MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie’s Human Rights Commission has done little to fight discrimination with housing, employment and other accommodations since former-Executive Director Yvonne Thompson retired late last year. The commission, led by Michele Clark, still would not say on Monday why recently named Director Shekela Bester was suspended with pay last week.

Muncie City Council member Harold Mason was present at the meeting and said the public should have a right to know. Council member William McIntosh was also present at the meeting. Clark reiterated that the investigation was ongoing this week and there would still be no comment. Another executive session will be held on Zoom next week, June 25, to talk about the matter.

She did acknowledge the agency had no staff from October last year to last February before Bester was hired. And the commission had problems getting a quorum and even cancelled a meeting lately, Clark added.

At the public meeting, the commission talked about forwarding calls and in person traffic through the Community Development office next door. Gretchen Cheesman, Community Development director, also serves on the commission at the pleasure of the mayor and volunteered to help.

A temporary services committee that includes Michele Clark, Linda Muckway, and Daisy Dale was formed to work out a plan. City lawyers later advised Cheesman not to handle human rights business.

The director’s suspension also comes after Muncie City Council decided to defund the agency’s investigator last year. Four council Democrats voted against the measure.

The commission also discussed possible changes to city code, given a new state law that lessened authority of local civil rights agencies. State lawmakers passed a bill in late 2025 that still allows local agencies to take complaints, but to then turn them over to a state or federal agency. The federal government abolished diversity, equity and inclusion programs and even went as far as saying discrimination did not involve race or gender.

Clark told other commissioners that city attorneys would offer advice on the law and how it would change the agency. Another committee to deal with revisions to the current HRC ordinance was created and includes Gretchen Cheesman, Linda Muckway, and Daisy Dale.

The commission does have subpoena power and can take action in court, although the new law says the commission no longer can represent victims of discrimination in court.