The Hutchinson Human Relations Commission is asking the city to restore the position of Human Relations Officer in the 2013 budget, a position that was eliminated through attrition due to budget constraints. The Commission would like to see the position restored in order to have discrimination complaints fully processed at the local level under the provisions of the human relations ordinances.

The Human Relations Officer position has been a full-time staff position since the Commission’s inception in the early 1970’s until the position was eliminated through budget cuts beginning in January, 2010.

Knowing her position was being cut, Human Relations Officer Lila Fritschen took retirement several months early in 2009.

Following the position being vacated, Meryl Dye, Assistant to the City Manager, was assigned as staff liaison to the Commission and incoming discrimination complaints have been referred to the Kansas Civil Rights Commission. The Commission feels that there is still major discrimination issues in the city and and more local oversight is need to combat it. The city has been trying to trim its work force over the past several years as the City Council continues to push for a neutral budget that does not tap budget reserves.

The matter will be discussed during the next City Council meeting on Tuesday.