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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/10/19770 DATE: TO: FROM: RE: M E M O R A N D U M March 3, 1977 Human Relations Con-oission Mary Ann Kennaugh, Secretary Minutes of the February 10, 1977 Regular Meeting Called to Order by Acting Chairman Napheys at 7:30 p.m. City Council Chambers, 300 W. LaPorte Avenue. Role Call limbers Present: Ben Napheys Ed Ostertag Gloria Hershberger Art Jackson Ken Drieth Don Shoemaker Steve Smith Mrmbers Absent: Morgaret Batson, excused Kelsey Smith, excused Staff: John D. McGraw, Human Resources Director Rosita Bachmann, Human Rights Officer Mary Ann Kennaugh, Secretary Guests• Lucia Liley, Assistant City Attorney Arvid Bloorq Councilman Buz Hicks, Larimer County Association Blind and Physically Handicnpp< Wayne Taylor Bob Evans, Editor of The Word A ,roval of the January 13, 1977 Minutes Ken Drieth moved approval of the .Ianuary 13, 1977 meeting minutes as distributed. Don ShoomAer seconded and the minutes were approved by consensus. IV. Amendment to_the _By-laws Creatinp_a Handicapped Advisory Committee A revised nmendpent was presented to the Com-Assion changing the structuring of membership and making appointments to the Committee so that tenure is overlapping. The currently proposed amendment calls for membership to consist of six (6) handicapped citizens, two (2) citizens at large, and one (1) Human Relations Commission member (previous amendment, as approved at the January 13th meeting, called for six (6) handicapped citizens and three (3) Human Relations Com- rinsion members). Co;rcission member Ostertag moved the adoption of the revised, proposed amendment, and Commission member Jackson seconded. Discussion followed, with these comnents: Concern with having only one (1) Human Relations Commission member on the Committee was expressed, in that the absence of one member would leave the Cormission unrepresented. - Standing co,mittees of the Human Relations Commission should contain adequate representation of the Commission by Commission members and, therefore, at least two members of the Human Relations Commission should be on the Advisory Committee. 0 Human !'elations Commission Minutes of the February 10, 1977 meeting Page Two Commission member Ostertag moved adoption of an amendment with membership composed of four (4) handicapped citizens, three (3) citizens at large, and two (2) Human Relations Commission members. Art Jackson seconded and discussion followed: Buz Hicks, representing the Handicapped Advisory Group, indicated that it was the group's intent to have a majority of handicapped on the Coe,mittee, in order to insure that advice on the problems of the handicapped is being given by those who have experience in being handicapped. He further suggested the possibility of membership composition of five (5) handicapped citizens, two (2) citizens at large, and two (2) V"wan Relations Commission members. Acting Chairman Napheys called for the question, and motion passed with the following vote: Ayes: Comdssion members Ostertag, Jackson, Hershberger, Drieth, and Shoemaker. Nays: Commission member Napheys. V. Police - Grievance Procedure Cor:mi..ssion member Hershberger indicated that the group investigating the police - grievance procedure had held their last meeting and that Assistant -City Attorney Liley would complete the final draft of the group's recommendations and present it to the Commission at their next meeting. Following were points of discussion: - The Human Relations Commission would act strictly in an advisory capacity. The Commission would receive copies of all investigate reports, not necessarily to takeanyAction. Time limit for review of the report apd return to the Police Chief with any cowments could be ten (10) days. - The procedure is strictly for purposes of appropriate di cipline of the officer. Appeal procedure for the officer is available though the Forsonnel Board. - Confidentiality of reporting: the Chief, along with the investigating officer, would determine confidentiality of information in terms of possible violation of an individual's rights. At the request of the Commission, Con.vissi.on member Hershberger in- dicated she would bring information regarding the no -!or of complaints and a breakdown of those which involved minorities during 1976. VI.. Affirmative Action Article as Printed in "The Word". Following were points of discussion: The Commission members present felt that the article reflected badly on the City's effort to support in action, as an employer, the principles which the Commission was appointed to promote in the community, and that, therefore, the Commission must assume some responsibility for determining the factuality or non -factuality of the article; and, either go on record as absolving the City of any wrong doing, or recommend that the City correct any wrong doing. But, in any case, support the City's AffirDative Action efforts as pert of the Comnission's responsibility to promote equal opportunity in the community. Human Relations Commission Minutes of the February 10, 1977 meeting Page Three John McGraw indicated that the statistics in the article are incomplete, and that the conclusions drawn from them are understandably vague or intangible. For example, some City employment statistics for 1975 and 1976 are identified. However, neither the state of "equal employment opportunity (EEO)" or the City's "Affirmative Action (AA)" to reach that state can be measured with only employment statistics. The measurement of EEO and AA requires