HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/11/1995 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Joint Work Session
MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL AND THE
SPRINGFIELD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HELD
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11,1995
The City of Springfield Council met in Joint Work Session with the Springfield Human Rights
Commission at Springfield City Hall, Library Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon,
on Monday, September 11, 1995, at 6:10 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present from the Council were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine
and Shaver. Also present were Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Recorder Eileen
Stein, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, and members of staff.
Present from the Human Rights Commission were Tonya Johnson, Dorothy Isabell, Melody
Kelsay, Bill Eikenberry, John De Wenter and Mandy Oglesby.
1. Review of Human Rights Commission Activities
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi stated the Council periodically meets with the it's advisory
boards commissions and committees to touch base and discuss any current issues or items of
city-wide interest.
Human Rights Commission Chair Tonya Johnson provided an overview of the commission and
asked for council review and approval of the Commission's proposed workplan and bylaws
changes. Ms. Johnson introduced commission member John DeWenter.
Mr. DeWenter provided an overview of planned activities of the protected class and culture
subcommittee. He stated the subcommittee/commission needs specific direction as to what they
should be doing before they can develop programs for the community.
Ms. Johnson recognized commission member Bill Eikenberry for his efforts to organize the
Human Rights Commission booth at the 1995 Filbert Festival.
Mr. Eikenberry explained the activities of the health education and youth subcommittee. He
indicated that the sexual abstinence program was dropped due to the outdated nature of the
material as well as the feeling that the Commission was not adequately prepared to promote an
effective abstinence program with such information.
Commission member Melody Kelsay provided and update of the public relations subcommittee
efforts. She stated they need direction from the City Council before they can effectively
communicate with the community about the Commission's purpose and mission. They currently
disseminate the information about the programs that the other two subcommittees are doing.
Ms. Johnson reiterateq the need for Council direction on the activities of the Human Rights
Commission.
Mayor Morrisette stated the original purpose of the commission was to be a resource for the
community for people in need. He gave an example that at St. Alice's soup kitchen, which doesn't
serve singlesunless they volunteer to help. He felt that the St. Alice issue is an example of
helping people in the community. He further stated the Interfaith Emergency Center program is
languishing and that shelter is a human right that needs to be addressed. There is a runaway
education program that the commission could assist with that the School District is currently
developing.
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City of Springfield
Joint Work Session - 9/11/95
Page two
Mayor Morrisette stated the role of government is to facilitate the connection between needs and
community resources. He explained his examples are just a few ways the Human Rights
Commission could get involved in serving the community.
Commission member Dorothy Isabell stated she does not see the need for the commission to
exist. There are many other organizations in the community that are already serving community
needs outside of the commission.
Councilor Shaver stated the brochure/logo were nicely done and he supports the booth at the
Filbert Festival. He likes the presentation of yearly human rights awards, as it sets a positive
image for Springfield and hopefully encourages and heightens human rights awareness.
Councilor Shaver asked how many complaints are received annually. Mr. Grimaldi replied, two to
three, with only one ever prompting an inquiry by the city attorney to determine if an investigation
is needed, and it was not.
Councilor Maine explained the Springfield Coordinating Council exists for the purpose of
determining where the social service agencies are not meeting the needs of Springfield residents.
The Council and commission discussed the proposed basic human rights plan and the purpose
and mission of the commission. They also discussed basic human rights, especially those that
are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the ability of the commission to guarantee and
protect those basic human rights. They discussed the many social and financial needs of people
in the community as a result of societal and political changes over the past couple of decades and
how these changes have affected their basic human rights.
Councilor Burge felt that a community needs assessment is warranted to determine what the
specific needs are in Springfield before the Commission can move forward with developing a
basic human rights plan. He felt that with only two complaints per year, maybe the focus of the
commission should be different, but still have a need for the commission.
Councilor Beyer felt if the commission is doubting the human rights plan, then it is difficult for her
to endorse the plan as a Councilor. She stated she does not want to see the commission be
unfocused and continue to exist without a community need.
Mr. DeWenter stated Springfield does have a human rights ordinance, but state laws are much
stronger and so most people address their complaints at that level. He felt the balance of the
complaints that the commission gets are the ones that are less weighty or are less clear. When
complaints do come in that are clear violations, staff encourages them to process the complaint
through the State Bureau of Labor.
Mayor Morrisette stated the commission should continue to be a clearinghouse of information for
people who don't know about the social service agencies in the community. Councilor Burge
asked how the commission make a distinction between the people who genuinely need the help
versus those that have chosen to have the government take care of their needs as a chosen
lifestyle.
Mr. Eikenberry stated a real issue in the community is domestic violence and parents that do not
have the right to supervise their children. He felt this is a need that the commission should
address.
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City of Springfield
Joint Work Session - 9/11/95
Page three
Ms. Johnson specifically referenced a commission bylaw regarding how commission officers are
selected by the City Council and requested that it be changed to officers being selected by the
members of the Human Rights Commission, annually.
Mr. Grimaldi clarified that the proposed changes primarily have to do with how the student
positions are selected based on past changes made to the bylaws regarding the term expiration of
adult commission members. He explained the bylaws will be brought to council for formal
approval at a regular council meeting at a future date.
Ms. Kelsay spoke regarding the appointment of members to the commission. She explained there
is not the same amount of turnover as there was previously and the commission should not have
to wait until the end of the year to fill positions. She requested a bylaw change to automatically
begin the appointment process when the level of adult members falls below nine members.
Councilor Burge stated it should be policy, not a bylaw change.
Councilor Shaver stated he would like to talk to the other Council members to see if some
direction can be provided to the commission. He discussed his personal experience with wanting
to volunteer and serve the community, but not having any direction from the governing board or
the jurisdiction.
Ms. Johnson thanked the Council for meeting with the commission.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein
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ATTEST:
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City Recorder