DHRC Minutes

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP The Dover Human Relations Commission (DHRC) met on June 20, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. with Chairman Gaddis presiding. Members present were Mr. Fleming, Mrs. Herbert, Ms. Mullen, and Mr. Rocha. Ms. Mishoe Paige was absent. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by unanimous consent. Discussion and Revisions to the DHRC Strategic Plan Mr. Gaddis discussed the history of the four (4) election districts, including one (1) predominantly made up of minority groups. He stated he was not sure when the Dover Human Relations Commission was formed. Mr. Fleming noted there was an incident that occurred within the City that was behind the formation of the Dover Human Relations Commission. Mrs. Herbert reviewed Chapter 58 - Human Relations of the Dover Code. Mr. Fleming stated he believed the commission was developed to nip problems before they got out of hand. He noted that there was an intake form for complaints that the Commission would review and then schedule a meeting with the complainant to discuss the issue and try to resolve it. He stated there was not an intake form anymore. Ms. Mullen questioned why the Commission existed, noting that it seemed that the Commission could do nothing, as with the past incident that was referred to the State’s Human Relations Commission. Mr. Rocha stated that members have to know the Code so when a situation occurs they know whether the situation needs to go through Dover Human Relations Commission or if they need to boot it up to the State. He noted the DHRC could do some form of vetting. Mrs. Herbert stated that the strategic plan tells members what they are suppose to do, but that some things within the plan are ludicrous. She stated that she did not mean that the plan was not a good idea, but that it was asking a lot with basically a four (4) or five (5) person committee. Mrs. Herbert noted that the plan asks a lot of citizens as opposed to professionals in an area like that to do it. She stated they were wonderful ideas, but would not want to be handed the job. Ms. Mullen asked that if the Commission could make a revision that anytime there is an issue, especially in Dover, that the issue should go through the Dover Human Relations Commission first instead of going to the State because the commission represents the communities. Mrs. Herbert noted that the State only handles housing discrimination and discrimination with accommodation and once in awhile the State will do something about disabilities. Mrs. Herbert noted that the State gave her a list for the DHRC’s use when handling complaints. She noted that as an ex-social worker she felt that they should help the person network but that may be beyond anything they were allowed to.

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JUNE 20, 2019 PAGE 2 Mr. Gaddis reviewed section II of the DHRC Strategic Plan 2015-2018. Mr. Gaddis stated he had problems with the word “how” regarding the strategic plan. He read paragraph two involving segments of the community and asked how is the Commission going to do that. He stated that at the moment the Commission was made up of five (5) members and that Council has not seen fit to fill three (3) vacancies. He noted that according to Section II, Mission, of the Strategic Plan the Commission works with the City Council and City Administration to anticipate, prepare for and resolve incidents of inter-group conflicts and disputes within the City. He stated that their strategic plan said they were suppose to be involved in dissipating and resolving any City dispute, but they were sidestepped. Mr. Rocha stated that it was too much information for a mission statement, which should be something they can memorize. Mr. Gaddis stated that there was a request to modify the mission statement in early 2017 to make it briefer. He noted that he and former member Theodore Henderson came up with a variation to the mission statement. Mr. Gaddis stated that Ms. Paige also made a couple of modifications with him. He noted that Ms. Paige also worked with a former member to review more of the mission statement but the commission has not resolved it. Mr. Gaddis stated that the idea was to make the mission statement brief enough to make sense on the DHRC brochure. Mr. Fleming stated that City Council had gradually reduced the Commission’s ability to get out into the community by limiting where they can meet and how often. Mr. Fleming asked how can people get to the commission with their concerns and noted that they do not have an intake form anymore. Mr. Rocha suggested submitting the intake form with the strategic plan to Council. Ms. Mullen asked if it would be possible to post notices for DHRC Meetings on DoverTV. Ms. Janella Tauchus, Administrative Assistant, stated that every meeting is posted on the City’s website and at the entrance of City Hall. Ms. Tauchus also noted that an email is sent out every time meeting information is posted or updated on the City’s website, but that she would check on having the DHRC meeting times and any cancellations posted on DoverTV. Ms. Mullen noted that she had to prepare an elevator speech to share with Homeowner’s Associations and it was like a mission statement condensed enough that someone could share it in an elevator. Mr. Rocha noted that the elevator speech should be the Commission’s mission statement. Mrs. Herbert stated that the mission statement listed on the DHRC Strategic Plan 2015-2018 tries to tell them what they do, how they do it, and who they do it for, but it does not say why they exist. She noted that the Commission’s goal was to make Dover a safe and livable community for all of its citizens. Mr. Rocha stated that it could be a mission statement and then talk about the mission statement through the paragraphs, but the mission statement itself should be like an elevator speech. He noted

