Fayetteville Mayor Seeks Input For Civil Rights Law's Enforcement

FAYETTEVILLE -- Mayor Lioneld Jordan said Friday he has begun putting together an advisory panel to offer suggestions on how to enforce the controversial civil rights ordinance approved by the City Council earlier this month.

His announcement come a day after the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce requested an advisory group, saying many businesses have questions or concerns about the ordinance's details.

At A Glance

Meeting

Fayetteville Mayor’s Advisory Group

• When: 6 p.m., Thursday

• Where: Room 326, City Hall, 113 W. Mountain St.

• On the Agenda: The group will offer input and suggestions for the enforcement of the city civil rights ordinance.

Source: City of Fayetteville

The advisory group's membership will include religious and business leaders and other stakeholders, Jordan said Friday. He will meet publicly with the group at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Following impassioned public comment stretching into the morning hours Aug. 20, the City Council voted 6-2 to ban businesses in the city from firing, evicting or otherwise discriminating against someone for his or her sexual orientation or identity. Similar protections were also put in place for socioeconomic background, veteran status and other characteristics.

The ordinance created an administrator who would investigate and try to mediate complaints. It takes effect Sept. 20.

"With the passage of the new civil rights ordinance, the business community has become very concerned as to how the city will implement (it)," Steve Clark, chamber president and CEO, wrote in a letter to the mayor Thursday.

The definitions of several legal terms, including socioeconomic background and "good faith," are unclear, Clark went on. He didn't return a phone call seeking comment Friday.

The advisory group wouldn't take the place of the ordinance's administrator, as a staff report said in Friday's editions. It will simply advise the mayor on how to enforce what the City Council has passed, Jordan said.

"We're going to keep it on the topic of how to administer the ordinance -- not changing the ordinance," he said, adding public comment won't be taken during the meeting. "I think we did enough public comment two weeks ago."

The panel's membership hadn't been set as of Friday afternoon, Jordan said. Clark suggested 10 members, including representatives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, faith leaders, retail and real estate businessmen and civil rights lawyers.

Jordan said he intends to expand that number to 15 or more, including Hispanic and military members.

"We'd been talking about stuff like this, because I've done advisory groups several times before," he said. "We certainly want representation from a very diverse group in the city."

NW News on 08/30/2014

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