Human Relations Commission undergoes training
NORTH WALES A new volunteer board in North Wales had not had much to do so far in 2020, but that has changed recently.
Borough Manager Christine Hart gave an update Tuesday night on recent activities of the borough’s five members of its Human Relations Commission.
“Now the commission can assemble if need be. Hopefully they won’t, but if need be, they are ready to go,” she said.
Beginning in May 2019 council held talks on adopting a local nondiscrimination ordinance modeled after one passed in 2018 in Lansdale, which would create a local commission to hear and act on complaints about discrimination against local residents, business customers or visitors, with rulings that could be appealed into courts. The borough refined its ordinance over the summer of 2019, heard from a member of Gov. Tom Wolf’s LGBTQ Affairs Commission, drafted their new proposed code through August, and formally adopted it in October, with a call for volunteers issued soon after.
In January 2020 council appointed residents Patti Armstrong, Collette D’Angelo, Tim Clarke, Johanna Owings and Moira Blacksmith to the board, serving a series of staggered three-year terms. Hart told council Tuesday night that all five attended the virtual training session organized by the state, learning the basics of how the commission can create minutes and answer frequently asked
“Now the commission can assemble if need be. Hopefully they won’t, but if need be, they are ready to go.”
questions.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is based in Harrisburg and has regional offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and has issued guidance on issues of bias, hate crimes, and most recently on issues related to COVID-19 such as how much an employer can ask about those who call in sick, whether a medical note is needed, and details regarding employer screening of new hires for the coronavirus.
Hart said no complaints or concerns had been filed as of Tuesday night’s council meeting, but that board will now be publicized alongside the town’s other various volunteer groups.
An online form residents can use to submit any incidents of discrimination will also soon be posted, according to the manager. Council President Jim Sando said he had heard from commission members that they may have recommendations for council, and Hart said she will invite the commission members to discuss those at a future meeting.