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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />Human Rights Commission Minutes <br />March 14, 2006 <br /> <br />Present: Janet Delmore, Phillip Crump, Scott Higbee, Ann Kenney, Thelma McKenzie and Steve <br />Smith <br />Absent: Bob Venters <br />Guest Speaker: Ann Berry <br /> <br />Chair Janet Delmore called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. <br /> <br />Approve Minutes <br /> <br />Commissioner Scott Higbee moved and Commissioner Thelma McKenzie seconded approval of <br />the January 2006 minutes. Motion prevailed. <br /> <br />Guest Speaker <br /> <br />Chair Delmore introduced Ann Berry, a member of the revitalized Roseville Human Rights <br />Commission. Ms. Berry told Commissioners about her getting involved with the Commission in <br />the early 1970s. At that time the Commission did not have a clear focus or relationship with the <br />State Leagues of Human Rights Commissions. <br /> <br />Ms. Berry was a member of the League of Women Voters (L WV) at the time. The League had <br />completed a study about the needs for and bias against affordable housing. At the same time the <br />City was struggling with a proposal to build apartments for low income families. Many people <br />spoke against the housing and petitions were circulated to keep the housing out ofRoseville. The <br />petitioners were not successful, and Mayor Gale Linbarger encouraged members of the L WV to <br />apply to the Human Rights Commission. Several women who were active in the L WV applied <br />and had a strong presence on the HRC. They established a relationship with the State Leagues of <br />Human Rights Commissions. <br /> <br />One of the revitalized HRC's first initiatives was to promote open housing. They met with <br />realtors and apartment managers and had an active voice among the housing community. The <br />HRC got copies of all of the housing laws and called on housing managers and realtors and <br />talked. Several Commissioners did not work outside the home so were able to meet during the <br />day. They frequently reported to the City Council. <br /> <br />The HRC developed a relationship with the State Department of Human Rights. In the mid-'70s <br />there was a backlog of human rights complaints and the Department trained local Commissions <br />to intervene. The HRC also participated in ride-alongs with the Roseville Police. They reported <br />to the City Council on a regular basis. <br /> <br />1 <br />