Present: Mohamad Khan, Bernard Bidne, Robert Smith, Jr., Blanca
Flores, Liz Nichols, and Jack Morlan
Absent: Flora Lee
Staff: Ron Pothast, Tim Cook, Lloyd Van Oostenrijk, and Don Grove
Public: Margaret Hough, Liz Kennedy, Ed Remsburg, Teresa Baustian,
Steve Blackford, Dawn Blackford, David Goldman, Barbara J. Duvall,
Helen McPherson, Dorothy Geisler, Greg Krumbach, John Cacciatore,
Reginald Jackson, Heather Shank, Katherine K. Carolan, Kimberly
Gordon, Peggy Sieleman, Dwight Subburt, Robert Edwards, Al White,
and Bert Wagoner
Items:
1. Commissioners' Reports
Khan - has been very busy reviewing Blackford
Nichols - conducted a workshop for Indianola 6th graders on being
an African American
Flores - no report
Bidne - no report
Smith - has visited with several bankers in the Waterloo area
regarding ICRC's recent fair lending study; bankers are willing
to work with ICRC on fair lending and fair housing issues
Morlan - no report
2. Next Meeting
9:30 a.m. - Noon, Friday, September 26,
1997
Waterloo location to be announced
3. Minutes of June 27, 1997 Commissioners' Meeting
Bidne moved to approve; Smith seconded. Motion passed.
4. Financial Reports for June and July 1997
Pothast summarized the Reports. Nichols moved to approve and file
for audit; Flores seconded. Motion passed.
5. Case Decision
CP# 20554
Blackford and ICRC v. Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Complainant's Attorney David Goldman presented oral argument,
followed by Respondent's Attorney Ed Remsburg. Bidne moved that
the body hold a closed session pursuant to Iowa Code § 21.5(1)(f)
to discuss the decision to be rendered. Smith seconded. Motion
passed, 6-0.
CLOSED SESSION (10:45-12:30 p.m.)
Khan moved that the Blackford case be remanded to the administrative
law judge to give the parties an opportunity to present additional
evidence on whether Complainant attended AA meetings before he
was terminated and whether Respondent's supervisors knew about
Complainant's drinking problem before he was terminated; and if
new evidence is presented, the administrative law judge should
make necessary additional findings and conclusions. Smith seconded.
Motion passed. Vote: Nichols-yes, Khan-yes, Flores-yes, Smith-
yes with reservation, Bidne-yes with reservation, and Morlan-yes
with reservation.
6. "Adding Sexual Orientation to the List of Protected Personal
Characteristics under the Iowa Civil Rights Act," presentation
by Heather Shank, administrator of the Iowa City Human Rights
Commission.
7. A number of other people also spoke on the issue of whether
the ICRC should propose legislation adding sexual orientation
to the list of protected personal characteristics, including White,
Sieleman, Subbert, Wagoner, and Edwards.
Bidne moved that the body not consider sexual orientation this
year in its targeted agenda. Smith seconded. Motion passed, 6-0.
8. Retreat
The Commissioners decided to hold the Retreat following the regular
Commissioners' Meeting, scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. October
24, 1997. The Commissioners also decided that during the Retreat
they would address these items:
a. a job description for chair
b. fair lending
c. fair housing
d. immigration
e. regular meeting schedule
f. legislation
9. Focal Issue for Fiscal Year 1998
tabled until next meeting