Politics & Government
Vote Tabled on Rules for Lower Merion’s Human Relations Commission
The Administrative & Human Resources Committee wants more time.
After expressing its concerns, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners’ Administrative & Human Resources Committee on Wednesday night tabled a vote to recommend that the full board authorize actions to adopt an ordinance promulgating the Human Relations Commission proposed Rules and Regulations, on January 18, 2012.
The township’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) was formed last spring to ensure that all persons enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing, commercial property, and the use of public accommodations.
The HRC’s Rules and Regulations Subcommittee worked with township Solicitor Gilbert P. High and William Kerr on the proposed Rules and Regulations, which provide for:
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- Construction of the regulations
- Definition of “employer”
- Organization of the Human Relations Commission, including membership, officers, actions, meetings, administrative assistance and records
- Actions and proceedings, including the filing and processing of complaints
- Filing and processing of answers to complaints
- Mediation, investigation, findings and public hearings
- Appeals and enforcement
The Administrative & Human Resources Committee voted 13-1 to table the vote after several commissioners raised concerns about what is being proposed, and said they wanted more time to review the rules and regulations. Commissioner Steven Lindner cast the lone dissenting vote.
Commissioner Daniel Bernheim named a long list of concerns. He said the rules and regulations were creating a “quasi-judicial branch” of government and said he thought the included discoveries and motions were not necessary.
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Bernheim also questioned the HRC’s ability to impose fines up to a $10,000, saying “if a dollar amount is imposed, that’s akin to an appeal.” He said that goes against the township’s goal of having the HRC handle matters in-house and having people avoid the costs of litigation.
Commissioners Scott Zelov and Brian Gordon questioned whether the rules and regulation accomplish the goal that both sides in a claim should be able to come before the HRC without attorneys.
