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Human
Relations Commission
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NOVEMBER 20, 2003
ATTENDANCE: Steve Papadakos, Chairman; Dr. Sally Grose; Dr. Barbara Amodio; Dr. Charles Stabinsky; Rahoul Dupervil; Michael Murray, Gerald Ross, Jr.; Joshua Kammerman (arrived at 7:45 p.m.); Lesley Eisenberg (arrived at 7:50 p.m.).
STAFF: Larry Patterson.
Chairman Papadakos called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
Regarding the September 16th minutes which were not on the agenda for approval, Mr. Patterson said that an additional correction should be made to the Attendance section. Mr. Kossarski was stated as being in attendance, but he was not. Chairman Papadakos said that the minutes of the November 6th meeting were also not on the agenda for approval, but since the commissioners received their copy and had an opportunity to review, those would need approval as well.
Page 3, bottom under Chairman’s Report, change the word “reclused” to “recused.” The second line under Chairman’s Report should be clarified to “request a legal definition of the duties of the Human Relations Commission.” The third line under Chairman’s Report should have the following phrase inserted “that he was in the building.” The eighth line under Chairman’s Report regarding the Law Department, insert “Mr. Patterson described for the Commission’s review.” The last line should read “request form that was filled out for Corporation Counsel.” Also, delete “that he and the Commission was shifting the focus;” insert “from moving the City along quickly.”
Page 4, under Field Representative, for clarification, it was Rev. “Ron” not “Rob.” Also, add the following to the second to last sentence “office guidelines to continuing barring companies that discriminate from being able to bid for one year.”
Page 7, for consistency, change “Ms. Amodio” to “Dr. Amodio.” Also, the motion to adjourn was seconded by Mr. Dupervil, not Chairman Papadakos.
Page 1, second paragraph, bottom two lines should be clarified to indicate that Chairman Papadakos said that the hiring process was not up for discussion at the special meeting; strike the portion of the sentence “Chairman Papadakos said that the process did not involve the Commission.” To clarify the statement made by Dr. Amodio regarding budget amounts, she said that budget amounts for line categories were set but other monies were available from a special fund. The word “union” should be capitalized on page 1 and throughout the balance of the document.
Page 2, second paragraph, third line “so that the salaries expense could be split equally between the two commissions” should be changed to “because there was a workload overlap with the two commissions.” In the last sentence of the paragraph, delete this portion of the sentence that reads, “He suggested that Mr. Booth meet with the Human Relations Commission to be told that” and substitute “He suggested that combining was not a good idea.”
Page 3, first paragraph, first line, correct the spelling of the word “pr8inting” to “printing.” In the sixth paragraph, last line remove the extra period in $138,681..32.” In the last paragraph, third line, change “Mr. Patterson said that he would conduct a Human Rights Day observance at Columbus Magnet School” to “Mr. Patterson said that a Human Rights Day observance would be conducted at Columbus Magnet School.” In the fourth line, delete the phrase “and again on December 22.”
** MR. ROSSI MOVED TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2003, OCTOBER 16, 2003 AND NOVEMBER 6, 2003 AS AMENDED.
** MR. DUPERVIL SECONDED THE MOTION.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Papadakos said that he had nothing specific to report and that his comments would be covered under agenda items.
Mr. Patterson offered his thanks to everyone for his or her contributions during the budgetary process, and said that the proposed budget was submitted on November 12. He said that once he has received feedback, there would be further review with the commissioners.
Chairman Papadakos said that he received a call from the Finance Department to discuss the budget but has not yet done so. Mr. Patterson said that the proposed budget was reviewed line by line, but without the presence of a director, the Commission could not proceed any further than it did. Regarding the Fair Rent Commission’s budget, Mr. Patterson said that there are issues which still need to be addressed. A budget meeting would most likely be scheduled during the day; Dr. Stabinsky said that each agency or department is assigned its own time slot. Mr. Patterson said that he would advise the commission as to the date when it became known.
Mr. Patterson said that Mutual Securities Credit Union donated a New England Spruce tree from L & L Evergreen which would be used for the Human Relations Day ceremonies. The tree will be delivered to Columbus Magnet School on December 8th and will be ready for the ceremony on December 9th.
Dr. Amodio reiterated that the Human Rights Day ceremony would be held at Columbus Magnet School from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on December 9th. She said that nearly all details for its preparation are complete, but asked if anyone had a keyboard that could be used. Dr. Grose said that she had one; Dr. Amodio said that it might be needed for the ceremony held in the atrium on December 10th. She said that students at Columbus Magnet create their own designs for the ceremony and will read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rights of Children. They will contribute one, or possibly a few, hand-made ornaments to decorate the tree and the atrium.
