MONTICELLO  — Deputy County Manager Michelle Huck opened the Sullivan County Legislature meeting on Thursday, April 24, by introducing the first full-time Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, Ramone E. Wilson. 

Wilson addressed the Legislature, saying that he is “very happy to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and I thank you all for such a warm welcome.”

The new Executive Director takes up the mantel left open after previous Human Rights Commissioner Adrienne Jensen’s stepping down in 2023 after she felt that the  position’s utility had been surpassed by its support.

Shortly after Wilson’s introduction, some members of the public shared a similar concern: members of the Legislature should not be on the Human Rights Commission – the members of which include Legislator Amanda Ward, as well as Joel Santiago, Ari Mir-Pontier, Charles Wade, Margaret Gans, Bill Liblick, Ricardo Nieves, Miranda Behan and Alex Portugal.

Chair of the Commission from 2005-2019 Judy Dalaban said, “I know that we’ve had legislators in the past and we may have some in the future that have an agenda that does not coincide with Human Rights…we’ve never had a legislator on the Human Rights Commission, and I don’t think we should.”

Marty Calavito, also a former Chair of the Human Rights Commission,  said, “I would beg you to consider not putting the Legislature on the Human Rights Commission.”

The Legislature’s resolution to appoint the Human Rights Commission passed with a vote of 6-1, with District 5 Legislator Cat Scott opposed, saying she voted against “because I don’t believe a legislator should sit on this commission.”