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JUNE 20, 2019 PAGE 3 something one to two sentences, three at most, and then they can capture the essence of three sentences and talk about it. Mr. Gaddis stated that he would work with Mr. Rocha on shortening the mission statement to bring forward at the next DHRC meeting scheduled for July 18, 2019. Mrs. Herbert stated that one of the things she was working on with Ms. Mullen was to promote and encourage communication and cooperation between all groups interested in bettering human relations in the City. She stated that they have not gotten a group together and noted that they always talk about all the churches, but there are other groups that want to better the City. Ms. Mullen noted that she wanted to have a community gathering on the Green and that City Council said no. Mr. Rocha stated that there are a lot of policies for that and that he understood. He noted that he was trying to figure out how members are saying “no we can’t” and maybe that might not be the way to go but they have to figure out, or at least coordinate with City Council to find out what, based on the Code the Commission can do because the way he read it, it does not limit them to anything. Mrs. Herbert stated that Ms. Mullen has tried to do outreach and stated that it should not be that hard. She noted that the hardest thing is finding somebody willing to do it. Mr. Gaddis stated that they should present their ideas to City Council as a Commission, not as individual members. Mr. Rocha stated that maybe City Council does not want the Commission to sponsor, host, or be the face of the whole event. Mr. Gaddis stated that there is a lot in the mission statement that was determined for the years 2015 through 2018 that they are suppose to be doing, but there are things that they cannot do. He noted not just because Council may not be letting them, but they are nine (9) people. He stated that they have all kinds of long term objectives and mission components under the mission statement. Mr. Gaddis reviewed the DHRC Strategic Plan 2015-2018, subsection Long-term Objectives, B.1. Responding to Mr. Gaddis, Mr. Fleming stated that they can invite representatives from each of the groups that they can identify to come in and speak to the Commission, but they would need to come to a meeting. Mr. Gaddis stated that was one of the problems. Mr. Fleming noted that back in the day the Human Relations Commission was instrumental in getting weekend bus service because people came in and said they really needed a way to get around on the weekends and busses did not run. Mr. Fleming stated that they got individuals to come in from Chesapeake Utilities during the winter months to talk about how someone could cut their bill. He noted that they should go to the homeless shelters, have dinners, and get out and mingle, but they have not been able to do that because they have to meet at City Hall four (4) times a year.

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JUNE 20, 2019 PAGE 4 Mrs. Herbert stated that when Ms. Mullen was discussing the unity day, it would not have been the Commission putting it on, but a group of citizens who wanted to see better relationships getting together and doing it. Ms. Mullen noted that it was an opportunity for members to educate communities on what the Commission does, why they exist, their purpose, and mission. She stated that the Code is a bunch of words, like a law, but a law that is not enforced is just a bunch of words on a piece of paper. Mrs. Herbert stated that based on the City’s Code regarding the Dover Human Relations Commission they could pick three (3) or four (4) things that they felt they could really do. She stated she had trouble with the research and writing up programs, noting that it was too much to ask. Mrs. Herbert noted that she could not believe that they have not been able to get together a group of people who care about the relationship of their citizens in Dover. She stated that they are willing to work to create better relationships and noted that she believes the reason why people were leaving the Commission was because they could not figure out what they are suppose to do to get people to know the Commission exists. Mrs. Herbert stated that if people do not know they exist, they cannot help them or be proactive on their behalf. Referring to Chapter 58 - Human Relations, Article II. - Human Relations Commission, Sec. 58-31. - Purpose - (4) Issues, Mr. Rocha stated from his perspective the word “offered” means that the Commission does not have to conduct the programs or services. He noted that the Commission can refer to People’s Place or other similar places and the Commission does not have to do the work, but they should have relationships with organizations to do the work and advocate for them. Mrs. Herbert stated that she had an issue with Sec. 58-36. - Power and duties - (5) Research, education, etc. Responding to Mr. Gaddis, Mr. Rocha stated that he was looking at the City’s Code to use to create a basis. Mr. Rocha noted that they could create their own strategic plan as long as it aligns with the City Code. He noted that if they submit their strategic plan he suggests having a meeting with Council members because Council has responsibilities of appointment. Mr. Rocha noted that each council person from each district should be the recruiters. He noted that if Council needs to hold a forum in their district they could invite Commissioners to come and talk to the citizens. Mr. Rocha noted that if someone volunteers to be a Commissioner, they should be filling those slots. Mrs. Herbert stated that she has gotten very frustrated because she feels that the Commission could make a big difference in the City if they were allowed to actually know what they were doing and that the strategic plan has to agree with the City’s Code, but it does not have to be so cumbersome or confusing. She noted that she does not see anything in the plan that would have kept Ms. Mullen from having somebody come speak or having an event. Mrs. Herbert asked how to do outreach if you do not deal with people. Mr. Rocha stated that the Code tells members to do community outreach because they want to prevent things from happening, to build a cohesiveness. He noted that if members develop their own relationships with Council in some form or fashion, once they get the strategic plan done, Council

