Metro East Sun

City of Edwardsville Human Relations Committee met Nov. 6

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Members Present: 

• Dave Boyer (Chair), Brian Pezza (Secretary), Violet Evans, Len Heine, Kaitlin Keister, Alison Lamothe

• Quorum

Others Present: 

• Amanda Tucker, Director of Human Resources

• Cathy Hensley, Communications Coordinator Jessie Allen

• Alan Vest

• Called to Order: by Dave Boyer at 5:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes: 

• Minutes from the July 10, 2023 meeting were not available; approval held over for December meeting

Public Comment: 

• Alan Vest of 805 Troy Road provided comments concerning challenges he has faced with respect to his desire to grow native grasses and plants on his property

Communications: 

• Dave Boyer noted the resignations of Committee members John Harvey and Yolanda Crochrell and thanked them for their service to the Committee

• New Committee members Len Heine and Kaitlin Keister were introduced by Dave Boyer; both new members provided introductory remarks

• Amanda Tucker provided members with a new Committee roster and with copies of several City job descriptions

Administrative: 

• With the appointment of Dave Boyer to Chair, it was noted that a Committee Secretary would need to be appointed. Alison Lamothe moved (Dave Boyer second) to appoint Brian Pezza as Secretary. All voted in favor.

• Dave Boyer reported on a meeting he attended with Committee Member Anya Covington, Mayor Art Risavy, Amanda Tucker and Director of Administration Kevin Head, which meeting's topics included:

○ The Committee's purpose and scope of authority

○ The need to attract more diverse applicants to City employment and more diverse representation on City committees

○ The City's Race Relations Survey

• The Committee discussed the fact that meetings may be held less frequently than monthly if warranted by volume of Committee business

• There was further discussion of City hiring efforts and challenges thereto, including transportation, publicity, and the differing hiring processes of the Fire and Police departments. Amanda Tucker explained that the City was not having difficulty filling positions, but was not receiving many diverse applicants for the mostly part- time positions that are regularly available

• The Committee discussed progress made on the 10 directives identified for improving race relations and equality in the City's first Race Relations & Equality Survey

New Business:

• Dave Boyer discussed the City's 2044 Comprehensive (envisionedwardsville.com) and suggested that Committee representatives should attend consultant briefings and other events as possible

• The Committee also discussed efforts to improve visibility of the Committee through attendance at public events and to use that attendance as an opportunity to advertise employment opportunities to a diverse audience

Adjournment:

• Violet Evans moved to adjourn; Alison Lamothe seconded; all voted in favor 

• Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11062023-3184