HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2019_08_26Brookings Human Rights Commission Notes (unapproved)
Monday, August 26, 2019
Community Room 300, Brookings City & County Government Building
Attendance: Hanna Holmquist (chair); Meagan Irvine-Miller (vice chair); Lawrence Novotny, (recorder); Kati
Hanson; Penny Hauffe; Marilyn Hildreth; Jason Meusburger; Wren Murphy (student representative); Matt
Rhodes (county representative); Erinn Thomas; Susan Rotert (city human resources director – staff liaison);
Casey Bell (city human resources technician – staff liaison)
Absent: none
Guest: Steve Britzman, city attorney
The training session started at 12:02 pm.
This special meeting was held in order for the BHRC members and staff to receive training on the city’s human
rights complaint process. The training was conducted by city attorney Steve Britzman who was instrumental in
the drafting of the complaint process policies and procedures.
Britzman stated the city has processed one complaint to conclusion within the last three years of the human rights
commission being in existence as a commission and operating under the revised ordinance establishing the
complaint resolution process.
Britzman stated that he, the staff and former BHRC members learned a lot from processing that complaint. They
found and resolved some difficulties in the process. Britzman predicted the city probably will have to process
around 10 complaints before all of the bugs are worded out. The procedures can be revised along the way.
The policies and procedures are supposed to be posted on the BHRC webpage. Note: I did not find them.
They also will be posted on the BHRC SharePoint. BHRC needs to promote the complaint process in order to let
the public know they have a right to file a complaint if they believe they are being discriminated against.
Britzman provided handouts on:
Flowchart of the complaint process
Table of contents of the complaint procedures manual
The mediation conference process & rules
Britzman answered questions about the process. He stated that use of the mediation process is the preferred way
of resolving a complaint.
City staff recently received a complaint but found that it was not within the scope of being a legitimate complaint.
The complaining party has not responded back with more information that was requested.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 12:48 pm
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder