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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES
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DECEMBER 18, 2006
ATTENDANCE: Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham, Chairman; Hope Boone; Bernadine Tatem; Barbara
Hudgins; Carol Frank; Lori Torrano.
STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by the Chairman.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 20, 2006 MINUTES
The following correction was made: On page 1, 4th paragraph, the second and third sentences were deleted and replaced with “The Consent Decree requires the position. The City has chosen to fund the position through the grants process.”
** MS. HUDGINS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR FY2005-2006
The Chairman said that at the last meeting, Officer Ramirez and Ms. Tatem had expressed concern over the Fair Housing Officer’s assessment of some of the practices of the Housing Authority.
Discussion took place on a particular housing authority case that took a long time to resolve. Ms. Suib said it takes the Housing Authority months to deal with these cases, which is not permissible under the law. The Chairman suggested there be continued dialogue and collaboration to resolve the issues.
Ms. Torrano said they keep coming back to an interpretation of the Commission’s role and that of the Fair Housing Officer. She felt that the Fair Housing Officer operates under the direction of the Commission, but the Fair Housing Officer feels she has authority apart from the Commission. The real issue has not been clarified. Ms. Suib noted that her report is based on the facts as she sees them.
Ms. Frank said she could not understand the objection to Ms. Suib’s opinions. Mrs. Torrano said it is up to this Commission to either accept or not accept the report.
The Chairman said that, in the past, Mrs. Rodin’s objection had been to historical information contained in the report. Ms. Suib said it is impossible to write in a vacuum about one fiscal year because cases do not necessarily start and end in one year. She pointed out that the consequence of rejecting this report is that the information does not get out.
Ms. Hudgins asked if Webster Street could be changed to Webster Block, and Ms. Suib agreed to do so.
Ms. Hudgins asked if, on page 23, projects discontinued, an explanation could be included; Ms. Suib will look into the reasons for discontinuance.
Ms. Hudgins, on page 25, regarding infrequent meetings in 2005-06, asked if there could be a comment as to why meetings were infrequent. Ms. Suib said it would be inappropriate for her to comment.
Ms. Torrano said accepting this report would mean that they approve it. Ms. Suib suggested that the Commission could include a disclaimer in their acceptance.
Discussion took place on the Housing Authority. Ms. Suib said she has been working on this for years without success and she felt it was time to take a public stand.
The Chairman said that, on page 17, he would suggest that the commissioners attend the conferences so that they are made aware of conflicts. In addition, Ms. Suib should also forward important letters to commissioners. Ms. Suib agreed to do so.
Ms. Torrano suggested the following wording for the disclaimer: “The report being submitted by the Fair Housing Officer is the opinion of the Fair Housing Officer but does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Fair Housing Advisory Commission.”
** MS. HUDGINS MOVED TO ACCEPT THE FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR
FY2005-2006. THE REPORT BEING SUBMITTED BY THE FAIR HOUSING OFFICER IS THE OPINION
OF THE FAIR HOUSING OFFICER BUT NOT DOES NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINION OF
THE ENTIRE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION.
** MS. FRANK SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE VOTE IN OPPOSITION (MS. TATEM).
Ms. Suib reviewed the meeting schedule for 2007.
DISCUSSION OF SECOND AMENDED CONSENT DECREEE
The Chairman said one of the main issues is the reference to Fair Housing law, to which Ms. Suib had sent a memo. He asked if they have to pull all of the provisions from the law as it relates to housing. Mrs. Torrano noted that they don’t have enforcement capabilities. Their duty is to let the community know what they think. Ms. Suib said they are to monitor what is going on. Perhaps having meeting devoted to this issue would be helpful.
Ms. Suib noted that there is an exclusionary zoning law coming out of the Zoning Commission that does not include the entire city, which perhaps they should look into.
Ms. Tatem asked that information be included in monthly reports to list laws used in various cases.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
ADJOURNMENT
** MRS. TORRANO MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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