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FAIR HOUSING
ADVISORY COMMISSION
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DECEMBER 13, 2004
ATTENDANCE: Alonzo Virgil, Chairman; Rahoul Dupervil; Heather Rodin; Rev. Jeffrey
Ingraham; Bernadine Tatem; Mary Corcoran.
STAFF: Margaret Suib, Fair Housing Officer.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chairman.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 2004 MINUTES
The November minutes were not available in the members’ packets.
The following correction was made to the minutes of the December 6th special meeting minutes: On page 1, under “Introduction of New Chairman, Alonzo Virgil”, 3rd sentence, “Hew” was corrected to “He”.
** MRS. RODIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
** MS. CORCORAN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FHO’S 2003-04 ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. Dupervil said there was a lot to discuss in this report, noting that items in it related to 2004-05. Ms. Tatem pointed out that Mrs. Suib was still bringing up the consent decree from 1990. Mrs. Suib said she was talking about the 2004 Consent Decree, and in doing so, referencing the original one from 1986. Ms. Tatem said that the old decree did not count, they should not go so far back and that it did not concern Ms. Suib. Mrs. Rodin said it was only necessary to say that the lawsuit between the NAACP and the City was settled with the Consent Decree of 2004. Rev. Ingraham said he appreciated the historical narrative. It was important to have some inkling of how they got to where they are.
Ms. Suib said this was her view of the last fiscal year. The Commission can accept the report or not accept it. It is not a group effort and she does not anticipate rewriting it.
Ms. Corcoran said there were many things in this report that the Fair Housing Officer is doing that the Commission is not aware of. Ms. Suib said she is working on affordable housing in Reed Putnam, which they have discussed.
Discussion took place on who employs Ms. Suib. Ms. Suib said she is employed by the Redevelopment Agency. Mrs. Rodin said as far as the NAACP is concerned, she is not. Her job description in the second amended Consent Decree is what she should be following. Ms. Suib reiterated that she is employed by the Redevelopment Agency.
Mr. Dupervil said there is a conflict regarding the position of the Fair Housing Officer. Maybe that is the problem – Ms. Suib does not feel that she is working under the supervision of the Fair Housing Commission, just providing them with information. The Chairman said he agreed that they have to resolve who Ms. Suib works for and that he did not want Ms. Suib to feel defensive.
Rev. Ingraham, noting that he had just received the report, suggested that discussion be continued to the next meeting.
The Chairman asked if development on West Avenue and Wall Street was separate, and Ms. Suib responded affirmatively. She will correct Wall Street to West Avenue in the report.
Mrs. Rodin reviewed the report page by page, pointing out statements that she felt were either incorrect or should not be included. Ms. Suib again stated that this report was her opinion, not that of the Commission.
Discussion took place on whether or not the new job description had been implemented. Ms. Suib said that the Head of the NAACP had agreed with her, and that further, it was her view. Mrs. Rodin said there is no proposed job description; there is a job description. Ms. Suib suggested the wording “that job proposal that has not yet been implemented”, but Ms. Suib disagreed.
Mr. Dupervil said they were expecting a factual report rather opinions. Ms. Suib said that since 1996, when she started, she has never been given a different job description.
There was disagreement between the Chairman and Mrs. Rodin over whether a completed, signed job description had been received by the Chairman.
Mrs. Suib said there was no requirement that the Commissioners agree with her views. Rev. Ingraham suggested they include a written response from this Commission. Mrs. Rodin said that the point of the Consent Decree was to obviate the need for an addition to the report.
It was noted that if the report is not accepted by the Fair Housing Advisory Commission, it would not go to the Redevelopment Agency and the Mayor.
Ms. Suib said there is a fundamental difference over whether this report is the Fair Housing Officer’s point of view or a consensus document.
Mr. Dupervil said that the Consent Decree says that the Fair Housing Officer shall act as staff to the Fair Housing Advisory Commission. Ms. Suib said that is correct as to the elements referred to.
This report will be on next month’s agenda for further discussion.
FAIR HOUSING OFFICER’S MONTHLY REPORT
The report was in everyone’s packet. Discussion took place on outreach activities.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
** MR. DUPERVIL MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING CLAIM/LITIGATION
– FOI COMPLAINT.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Commissioners went into Executive Session at 8:40 p.m. and reconvened into Public Session at 9:05 p.m.
** MRS. TATEM MOVED THAT THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON JANUARY 6, 2005 AT
10:30 A.M. FOR THE EVALUATION OF MS. SUIB IN PUBLIC AS PER HER WISHES.
** MRS. RODIN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. DUPERVIL MOVED TO GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE CHAIRMAN TO INFORM THE CORPORATION
COUNSEL THAT THE COMMISSION WISHES TO HAVE A RULING ON THE TAPING ISSUE COMPLAINT
BY FAIR HOUSING OFFICER SUIB AND TO CONTACT AN OMBUDSMAN IN THAT REGARD.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OLD BUSINESS
** MRS. RODIN MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION SEND A LETTER OF THANKS TO HERB GRANT
FOR HIS DEDICATED CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
ADJOURNMENT
** MS. CORCORAN MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MS. TATEM SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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