SALISBURY — Almost a year after Rowan County commissioners pulled out of the Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council, the organization has removed “Rowan” and “Salisbury” from its name.
County commissioners in June 2013 voted 3 to 1 to withdraw staffing and appointment support for the Human Relations Council and earmark $3,150 in county money to go only to the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, not other Human Relations Council events like La Fiesta de Rowan, Meet Your Neighbor forums and Let’s Get Connected Day, where peace poles have been planted across Rowan County.
At the time, Commissioner Craig Pierce said the organization represented only a segment of the county’s residents.
“We don’t feel like, in our opinion, we don’t feel it represents all of the citizens of Rowan County,”?Pierce said.
This week, the Human Relations Council asked Salisbury City Council to approve the name change to reflect the county’s departure from the group. But the group also asked to remove “Salisbury” from the name in hopes that the county some day will return, said Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell, who serves as liaison to the group.
The Human Relations Council has spent months discussing the county’s departure and determining the best response, Blackwell said. She said the comment by Pierce, whom she did not name but called “our esteemed county commissioner,” was “very hurtful” because the Human Relations Council’s mission and the goal of its members is inclusion and diversity.
Members wanted to leave open the possibility of the county rejoining, she said.
“If there is any change in guard on the county commission and change in direction and they wish to reassociate with this council, they are welcome to do so,” Blackwell said.
Members “attempted at every turn to leave the door open for the county to rejoin” and continue to extend an olive branch to the county, she said.
City Council on Tuesday appointed two members of the group — Mary Frances Edens and Seth Labovitz — who had been county appointees.
The city also approved the name change and revised some functions, powers and duties of the Human Relations Council. Rather than 18 members appointed by the county, city and at large, the group now has 16 members appointed by the city and at large.
Revised functions, powers and duties include:
• Identify, study, and document areas of human need (housing, employment, education, transportation, etc.) in the city and recommend strategies for meeting those needs.
• Communicate regularly the work, observations and recommendations of the Human Relations Council to the mayor and City Council.
• Promote and provide training/workshops for community advancement.
• Advocate for equal employment opportunity.
• Promote and provide education on equal housing opportunity.
• Submit at least annually a report to the City Council.
• Provide opportunities for meaningful discussion on human relations throughout the community.
• Provide information and referrals related to Human Relations issues.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.