Click here for minutes from the April 18th, 2002 meeting
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Click here for minutes from the September 17th, 2002 meeting

October 17, 2002

Page 4, 8^th line from the bottom - the word "continuing" should be deleted

Page 4, 3^rd paragraph should read: Ms. Amodio suggested that the Human Rights coordinator for each school facilitate the creation of ornaments, and bring them to the activities to be hung on the trees.

Page 5, 2^nd sentence above ADJOURNMENT should read: It must be determined

Page 1, 1^st line should read: The Hearing Chairman, Art Scialabba, opened the Hearing at 7:32 p.m.

Page 2, 8^th paragraph last sentence should read: If they are found to be so, then a decision must be made in favor of the complainant, if not the case would be closed.

Throughout the minutes the spelling of the word notarized is corrected

Page 3, 2^nd sub-heading should read: Investigators Exhibits

Page 3, 1^st paragraph down from Investigators Exhibits 2^nd sentence should read: . . .regarding his age. In the same paragraph should add he asked him if he had ever filed a discrimination complaint before. Mr. Robinson replied no.

Page 4, 6^th paragraph, change "resolve" to "resolution."

Page 4, 8^th paragraph 3^rd sentence should read: . . .but with the problems he had he could no longer support the dealership.

Page 5, 8^th paragraph, correct spelling of "Rodriguez."

Page 6, 2^nd sentence should read: Mr. Morley treats all his. . .

Page 6, 2^nd sentence from the bottom should read: . .they need to get back on. . .

Page 7, 3^rd paragraph 1^st sentence should read: . . .that he asked Mr. Robinson not to park. . .

Page 7, 4^th paragraph last sentence should read: They must be prepared and dressed to work . . .

Page 7, 7^th paragraph 2^nd to last sentence should read: . . .a letter that said he was misled by the ad and . . .

Page 7, 8^th paragraph 1^st sentence should read: . . .he had never spoken about. .

Page 7, 11^th paragraph 2^nd sentence the word should be Cavalier

Page 9, 10^th paragraph should read: Mr. Morley’s brother would not like it

Page 10, 2^nd sentence should read: She responded that was true. . .

Page 10, 4^th paragraph should read: Ms. Romano

Page 11, 3^rd paragraph, 5 lines down should read: Mr. Morley designates. . .

Page 11, last sentence should read: Mr. Morley takes good care of his employees

Page 11, 3^rd sentence should read: Mr. Deshan took advantage of his lies to make sales

Page 12, 10^th paragraph, "bring" should be "bringing."

Page 13, 2^nd paragraph should read: He said he handles the. . .

Page 14, 3^rd paragraph from the bottom should read: Mr. Robinson, if he needs an invoice or . . .

Page 14, 1^st line should read: . . .was after the incident when the liquor bottle. . .

Page 14, 2^nd to last paragraph should read: Mr. Ronald Mikulka

Page 15, 1^st line should read: called Mr. Linford McLean

Page 15, 2^nd line should read: Mr. McLean

Page 15, 5^th paragraph should read: Mr. James Mosley. . .

Page 15, 8^th paragraph should read: Mr. Mosley tows cars. . .

Page 15, 9^th paragraph last line should read: . . .were the witnesses who were not called to. . .

Page 15, last sentence should read: He said he did not know if others needed. . .

Page 17, 5^th paragraph from the bottom should read: . . .while working for Vitam with this. . .

Page 17, 8^th paragraph from the top 2^nd sentence should read: . . .allow someone to put him in a situation where he. . .

Page 21, 3^rd paragraph 5^th line from the bottom should read: Mr. Robinson was that there was racially. . .

Page 22, where the name Murphy appears, it should be Murray

Page 22, 4^th paragraph should read: Ms. Devitt, in the same paragraph, the word subpoena should be subpoenaed

Page 22, 5^th paragraph from the bottom last line should read: . . .when he is able to return. . .

Page 23, 3^rd line down should read: Mr. Murray

** MS. AMODIO SECONDED

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Papadakos said he received a letter from the Fair Housing Advisory Commission regarding training on September 18^th at City Hall from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The attendees at this meeting were Mr. and Mrs. Tomas for Bradley vs. Tomas, Mr. Edward Rosette for Holken vs. Rosette, Ms. Betty Green for Barry vs. Green and Mr. Calvin Lawson for Marrow vs. Lawson.

Mr. Papadakos mentioned that in the case of Bradley vs. Supreza, the Commission dismissed this case and suggested that Mr. Supreza would benefit from fair housing training. Mr. Supreza informed the Fair Housing Advisory that he has moved to Florida and is in the process of selling the property that was involved in this case.

Mr. Papadakos read a statement from Margaret Suib of the Fair Housing Advisory Commission which said Dreamy Hollow was given a choice of six dates with 2 choices of times on each of the date to receive the training. The letter states that Dreamy Hollow declined. Five other dates and times for the month of October were given. Fair Housing Advisory Commission is waiting for a response from Dreamy Hollow. The case was ultimately settled. Refusal to receive training will be considered a breach of settlement and Ms. Suib will so inform Mr. and Mrs. Dodds. However, she would like to give Dreamy Hollow an opportunity to comply before any action is taken.

