JANUARY 7, 2003

PRESENT:     Richard Booth, Chairman; Jeanette Jean-Pierre; Sarah Mann; Jordan Kolovson; Norman Roberts; Candace Schafer

Mr. Booth called the meeting to order at 7:45 pm.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The following changes were made to the minutes of November 5, 2003.

Page two, third paragraph, change the first name of Mr. Patterson to Mr. Bernard.  Fifth paragraph, before the period add “intended that the Commission be supported.”

**        MS. MANN MOVED APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

**        MR. ROBERTS SECONDED.

**            MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Mr. Booth asked for Commissioners to watch for newspaper reports that related to them and mentioned an article on the housing officer.

FIELD REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT

There was no report this evening.

COMMISSIONER’S POTPOURRI

Mr. Kolovson asked about the budget. 

Mr. Booth said this was more difficult without Ms. Devitt’s input.  He noted that in the last year they have had no complaints about the Fair Rent Commission from anybody and commended the staff.

Mr. Kolovson asked (Mr. Booth) if they were meeting the city’s needs.  Mr. Booth replied that he knew they were as they had never had one of their decisions contested.

Ms. Jean-Pierre asked if Ms. Devitt would be replaced.  Mr. Booth said he did not know.  He mentioned articles by the Human Relations in the newspaper about how long it has been now.

Mr. Roberts asked for the next meeting if the staff could prepare an outline on pending cases so they know what is happening.  He said he would like a more current inventory of the cases on the table.

There was a discussion on the amount of work put upon the current staff.

Ms. Schafer asked if there was some kind of phone record that could be reported on by this Commission.  Mr. Booth said to the best of his knowledge there is a phone record.

Ms. Jean Pierre asked what they could do to help the situation.

Mr. Booth said the city has to decide if they are going to hire a new director, and if they are they have to come up with a job description that is realistic.  He suggested that prior to their next meeting they would have an answer.

There was discussion about the job of the director.

**        MR. ROBERTS MOVED TO ADJOURN.

**        MS. MANN SECONDED.

**            MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Kye

Telesco Secretarial Services