Commission chair Ellen Lander Nischt didn't start the meeting until a quorum arrived The meeting started at 4:09 pm with commissioners Bruce Alexander, Hanne-Lore Gambrell, Lander Nischt, and Sheldon Wrice present Commissioners Ginakaye Maddox and Casey Miller were absent

The August 2024 meeting minutes passed unanimously Lander Nischt said item 2a (a source of income discrimination case against 5 West Group, Dominion Townhomes LLC) has had no change in status

She said an investigation is ongoing for items 2b and 2c (source of income discrimination cases against Herston Properties and Jeff Drillien

She said there was no resolution after an August 29th conciliation for item 2d (a source of income discrimination case against Stewardship Property Solutions) She said she will set another date for conciliation to reach a resolution

She asked who is working on item 2e (a source of income discrimination case against Larkin Street Homes LLC and Divvy Home Buyer LLC) Alexander said he is working on it and he will meet with the parties over the next few weeks He said conciliation is in good status

Gambrell said she spoke with council this morning about item 2f (a source of income discrimination case against Akron Quality Properties LLC) She said there will be a conciliation in October if the claimant (person filing a complaint) is available

She asked to postpone the public hearing until after the conciliation in October Nischt moved to suspend the public hearing and not reschedule it until the claimant has confirmed a date Suspension of the public hearing passed unanimously

Miller arrived at 4:19 pm with no audio or video on A city lawyer said he must turn on his audio and video to be considered present for the meeting He turned on his audio and video

Nischt said item 2g (a Crown Act violation complaint against Vandevere Chevrolet) had a hearing later this month but the claimant is unavailable. She said they need to find a new date in October.

She said the claimant has not stated his availability so they will not be able to reschedule the meeting until the October 1st meeting She said a motion to suspend the public hearing without rescheduling Motion passed unanimously

Nischt said she needs to get together with the parties involved in item 2h (a disability, race, and source of income discrimination case against David Ridenhour and Norma Jean Ridenhour)

Alexander said item 2i (a disability discrimination case against Portage Path Behavioral Health) is in court with no movement

Nischt said there is not a report for item 2j (a racial discrimination case against Summa's Home Infusion) because Maddox is absent but she expects a report during the next meeting

She said she followed up a staffer about Fundamentals of Mediation Training and the staffer is moving forward with the training the commission needs. She said the training will be december 3-5 from 9am-5pm on zoom

She said the bi-annual council report is Sept 30th, she said she'll prepare some bullet reports that will be emailed to the commission members in case she is absent or delayed from travel

Gambrell said she wants rules to change to move to another location and allow people to attend meetings via zoom A city lawyer said they can change the rules to meet in any location and that people can already attend via zoom

Gambrell suggested meeting in the Akron Library in the winter months because City Hall is on a steep hill making it inaccessible Nischt said she is open to the library and said she can suspend the rule now if the commission is open to it

Bruce asked if there is parking Nischt said they can still park where they currently park at Citi Center She said they will look into it and plan to use the library for the November meeting She said the meeting needs to be rescheduled because it's on election day

She said there is no new business and no public comment She said she will follow up with the city about marketing materials

The meeting ended at 4:33 pm. The next Akron Civil Rights Commission meeting will be October 1st at Akron City Hall (166 S. High Street). For more coverage check out Akron.Documenters.Org

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