Regular Meeting Fiscal Courtroom, Courthouse 6:30 P.M.
Present: Marilyn Daniel, Dan Brown, Lauren Graves
Absent: Sheila Harris (recovering from surgery), Donald Morton*, Mary Raglin (out of town)
*The courthouse doors were inadvertently locked right before the meeting began and Morton was not able to access the building. Contact was made the following day with Judge Coyle’s office regarding the situation.
The meeting was called to order by Marilyn Daniel, Vice-Chair.
Approval of Minutes
Graves and Brown made motions to approve the 2/4/16 minutes. Motion passed. Brown noted he is working on submitting a digital copy of the Nov. 15 minutes for posting on the Commission’s website.
Comments/Questions from Members of the Public: None
Treasurer’s Report
Balance of $1,569.46
Expenditures: $163.75 to Misty Gonzalez for yearly website and phone fees
Income: $0.13
2016 Budget Draft Update was verbally given by Graves. Discussion followed. Graves will send a budget draft by email to Commissioners for discussion at the April 7 HRC meeting. In addition, Brown will invite a representative from the Roots and Heritage Committee to the May 5 HRC meeting to enlighten the Commission about the Committee’s work as well as discuss the upcoming Roots and Heritage Festival.
Correspondence: None
Reports from 2015 Committees:
Daniel suggested the Commission develop a yearly calendar with upcoming events, deadlines, etc. Daniel will bring a calendar to the April 7 meeting and the Commission will develop such a calendar.
Fairness Ordinance Committee: Daniel reported no movement or information on the Versailles Fairness Ordinance. Daniel also noted there was a Fairness Ordinance State Committee Hearing and there was no vote. The statewide ordinance did not move out of committee. However, Grayson Vandergrift, Midway Mayor, did testify. Daniel gave a brief summary of Senate Bill 180 which has moved out of the KY Senate Committee. Daniel suggested that another way the Commission can become more active is to take note of and comment on local and statewide initiatives related to human rights in the future. Daniel plans on writing a personal response to Senate Bill 180 and submitting a guest editorial to the Herald Leader newspaper. With the passage of Senate Bill 180, the legislature may possibly override all current state Fairness Ordinances. It was decided the Commission will continue the discussion regarding the bill and future responses to human rights issues at the April meeting.
Old Business:
Book program: Brown made a brief presentation regarding a well-established and successful book program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which serves 0 – 5 year olds. Brown also presented initial thoughts and preliminary projected costs data for 100 children. Discussion followed and questions generated about the Imagination Library program. Brown was asked to seek the answers to present during the April 7 meeting.
Review of By-Laws: Daniel noted the HRC By-Laws still need to be reviewed.
Terms of Versailles member/new appointments: Daniel and Brown will meet with Mayor Traugott later in March and provide information which should clear up confusion allowing the current two vacancies to be quickly filled.
Status of Woodford County appointment: Gayle Franklin resigned by phone to Judge Coyle due to Franklin’s family illness. Judge Coyle is ready to make an appointment and the vacancy should be filled for the April meeting.
Safe Zone Training: Brown made contact with Ellington King who had contacted the Commission regarding possible Safe Zone Training. Brown has reviewed the presentation materials and made contacts regarding the program. It was decided to invite Mr. King to the May 5 meeting so that King can inform the Commission about the program and his proposal.
Update on Open Records Act: Daniel attended an Open Records Act training conducted by a member of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government law department. Daniel posed this question from the Commission: “Are any Commissioner’s personal notes a matter of public record?” According to KRS 61.878(1)(i), preliminary drafts notes and notes are specifically exempt.
Organization and culling of agency records: Daniel noted the records still need to be culled and organized. Daniel and Brown will work on the records which will be housed in the HRC filing cabinet in Judge Coyle’s office.
New Business:
Update and management of agency website: Motion by Brown and Daniel to update management and pay $5.00 per month for Google.com. Motion passed. Graves was charged by the Commission with managing the phone and email payment and subscription options. Graves will contact Misty Gonzalez, former Commissioner, who currently manages these tasks.
Motion to Adjourn
Next meeting will be held at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, April 7, 2016 in the Fiscal Courtroom. Carmen Wilcox will present.
Respectfully submitted, Dan Brown, Secretary