McLean County Times

Town of Normal Human Relations Commission met March 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Janessa Williams called the regular meeting of the Normal Human Relations Commission (“HRC”) to order at 5:18 p.m. on March 18, 2025.

2. ROLL CALL

Mr. Smith called the roll with the following persons:

Present	Absent
Janessa Williams	Mikayla Blum
Terry Brown	Brian Peterson
Benjamin Ryburn
Srinivas Mikkilineni

Town of Normal Staff Liaison Jacob Smith and Town of Normal Assistant Corporation Council Steven Simmons were also present.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Ryburn moved to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2025, meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Brown and passed with a unanimous vote.

5. COMPLAINT UPDATE

Mr. Smith noted that one complaint was still open, and that updates would be provided in a future meeting, and that one complaint was on the agenda for action by the Commission.

Mr. Smith introduced the first matter of business – a staff dismissal of a received discrimination complaint application. Assistant Corporation Council Simmons provided additional detail on the staff dismissal, and fielded questions from members of the Commission – clarifying that this dismissal was on the basis of lack of prima facie evidence in the initial application, that nothing in this dismissal would impact filing of future complaints on the matter, and that the Commission action today would specifically, approve the dismissal, or overturn the staff dismissal.

Commissioner Brown moved to approve the staff dismissal for the discrimination complaint – Walls. Commissioner Mikkilineni seconded the motion, and the vote passed unanimously.

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

2026 MLK Award Ceremony Planning (no action needed)

Chairperson Williams introduced the matter and noted that bi-weekly planning meetings were to begin soon with the planning subcommittee, and that updates would be brought to future meetings.

Social Equity Summit Considerations & Planning (no action needed)

Chairperson Williams introduced the matter, highlighting ideas from Vice Chair Peterson on event theme and alignment with the annual MLK luncheon.

Commissioner Ryburn noted that he had an appetite to focus this event on updating individuals on ongoing work in the community and providing educational sessions as well.

Staff Liaison Smith inquired if the planning subcommittee for the social equity summit would be the same as the MLK event, or if this would be an additional planning group. Chairperson Williams clarified that this would be the same planning group.

7. NEW BUSINESS

Discussion and Informational Presentation by Town of Normal Legal Staff

Staff Liaison Smith introduced the item, noting that this would be the first presentation by staff of more to come to keep the Commission in touch and informed.

Assistant Corporation Council Steven Simmons then presented on the discrimination complaint process, highlighting the process from received application to final result, the different dismissal points in the process, the public hearing process, and the different dismissal or continuation points.

Chairperson Williams inquired about the conciliation process and asked why the Commission was not involved. Mr. Simmons elaborated that conciliation is an opportunity for involved parties to discuss the matter and determine if settlement is a possibility, mirroring formal judicial processes, and that it is really a conversation between the two parties.

8. COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Liaison Smith provided the schedule of the upcoming Town of Normal City Council meetings in April, and the next HRC meeting on April 15, 2025.

Mr. Smith also shared details of two events shared by Vice Chair Peterson. The first being a Campus-Community Dialogue: A House Divided to be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the sixth floor of the Milner Library, and the second being a Candidates’ Forum to be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at 205 E Olive Street in Bloomington.

9. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Ryburn motioned to adjourn; Commissioner Mikkilineni seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.

https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5249