The head of Waterloo’s Human Rights Department has been fired, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Director Abraham Funchess was actually terminated last month but neither he nor Mayor Dave Boesen are saying why. Boesen said Funchess had the option to resign or be terminated. Funchess, who is also the pastor at Jubilee United Methodist Church, was being paid more than $102,000 per year as Director. The department is left with just one employee, the complaints investigator, and a commission of nine residents. Mayor Boesen says he wants the department to continue on but wants it to be more efficient and more actively involved. Human Rights Departments were required for cities with more than 29,000 residents but a new state law removed that requirement. The department’s role is to receive, investigate, and determine the merits of human rights complaints and alleged discriminatory practices.
