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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 07/18/1996 411/ MINUTES OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING July 18, 1996 Commissioners Present Commissioners Excused Absence Rev. Willie Davila Rabbi Paul Joseph Mr. Clyde E. Bourke Anna M. Mercado Ms. Lena D. Coleman Corina Garcia Mr. Lenonides G. Bazar Nancy Somers Mr. Harold Williams, Jr. Mr. Errol Summerlin Staff Present Helen R. Gurley, Ph.D. Adrian Luna Joseph Harney Adell Lucas The Chair called the regular monthly meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Roll call was taken and a quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. 4119 The Chair welcomed the newly appointed Commissioners: Ms. Lena D. Coleman, Mr. Leonides G. Bazar, and Mr.Harold Williams,Jr. The New Commissioners gave an overview of their background and experience. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES It was moved, seconded and voted that the Minutes of June 6, 1996 be approved. CHAIR'S COMMENTS 1. Review and Report of the Equal Opportunity Conference held June 14, 1996 The Chair stated that the 1996 Employment Opportunity Conference was one of the best conferences the Commission has held. He requested ideas from the other Commissioners about the conference so adjustments can be made for the 1997 Employment Conference. `lr HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION PAGE 2 2. Discussion on date/format for 1997 Conference The Commissioners discussed dates of June 6, 13, 20, and 27. Dr. Gurley stated she would prefer the conference be held in the middle of June. The Commission decided to leave the scheduling of the Conference up to the Human Relations Administrator. Commissioner Bazar also suggested that in planning the conference we should focus on two or three significant topics. He also suggested since attorneys were doing the workshops, we should consider having a mock trial using their expertise. Some topics would include ADA, Family Medical Leave Act, and Sexual Harassment, etc. The Chair asked Dr. Gurley to keep the Commission informed on the planning stages of 1997 Equal Opportunity Conference. 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS None 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Public Accommodation Complaint- Helen R Gurley Dr. Gurley reported that the Cable Commission had met and a decision to allow citizen within the city limits to participate on Public Access Channel 18 is forthcoming. She expects a conclusion to the complaint on or before September 18, 1996. Dr. Gurley explained to the new commission the circumstances involving the complaint. Commissioner Bourke stated that Channel 18 has been announcing for about two (2)days, that individuals are now invited to air their shows The channel is no longer limited to religious groups. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES 411/ PAGE 3 Housing Complaint- Helen IL Gurley The Chair reported that during the Human Relations Commission May 1996 meeting, several complaints in housing was brought to the attention of the Commissioners. The Chair appointed a committee of three to hear the complaints. They were Commissioner Corina Garcia, Commissioner Terry Mills and Commissioner Errol Summerlin. The Chair then asked Commissioner Summerlin to give a report on the type of complaints they heard from residents and employees of the Housing Authority. He also stated that these complaints were also made to the Administrator. The types of complaints heard were directed: at individuals in the Housing Authority management structure, senior level administrative personnel, former administrative personnel,and at the Housing Authority Commissioner level. Commissioner Summerlin said most of the allegations involved: Disparate treatment of African American residents in the following manner: 1) failure to provide safe and sanitary living conditions, 2) failure to respond to grievances in a proper and timely manner, 3) failure or delaying in securing or allocating funds for programs within public housing areas that are Ilr predominately occupied by African Americans 4) transfer funds ear- marked for predominately African American complexes to other areas. 5) racially motivated placement of African American residents 6) management/administration/Commissioner disparate treatment of African American Commissioners 7) racial slurs which are directed to and about African American employees. Commissioner Summerlin also reported that there were complaints of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, race discrimination, and age discrimination in employment as well as retaliatory activities against employees who made claims of discrimination or provided information to support the claims being made. Finally there were allegations of the Housing Authority's failure to accommodate a person with disabilities. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES ( PAGE 4 Dr. Gurley reported that the Human Relations Department has taken four employment discrimination and two housing discrimination complaints. She further stated that these complaints are still under investigation. She emphasized that no determination has been issued to establish whether discrimination exists within the Housing Authority. Once a determination is made the respondent (Housing Authority) will be notified. Dr. Gurley also explained why Human Relations does investigate employment complaints within the Housing Authority. She said, "due to a worksharing agreement with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it prohibits the Commission from investigating a political subdivision." The Housing Authority is a political subdivision which fall under this category therefore,the complaints are sent to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in San Antonio for investigation. Dr. Gurley further stated, Corpus Christi Human Relations does have a worksharing agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate cases on their behalf. However, when housing cases are investigated, the Commission shares this information with HUD Regional Enforcement Office in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Texas Commission on Human Rights. Both are notified of the pending complaint. Dr. Gurley informed the Commissioners, that due to the confidential clauses in both Title VII and Title VIII,the names and statements dealing with the actual complaints cannot be released. Also, during this discussion the Commissioners voiced their concerns for the need to train Housing Authority personnel in fair housing/employment to help to alleviate claims against the Authority. Commissioner Summerlin made a motion that the Administrator review individuals' complaints against the Housing Authority and determined if they have sufficient cause to file a charge or for those individuals were afraid of retaliation,that the administrator should file a claim in her own name on behalf of these individuals as per Article III, Section C(1) and (2) of City Ordinance 20839. The motion was seconded and carried. Commissioners continued to discuss the possibility of retaliation in housing discrimination. The Administrator informed Commissioner that "Under Title VIII of Fair Housing Act, it is against the law for a respondent to retaliate." She further stated that also applies to anyone who helps or testifies behalf of an individual; they too are protected. NEW BUSINESS Election of Vice Chair. The item was tabled until the August 1996 meeting. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES �r PAGE 5 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT 1. Monthly Report: Dr. Helen R. Gurley reported on the closures, inquiries, and intakes for June 1996. 2. Training: She informed the Commission that several previous and present Commissioners had completed their mediation training and are authorized to begin to mediate cases. She doesn't expect them to mediate Title VII Charges due to the workingsharing agreement's confidential clause. This area of the worksharing agreement will be discussed during the FEPA/EEOC Annual Conference in September 1996. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Davila called to order the Public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Several resident and employees made the following claims: 4111, Residents and employees expressed their concerns on the treatment they've received from the Housing Authority. A Leathers Resident II discussed how the vacant units were a safety hazards to the tenants and children, and that the sewer lines always back up. Another former resident said she has applied for Section 8 and was told that since she owed a balance to housing authority she needed to pay the balance before she would be eligible for housing. A resident also stated the reason she was evicted is that she would not press charges against an individual. Another resident complained she had payed the Housing Authority about$600.00 for a bill she was told she owed in 1989. She also stated that she has been on the waiting list for a long time and she cannot understand why she has not been allowed to move into housing. She furthers says she has been on the waiting list for public housing since 1989 and Section 8 since 1995. Commissioner Lena Coleman stated that in public housing there is no longer a mandatory waiting list. She bases this information on a meeting which she attended with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A resident talked about being on the waiting list for a transfer for over two years. One resident said there are about thirteen people living in an apartment. Yet, they haven't been evicted, but if this was a Black family they would have been long evicted. A white female resident complained about the unpleasant experience that she and her children received from Housing Authority personnel because her children are Black. She also stated that she has a child with chronic asthma and the Authority personnel denied her the opportunity to put a telephone extension in the child's bedroom for fier emergency purposes. In other words she was denied an accommodation. `V HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 6 • Another individual claims that the administrative/management personnel treat people badly because they are in low-income housing. Some residents raise concerns over a program they are involved in where they are required to put money into an escrow account for five years toward eligibility to purchase an HUD home. The Housing Authority personnel was over saw the program are no longer employed there and they want to know who to contact for information. One resident stated that she was in a program and was told that she would receive help to finish her degree, however, she later found out that only one semester was paid. Some employees of the Housing Authority stated they have noticed discrimination of blacks, employees and residents, and that there is no one they can talk to in administration or management about these concerns. One employee stated she has witnessed how they treat the tenants. One employee stated she resigned because of upper management. She stated, "many employees are working in a seriously hostile work environment". PUBLIC COMMENTS- 2 Minutes None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Chair Date