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JUNE 20, 2019 PAGE 5 will get a better understanding based on their relationships on what they intend to do. He stated that if they do it on their own and have meetings and submit ideas there is a disconnect and that they need to bring Council in. Mr. Rocha noted it was good seeing Mayor Christiansen at a previous meeting. He suggested sending a letter to Council and inviting them to one of the DHRC meetings. Mrs. Herbert stated that she hoped to do a roundtable style meeting with Council. Ms. Mullen stated that she has a relationship with two of her Councilmen and that all she would have to do is just request them to attend. Mr. Fleming stated that the people that started the demise of the DHRC are gone and that this is what they are stuck with now. Mr. Rocha stated that they have to bring it back together. Mrs. Herbert stated that if the demise came five years ago, the current people will not know that it is any different than it was five years ago. Mr. Rocha stated that he could not find the Chapter 58 - Human Relations section of the City’s Code by navigating the City’s website. He suggested having at least Chapter 58 - Human Relations, Article II - Human Relations Commission, Sec. 58-31 - Purpose listed on the DHRC section of the City’s website. Mr. Gaddis suggested members divide into groups of two (2) or three (3) and work on the Long- Term objectives listed on the DHRC Strategic Plan 2015-2018, analyze the sections and revise them to bring back to the next DHRC meeting scheduled for July 18, 2019. Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Gaddis stated that the next meeting would be a regular meeting. He stated that the concept for the groups is to look at the objectives and eliminate or simplify each one so that the strategic plan is something the commission can do. Mr. Gaddis stated that they are going to have a revised strategic plan if it takes members one or two meetings to deal with it. He stated that the Commission spends time complaining about what has happened in the past, what hasn’t worked, and why they are disgruntled. Mr. Gaddis stated that they should get something together that they can get gruntled about. Mr. Fleming stated that the intake form was mentioned on a previous brochure. He noted that if the Commission is going to put a new brochure together then they want the community to have access to them. Responding to Ms. Mullen, Mr. Fleming stated that the Commission would disseminate the brochure to people and that it could be picked up from City Hall. Mrs. Herbert stated they do not want to make it hard and that when she attended a meeting at the State, they went into executive session and everybody had to leave except the Commissioners because the person that was going to speak did not want the people that were there to know what she was going to talk about. Mr. Fleming noted that when they used intake forms it was just the individual and the Commission who had the complaint. Responding to Mrs. Herbert, Mr. Fleming stated that people would fill out an intake form and they would talk to them whether they thought they had an issue or not. They were trying to come up with fair treatment.

DOVER HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKSHOP OF JUNE 20, 2019 PAGE 6 Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mr. Fleming stated in the past if someone showed up to Open Forum they had an intake form or gave them one. He noted they would hear the complaint but not at that time. Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mrs. Herbert stated that it was explained to her that they could go into executive session if there was something that they needed to talk about that was not appropriate for the other people. Mr. Fleming noted that he would like to suggest to Council that DHRC should have the ability to meet outside of City Hall. He stated that the Commissioners are wanted out in the community and that they are not allowed to do that. Mr. Rocha noted that he did not understand how Commissioners were not allowed and that in the Code they are allowed until it is changed and voted on. Mr. Rocha stated that he could not see how Council could tell them they cannot do this and they cannot do that. Responding to Mr. Rocha, Mrs. Herbert stated that if they were meeting to conduct business they had to have the meeting at City Hall and have a quorum, but if members decide to show up someplace or they are working with another group, sponsoring something, then it is not a meeting, but an activity. Mr. Gaddis stated that they were going to get that issue clarified. Mr. Fleming moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Rocha and unanimously carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Alan P. Gaddis Chair APG/jt/tm S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS-PRESENTATIONS-ATT&EXH\Misc-Minutes\DHRC\2019\06-20-2019 DHRC Minutes.wpd