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Morgantown committee reviews proclamation guideline changes after Human Rights Commission objections
Summary
Rose Dawson of the Human Rights Commission told the Committee of the Whole that proposed proclamation guideline changes would constrain the commission's ability to educate the public and asked council to reconsider limits on proclamations and off‑site presentation practices.
Rose Dawson, a member of the Human Rights Commission, used the public comment period to urge council to reconsider proposed changes to the city's proclamation guidelines, arguing that the proposed limitation of one proclamation per organization per year and shifting some presentations off site would reduce the commission's ability to educate the public.
"Under the human rights ordinance, it is our job to educate the public on human rights issues," Dawson said during public comment. She described a range of cultural observances that the commission routinely seeks proclamations for and said limiting requests would force difficult choices among those observances.
Staff presented draft updates to the city's published proclamation guidelines that add options for recipients to receive proclamations by mail, pick them up from the clerk's office, be presented the proclamation at a council meeting, or request an off‑site presentation at an event, while keeping the existing provision that council may reject or modify requests. Ryan (city staff) said the draft retains a recommendation that organizations limit requests and that the process would continue to allow council oversight.
Councilors focused discussion on three operational points: (1) ensuring council members receive notice of submitted proclamation requests and have a route to object before a proclamation is finalized; (2) whether proclamations presented off‑site should also be added to the official meeting minutes or packet so they remain part of the public record; and (3) the draft's 45‑day recommended submission window and whether exceptions or a shorter timeline for repeat requests should be allowed.
Several councilors proposed adding language requiring the clerk to include off‑site proclamations in the next packet or minutes so they remain in the public record. Councilors also discussed creating an online repository so members could see pending requests and suggested an online form that would notify all council members automatically. The committee asked staff to add clarifying language about notifications, the ability to provide multiple copies, and exceptions for recurring, previously approved proclamations.
By consensus the Committee of the Whole agreed to place the revised proclamation guidelines on the council's next regular meeting agenda for formal action and asked staff to return with the updated language.
