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~ Sf3VfbbE Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes, November 18, 2003 Present: Thelma McKenzie, Chair; Steve Zorn, Vice-Chair; Mark Chapin, Phillip Crump, Jacqueline LeMay, Steve Smith, Karen Vnuk, Larry Voeller, Howard Wagner Staff: Carolyn Cmii Guest: Velma Korbel, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Rights Thelma McKenzie called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the Public Works Conference Room at Roseville City Hall. Approve Minutes Mark Chapin moved approval of the minutes and Karen Vnuk seconded. The minutes wcre approved unanimously. Select Human Rights Commission Chair and Vice-Chair Commissioners 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 motion passed unanimously. Minnesota Department of Human Rights Thelma McKenzie introduced Velma Korbel, Commissioner of the Milmesota Department of Human Rights (DHR). Ms. Korbel said she oversees a staff of 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 with the State of Minnesota must certify that they comply with all Affirmative Action statutes and rules. The Department 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 jurisdiction are noted but dismissed. They also try to send more cases to mediation in an effort to preserve the relationship between complainants. These are generally housing or employment complaints. About 40% of cases go to mediation. I