GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Green Bay city council member wants to create a new commission to support the city’s new diversity and inclusion coordinator position. However, Mayor Eric Genrich says something similar is already in the works.
The diversity and inclusion coordinator’s duties will include making sure the city is doing what it can to recruit diverse and qualified employees. The person would also work on diversity with city leaders outside of city hall.
The position’s salary this year will be nearly $47,000. Per the budget, the position can’t be filled until May.
When a majority of Green Bay’s city council voted in November to include the diversity and coordinator position in this year’s budget, Alder Brian Johnson was among those who voted no.
“My opposition to the position wasn’t because I don’t feel that it’s not needed in our community. It was really a fiscal decision. We were growing spending. We were growing the taxes. We were growing fees, so that was my opposition.”
Now that the position will be coming on line, Johnson tells FOX 11 he wants to make sure it succeeds. He says that’s why he is proposing a diversity and inclusion commission. Members would be volunteers and appointed by the mayor, similar to other city commissions, which usually meet one or two times a month.
“We really haven’t had an open community dialogue yet about its need or what role government can play in this arena, so I think it’s important this commission be the groundwork that helps create some of that direction.”.
Genrich proposed the diversity coordinator idea. He tells FOX 11 a commission to support it is already in the works as part of a plan to address housing discrimination.
“It’s actually going to be a bit broader I think than that subject and will encompass housing non discrimination, but also discrimination in public accommodations, in employment, and as a component of that, we’ll also have a human rights commission.”
Genrich says the human rights commission will hear any discrimination complaints that come to the city.
People who want to be on the commission would apply through the city’s website.
“What I’ve said about all our commissions is that ideally they’re reflective of who lives in this community. I think that is even more important with a commission of this kind.”
Genrich says the non-discrimination ordinance will likely be introduced in the next few weeks.
Johnson’s commission proposal is on Monday’s Protection and Welfare Committee agenda.