Ms. Devitt said a settlement was agreed on to pay the Dodds $5,000 and that Dreamy Hollow Admissions Committee would receive fair housing training. Ms. Devitt stated that the settlement was the result of an appeal, from the Human Relations Commission, relating to the judge’s decision in this case.

Ms. Romano suggested that the Commission write a letter stating that they are in receipt of the letter from Ms. Suib, and bring it to the attention of the judge who made the agreement that the parties have not complied with the decision.

Mr. Papadokas said he wanted to add that he knew someone who lives in these units and that they were having trouble selling their property because the Admission Committee was not accepting the buyers.

Ms. Devitt read the terms of the settlement agreement:

1. Dreamy Hollow hereby certifies that in the future it would not willfully or illegally discriminate in connection with the sale or rental of housing or in the provision of services associated with housing, and
2. Dreamy Hollow hereby agrees that all members of its Board of Directors and Admissions Committee will attend a minimum of one fair housing training to be offered by the Norwalk Fair Housing officer as scheduled between March 1, 2002 – December 31, 2002, and
3. Further Dreamy Hollow agrees to permit Norwalk’s Fair Housing officer on its property to distribute door to door flyers related to free fair housing training offered by the Norwalk’s Fair Housing officer, as alternate relief to that awarded by the Norwalk Human Relations Commission, to Dorie Dodds and an assignment of the action filed by Anne Dodds with the Norwalk Human Relations Commission. The parties hereby agree that Dreamy Hollow would pay Anne and Dorie Dodds jointly the sum of $5,000.
4. In conjunction herewith appended hereto, and make a part hereof, Dorie Dodds, Anne Dodds, Wayne Dodds and Dreamy Hollow will execute full and final releases one to another and they will not bring any legal action against the estate of Margaret Higgins (the seller of the property). In conjunction herewith, the Norwalk Human Relations Commission and Dreamy Hollow execute full and final releases. This agreement is the full and final agreement between the parties in the above captioned matter and includes the releases appended hereto, and is conditioned upon the concurrent receipt of cash certified check or money order in the amount of $5,000. Upon execution of this agreement and all of its terms, Dreamy Hollow will file a withdrawal of the above referenced appeal against the City of Norwalk Human Relations Commission, and Anne Dodd will file a withdrawal of her complaint.

Ms. Devitt stated that all of this has happened except for the training, and that the judge was not a signatory to this agreement and, therefore, it is not a court order.

Ms. Devitt said that Ms. Suib’s position on this was that she should be compensated for the time after hours to provide the Fair Housing training. Dreamy Hollow’s position is that it is not reasonable to expect these people to all have the same time off in the middle of the day, because they work during the day, and the time for training is needed at the end of a work day.

Mr. Papadakos asked Ms. Devitt if a letter could be sent to Tim Sheehan, the Director of the Redevelopment Agency, to schedule training sometime before Thanksgiving. Ms. Devitt stated that a letter should not be sent because the party has until December 31 to receive training.

Ms. Devitt suggested that the Human Relations Commission communicate to the Fair Housing Officer the option to offer training after hours.

** MS. AMODIO SECONDED

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Director’s Report

Ms. Devitt said the crucial issue is the budget and it is due by November 13^th.

The commission spoke among themselves to decide on the date for the next meeting. All commission members agreed on the date of November 7^th, at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Romano mentioned that this will be a special meeting.

Ms. Devitt told the commission that they could read her report from October 17.

Ms. Devitt stated that because of the cost of the Secretarial Services for the last meeting, she agreed to pay for it out of the Commission budget, and will submit tonight’s bill to the City Clerk’s office.

In re Human Rights Day, Ms. Amodio mentioned that she would talk with the Mayor regarding his wishes about how to decorate the foyer of City Hall. Ms. Amodio said she was willing to take care of the details for a small ceremony. Ms. Amodio said it would be good to continue these ceremonies as a tradition.

Public Comment

No public comment was made

Executive Session for case review

Case number 217 – 02E

** DR. STABINSKY SECONDED

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Case numbers 195 – 00B and 196 – 00B

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Case number 197 – 00B

Mr. Papadakos said he made his comments in the opening of the meeting regarding there not being the Chairman or Vice Chairman to convene the next meeting.

Ms. Romano said Human Rights Day has been set for December 10^th at Wolfpit Elementary School at 1 Starlight Drive at 10:00 a.m. Ms. Romano said the school is very excited about hosting this event. Ms. Romano mentioned an event at Wolfpit School called National Bullying month, which will coincide with Human Rights Day. Ms. Romano said they will learn directives on not to bully. There will be training on how to get along with one another, and not to look at others in discriminatory ways. Ms. Romano mentioned some of the activities the students and teachers would have, and that this would be a total school involvement. Ms. Romano mentioned that she had asked various congressmen and senators to attend the event at Wolfpit School.

Other Business

Mr. Papadakos asked Mr. Scialabba to remove Mr. Mastroianni from the Web Site. Mr. Papadakos mentioned that he sent a letter to the Mayor stating that there are two Commissioners, Mr. Garfunkel and Ms. Amodio, who need to be re-appointed and that there is a need to fill Mr. Mastroianni’s vacancy.

Adjournment

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