CITY OF NORWALK
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
APRIL 19, 2007

ATTENDANCE: Bea Brown, Acting Chair; Carol Frank; Daisy Franklin;
Dr. Charles Stabinsky; Vicky Su; Dr. Barbara Amodio (7:44 p.m.)

STAFF: Larry Patterson

GUESTS: Mayor Richard Moccia; Peter Nolin, Corporation Counsel

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Brown called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.

Dr. Amodio arrived at 7:44 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH MEETING

** DR. STABINSKY MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED
** MS. FRANKLIN SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

MAYOR MOCCIA

Mayor Moccia reported that the Screening Committee had narrowed the candidates for the Director’s position to two people. He said that he believed that everyone on the committee was in agreement with his recommendation. Mayor Moccia said that it is his opinion and also that of the Corporation Counsel that this is a position that is appointed by the Mayor. He added that the Screening Committee agreed with that opinion.

Mayor Moccia said that when funding becomes available, he would like to have an organization provide diversity training to all City workers. He said that he wants the Human Relations Commission to know that he wants to work with them, although they may sometimes have a difference of opinion. Mayor Moccia invited Commission members to meet with him if they have a problem.

Ms. Brown requested a special meeting for the Commissioners to meet the candidate before making an announcement. Mayor Moccia said that if the candidate accepts the position, they could meet with the candidate the day before an announcement is made. He also suggested inviting the Fair Rent Commission to that meeting to meet the candidate. Ms. Brown said that the candidate should be at the next meeting.

Mayor Moccia said that he appreciates all of the work done by the Commission, but by the Charter, there are powers that lie with the Mayor and powers that lie with the Commission. Mr. Nolin said that he was present to answer any legal questions the Commissioners may have.

Ms. Franklin asked Mr. Nolin the meaning of employment. He said that that person works for the Commission, but that does not supersede the appointment process. Ms. Su asked if the Commission had the authority to conduct a performance evaluation. Mr. Nolin said that the performance evaluation is conducted through the Mayor who will solicit feedback from the Commission. He added that if the Commission is unhappy with the performance of the Director, they should notify the Mayor immediately.

Ms. Brown said that she does not see in the Code where the Mayor has the authority to hire the Director. Mayor Moccia said that any Mayor or Common Council counts on the opinion of its Corporation Counsel. Mr. Nolin said that Mr. Ciccarello started the opinion and he is following up on it.

Ms. Su said that if you look at the structure of the City, Human Relations is a department of the City. She said that the Mayor is the employer and should have the power to do the job of hiring. Ms. Brown replied that the Mayor does not hire people. She said that with no disrespect to Mr. Nolin or Mr. Ciccarello they both work for the Mayor or were appointed by the Mayor in power at the time and they render a decision that is favorable to the Mayor. She said that nowhere does it say that the Mayor makes the appointment.

Mr. Nolin said that the Common Council adopted the rules for hiring employees and the Common Council says that unless the Common Council or a charter specifies otherwise, the Mayor is the appointing authority. Ms. Brown told Mr. Nolin that he was not the be all of everything and that they were not going to agree.

Mayor Moccia said that he knew two things – that there is a God and he isn’t Him. He said that there is no authority for this Commission or any commission to hire their own lawyer. The only people authorized to hire outside counsel is the Common Council. Ms. Brown said that she was not going to sue the City and it is a poor rat that has only one hole.

Mr. Nolin said that if everyone was in agreement with the current hire, then hopefully this is a fight that they could have during another administration. Ms. Brown said that she was in agreement with the choice of candidate, but it was the principle of the thing.

Mayor Moccia said that everyone was in agreement about the candidate and they should all try to live up to the name of the Commission. He said that if down the road things change they can have this discussion. Mr. Nolin said that they could discuss this at any time.

Dr. Amodio told Mayor Moccia and Mr. Nolin that she hoped they would understand why the request was made for outside counsel. She said that she was willing to go with this legal research and believes they received clarity. Dr. Amodio said that she hopes to make the candidate feel welcome.

Mayor Moccia said that he took offense to statements made about ongoing discrimination in Norwalk. No place is perfect, but Norwalk with its multicultural population, many of whom hold elected office, does a great job and is further ahead of many cities.

Ms. Franklin said that she agreed with Dr. Amodio and hopes that the Commission can work with the new Director to move forward. There is a lot that this Commission needs to make happen. Dr. Amodio said that as an educator, there is a lot that can be done through education. She suggested that the Mayor and/or Mr. Nolin visit the Commission more often.

Dr. Amodio pointed out that because of the shootings that took place yesterday at Virginia Tech, many local students were afraid to go to class. Mayor Moccia assured Dr. Amodio that Norwalk has a security process in place in the schools.

VICE CHAIR’S REPORT

Ms. Brown reported that there were a lot of candidates for the Director’s position. She described their qualifications and said that it is hard to find someone with qualifications for both Fair Rent and Human Relations.

STAFF REPORT

Mr. Patterson distributed a copy of a form letter regarding the Community Diversity Day. Dr. Stabinsky suggested forming a Diversity Committee and asked Ms. Brown to recommend that the Chairperson appoint a Diversity Committee. He said that the previous committee was disbanded.

Mr. Patterson distributed and reviewed various articles of interest to the Commissioners. He said that March was one of their busiest months that he can recall. Ms. Brown asked if there were any complaints for the Human Relations Commission. He said that one person came to the office today at 3:30 p.m. and will return tomorrow. There were two new contacts in Human Relations. One was referred to cancer care and the other pertained to an employer in Stamford that was referred to the Department of Labor.

OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Franklin asked if anyone from Legal Aid was going to come in to talk to the Commission about the truancy policy. Ms. Brown suggested waiting until the new Director comes on board. Dr. Stabinsky asked Ms. Franklin if she knew anyone who was affected by that ruling and was willing to make a complaint. He said that he believed that this Commission would take on that complaint with vigor and that the Commissioners believe that what was done was discriminatory. Dr. Stabinsky said that this Commission never acts on anything until someone brings forward a complaint.
Ms. Franklin suggested leaving this subject alone unless someone wants to come to the Commission. Ms. Frank suggested creating a list of issues that need to be followed up on for the new Director’s arrival.

NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Franklin informed the Commissioners that she is working with the Housing Coalition and that they need people to call their representatives to help increase the amount of the sustainability fund. She said that it is a special fund set aside for emergencies such as flooding, roof repairs and mold removal.

Ms. Brown said that it would not hurt for the Commission to write a letter in support. Dr. Stabinsky said that he did not feel it was appropriate. He said that he agreed that people of good will should contact their legislatures, but did not believe that the Commission should do that.

Mr. Patterson shared articles of interest to the Commission that Ms. Franklin provided to him.

ADJOURNMENT

** DR. AMODIO MOVED TO ADJOURN
** DR. STABINSKY SECONDED
** 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 Services

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