2001-05-30 Human Relations Advisory Commitee Minutes

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HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAY 30, 200} ~ TOWN HALL - BERGER ROOM CLERK 7:30 P.M. o MASS. 2001 Jul, 19, P W. 0 9 Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager; Terry Jones; Paul Kelley; Phil Maher, Board of Selectmen designee; Emily Maughan; Carol Roberts, Town of Reading Personnel; Bob Silva, Police Chief, Sumi Sinnatamby, Realtor; Margaret Soli; and Ed Toland. Guest: reporter for the Reading Chronicle. Absent: Robin D'Antona, School Committee designee. 1) Meeting called to order by Peter Hechenbleikner. 2) Introductions made. Each committee member briefly described his/her interest in and reasons for becoming involved with HRAC. 3) Election of officers held. Chair: Margaret Soli. Vice Chair: Terry Jones. Secretary: Emily Maughan. 4) P. Hechenbleikner reviewed the charge to the committee. Points discussed included reminder that committee is charged with looking broadly at issues and is not a mediation body. 5) P. Hechenbleikner reviewed operating procedures. Meeting schedule must be posted at least 48 hours in advance of meeting. Suggested we communicate with the Board of Selectmen every three months initially, then every six months. Carol Roberts will add HRAC to their agenda as needed. Peter also recommended that we reorganize after Jury 1' and set terms of office through June 3e, 2002, as terms will expire on June 30 , 2001. Meeting turned over to Margaret Soli, Chair. 6) Agenda for next meeting discussed. Topics to include selecting goals and objectives for the committee and guidelines for members; timeframes to accomplish agreed upon goals; guest from the Winchester Multi-Cultural Committee (arranged by Sumi Sinnatamby). 7) Meeting dates set for the second Thursday of the month. General discussion took place. Need to verify what, if any, fund-raising efforts committee can make, and what resources on diversity are already available in the town and schools. B. Silva reviewed police interviewing process and noted that a power point presentation will be made to the Board of Selectman on the Police Department. Noted rt.. new statute which states that motor violation citations must record ethnicity of the stopped driver and state whether the vehicle was searched or not. Data analyzed by independent company. Part of effort to pinpoint existence of profiling and illegal continued