By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
The Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council has recommended that the city and county establish a separate Human Relations Department, which would include a director and two other employees.
The recommendation came Tuesday as part of the Human Relations Council’s annual presentation of its goals for the coming year.
“This is a recommendation only,”‘ Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz stressed, noting that City Council will be tackling its annual budget this spring and has a lot of requests to consider.
Claire Corry, chairwoman of the Human Relations Council, brought the Human Relations Department idea to City Council from her full board.
She recommended establishing the positions of a human relations director at an annual salary of $70,000; a human relations specialist, $40,000; and office assistant, $26,000.
Benefits for those positions would cost an additional $55,000.
The Human Relations Council said the city’s financial obligation for the salaries and benefits would total $102,500.
The council also is asking the city to contribute $3,500 toward its regular activities such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Awards Banquet, Hispanic Coalition, training, youth programs, Let’s Get Connected Day and spirit luncheons.
Additional funding of $118,850 would have to come from Rowan County and grants.
Salisbury City Councilman William “Pete” Kennedy said former city Human Resources Director Melissa Taylor had been doing two jobs and was essentially serving as a human relations director.
Taylor left late last month to take the human resources director’s job in Winston-Salem.
Kluttz said an emphasis on diversity and race relations is not only the right thing to do but is the only way to be a successful city.
The long-established Human Relations Council has as its vision “an inclusive community that lives with harmony, mutual respect and appreciation of diversity among all people.”
And its mission statement is “to create a secure environment of hospitality, inclusiveness, acceptance and appreciation of the diversity of the community.”
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.