City of Lawrence

Human Relations Commission

August 17, 2005 Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chair Steve Ramirez, Vice Chair Bob Mikesic, Commissioners Wendi Coleman, Barbara Hillmer, Ernesto Hodison, and Terri Wilke

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Commissioners Ray Chao and Bob Augelli(excused)

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Executive Director Rehelio A. Samuel, Human Relations Specialists Michelle Smith and Paul Winn, and Secretary Cynthia Colbert

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Mr. James Dunn of Landlords of Lawrence, Inc., Nancy Dunn, Bob Ebey of Landlords of Lawrence, Inc.

 

Chair Ramirez called the meeting of the Lawrence Human Relations Commission to order at 11:07 AM in the LHR/HRD Conference Room.

 

ROLL CALL

Roll call revealed a quorum of the Commission was present.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA FOR AUGUST 17, 2005

Commissioner Hodison moved that the agenda for August 17, 2005 be accepted. Commissioner Wilke seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF STAFF REPORT FOR MAY 1 – JULY 31, 2005

Commissioner Hillmer moved that the staff report for May 1 – July 31, 2005 be accepted. Commissioner Wilke seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MEETING OF JUNE 1, 2005

Commissioner Wilke moved that the minutes for June 1, 2005 be approved. Vice Chair Mikesic seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Fair Housing Outreach Update

HRS Smith stated the Fair Housing Division has 11 new cases. The majority of these cases are disability discrimination cases from a senior housing complex.  The doors in the common areas are too heavy for some tenants with disabilities. HRS Smith states she has not yet heard from Respondent. 

 

HRS Smith stated she would be at the Haskell Highlight Night on August 23, 2005, which is the new student orientation. She stated she will have a booth there and will distribute fair housing information to the students. She also attended the ADA anniversary celebration and symposium at Independence, Inc. and participated as a panel speaker. Chair Ramirez commended HRS Smith for representing the agency very well.

 

Chair Ramirez asked how much time is given respondents to respond to a complaint. HRS Smith explained if a respondent requires more time to gather information in order to respond, they could call or send a letter requesting additional time. Commissioner Coleman asked how much time, specifically are they allowed for responding to the initial contact. HRS Smith said they are given ten days to respond. Executive Director Samuel gave brief comments on the effort to contact the Respondent and the tools at our disposal to compel them to respond. A brief discussion ensued.

 

Equal Opportunity Law Update Seminar (EOLUS) 2005 / Update

HRS Winn said the EOLUS is planned for October 18 – 19, 2005 and will be held at the Lawrence Holiday Inn/Holidome. HRS Winn said there would be 12 sessions, with sessions pertaining to employment law, mediation, and fair housing case law, conciliation, and investigation. He asked the LHRC members to attend. He noted that special dietary needs would be accommodated. HRS Winn said the registration fee for the 2-day seminar is less than other agencies that have sponsored 1-day seminars. He said there would be two keynote speakers, one for each day’s luncheon. The keynote speaker for Oct. 18th is Mr. Richard Hayse, President of the Kansas Bar Association. The keynote speaker for Oct. 19th is Mr. Jim Garner, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor.  He further noted the seminar will provide CLE’s for attorneys, CEU’s for SHRM members, and CME’s for Kansas approved mediators.

 

Commissioner Wilke commented that perhaps next year there could be a session on accessibility in construction for employment and housing. HRS Smith said she was hoping to cover that topic during Fair Housing Month training, with contractors as part of the target audience.   A brief discussion ensued.

 

Chair Ramirez said the Kansas Human Rights Commission is conducting a seminar on employment law in September.

 

Director Samuel commented on the loyalty of attendees to the seminar. He said the seminars conducted by the LHRD are very well attended.

 

Commissioner Hodison complimented the LHRD for a job well done.

 

USDHUD Training Academy Week Two / March 7 – July 1, 2005

            -Recognition of HRS Winn and Smith

Director Samuel gave a briefing on the HUD Academy training sessions. He said HRS Winn and Smith have completed weeks one and two out of the five weeks of mandated training toward certification.  He noted they both have successfully passed the courses. He congratulated them for their continued professional growth.

