2017-03-02 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes

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Town of Reading .;' Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Human Relations Advisory Committee Date: 2017-03-02 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Police Station Location: Community Room Address: 15 Union Street Purpose: Meeting Session: Attendees: Members - Present: h 10Vi t k-EABI r-1.:'1 1011 FAY -4 A 11= Ob David Clark, Heather McLean, Lynn Dornink, Lori Hodin, Linda Snow Dockser, Seema Lynch Members - Not Present: Kyung Yu Others Present: Kevin Sexton, Dan Ensminger, John Halsey, John Arena, Catherine Grayson, Ruthle Wilson, Jess Squires, Gina McCormick Beck, Susan Gaskill, John Myers, Theresa Wiggins, Andy Friedmann, Jason Lewis, Carolyn Whiting, David Maroney, Bill Chetwynd, Bob Vincent Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lynn Dornink Topics of Discussion: Heather called the meeting to order at 7:10pm Lod: editorial in Boston globe— Facing hate speech head on Linda: Medford HRC forwarded email: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (DHS CRCL) is activating its Incident Community Coordination Team (ICCT) national conference call mechanism to discuss recent violent incidents, including suspected hate crimes, acts of vandalism, and bomb threats against diverse communities, including Jewish and Muslim communities, across the United States. Call to be held at 12pm ET on 3/3/17. Heather offers the Board of Selectmen an opportunity to call themselves to order at the suggestion of Linda, as they have a quorum present. John Halsey declines, stating that since they are not conducting business, there is no need to post for their board or call to order. Heather: Subcommittee (Heather, Lynn, Seems) has been meeting with Kevin Sexton and Barry Berman. Have met with Wakefield HRC to discuss their first year as a commission. Bob L. reached out to the Wakefield Town Administrator to discuss structure and concluded that the Wakefield HRC is a commission in name only, not legally. Subcommittee would like to talk to Reading Town Counsel in May to discuss modeling HRAC structure on Wakefield HRC. They are more of an expanded Advisory committee than commission, jointly reporting to Board of Selectmen and School Committee. Need to be advised if a committee can have this reporting structure in Reading, to be discussed with Town Counsel/Bob L. Sunset clause on June 30"', 2017 makes use nervous. We've met with many towns' HRCs and reviewed their structure, think Wakefield is the best model for us. Page I 1