Atlantic Beach- Atlantic Beach Commissioners took no action on a proposed Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) at their meeting Dec. 9, but they did agree to move forward with drafting some language.
The Commission had a contentious meeting for other reasons, with a split 3-2 decision to fire their city manager and city attorney. In the meantime, Commissioner Maria Mark, who proposed the ordinance, said there have been some questions raised about how an HRO would be enforced.
“We really do not have a way to enforce it within out confines so we’ll be looking at some different options once we get a city attorney who can do that for us,” Mark said.
She said the current interim city manager is negotiating a contract for legal services with an Orange Park lawfirm.
“[The interim city attorney] would do the legal research and draft the ordinance and would determine what options there are for enforceability,” Mark said.
Although they expect that agreement to be finalized before the end of the month, Mark said that now “there are other things on the table,” and she’s not sure where [the HRO] will fall on the line of priorities.”
Mark said they’d have to sit down with the interim city attorney and discuss it further.
“I’m not committing to any timeframe at this point,” she said. “We’d like to do it as quickly as we can.”
According to city clerk Donna Bartle, it appears the earliest the commission could have a first reading of an ordinance would be in February.
If approved, the HRO would protect LGBTs against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations by preventing discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual identity and gender identity.
About 200 people packed the City Hall for an initial meeting on the HRO Nov. 25. Approximately 60 people spoke about the ordinance, with only three of those people speaking out against the HRO.
