debbie
Love, Man Oberoi, Barry Siff.
HRC Members absent:
Staff Members present: Angelina Powell, HRC Staff Liaison
Gabe Serenyi, Past HRC Staff Liaison
Barb Spalding, Human Rights Officer
Greg Temple, Deputy City Attorney
I. The meeting was called to order by Bob Lenk, Chair, at 5:35 p.m.
II. Minutes. Bob Lenk asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the June 8 regular meeting. Tim
Daugherty made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Dan Devine. The
Commission unanimously approved the minutes with no changes.
III. Steve Ross Resignation. Gabe Serenyi reported that Steve Ross had moved to Windsor and out of
the Fort Collins UGA. For that reason, Steve resigned from the Commission.
IV. Staff Liaison. Gabe announced that Angelina Powell would be the new Staff Liaison for the
Commission effective this meeting. The Commission thanked Gabe for his seven years of service to
the Commission and wished him well. The Commission would like to formally thank him for his
service and plan to do that at a dinner that will take place in the Human Resources Conference Room
prior to the regular meeting on September 14.
V. Appeal. A claimant has appealed to the Human Relations Commission a decision made by Barb
Spaulding of the Human Rights Advocacy and Education Office. Ms. Spalding found there was no
substantive evidence to show that a violation of the City of Fort Collins Anti -Discrimination
Ordinance had occurred.
In preparing materials for the appeal, staff discovered in the Commission's Appeal Procedures that
the panel of three members of the HRC who would hear appeals was in conflict with the Fort Collins
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Code, Section 13 23 (b) that required the full commission to conduct the hearing. Greg Temple
advised the Commission to adopt new appeal procedures that were in compliance with the Code.
Tim Daugherty made a motion to go into Executive Session to review the question. The Motion was
seconded by Debbie Love and unanimously approved by the Commission. Staff (other than Greg
Temple) left the room. When the Executive Session adjourned, staff was back to continue the regular
meeting.
Tim Daugherty made a motion to amend the appeal procedures for the full commission to hear
appeals. Bob Lenk seconded the motion. By a vote of 5 to 2 (Shion Hung arrived after the vote) the
motion was passed. The hearing was scheduled for Friday, July 21, 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Human
Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain.
VI. Attendance Policy. Greg Temple reviewed the Memorandum from Karla Smith, Board &
Commissions Coordinator, regarding Boards & Commissions Attendance Policy.
VII. Subcommittee Reports. There have been no meetings of the Executive Delegations, Police, Human
Relations Award or Human Resources Grant subcommittees since the last regular Human Relations
Commission meeting.
Diversity Subcommittee
On June 13, 2000, Mary Gomez, Man Oberoi Bob Lenk & Barry Siff met with Barb Spalding of
the Human Rights Office to discuss the discrimination complaint procedure. The Human Relations
Commission would like to supply a list of commission members, especially members of the Diversity
Subcommittee, to help claimants complete discrimination complaint forms. They'd like to explore
helping individuals whose primary language is not English.
The group would also like to:
• become more aware of and involved with the Multicultural Corporation, the Commission on the
Status of Women and the Commission on Disability
• make contact with the Human Relations Commission in Boulder to get a sense of what's
happening there
• consider more Coloradoan advertisements that outline options, for individuals who believe they
have suffered discrimination.
Human Resource Grants Committee
Bob Lenk reported that there has been a change to the way the Human Resources Grants funds are
being allocated. Bob learned from Deputy City Manager Diane Jones that the process will not
include HRC review/recommendations for allocations. The change has been driven primarily by the
new way Latimer County will allocate funds. Bob asked for clarification. He had concerns that the
Requests for Proposals may not be in compliance with the Fort Collins Code, Section 2-273 (6) that
the HRC make recommendations to City Council relative to the expenditures of funds for meeting
basic human service needs through membership on the Larimer County Human Resources Board. He
suggests that:
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• the appropriate party visit a Human Relations Commission meeting to review the change; and, if
appropriate,
• the Code is updated to reflect the change.
VIII. Adjournment. Bob Lenk asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Shion Hung made the motion to
adjourn. Tim Daugherty seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m.