Minutes 10-04-11
Richfield Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes October 4, 2011
City Hall
6:30 pm
Call to order & Attendance
1.
Members Present:
a.
Molly Darsow
2.
Philip Lowe
3.
Todd Chase
4.
Julie Bagby
5.
Lall Ram
6.
Nancy Roberts
7.
Elizabeth Morrissey
8.
Guests:
a.
i. Christy Szitta appeared by phone
Roll Call
COMMISSIONERS:
LIAISONS:
P DARSOW, Molly – Chair CITY COUNCIL P ELLIOTT, Pat
___SHARKEY, Michael _____GOETTEL, Debbie
P ROBERTS, Nancy
___NESSE, Kristina SCHOOL _____TOENSING, Peter
P BAGBY, Julie CITY STAFF: P SANDELL, Todd
P LOWE, Phillip
P Ram, Lall OTHERS
P Chase, Todd PRESENT: Jason
P Elizabeth Morrissey
2011 Attendance Roster
NAME FEMAAPMAJUJUAUSEOCNODEJA
B R R Y N L G P T V C N
Darsow, Molly
P P P P P P
Roberts, Nancy
P P P P P P
Sharkey, Michael
P P C C
Lowe, Phillip
P P P P P P
Bagby, Julie
P C P P P P
Ram, Lall
P P P P P
Chase, Todd
P P P P P
Elizabeth
P C P
Morrissey
Total # 0 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4
Quorum (Y/N) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
City Council –
N/AB AB P AB P
Elliott
A
City Council -
N/ AB
Alt. - Goettel
A
School –
N/AB AB AB AB AB AB AB AB P AB
Toensing
A
City Staff –
P P C P AB P
Sandell
C represents an explanation to the Chair for the absence
Approval of minutes: n/a
9.
Reports:
10.
Treasurer report: $511.86
a.
Liaison reports: Huda Ahmed with New Americans Healthy
b.
Together Program would like assistance from an HRC member to
work on a new workshop. Phillip volunteered to go. Phillip will also
connect with this group about our landlord tenant workshop.
Legal Services Workshop/Clinic & Volunteer Lawyers Network:
11.
Pre-Phone Conference:
a.
i. Explained the workshop to Representative Elliot. Elliot
suggested getting interpreters and that HRC start
brainstorming on what languages need to be provided.
ii. Elliot also discussed personally delivering fliers to apartment
buildings and what limitations there are under the law for
such deliveries/postings. Phrase the fliers as helpful to both
landlords and tenants, so landlords are comfortable with
HRC posting the information about the workshop and feel
welcomed.
On Conference Call with Christy Szitta:
b.
i. Can VLN help get attorneys? Yes, VLN will need date, time,
and location. If HRC can provide refreshments, more
attorneys will show. Depending on the time of day, HRC will
provide appropriate refreshments. 4 attorneys sounds like a
good number for the city hall space and expected turn out.
ii. Can VLN provide Spanish-speaking attorneys? They have.
VLN also may be able to provide a Somali interpreter. The
majority of grant funds for this project should be dedicated
to interpreters. Student interpreters typically show up if you
offer a $50 stipend.
iii. Think about what language the presentation will be
given in. We need to brainstorm this.
iv. HRC will provide hand-outs (legal-aid materials) in
multiple languages. Attorney General manual in other
language? Elizabeth will check into it because it could be
helpful for landlords.
v. VLN will create data sheet, but HRC will provide
copies of handouts. VLN can provide note pads and pens.
Perhaps a laptop with wireless Internet could be helpful if
attorneys need to do legal research. Not likely needed, but
would be nice.
vi. VLN does not advertise, but Christy will find out the
parameter behind dropping materials in residential buildings.
We will place an ad in the local paper.
vii. If we know of some landlords who are particularly
bad, we can get attorneys who are familiar with that landlord.
Building inspections and licensing would be able to give us
more information on landlords that are not in compliance.
viii. What is the best day and time to provide such a
workshop? Early evening is good for attorneys and clients.
Avoid Monday.
Looking Forward:
12.
Elizabeth will create the flier
a.
Use the RHRC logo once voted on in November for the flier
b.
Julie will use her number for the hotline (instead of RSVPs)
c.
Law enforcement has more information of what landlords don't evict
d.
criminal tenants.
Nancy will find out who owns residential buildings. Maybe Linda
e.
can provide a list.
Date: Jan. 24, 2011, Tuesday at 6:00pm
f.
Where: City Hall
g.
Molly will look into reserving the space
h.
We will provide a real meal to the attorneys and have something for
i.
everyone. If we can get a donation, we will provide a real meal to
everyone.
Advertising: buildings, churches, facebook, web, newspaper
j.
Todd will create a facebook page for HRC
k.
Elizabeth and Philip will attend the Community Council Meeting to
l.
present this workshop plan. We will also inquire about resource
tables
VOTE:
Landlord-Tenant Workshop and Advice Clinic will be Tuesday January 24, 2012
at 6pm
Nominate Julie for the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission
13.
Maybe consider using Google calendar for our commission
14.
Adjourn
15.
8pm