Citing a desire for more efficiency, City Council member Matt Schellenberg has introduced legislation to reduce the number of members on the Human Rights Commission from 20 to 11.
The bill will be introduced Tuesday to City Council as an emergency measure, which means it could be acted on during the meeting.
It seeks to reduce the number of commission members through attrition, starting with an appointment and three reappointments who have yet to be confirmed by the Council Rules committee.
They are the appointment of Mario Ernesto Decunto and reappointments of Dane Grey, Susan Harthill and Parvez Ahmed, a University of North Florida professor whose confirmation two years ago was heavily debated among several Council members and community groups because of alleged ties to terrorism. Ahmed is an associate professor of finance at the University of North Florida.
If the legislation is passed as an emergency Tuesday, the four names would be the first to be cut from the commission.
No new members would be appointed and no existing members reappointed until the membership reaches 11, according to the legislation.
According to its City website, the commission promotes and encourages fair treatment and equality opportunity for all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or familial status, pregnancy or ancestry.
Schellenberg said his intent is that the commission doesn't act on enough issues for a 20-member board and its number is too large for individual members to engage or be efficient. He said there are opportunities to serve on other boards. "People who volunteer, I think they are important," said Schellenberg. "There are plenty of open positions for them on other boards and commissions."
Schellenberg said he also would analyze other City boards and commissions with more than 11 members and would similarly attempt to pare them back.
"When you have a consolidated group, they work more efficiently," he said.
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