November 2014
Richfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2014
Members Present:
Sean Hayford Oleary
Debbie Eng
Todd Chase
Katie Eagle
Mark Westergaard
Jeff Wright
Ranee Skinner
Also present:
Jay Henthorne –Richfield Staff Liaison
Pat Elliot-City Council Liaison
Tim Pollis-School Board Liaison
Judith Dominguez-prospective commission youth representative
Absent:
Emilia Gonzalez Avalos
Nancy Roberts
Elizabeth Wendt
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Sean Hayford Oleary at 6:35PM.
2. Approval of Agenda
a.) Debbie moved; Mark seconded; Unanimously approved
3. Approval of Minutes
i. Jeff moved; Debbie seconded; Unanimously approved
4. Reports
a.) Chair’s report: Sean acknowledged the promotion of Jay as the new
Richfield police chief; Sean also remarked on the comments to the question the
commission posted on the Richfield Connect online forum.
e.) Liaison reports-Jay reported that the term of his liaison replacement on
the commission will begin once he has a designated a deputy chief.
5. Unfinished Business
a.) Debbie and Sean reported on a subcommittee meeting where certain
changes to the city code in regards to the Human Rights Commission were
proposed. She presented these changes to Pat Elliot who said he would discuss the
recommendations with the Mayor.
b.) Debbie updated the commission on the community conversation event. It
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will be held at Augsburg Library on December 13 and the topic will concern
diversity (or lack of) on Richfield City commissions.
c.) Debbie also updated the commission on the letter she sent to the Richfield
School Superintendant regarding the school lunch program. She was able to meet
with the Superintendant who clarified that the practice of giving students who could
not afford hot lunch, a cheese sandwich, has been eliminated in the district.
6. New Business:
a.) Debbie suggested tabling the discussion of the prospective partnership
with the Advocates for Human Rights organization until the next meeting.
b.) Sean said the discussion of Indigenous People’s Day would also be
delayed until the December meeting.
c.) Bylaws Change: Sean suggested we cancel our regularly scheduled
commission meetings in July and August as the July meeting is usually close
to Independence Day and the August meeting conflicts with National Night
Out. It was suggested that instead we have one meeting that will take place
in late July.
7. Next meeting: December 2, 2014, 6:30PM
8. Adjournment at 7:03PM: Ranee moved, Mark seconded, unanimously approved