Specifically regarding the ceremony in the atrium at 10:00 a.m. on December 10th, Dr. Amodio said that the Board of Education presented a program last year; she would present this year. She invited everyone to attend both ceremonies if possible, and said that the students at Columbus Magnet expressed an interest in meeting the commissioners; at least two students would attend the presentation at the atrium.
Dr. Amodio said that the Director of Music Ministries of St. Paul’s on the Green would also attend the ceremony at City Hall. A few choir members will join him and present a piece on justice, truth and peace; It’s a Small, Small World will be sung.
Dr. Amodio said that she purchased the 4-Freedoms refrigerator magnets which would be used as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for the ornaments.
Dr. Amodio said that the press release was sent out and that she would be willing to write a short news article on the meaning of International Human Relations Day. She suggested creating a Human Relations Commission calendar, using events from previous ceremonies, which would send a good message to the City and its residents.
Dr. Amodio said that she posted Norman Rockwell prints on the Human Relations bulletin board in City Hall which depicted actual family members of City employees in them.
Chairman Papadakos said that a while ago he formed an ad hoc committee whose task it was to review the applications which had been received to fill the Director’s position. It was later brought to his attention that one of the commissioners applied for the position. He said that he felt this was a conflict of interest and that being the case, the commissioner should recuse himself or herself from the meeting during discussion of this topic. He asked the commissioners if they agreed.
Dr. Grose asked for more information about the ad hoc committee. Mr. Rossi remembered the discussion a few months ago wherein it was discussed that it was the discretion of the chairman of the Human Relations Commission to appoint the members to the ad hoc committee. Mr. Dupervil said that it was not clear to him how this was done. Mr. Patterson confirmed that the chairman does have the authority to form ad hoc committees who review and “fact find” subject matters in greater depth than what the entire Commission is involved in. Dr. Stabinsky asked if Corporation Counsel had provided a report regarding authority for hiring. Dr. Grose asked who the ad hoc committee members were and why its chairman was not a Human Relations commissioner. Chairman Papadakos said that members are appointed, and that some had been former members of the Human Relations Commission. He said that the final hire for the Director would be made by the Commission, with input and approval of the Mayor’s office. Dr. Grose said that she took exception to this. Chairman Papadakos said that the ad hoc committee’s task was to review all applications in conjunction with the Personnel Dept., after which five qualified candidates would be chosen and asked to present themselves to the Commission. Mr. Patterson said that when the former director was hired, the Commission interviewed the top three candidates. Dr. Amodio said that the Commission then discussed the qualifications of each candidate, chose one of the three and forwarded their decision to the Mayor. Mr. Patterson said that Personnel did the preliminary screening at that time, but added that there are now over 100 applications.
Chairman Papadakos reiterated that if a commissioner applied for the Director position it was a conflict of interest for them to remain in the meeting discussing this topic. He alluded to the fact that Dr. Amodio applied for the position; Dr. Amodio emphatically stated that she did not.
Dr. Stabinsky said that he was getting frustrated with the process and that two months ago a letter was written to Corporation Counsel asking them who had the legal authority to make the hire. Chairman Papadakos said that the City’s attorney told him it was a cooperative effort with the Mayor’s office and the Commission but declined to provide a written statement to this effect. He said he called the Personnel Dept. to discuss this further but was told they were busy working on something else and would get back to him; to date they had not responded to his call. Likewise, he said, Mr. Booth, chairman of the Fair Rent Commission, did not get a response either.
The commissioners discussed hiring for the Director’s position at length. Dr. Stabinsky said that he didn’t feel there was any cooperation, and wondered if the Mayor’s office and Personnel would be willing to cooperate with the Ad Hoc Committee toward reaching a decision. Mr. Murray suggested writing a letter to the Personnel Dept. to forward all applications to the Commission for their review. Mr. Kammerman said that timing was a major issue. He said that 102 applications have been received and there should be a procedure in place so that the process could move forward and the position filled without further delay. Chairman Papadakos said that the Commission has the right to employ, not to hire. Dr. Amodio said that she could appreciate everyone’s impatience, but perhaps the Mayor should be petitioned to act on this, using the same procedure put in place by his predecessor, Mayor Esposito. Mr. Kammerman felt that doing this would not speed up the process. Mr. Dupervil said that it was obvious the Commission was expected to work closely with the Mayor’s office in this regard. As such, that is what they should do. Mr. Kammerman said that in the future it might be wise to amend the Commission’s Charter.
Dr. Grose asked to be appointed to the ad hoc committee. Mr. Ross said that Chairman Papadakos had the prerogative to decide whom he wanted on it. Chairman Papadakos said that his response to Dr. Grose was that his decision had already been made, and he apologized but the ad hoc committee should have fewer, rather than more, members. Dr. Stabinsky said that he didn’t feel Chairman Papadakos was putting forth a cooperative effort.