the comparison of employment sta- tistics with statistics about the availability of potential employees qualified for certain kinds of jobs, statistics on applicants, and on which applicants are screened out of which jobs at which points in the employee selection process. Conclusions such as "... the City is far from whoe-heartedly embracing the essence of employment equality.',"... fervor has been seen to wane.", and others contained in the article, are the intangible and arbitrary perceptions of the author. These kinds of conclusions are the only ones drawn by the author or his sources in the article. The statistics necessary to draw concrete conclusions upon which to base functional affirmative actions are not fully available to the City or news reporters. Reinterpolation of available work force sta= tistics in order to make them ren-onably applicable to City'work force statistics, and then draw conclusions about underutilization of minorities and women, has not been completed. Statistical analysis of City em- ployment applications and the City hiring process has not been completed yet. Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action is not fully understood by most people. Its scope and application has not been fully defined. Even the highest courts of lava cannot agree on affirmative action issues. Therefore, the major efforts in City Affirmative Action in 1976 were invested in educating City employees and organizing resouc.^s to iden- tify defic ncies and develop actions which will promote equal employ- ment opportunity, be legally fair to all, and maintain a well qualified City work force. - Commission member Smith expressed his hope that the Commission would review the article in a positive light, looking to the City as a model for the community. Commission member Ostertag moved that the article and its discussion be tabled at this time and that it be an agenda item for the next meeting. Commission member Smith seconded, and motion was defeated with the following vote: Ayes: Commission members Ostertag and Smith; Nays: Commission members Drieth, Shoemaker, Hershberger and Jackson; with Commission member Napheys abstaining. VII. Human Rights Annual Report Rosita Bachmann, Human Rights Officer, briefly summarized the report (as previously distributed). She indicated that educational aspects of the City's Affirmative Action Plan for City employees include Affirmative Action concepts, Equal Employment Opportunity concepts, ilu.nan Relations Commission Minutes of the February 10, 1977 meeting Page Four grievance questionnaires, etc. She also indicated that the first restraining order regarding a housing discrimination case under the Human Rights Ordinance had been issued in 1976. VIII. Revenue Sharing, Report. -RE` Salvation Army Commission member Jackson reported that upon the City Council's referral of the Salvation Army's funding request back to the Larimer Human Resource Board, the Board again reviewed the request and re- commended funding of the Salvation Army in the amount of $3,000. City Council then received the reconneudation and approved funding. IX. Other Business A. John McGraw reported that transportation financing for the proposed Handicapped Advisory Group would be handled through the Human Resources Department on a case -by -case basis. B. Commission member Jackson reported on the Housing Rehabilitation Program's contract with the Virginia Neal Blue Resource Center regarding consumer credit counseling, and indicated he would be working with them on the program. X. Adjournment Commission member Drieth moved for adjournment. Commission member Ostertag seconded and motion carried 7-0, Ayes: Commission members Napheys, Ostertag, Hershberger, Jackson, Drieth, Shoemaker, Smith; Nays: None. PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL "HANDICAPPED" ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROPOSAL Handicapped Advisory Committee A. Membership. This committee shall be comprised of six (6) handicapped and three (3) non -handicapped voting members appointed by the Human Relations Commission from quali- fied applicants. Members of said Committee shall serve four (4) years or until their successors are appointed, and appointments to such Committee shall be such as to achieve overlapping tenure. Any number of exificio members may be appointed by the Committee. B. Functions. 1) To collect and assess data on the handicapped in the City. 2) To recommend such action as would be necessary or advisable to improve the accessibility to the handi- capped of buildings within the City. 3) To recommend such action as would be necessary or advisable to provide improved transportation SCrViCeS to the handicapped. 4) To work with the City Planning Department and the Planning and Zoning Board on revisions of the zoning ordinances relating to the handicapped. 5) To educate and coordinate with the business cQrnu pity on problems of the handicapped in the area of ocj10Yment. 6) To establish a clearing house for the dissemination of information pertinent to the needs of the handicapped. C. EReratiin_Guidelines. The committee shall adopt such rules and operating procedures as necessary and desirable which rules and procedures shall not be inconsistent with the Charter or Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins or with the By-laws of the Human Relations Commission. Copies of these rules and procedures shall be presented to the Human Relations Commission for official confirmation and a copy of said rules and pro- cedures shall then be filed with the City Clerk.