01/26/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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.- entire Council was preferred, interview by subcommittee of the Council, or recommendation to the full Council after survey of written applications. The Mayor said the issue was whether a portion of the ordinance was to be eliminated so the Council would be free to make the selection as it decides at the time. Public hearing was opened. 11-8-1 Speaking against amending the human rights ordinance with regard to the selection process were Mabel Armstrong, 2640 McMillan; Charlotte Mills, 5110 Nectar Way; Mary Klonoski, 2795 Central Boulevard - all members of the task force which de- veloped the human rights ordinance creating the women's commission; Sharon Posner, president of the League of Women Voters; Karen Alvarado, 2415 Skyline Boulevard, member of the Governor's Commission on Status of Women; Dee Tipping, 1227 Woodside Drive; Jewel Baker, 3266 Gardenia Way, president of Senior Lobby; Margie Hendrik- sen, 1990 Dogwood, state president of Oregon Women's Political Caucus; Ron Wyden, 490 East 18th Avenue, co-director of the Gray Panthers; and Joyce Salsbury, 3330 Olive Street. All opposed the amendment basically because it would negate terms of the ordinance as developed through compromise in task force meetings. - It was pointed out that in succeeding years, after creation of the original commissions, there would be fewer appointments to consider and time involvement in the process would not be so great. Ms. Mills noted the feeling of mistrust that would be created should the Council choose now to appoint members by other than an open, public process. She said that several applicants for membership felt there was possibility their appointment would be jeopardized if they spoke out against the amendment now. Ms. Posner suggested selection of ten or twelve finalists by a subcommittee, then personal interview of those people by the entire Council. Personal interview, they felt, would provide Council members with a better overall impression of those best qualified and interested in serving on a commission. Ms. Konoski expressed the opinion that if the selection process was not carried out as provided in the ordinance, a compromise between the original women's position and the mayor/council, then all the other compromises developed in task force meetings would also be "out." Ms. Hendricksen reported that Mike Phillips, chairman of the present Human Rights Commission, was also opposed to the amendment. Most felt the amendment, if adopted, would weaken the original commission and make a difference in the "tone" of work to be carried out in years to come. Also, that interviewing as many people as possible would provide for th~ selection of commission members who would be responsive to the needs of the people with whom they would be concerned. II - B- 2 II-B-3 II-B-4 II-B-5 II-B-6 Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony presented. Mayor Anderson said he had never heard of anyone's being denied an opportunity for participation in government on the basis of testimony they may have pre- sented in a public hearing. He said the Council always conducted open meetings and entertained discussion on all sides, and certainly a person's testimony never entered into any Council member's consideration of qualifications for members of boards and commissions. -- Councilman Murray expressed concern that some testimonial statements appeared to indicate that there would be a sort of closed process that would be secret. He wanted to refute that impression, saying that all meetings would be open and all decisions would be made in public. He personally favored a written interview process with questions drafted and answered as part of the public record. But he did not want that process equated with some sort of closed process. The public may disagree as to the process, he said, but nevertheless it would not be closed. Councilman Williams echoed Mr. Murray's comments. He said he would not support or take part in any selection process that appeared to have come from a "back room," and that was not the intent of the amendment proposed. Tqe intent, he said, ~".. 1/26/76 - 11