** DR. GROSE MOVED THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AS PREVIOUSLY CONSTITUTED BE REPLACED BY ANOTHER AD HOC COMMITTEE CREATED AT TONIGHT’S MEETING.
Dr. Stabinsky said that this was out of order. Mr. Dupervil disagreed, saying that if Dr. Grose was willing to be on the ad hoc committee, Chairman Papadakos should be willing to compromise. Dr. Stabinsky said that there has not been a crisis situation since the former director left. If there had been one, the entire City would be up in arms. Dr. Amodio wondered if the former director would be willing to attend a Commission meeting and join in the discussion.
Chairman Papadakos agreed that Dr. Grose could join the ad hoc committee, bringing the member total to six. He said that the committee should continue reviewing the applications and move forward. Dr. Amodio said that there was still further clarification needed. The ad hoc committee was formed but its task wasn’t clear. Was it just to fact find, or did it have the power to contribute to the hire? Chairman Papadakos said that no hire could be made yet since all applications had not been reviewed, a candidate had not been chosen and individual character investigations had not taken place. Dr. Stabinsky said that some of the 102 applicants may have already found jobs elsewhere. Mr. Patterson said that some of the applicants thought they were applying for a Human Resources position, rather than a Human Relations position and therefore this would weed out a few applications from the 102 up for review. Dr. Grose said that the job description was a good one and would form the basis to qualify a candidate. Mr. Patterson said that since Corporation Counsel was unwilling to make a written statement to define how the Commission can “employ,” a director, the commissioners may interpret this to mean that the Director’s salary is paid for out of the Commission’s budget.
Chairman Papadakos summarized the entire discussion by saying that after the ad hoc committee is finished with their review of the applications, they would make their recommendation to the Commission. The Commission would meet jointly with the Personnel Dept. and with the Mayor’s office and Corporation Counsel. The current job description would be used as the criteria for hire.
Mr. Patterson said that he did not have any cases for review in executive session.
Chairman Papadakos said that the chairman of the Fair Housing Committee bought a house in Wilton, and the Committee would not have a chairman until one could be appointed. He said that there would be a special meeting held to discuss this further on November 24, 2003, 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.
Dr. Stabinsky said that as a result of his meetings with the Superintendent of Schools, changes were being made to the report as follows. He said that the report was written in past tense, as there is no Blue Ribbon Commission now.
Page 2, paragraph 3, third sentence: add the word “former” before the word “Superintendent” and add the word “former” before the word “President.”
Page 2: the entire seventh paragraph was added.
Page 4, section F: point #1 was expanded for clarification purposes; point #2 should read “between 5th and 12th grade”
Dr. Grose said that Dr. Stabinsky did a good job on the report and asked how the subject was brought forth. Dr. Stabinsky responded that 12 years ago the then Mayor formed a Blue Ribbon Commission to study race relations in Norwalk. Very little was done and the former director asked for a status update on what had been accomplished and what further steps need to be taken. Dr. Grose said that she spends a great deal of her time working with youth in programs such as Neon and Head Start. She said that many town residents are working together to spread the word and enlist public support to address the needs of the children. The most difficult task is to get parents involved, and their lack of involvement is a critical detriment to advancement of youth. Ms. Eisenberg said that when a student is enrolled in a magnet school, the parents are required to make a commitment to be involved, but there is no enforcement if they don’t. Dr. Stabinsky said that he would give the report to Mr. Patterson, and Chairman Papadakos would forward it to Mayor Knopp. Dr. Grose said that the report would be a good vehicle to energize the City to get involved. Dr. Amodio said that the magnet schools are modeled after the United Nations School. Mr. Patterson thanked Dr. Stabinsky for getting this done; everyone applauded his effort.
Mr. Patterson said that he received a schedule of 2004 meeting dates and an updated member list which he would distribute to the commissioners. Chairman Papadakos said that the website needs to be updated to reflect Ms. Grose as a new member and that Mr. Rossi should be a “Jr.”
Chairman Papadakos said that on July 17th, approval was given to the Commission to purchase a plaque that will be donated to the school, and said that Dr. Amodio had further details. The plaque will be constructed of black anodized metal to last longer and look better. He said that the cost is yet unknown.
Dr. Amodio said that rather than a tree, perhaps the Commission would be able to get free bulbs for in-ground planting.
There being no further business to discuss,
** MS. EISENBERG MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** DR. STABINSKY SECONDED THE MOTION.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol A. Wiggins for
Telesco Secretarial Services
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