HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2022_02_17
Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Brookings City & County Government Center and Go To Meeting App
Attendance: Nieema Thasing (chair -online); Dianne Nagy (vice-chair - online); Lawrence Novotny, (recorder –
in person); Dan Berg (online); Tracy Chapman (online): Erica Moore (online); Erinn Thomas (online); Charlene
‘Charlie’ Ward (county representative – in person); Marci Gebers (sheriff’s office liaison – online); Mikaela
Neubauer (library liaison – in person); Alex Wood (SDSU liaison - online); Casey Bell (city human resources &
staff liaison – in person)
Absent: Joel Gindo; Chisimdi Iheme (student representative); Keith Theroux (police liaison); Michele Vande
Weerd (school liaison);
Chair Thasing called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
Berg moved, Moore seconded, to adopt the agenda. Motion passed.
Ward moved, Moore seconded, to approve the minutes with this correction Ward and Thasing will arrange a
presentation at the Advance board of directors meeting on February 23. Motion passed.
Public comment:
Thasing gave kudos to the media team for the publicity BHRC received regarding the new diversity signs. Kelli
Volk with KELO-TV did a news segment featuring Nagy and Novotny which aired on Feb 02.
Liaison Reports:
Sheriff’s Office Marci Gebers will be serving as liaison. She had nothing to report.
Disabilities Awareness Committee (Ward). New renovations are occurring at the Larson Ice Center which will
increase accessibility for the disabled. The committee is working with Swiftel Center to make stage setups
handicapped accessible.
Common Read:
Eight copies of the 2022 common read book Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser are here for BHRC to pick up at
city administration office. The 2022 Griffith lecture will occur in Nov. The 2021 Griffith lecture which dd not
occur has been permanently cancelled.
Complaint Training:
City attorney Steve Britzman and the training WG will be meeting on Feb 23 to review the updated documents
Diversity potluck:
Tentatively scheduled for April 3.
Diversity Signs:
100 signs were ordered and 6 are left. There is a need for more signs. Nagy reported that the SDSU professional
staff advisory council will feature the signs in their newsletter so there will be more requests for signs. The
diversity WG recommends using the $2500 Griffith lecture carryover from the 2021 budget to purchase an
additional 156 signs. The city manager pledged to match BHRC’s new allocation for additional signs. (Note: He
committed up to $2000.) Can we get a discount for ordering a larger quantity of signs? There is a question on
who owns the copyright on the sign design – BRHC or Clean Slate? Bell will inquire. There is talk about
producing the design on stickers and shirts. Berg moved, Moore seconded, to use the $2500 carryover funds to
purchase more diversity signs and stickers. Motion passed.
Statewide HRC meeting
Someone from another HRC contacted Thasing about our diversity signs.
A doodle poll will be coming out soon to schedule a statewide meeting.
Annual Report
Novotny made corrections regarding the makeup of the Commission. Bell asked for comments on the report be
submitted to him by Feb. 23. Moore moved, Berg seconded, that the 2021 annual report be approved with
comments submitted. Motion passed.
Officer elections:
Consensus was that with the legislative session and MLK contest occurring in January, it would be an easier
transition to have new officers take over in July instead of January. A common approach is to require a three-year
commitment in which a member serves as vice-chair for one year, then progresses to chair for one year, and then
past chair for one year. Ward moved, Thomas seconded, that we adopt this model starting in July 2023. Motion
passed.
Open meetings rules
We were reminded to observe the rules regarding open meetings when communicating via e-mail. If an e-mail is
sent to 6 or more of us commission members, then this constitutes a quorum and the e-mail is considered an
official meeting. Liaisons are not included in the quorum count. When communicating with the entire BHRC
e-mail list, send the e-mail via blind copy (BCC). When responding to an e-mail, one should respond to the
sender and not to REPLY ALL. Also when responding, consider the e-mail thread in the body of the message. Is
it necessary to have the entire thread included in the response?
Liaisons:
Dakota Rural Action is interested in having a liaison with BHRC. Have they submitted their application for us to
consider?
Novotny is serving as liaison to the sustainability council. The council needs to appoint their liaison to BHRC.
The city’s human resources staff will like to encourage some of the other city’s boards and committees to have
liaisons with one another. They will share our application process with them.
Brookings Inclusive Collaborative (Bush Grant Project)
Moore and Wood reviewed the draft report that will be coming out at the end of February
BHRC needs to develop a plan of action to ensure the public input process is better than what it was before.
Working group reports
Thasing requests that each WG designate someone as its chair in order to create a channel of communications.
Berg volunteered to chair the international outreach WG for now.
Black Culture Awareness WG report:
The MLK contest will include home schools next year.
The Juneteenth planning group has invited Kas Williams to be the keynote speaker. They are looking for funding
for her airfare.
The planning group wants Juneteenth to be more of a celebratory event instead of educational programming.
Neubauer reminded us that the BHRC is involved in the last 2 events of the library’s Black History month series
of programs and encouraged our participation.
Feb 24 at 6 pm – celebration featuring free soul food and speakers
Mar 1 at 6 pm – “More Than A Month” community conversation to discuss what was learned from the
programs and how to apply this knowledge to make Brookings a better place
Moore and Nagy had to leave at this point.
Media WG
Chapman has been helping with posting items on Facebook. Submit your posting suggestions to Thomas and
Chapman.
Inclusivity WG report:
The listening session with the indigenous community which was planned for February 17 has been postponed to
March.
Legislative WG report:
SB 46 Governor Noem’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Bill was passed and signed into law. Thasing submitted a
statement to the both the Senate and House State Affairs Committees. Our Brookings legislators voted against the
bill.
HB 1025 designating Juneteenth as a legal holiday has been passed and signed by the Governor.
HB 1005 which banned trans youth from using multi-occupancy restrooms and changing rooms that do not match
with their gender identity was killed in Senate Judiciary. Thasing submitted a statement to both the Senate and
House Committees. Reps. Reed & Tidemann voted against the bill.
HB 1139 which would have created a Commission on Indian Affairs was killed in House committee. Thasing
submitted a statement to the committee.
HB 1274 which would have established a Commission on Truth and Reconciliation was killed in House
committee. Thasing submitted a statement to the committee.
Thomas left at this point.
First responders recognition:
Thasing proposed having a day dedicated to recognizing first responders. This event would be sponsored by
BHRC. The city manager and mayor are in support of the idea. What can be done besides issuing a
proclamation? Gebers and Theroux will discuss this with their fellow officers. Novotny will see if CLEAR
Partners would be interested in participating. More discussion at next meeting.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 7 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder