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Human Rights Commission
City Manager’s Conference Room
December 3, 2003
MINUTES
Members Present:
Michael Berman, Chair
Virginia Onley, Vice Chair
Anamika Krishna
Jessie Etelson
Enilda Abreu
Nasser Almutairi
Jeff Rosen
Karen Morton
Members Absent:
Yvonna Love, Excused
Andreas Vassilas, Excused
Staff Present: Janet Kelly
Guest Present: Chris Bartlett, Senior Neighborhood Services Coordinator
I. Convene: Chair convened meeting at 7:30 p.m.
II. Approval of Minutes: Previous minutes approved with changes.
III Chair Report:
Chair welcomed Chris Bartlett, Senior Neighborhood Services Coordinator who would later speak. Chair proceeded in his report with his praise of the Community Coffee on Affordable Housing. Berman continued by letting Commission know that there is a system in place whereby we as a commission make contact with victims of hate violence identified in City of Rockville Police reports. Berman also noted that he had contacted two such victims during month of November, 2003, and that the victims whom he called were extremely appreciative of the show of support. Commissioner Krishna pointed out that the vice chair had been the one charged with initially calling such victims.
Chair discussed his necessity to step down from the position, but that he would be willing to help transition the newly selected chair. Commissioners seemed to agree that there should be a transition period with a successor plan. Commissioner Onley commented that the role of the chair is larger now because of the increased amount of community activities.
She said that there needed to be a spreading of the wealth so that all have the experience of participating in or planning an event. It was also suggested that we prioritize the objectives and initiatives of the Commission.
IV. Staff Report:
A. Staff discussed the upcoming MLK Program and reminded Commissioners of the need for ushers. Also discuCommissioner Rosen suggested that we have a person with a disability on the committee to select the Taff award recipient. It was ssed was the selection process of the nominees for the MLK and the F. Michael Taff Awards. suggested that Commissioner Rosen be on the selection committee. He agreed to assist in this capacity pending his availability. Staff will let the Commissioners and the rest of the selection committee know when the selection process would take place. In addition to Commissioner Rosen, Commissioner Morton volunteered to be on the selection committee.
V. Guest Report:
Christopher Bartlett, Senior Neighborhood Services Coordinator was Introduced earlier and was invited to speak about the division of roles, responsibilities, and visions of the Human Rights Commission and the Neighborhood Services Division. Bartlett stated that while the administration (procedures, performance measurements, intakes, reports) of the Mediation Program rests with the Division, insight, recommendations and implementation help would be welcomed from the Commission. A formal policy and procedure book will be developed that spells out all of the objectives of the Division and the roles of the HRC with respect to the mediation program. Bartlett emphasized the idea of a partnership between the HRC and the Division. He spoke of the approach of the Division as being proactive at this point and will be focusing on ways to get neighbors to avoid conflict by having respect for each other. This would possibly mean having seminars on the topic of understanding and getting to know your neighbor. He welcomed and agreed that we should advertise the mediation program every chance we get.
V. Commission and Committee Report:
A. Debriefing Community Coffee:
Comments relative to the Coffee on Home Buying were mostly positive with some discussion regarding the possibility of a repeat. With a repeated seminar, it was suggested that the audience to be targeted should be focused on the middle and lower income population. It was also suggested that we make sure that we allow enough time to ask questions.
B. MLK Update:
Mike Berman and staff talked about the video that was shot with the youth at Beall Elementary School and Nina Clarke. This video will be shown in the middle of the segment entitled A Tribute Brown vs. Board of Ed. of Topeka, Kansas. There will be a theatre troupe that will introduce the video and then provide a dramatic postscript.Discussion continued relative to the MLK Day ushers. Janet will get a list of ushers and then develop a list of duties. It was suggested that this year the ushers have flashlights so that they might be able to better see the seats especially when the lights aren’t up to the full capacity. Staff will get the flashlights for that day. Chair volunteered to provide a sign-up sheet for the event whereon attendees can note their suggestions and/or areas of interest.
There will be a meeting of the MLK. Subcommittee on Wednesday, December 10, 2004 at, 7:30 P.M.
C. Police Academy and Other Outreach Initiatives:
Commissioner Etelson still awaits to hear from Chief Terry Treschuk to find out what date he should come to the Citizen’s Police Academy.Other outreach efforts include an upcoming seminar, January 13, 2004 at the Senior Center. This seminar will be to teach the seniors about the mediation process and let them know about the Rockville Mediation Program. Commissioner Krishna will be co-leading the seminar with Commissioner Etelson.
D. Latino Outreach:
There will be more information forthcoming in the next few months.
E. Diversity Leadership Workshop:
Chair expressed the need to postpone the next DLW until next year for the purpose of ironing out some issues. First, the NCBI model is problematic in that it is a copyrighted model and cannot be used without an official NCBI associate. (The HRC is not an associate group; we have used Larry Bell, the director of the NCBI DC chapter, to facilitate our workshop.) Second, we need time to establish the event as one which gives student service learning credits to MCPS students so as to increase the attraction of the event. Finally, Chair noted that the event needed fresh legs in the leadership role of this event, and the 1-year break would allow for that.Commissioner Rosen and Commissioner Morton will see if they can come up with another viable model. Commissioner Rosen volunteered to get someone to come to a future meeting to introduce a possible viable model.
F. Open Forum: New/Prospective HRC Programs
Commissioner Etelson invited Commissioners to a Jazz Festival at Montgomery College.
VI. Old Business:
Selection of new chair and vice chair:
The topic of new chair and vice chair was tabled.
Commission wasn’t ready to vote at the time.
VII. New Business:
There was no new business
VIII. Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
The next meeting will be January 28, 2004 at, Rockville City Hall in the City Manager’s Conference Room. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.