‘Human relations’ ordinance ready for final approval

One more vote in two weeks could put a human relations commission, set up to field complaints of discrimination, officially on the books in Lansdale.

Borough officials said Wednesday night that a proposed human relations ordinance is still on track for final adoption on Aug. 15, and minimal public comment has come in on it lately.

“Usually we have some emails and stuff, people throwing in comments or questions, but it’s been suspiciously quiet. I’m kind of surprised,” said councilman Leon Angelichio.

Starting in May Angelichio, who is chairman of the administration and finance committee,

has pushed for a new local law that would set up a fivemember volunteer commission tasked with hearing and trying to mediate any complaints from visitors, residents, or business customers who experience discrimination in the borough.

Under the new ordinance, gender identity and LGBTQ status are added to the list of “protected classes” able to appeal cases of alleged discrimination to the commission for mediation. Council members and staff have said the main goal of the commission is to hear and resolve any discrimination issue at minimal cost to both sides, without issuing penalties, by providing a forum that could then be appealed into the court system.

Council discussed the proposed ordinance during their committee and full meetings in both May and June, during a special public meeting on June 26, and again in July’s council and committee meetings before voting to advertise on July 25, and Angelichio said Wednesday night that lengthy public discussion may have drawn out any issues or objections.

“I’d like to think we were so throughout there are no more questions,” he said.

“Barring any major issue, we’re duly advertised, we jumped through all the hoops, we’ve crossed all the T’s, dotted all the I’s, and if it comes out of committee tonight, this will come up for a vote at the business meeting” on Aug. 15, he said.

If council votes that night to adopt the ordinance, it would take effect immediately, and the borough would immediately advertise for interested volunteers who would serve on the five-member commission to field and adjudicate any discrimination complaints, according to Angelichio and Borough Manager John Ernst.

“You can’t (advertise) until the ordinance is in place,” Ernst said.

If council votes to approve on Aug. 15, Ernst said, council will likely then make an announcement seeking resumes and letters of interest for those positions, and the borough’s website and social media channels will also publicize the vacancies. Those applications will likely be vetted by council’s appointments committee, which consists of council members Mary Fuller, Rich DiGregorio and Bill Henning.

“If comments come in in the meantime, and we need to address or respond to them, we’ll deal with them,” said council President Denton Burnell.

Borough council next meets at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine St. For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.Lansdale.org or follow @LansdalePA on Twitter.