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Commission supports code language updates, agrees phased transition for non‑city commissioners
Summary
The Commission voted to back changes updating gendered language across city code and to revise membership rules to permit affiliated non‑city representatives, while approving a three‑year transition allowing current county commissioners to remain.
The York City Human Relations Commission voted Feb. 16 to support proposed updates to city code that would replace gendered language with neutral terms and to revise the commission’s composition rules to enable non‑city representatives to participate by affiliation agreement.
Council member Ryan Soupler presented the set of updates, saying the changes range from replacing pronouns in older code sections to establishing minimum commission membership and clearer affiliation agreements. The proposals include a minimum of eight commissioners, with a proposed quorum of five, and language that would allow non‑city residents to serve only if they are designated representatives of a government unit that remains affiliated and current on any obligations.
Commissioners focused on practical effects: quorum thresholds, term staggering, recruitment of new city residents, and possible compensation or affiliation agreements with neighboring municipalities. One commissioner said a three‑year phased rollout would protect currently serving county commissioners from immediate removal; the Commission adopted a motion to support the updates with that three‑year transition option so current non‑city members could complete their terms if they choose.
Staff raised concerns about workload and jurisdictional limits, noting the commission already refers many non‑city cases to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) when clients live outside the city. Commissioners requested clearer implementation language about affiliation agreements, compensation, and how intake and prioritization of county cases would be handled.
The endorsement sends the ordinance revisions to council-level review with a request that language be clarified to protect current commissioners during a phased transition and to specify how affiliation agreements and term staggering would work.
