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Green Bay Equal Rights Commission to draft complaint-handling language, seek legal review
Summary
At its Feb. 13 meeting, the Green Bay Equal Rights Commission agreed to assemble a small drafting group to propose ordinance language allowing the commission to receive complaints; the draft will go to the law department and return to the commission for review.
At a Feb. 13 meeting, the Green Bay Equal Rights Commission agreed to form a small drafting group to develop language for the city’s Equal Rights ordinance to clarify how the commission can receive and process complaints.
The move, proposed by commissioners during a roughly 13-minute discussion, is intended to expand the commission’s ability to respond to community complaints. Chair Cherry Yang said she will work with Commissioner Natalie Hoffman to develop a draft to bring back to the commission and then send it to the city’s law department for review.
Commissioners described the proposed change as a modest addition to the existing ordinance — a standalone section that would spell out the scope and process for accepting complaints and holding hearings. “We would write something up and then you can bring it to Joe and the law department to look over,” Commissioner Greenough said, describing the review path the commission intends to follow before any proposal reaches the Common Council.
Several commissioners volunteered to serve on a drafting subcommittee. Commissioner Natalie Hoffman said, “I’d be willing to help draft it.” Chair Yang and commissioners discussed limiting the drafting group to two members to avoid creating a quorum. Chair Yang said she will contact Hoffman after the meeting to schedule a one-on-one and assemble the subcommittee for a future meeting agenda.
Beyond the complaint language, some members suggested additional language options to consider for the draft. Ideas raised during the discussion included: a clear statement on the commission’s ability to “condemn discrimination,” authority to partner with or solicit funds for commission initiatives, and a requirement that the commission’s web page list contact information and local resources for residents. Commissioners repeatedly noted that legal review would determine what language the commission can adopt.
The agenda also included routine business: the commission approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting by voice vote, moved one informational item to the next meeting, and heard an informational note about a Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights briefing scheduled for Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. Eastern. Chair Yang asked commissioners to remain after adjournment for a brief follow-up.
No ordinance text was adopted at the Feb. 13 meeting; the commission’s next formal step is to draft proposed language, have it reviewed by the law department, and place the item on a future meeting agenda for formal consideration.
