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� a►1 I ' �7 rl Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes, November 18, 2003 Pxesent: Thelma McKenzie, Chair; Steve Zorn, Vice-Chair; Mark Chapin, Phillip Crump, Jacqueline LeMay, Steve Srnith, Karen Vnuk, Larry Voeller, Howard Wagner Staff: Carolyn Curti Guest: Velma Korbel, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Rights Thelma McKenzie called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the Pub�ic Works Conference Room at Roseville City Hall. Approve Mi�utes Mark Chapin moveti approval of the minutes and Karen Vnuk seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously. Select Human Rights Commission Cbair �nd Vice-Chair Comrnissioners discussed the responsibilities of the Chair and Vice-Chair. Mark Chapin nominated Thelma McKenzie for the Chair and Steve Zorn for Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Commission. Phil Crump seconded the nomination. The mation passed unanimously. Minnesota Department of H�man Rig�ts Thelma McKenzie introduced Velma Korbel, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Hutnan Rights (DHR}. Ms. Korbel said she oversees a staff oi about 50 employees. She described the main responsibilities of the Department which include Enforcement, Compliance with Affirmative Action and Education to Eliminate Discrimination. All companies that want to do businesses vcrith the State of Minnesota znust certify that they comgly with alt Affirmative Action stahites and rules. The Deparhnent has about 2,000 active certifications at any given time. The Department's education efforts are to eliminate discrimination. DHR deals with greater number of complaints with fewer staff so they have started a docket and dismiss process where cases that do not meet the standards of the law or are not in the state's jwrisdiction are noted but dismissed. They also try to send more cases to mediation in an effort to preserve the reIationship between cornplaiz�.ants. These are generally housing or employment complaints. About 40% of cases go to mediation.