2003-11-06 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes

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HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE R S. MINUTES November 6, 2003 at Police Station Second Floor Conference R66in' ra~a Present: Margaret Soli, Chair, Chief R. Silva, C. McDonald, J. Keigley and P. Kelley, members. The meeting was called to order by Ms. Soli, Chair, at 7:35 PM. :N The minutes of the meeting of September 11, 2002 were accepted as read. The notes taken of the meeting of October 2 at which a quorum was lacking were voted to be placed on file 0 Chief Silva addressed the members about his proposed plan for a meeting and program on the issue of civil rights violations. His idea was to produce a one half hour video for middle school and high school students concerning civil rights violations. It would be a panel with Margaret Soli as moderator. The panelists would be seated along a table. The superintendent, Pat Schettini, would introduce the subject and then turn it over to Margaret. She would pose a few focused questions to the panel for each member to respond. He has spoken to Phil Rushmore of RCTV who will have the program shown on RCTV and be taped. It will be in the common room which is cable fitted and take place at the regular meeting of February 5. The panel would consist of Pat Schettini, Chief Silva, a member of the student council, Frank Amoroso of the Department of Justice or his delegate, and possibly a representative of the attorney general's office or of the district attorney's office. The formal program and the version taped will be limited to one-half an hour so that it can be used in classes at the schools since students are the target audience. The meeting will be open and allow for questions afterwards but this part will not be taped or shown on RCTV. The members all approved to concept and the program. Chief Silva stated that he now would arrange to set up the panelists. Charles McDonald raised questions as to whether the existing school programs on bullying and certain videos on that topic which were available could be incorporated but it was noted that these were not strictly relevant to the topic at this program. The members next considered the proposal to request that the Board of Selectmen adopt the draft resolution declaring December 10, 2003 as Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day. The motion to do so was unanimously adopted. Chief Silva said he would attempt to have it placed on the Board's agenda for a Tuesday, probably November 15 or 25 and advise Margaret Soli and Paul Kelley of the date and time. A discussion next took place as to the program on the Patriot's Act scheduled for December 4. Ms. Soli showed notices prepared to publicize the program and reported on her efforts to place them, in the library and elsewhere. Copies will be sent to Wilma Fraser, the METCO coordinator who has requested them. After a brief discussion on the issue of civil rights violations, the meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM. R ect su mitted Paul A. Kelley, Secret