ANNUAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Dr. Barbara Amodio, Chair; Bea Brown; Rahoul Dupervil;
Dr. Sally Grose (7:35 p.m.); Sarah Mann; Rev. Douglas Nissing;
Gerald Ross, Jr.; Dr. Charles Stabinsky; Sara Sikes (7:46 p.m.); Vicky Su

STAFF: Elisabeth Youngerman, Human Relations Director

CALL TO ORDER

Dr. Amodio called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

** MRS. BROWN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES WITH THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONS

The following corrections were made to the minutes of August 18, 2005:

Correct the spelling of Sara Mann to Sarah Mann throughout.

Page 2: last paragraph should read that Ms. Youngerman said that she asked Mr. Patterson.

Page 3: First paragraph, second sentence should read that she spent the better part of many days speaking Spanish, not English.

Dr. Grose arrived at 7:35 p.m.

Page 3: under New Business and Nominating Committee, should read that Chair Amodio said that she nominated the Committee to choose the slate of officers.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

CHAIR’S REPORT

Dr. Amodio explained that she has been playing “phone tag” with Dr. Corda in an effort to choose a school for the Human Rights Day. She said that she has followed through with the Committee’s request for Human Rights Day at the Global Studies of Brian McMahon High School.

Dr. Amodio reported that she has followed through with Fairfield University regarding acquiring interns, both paid and non-paid. The earliest they will be able to have someone on board will be in mid January. She said that they would be able to get students who speak a number of languages, particularly Spanish, French and French Creole.

Ms. Su said that she would volunteer to translate Chinese documents. Mr. Dupervil suggested that Ms. Su could mentor a student, rather than translate herself.

Mr. Dupervil said that he could mentor a student of French and Creole French. Most of the Haitian community speaks Creole rather than French.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ms. Youngerman reported that the website has been updated to reflect the correct names of the Commissioners and the minutes.

Ms. Youngerman asked Ms. Mann if her term had expired. If so, she wanted to notify Mayor Knopp, so that he could put her name up for re-appointment.

Dr. Amodio explained that unless a Commissioner resigns in writing or is replaced, technically they will continue to serve on the Commission.

Ms. Sikes arrived at 7:46 p.m.

Ms. Youngerman reviewed her written report. She said that they opened a Fair Housing case on Monday, but will know by the end of tomorrow if the complainant will file.

Ms. Youngerman asked the Commissioners if they wanted new business cards. The cards will cost each Commissioner $50.00 if they choose to have business cards printed. In response to Rev. Nissing’s question, Dr. Amodio said that a business card would be helpful in the event they meet someone who has an issue of discrimination. They could give the person their card with the appropriate information.

Ms. Youngerman asked the Commissioners if they would prefer to receive their monthly packet by mail or e-mail. The Commissioners agreed that they would prefer to receive their monthly packets by e-mail.

Ms. Youngerman said that an offer was made for the position of a bi-lingual secretary. Ms. Youngerman interviewed her along with Personnel. She has a background with a law firm, where she did a lot of translating. In addition, she is attending Gibbs College and will graduate in February, coming away with excellent computer skills.
Mr. Dupervil expressed concern that although the bi-lingual secretary may be able to speak Spanish, she may not be able to write in Spanish. Dr. Amodio who also requested that Personnel be reminded of this issue and the need to advertise in a bi-lingual publication supported these comments. Ms. Youngerman explained that Personnel does not test for written Spanish; only spoken Spanish. She said that this person’s focus would be to attend to the people who come into the office or call.

Ms. Youngerman said that she has enjoyed meeting all of the commissioners and has learned a lot about Norwalk. She thanked Mr. Ross for a wonderful afternoon with the Human Services Council.

Ms. Youngerman reported that they are getting a new copier in the office. She said that there are funds available in the budget for the copier and she hopes to update the office equipment.

Ms. Youngerman said that she has no recent materials about the Human Relations office and wants to have those materials for outreach to the community.

Ms. Youngerman suggested developing a new brochure for the Human Relations Commission within the next few weeks and to expand their coverage with Info Line and the Norwalk Research Directory.

Ms. Youngerman said that she started meeting with Larry Manzi who coordinates the City of Norwalk’s website. She wants to update the Human Relations website and make it more comprehensive.

Ms. Youngerman spoke about the City’s new customer service program. She said that the program has bi-lingual staff and she is doing question and answer hot buttons for them.

Dr. Grose suggested that Ms. Youngerman may want to contact Ms. Heather Jenkins who is the coordinator of the After School Alliance. She said that they have an arts taskforce and may be able to help with the brochure.

Rev. Nissing volunteered to work on the brochure.

Ms. Youngerman explained that as a City it has not done what it should do as far as ADA (Americans with Disability Act) compliance. She said that she would like to re-visit this project.

Ms. Youngerman asked what kinds of projects the Commissioners as a group would like to do. She added that after moving through some short-term items, she would like to set up a time to do some strategic planning for the Commission.

Ms. Youngerman said that she would focus on training the Commissioners as specific issues arise.

OLD BUSINESS

UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR BI-LINGUAL SECRETARY

This matter was discussed under the Director’s report.

NEW BUSINESS

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

This matter will be discussed further once a date has been set.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

Mrs. Brown, Chair of the Nominating Committee said that Dr. Amodio and Mr. Dupervil as Chair and Vice Chair are doing an excellent job and should serve a second term.

** REV. NISSING MOVED TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. SIKES MOVED TO ELECT THE SITTING SLATE OF OFFICERS
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Mr. Dupervil thanked the Commissioners for nominating him to continue serving as Vice Chair. He said that he has a good working relationship with Dr. Amodio.

Dr. Amodio thanked the Commissioners and they are a wonderful think tank of resources. She thanked everyone for their confidence and hard work.

Dr. Stabinsky pointed out that the by-laws include secretary and treasurer positions. Ms. Mann explained that when they revised the by-laws they decided to remove the treasurer position, but leave in the secretary position in the event it became necessary to elect a secretary to the Commission.

Mr. Ross suggested discussing this item further at the next meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

** MRS. BROWN MOVED TO ADJOURN
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi, Telesco Secretarial Service

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