 

Commissioner Coleman asked what the benefits of the training are in relation to their personal lives.  HRS Smith said she felt the skills learned would be useful in all areas of their lives. A brief discussion ensued.

 

Director Samuel noted that HRS Winn has received his doctorate degree and HRS Smith is in the process of obtaining hers. He said their accomplishments speak to the high caliber of the LHRD staff.

 

Director Samuel stated that Week 3 of the HUD Academy training should begin sometime in September and HRS Winn and Smith will attend.

 

RECCR/HUD Training / July 14 – 15, 2005

Director Samuel said the workshops, conducted by HUD and the Regional Executive Council on Civil Rights (RECCR), were excellent and well attended. He said Commissioner Coleman, HRS Smith, and he attended.

 

He talked about performance standards and measures for Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies, and of an Performance Assessment Review (PAR).  FHAP agencies who fail to meet established high standards are placed on a Performance Improvement Program (PIP). The LHRC and LHRD has never been placed on a PIP.

 

Director Samuel said the RECCR was formed in the 1970’s to provide training for Human Rights professionals and commissioners. He said the RECCR has an excellent working relationship with HUD and can address concerns to HUD, as a group.  He added that some RECCR members also act as advisors to HUD.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

U.S.DHUD Policy Conference 2006

Director Samuel gave background information of the HUD Policy Conferences. He said the policy conferences had previously been held every year, but are now held every other year.  The 2006 conference will be held in Anaheim, California. He said conference information would be sent to LHRC members once it arrives at the LHRD office. 

 

 

2006 Budget Adopted by City Commission August 16, 2005

Director Samuel thanked the LHRC for their support throughout the budget process. He noted the City approved 50% of the Fair Housing Manager’s salary and benefits to be funded from the General Fund.

 

Director Samuel gave a briefing on the City’s budget process. He thanked Mr. James Dunn for his support of LHRD budget requests. In addition, he gave comments on the funding cutbacks imposed by HUD to FHAP agencies. He noted that HUD will no longer pay training dollars directly to FHAP agencies, and will utilize most of those dollars to fund the HUD Training academy programs.

 

 

 

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Chair Ramirez stated the LHRD is doing a fine job considering budget cuts and loss of staffing. He said he finds it difficult to understand how the LHRD is expected to give a high standard and level of service to the citizens when the city has grown tremendously and staffing, as well as budget, has not been given to meet that growth.

 

Commissioner Hodison commended Director Samuel for his leadership. He also commended Mr. James Dunn and Mrs. Nancy Dunn for their dedication and support to the LHRC/HRD.  Commissioner Mikesic thanked HRS Smith for her participation and support of the ADA Celebration. He also thanked Chair Ramirez for participating in the ADA Celebration as a panel member.

 

Chair Ramirez thanked Director Samuel for his 57 years of work dedicated to the cause of civil and human rights.

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS

Director Samuel said he would like to encourage the LHRC members to send any issues they would like to be considered as agenda items to the LHRD Secretary.

 

Director Samuel stated he is pleased with the work of the LHRC and LHRD. He added he is pleased with the current staff performance and their level of expertise in the field of civil and human rights.

 

Director Samuel gave a briefing on the status of human relations agencies in Kansas. A brief discussion ensued.

 

Director Samuel commended Mr. Bob Ebey, Mr. James Dunn, and Mrs. Nancy Dunn for their commitment and support to the cause.

 

Director Samuel commended Commissioner Coleman for her contribution to LHRD and LHRD outstanding mission accomplishment. Initiative, enthusiasm, and volunteerism were well demonstrated by Commissioner Coleman.

 

Director Samuel commended Commissioner Chao for his assistance to the LHRD with his knowledge of the Chinese language.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. James Dunn gave an update regarding Alphonso Eason’s fair housing presentation at the library on June 27, 2005. He thanked HRS Smith for attending. He stated the presentation was targeted to landlords and was sponsored by the Landlords of Lawrence organization. Mr. Dunn said the topics were on Prevention of Sexual Harassment, and Assistance Animals.

  

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.