SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 30, 2007

ATTENDANCE: Chairman Rahoul Dupervil, Vice Chair; Sarah Mann; Bea Brown;
Dr. Charles Stabinsky; Michael Murray; Vicky Su

STAFF: Elisabeth Youngerman

OTHER: Rabbi Ron Fish, Congregation Beth El; Lisa Charnoff, The Advocate;
Patrick Linsey, The Hour; Chad Lanzo, The Citizen News

CALL TO ORDER

Vice Chairman Dupervil called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. He said that on behalf of the Chairlady, Dr. Amodio, he wished everyone a Happy New Year.

DISCUSSION ABOUT JANUARY 24 GRAFFITI INCIDENT BIAS CRIME

Vice Chairman Dupervil said that the graffiti incident happened to a Norwalk resident on January 24, 2006. He said the Commission is responsible for taking action, finding a solution, or find a way to deal with the situation. The solution can be through education or dealing with the leaders of the community in Norwalk. That was one of the main reasons for tonight’s meeting.

Ms. Youngerman explained the incident. After the article came out in the newspaper, the Commission responded with a letter to the Editor of the Hour. She said she immediately spoke with the Mayor, Rabbi Fish, and the victim. She said Rabbi Fish reminded her that this was the first year that the United Nations had voted to recognize the Holocaust with the establishment of an annual day on January 27. She worked with Mayor Moccia to get a Proclamation written to acknowledge Holocaust Remembrance Day. She was invited, along with Mayor Moccia and Rep. Christopher Shays, to Congregation Beth El.

Rabbi Fish extended his gratitude to the Commission members. He said these acts are easy to dismiss as lone acts. The symbols are powerful, and any attempt to dehumanize anyone is felt throughout the Community. He said he wants the Jewish community to be part of the team that would respond to an incident of this nature.

Ms. Brown said the she could feel the victim’s pain. She said it’s shameful that racism is still going on in 2006.

Ms. Youngerman said that the victim had not filed a complaint with CHRO, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is a criminal act, and it needs to be addressed as such. Vice Chairman Dupervil suggested the formation of a subcommittee to work with all communities in Norwalk for diversity. Ms. Youngerman said that there had been previous discussions regarding this, but due to changes in the budget, activities are now being reduced. She said it’s important to note that the holocaust was 60 years ago. She suggested working with the Superintendent of Schools to review the holocaust education program. Dr. Stabinsky said there have been some Norwalk school teachers that have received holocaust education training. He offered to speak with the retired teacher(s), and have a report ready for discussion at the next meeting.

Ms. Youngerman said a subcommittee of the Human Relations Commission (HRC) could be formed to meet with members of the Jewish community and review ideas for educational programs, etc. That information could then be used in the form of the diversity training that they hope to do. Rabbi Fish said that it’s important to take a look at what people teach their children about hate crimes and bigotry. He said it would be important to redirect the school board to use the bully pulpit to teach the evils of human history and to work toward increasing the understanding of all people.

Ms. Su asked the media to make it clear that when an incident of this nature happens again, to contact the HRC first.

Rabbi Fish said he is a member of an inter-faith clergy group that meets monthly, and he thought it might be a good resource for the HRC to meet with them.

** MS. MANN MOVED TO APPROVE FORMING A SUBCOMMITTEE TO EXPLORE PROGRAMS WITH OUR COLLABORATORS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY ON ISSUES OF BIGOTRY, DIVERSITY, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
** MS. BROWN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

After some discussion regarding the possibility of an ad-hoc committee, and a review of the by-laws, it was agreed that the subcommittee could call in some experts on an as-needed basis. Vice Chair Dupervil, Ms. Brown and Dr. Stabinsky volunteered to be part of the sub-committee. There were some commissioners that were not present at tonight’s meeting, and they will be asked if they want to serve on the subcommittee.

Vice Chair Dupervil said that the next steps for the new subcommittee will be to prepare a proposition and submit it to the Mayor, so they don’t duplicate efforts.

DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPOSAL FOR NORWALK COMMISSION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED

Ms. Brown mentioned that Mr. Mike Geake lives in the 2nd Taxing District, and along with others that live there, she discovered that no one is aware of any of the ADA information. As he is disabled, he took it upon himself to write a proposal to establish a disability commission. Ms. Brown said it was well written, and he was trying to get recognition for the disabled.

Ms. Su said she felt there wasn’t a need for another commission to handle the rights of the disabled. Ms. Mann said that she and Dr. Stabinsky have been working on this for two months. Ms. Youngerman said there are several things in place now that will move this issue forward and bring the city of Norwalk into compliance with the ADA. She distributed copies of a grievance procedure that is waiting to be approved at Corporation Counsel. She said they have applied for a CDBG grant through the Redevelopment Agency, and they have cleared the first hurdle of the grant process. Within that grant, they fit into the “Removal of Architectural Barriers” category. She asked for some assistance from the commissioners to help with the last aspects of the process, which should take place over the next few weeks. She said she is on the subcommittee of the TAG group, which is an advocate group and disability subcommittee of the Human Services Council (HSC). Her office staff took the lead on that subcommittee so that they can provide to the public a central point of referral for handicapped information. She encouraged people to attend the Disability Advocacy Collaborative meetings. As it is a citizen’s group, she would give information to Mr. Geake also.

Ms. Youngerman said that she has spoken to Ms. Mary Roman, City Clerk, about the process involved in passing an ordinance. If a person interested in forming a commission approaches a council person with an ordinance, it has to go to Corporation Counsel first for approval. She sent a letter outlining the information to Mr. Geake and his wife, Mary.

Ms. Youngerman said she will send a letter to the Mayor, on behalf of the commissioners, that since one of the protected classes is the disabled, that they could make the HRC diverse by appointing a disabled person to the commission.

The commission members then had a discussion about being short on staff, money, and therefore the ability to do activities/projects. They agreed that they had done a good job in the past, and they should continue to work towards the goal of becoming compliant in ADA issues, as well as the outreach and education of the racism and hate crime issues. The CBDG grant is a good start in that direction. Mr. Dupervil suggested they prepare ADA information within the next month or two to give to the Mayor.

Chairman Dupervil said that Dr. Amodio asked him to remind Ms. Youngerman about the posters for Black History Month, which is February.

The next meeting will be held in March, 2006.

ADJOURNMENT

** DR. STABINSKY MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. MURRAY SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Marr
Telesco Secretarial Services

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