HRC sets official meeting time and place, sets sights on more changes

Members of the Bardstown-Nelson County Commission on Human Rights discuss proposed changes to the commission bylaws at Tuesday’s special-called commission meeting.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, April 7, 2016, 2 p.m. — The Human Rights Commission tabled most of the items on its agenda at its meeting Tuesday, April 5, but it did take up discussion about the time, day and place for regular commission meetings.

Though the commission convened at its customary day, time and location, the meeting had to be considered a special-called meeting. The move is a result of the commission’s bylaws failure to specify when regular meetings are to take place.

While the commission members understood the need to add meeting specifics to the bylaws, there was considerable discussion about how often the commission should meet — monthly meetings, every other month, or quarterly. Supporters of less frequent meetings said the group could call a special meeting if business arose that needed immediate action.

Communion member Mary Ann Greenwell said she was opposed to any proposal to meet less frequently.

“I have never attended a meeting of the Human Rights Commission that was perfunctory,” she said. “I think we need to meet monthly.”

Amelia Clements said she favored meeting every other month with special meetings in called if needed. Commission member Michael Johnson agreed.

“The main purpose of the commission is to hear the complaints,” he said. Judging by the number of complaints the commission receives, meeting less frequently would not be a disservice.”

Greenwell strongly disagreed, citing the 50th anniversary of the state’s civil rights act and the promotion of education about civil rights. She noted the Kentucky General Assembly passed a resolution marking the anniversary, and said it might be worth using commission funds to celebrate the act’s anniversary.

“Our purpose is much broader than to just hear complaints,” she said. “We have a duty to the community to be informative, to be here, to be responsible, to see that human rights are given the attention they so desperately need in these times.”

Mike Yaden, serving as acting commission chairman, said the ordinance governing the commission restricts it to hearing complaints regarding employment, housing, public accommodations and financial transactions in Nelson County.

Yaden said if the commission met every other month, the “off” month could be used for training and education months.

Greenwell said she didn’t favor using special meetings to conduct commission business saying they appear suspect.

“I think its far better than we have regular meetings at a regular time,” she said, adding that it would be a disservice to the residents of the county if the commission did not meet monthly.

After additional discussion, the commission approved a motion to schedule its meetings monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Nelson County Public Library.

The commission agreed to table discussion of further changes to its bylaws until it can conduct business in a regular meeting. It also tabled consideration of changes to the human rights ordinance; and discussion of its budget proposal for 2016-17.

The commission agreed to hold election for officers at its May 3 meeting.

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