The Sullivan County Human Rights Commission (HRC) is committed to promoting fairness, transparency, accountability and equal opportunity for all residents of Sullivan County. As part of that commitment, the commission believes it is important for the public to understand how the Human Rights Commission is structured and how it carries out its work on behalf of the community.

The role of the Human Rights Commissioners

The commissioners serve as the governing body of the Human Rights Commission. Commissioners are appointed to provide oversight, establish priorities, deliberate on matters properly before the commission, and guide the commission’s educational and outreach initiatives. Commissioners preside over commission meetings and collectively determine the direction of the commission in accordance with applicable law and county policy.

The role of the executive director

As the executive director of the HRC, I am responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of the Human Rights Commission, and I report to the county manager.

I oversee the commission’s daily operations, coordinate community outreach, develop educational initiatives, manage complaint intake and administrative processes, and implement the policies, initiatives and objectives established by the commission.

To assist the commissioners in fulfilling their responsibilities, I provide regular reports during monthly commission meetings regarding the office’s activities, emerging community concerns and general trends. These reports are presented in a manner that protects confidential, personally identifiable and otherwise protected information. They are intended to help the commissioners identify community needs, develop educational programming, plan outreach efforts, and collaborate on initiatives that promote awareness of civil and human rights throughout the county.

While I manage the daily administration of the office, the commissioners collectively govern the Human Rights Commission and its official proceedings.

Commitment to confidentiality

Protecting the integrity of the Human Rights Commission’s complaint process remains one of the commission’s (and my) highest priorities.

Individuals who contact the HRC should feel confident that their concerns will be handled professionally, respectfully and with appropriate regard for confidentiality. The commission and I are committed to safeguarding complaint information in accordance with applicable federal and state law, county policy and established procedures governing the handling of sensitive information.

There is no substantiated finding that I have improperly disclosed confidential complaint information or knowingly permitted the unauthorized release of confidential materials. The commission and I remain committed to maintaining public trust by ensuring that confidential information is handled responsibly and in accordance with applicable legal and ethical standards.

Commitment to the community

The Sullivan County Human Rights Commission encourages every resident who believes they have experienced unlawful discrimination or who has concerns relating to human rights to continue seeking assistance from the commission without hesitation.

The commission remains committed to providing a fair, impartial, respectful and accessible process for all individuals while fostering collaboration, education, and mutual understanding throughout Sullivan County.

The mission of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission remains unchanged: to protect the civil and human rights of all residents, promote equal opportunity, educate the community, and strengthen public confidence through fairness, professionalism and integrity.

For additional information about the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission, call the commission office at 845/807-0189 or visit the Sullivan County website at www.sullivanny.gov.

Ramone E. Wilson, MBA, PMP is the executive director of human rights and consumer affairs in Sullivan County, NY.