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Boards and Commissions

Howard County Boards and Commissions play an important role in fostering  citizen involvement in our government. County Boards or Commissions cover a wide  variety of topics ranging from the environment, fire and rescue services and  cable, just to name a few.  Board or Commission members advise various County  personnel on specific matters for which they are an expert. In some instances,  Board or Commission members recommend or comment on legislation, budget items or  other important policy changes.

Applicants should send a resume and a brief letter explaining why they want  to serve on the Board to: Howard County Government, Office of the County  Executive, Attn: David Lee, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission was established in 1969, and is composed of 11 members and a non-voting member, who is a student under 18 years old. Commissioners must live in the county and they represent diversity of Howard County citizens.

The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are prescribed by law, and include recommending a civil rights policy to the County Executive and the County Council concurrently; the authority to make surveys and studies concerning human rights, conditions and problems; as well as, the authority to file a complaint when there is reason to believe a pattern or practice of discrimination exists.

TO CONTACT US, CALL OR WRITE:

Human Rights Commission
c/o Office of Human Rights
6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 239
Columbia, MD 21046-3137
Tel. 410-313-6430 Fax 410-313-6468
TTY 410-313-6401

MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
REVEREND ROBERT TURNER, CHAIR 
Term expires: 3/1/19 

MOHAMMED SHIRAZ AHMED
Term expires: 3/1/20
 
CHUEN-CHIN BIANCA CHANG
Term expires: 3/1/20

FRANK V. EASTHAM, JR.
Term expires: 3/1/17

JOAN HASH
Term expires: 6/1/21

PETER HWANG
Term expires: 6/1/21

OPEL T. JONES, I
Term expires : 3/1/19
 

ILENE KESSLER
Term expires : 3/1/18


IVETTE LOPEZ
Term expires: 3/1/17


STUDENT COMMISSIONER
ELI SAUERWALT 
Term expires: 6/30/16 

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STAFF
BARRY SANDERS, HRC LEGAL COUNSEL
Howard County Office of Law

REVEREND DR. BARBARA J. SANDS
HRC Executive Secretary

STEPHANIE M. CHAPPLE
Recording Secretary

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission

The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission was established by order of the Howard County Executive to “…encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr...”

The seventeen-member Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Room 303 at 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD, at which time, plans for the annual commemoration of Dr. King's birthday are made.

County residents are continually sought to fill Commission vacancies, as well as fill positions on various subcommittees. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive to serve an initial term of two years.

Persons interested in serving on the Commission should contact the Office of Human Rights at (410) 313-6430.

MLK COMMISSION MEMBERS: 

Dawn Bruton
Term expires: 2/2017

Bessie Bordenave
Term expires: 2/2017

Susie D. H. Carter
Term expires: 2/2017

Caroline Harper, Ph.D.
Term expires: 2/2016

Sonja Blake Hamada, Secretary
Term expires: 2/2017

Jetheda Hernandez, Chairperson
Term expires: 2/2017

Helaine M. Jeffers
Term expires: 2/2017

Roberta Kelly
Term expires: 2/2017

Amanda Llorens
Day of Service Chair
Term expires: 2/2015

Rev. Rodney Morton
Term expires: 2/2017

Namrata Nagarajan
Term expires: 2/2017

Deborah Owens
Term expires: 2/2017

Edward Smith
Term expires: 2/2017

Patricia Thorne
Term expires: 2/2017

Stephanie A. Wall
Term expires: 2/2016

Tracey L. Williams
Term expires: 2/2017

STUDENT COMMISSIONERS:
Prateek Swamykumar
River Hill HS
Term expires: 2/2016

Samantha Truong
Mount Hebron HS.
Term expires: 2/2016

OHR SUPPORT STAFF:
Reverend Dr. Barbara Sands
Administrator

Mary Toth
Outreach Coordinator

Revised 8/5/2015