Note-taking by
Lauren Ridenour
Commissioners postponed officer elections and approval of newly drafted bylaws because they lacked access to their current bylaws and were unsure of proper procedures.
Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
Lacking access to their own current bylaws, commissioners postponed officer elections and approval of newly drafted bylaws to the August meeting, unsure of the proper procedures for conducting official business.
03:43 PM Jul 18, 2024 CDT
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
3/47
They're figuring out the camera setup at the moment. I'll let you know when there's developments
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
5/47
So now I can hear them TALKING ABOUT how the audio isn't working... So progress!
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
6/47
In the mean time here’s your Human Rights Commission:
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
7/47
Did you know the Detroit River isn't actually a river? It's technically a strait! And the Hudson (the river in NY, not the sorely-missed department store) is actually a tidal estuary!
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
8/47
Still no audio folks, I'm sorry about this
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
9/47
I can't tell if the meeting is proceeding or they're trying to figure it out.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
10/47
It'll be 3 minutes of silence then then a voice will go "we have no sound on Facebook Live" and then gone
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
12/47
That's nice, huh? He's got his little banjo!
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
13/47
Ope we just got a "testing, testing"!
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
15/47
So sound goes on and
"No no no they could hear us, we couldn't hear them!"
"I thought they couldn't hear us on FB live?"
"No no no they're fine"
"Oh ok nvm then" *switches audio back off*
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
17/47
Roll was taken and those present follows
Ross
Harris
Olivera
Mendoza
Carter
Singh
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
19/47
They passed over opening remarks and moved onto Member Reports
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
20/47
A member described organizing his district in response to the event violence, and learning what the community needs in the aftermath
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
21/47
The CRIO Department director described recent outings and outreach efforts, in addition to advances in Marijuana business registration. She also described an election themed scavenger hunt for interns.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
22/47
They are deferring unfinished business to the next meeting. It seems they need revised bylaws to proceed on item IIa. Commissioner Term Dates.
Staff responds that the term dates are already set and should be known to the commissioners.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
23/47
A commissioner says that they investigated a smell emanating from the Faygo factory, and were assured the substances involved were safe
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
24/47
Jumping around the agenda, they are now hearing a presentation from the city attorney's office about the Open Meetings Act
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
28/47
They had some trouble with the PowerPoint for this OMA presentation, so the board wondered aloud if the presentation on complying with the Open Meetings Act might be emailed privately to the board members, instead of shared with the public.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
29/47
The attorney suggested that he would continue to present the slides, despite the possible delay
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
30/47
Don’t mess around and try and hold a meeting without holding a meeting
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
31/47
It's legal to destroy closed session minutes 1 year after they are approved. I didn't know that
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
32/47
The attorney suggests the body adopt Robert's Rules of Order
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
34/47
One commissioner voiced his concerns that the commission's communications over email may constitute a violation of the OMA. Response: administrative, logistical emails are permitted, but they must not contain deliberations or decisions.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
35/47
The attorney recommends utilizing the bcc function to make sure coordinating emails don't fall victim to a "reply all" turning into a in prohibited deliberation
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
36/47
"When in doubt, replicate City Council" says the attorney
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
37/47
Looks like there's no public comment and no remarks from the chair.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
38/47
They are discussing how the minutes are handled. The plan is to post minutes and recordings in the same manner as City Council
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
39/47
The commission is discussing previous difficulties figuring out how to take minutes.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
40/47
It seems that the first thing that needs to be done is the commission needs to adopt bylaws, as at the moment there is no document outlining how this body will work or how they elect or reelect members, etc
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
41/47
Basically the only decision that has been made so far is that the Human Rights Commission EXISTS and should DO THINGS, but the body is meant to meet and adopt bylaws to decide essentially what that will mean and how the commission will work.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
42/47
Bylaws have been prepared in order to be adopted today, but as they have no officers they can't vote on them.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
43/47
It seems bylaws currently exist, but no one has a copy or knows their content. The commission can suspend the current rules, elect officers, but they seem hesitant to do so for some reason.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
44/47
They've decided to postpone electing new offers until August, at which time they'll adopt bylaws and do business. They've also cancelled (or postponed? It's unclear) a presentation on the powers of the HRC.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
45/47
And the meeting was adjourned at 6:45pm.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
46/47
This closes my coverage of the Detroit Human Rights Commission board meeting for July 18. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at
documenters.org
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
47/47
If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line