Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-02 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutesor R� Town of Reading A Meeting Minutes Board - committee - Commission - Council: Human Relations Advisory Committee 1011 P`.AY -4 A It: Ob Date: 2017-02-02 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Police Station Location: Community Room Address: 15 Union Street Purpose: Meeting Session: Attendees: Members - Present: David Clark, Heather McLean, Kyung Yu, Lori Hodin, Linda Snow Dockser, Seems Lynch Members - Not Present: Lynn Dornink Others Present: Kevin Sexton, Ruthie Wilson, Jess Squires, Gina McCormick Beck, Kaitlyn Mercurio, Susan Gaskill, John Myers Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lori Hodin on behalf of Lynn Dornink Topics of Discussion: MILK Celebration Recap: David Clark approached by people that were upset by Jamele Adams' spoken word presentation- 3-4 people grabbed him at financial forum meeting at library, at another meeting. He knew 3-4 and the rest didn't know. Mix of men and women and all ages. Didn't think it was appropriate for a MLK celebration, no real specifics. Didn't like "Hands up don't shoot" over the line. "When you grow up, don't trust the police." Too political, too controversial. Several people said the exact opposite; it's time for this. 5-S people mid 30s eady 40s. Many students had very positive feedback. Think about our goals—do we want to get people talking, we don't want people to shut down. It did get people talking. Maybe each year it has a slightly different purpose—it could be to shake things up. So many HS students were coming up to talk to Jamele and shake his hand Feedback ----best presenter ever, positive. I felt emotional by people's response afterwards, On parents' network, feedback was positive. Keeping the activities set up in the hallway helped families, kids went out of auditorium to do crafts when antsy. Printed out 400 programs, we didn't get many smalls, sign in didn't work out, people don't want to stop and sign in. Maybe move it closer to the door or to the tables. Maybe have sign up near food. Gina - Shout out to Mr Cross, my daughter sang and she had a great time. Reach out to friends of METCO needs to be more robust, time line is ok. John Halsey and Jeanne Borawski's introduction should be more focused. Page I 1 We invited Brad Jones, Jim Dwyer and Jason Lewis. Only Jason Lewis said yes. We were concemed about not being one sided. Halsey and Borowski are on separate boards of the town who are working together, and represent different political points of view to balance with Jason Lewis. Kevin -As long as you invite everyone, not to worry about party lines. For next year, think about how to do a better job counting the crowd. Seems, Lynn and Heather met with Barry and Kevin to discuss transition to advisory committee to commission. Fill them in about meeting with Wakefiled HRC, have our town manager talk to their town administrator. Can we mimic their structure? Bob Lalecheur got a hold of Wakefield admin. Wakefield not much different than our structure. 1) legal entity separate–commission – different than how we're structured now. 2) Advisory committee need approval In order to become a commission need either charter or town meeting bylaw Wakefield is just calling themselves a commission –they don't have legal autonomy, they do need to get approvals from Matt Cornelis Wakefield commission part of Selectman and School Committee—can we do something similar? How does our charter allow that to happen—Bob initially thought no, but will get advice from town counsel. Kevin - Where do we see ourselves? How do we want to make that happen? If you can't get approval, do you want to be a part of the school committee— No, we've already discussed that. Linda takes time at every school committee meeting to update them. The goal is to be part of the town. Can Wakefield commission be disbanded? Not sure, if they have sunset clauses like we do. You can set up your committee any way you see ft. Another option for us? To be a commission, not legal entity, but something that cannot be sunset. 11 person panel would vote to disband—give this group protection S to tell you no rather than 3 (School Committee + Selectmen). Can we have access to town counsel? Simple answer yes, long answer no, because there's a lot of issues on the docket, maybe sometime in May joint meeting with town counsel, selectmen, committee. Want to make sure that we're moving forward and that we're not sunset in June. Wakefield has autonomy to decide what to do next. It's more'buy in'than autonomy. From a structure standpoint they're similar to us, still need permission but they get it. On website sunset date June 30, 2017. Kevin Sexton will ask Bob Lalechure on Tuesday can board of selectman and school committee have a joint committee underneath them? Bob thinks not, but he's going to talk to town counsel. Next step is to determine this. If we can't, how do we change the charter to do so. Wakefield works very closely with town administrators, there's a complaint process. Huge buy in, town counsel and administrator work together with commission. Working with Matt Kraunelis, liaison for Bob Lalechure has been great. Historically the town has not wanted the group to get involved in, topics that are not going on in our town, but going on outside our town. It's tough as the times we live in now are so charged and divided, those are the things that it's tough to be on a side, one way or another. Town doesn't want to take either side. With all the screaming that's going on both sides, town is not interested in getting involved in debates. No mechanism for hate crimes in this group. Winchester has one. There could be things going on here, but that's not one side or another. Page 1 2 Examples: Incident was ongoing investigation in Stoneham (Bear Hill—swastika's on golf carts). How is that politically divisive? There's no NAZI party here. Grey line between education and making specific reference when there's an ongoing investigation. Why can't town and schools respond proactively when an incident occurs? Like if a swastika is posted in a bathroom in school or in town, why can't we affirm our values? To be silent is a disservice to the whole community. Once police or school has released information, then it's ok for committee to send something out. Committee 'can't be first to show'. Town resolutions something that we could get behind as a committee. Gina brought it up in public comment, very nice to put out. Gina and Kaifiyn will present it to Selectmen on Feb 21" should be approved. What's process? Kevin - Town Council should have looked at it and given his legal opinion, I don't know protocol. I haven't had one put in front of me in three years I've been selectmen. Committee question to Kevin: Gina would like us to endorse it? Does board need to say yes first? Kevin: I almost got feeling that Board was looking to see if HRAC was behind it. We should put it to the Board of Selectmen that we endorse Human Rights Resolution. Senator Jason Lewis can come to next HRAC meeting- about how Human rights commissions work in the communities he's involved in. We'll publicize it. Heather moves for HRAC to endorse the Human Rights Resolution and advise the Selectmen to approve it after counsel looks at it. Kyung seconds 5 yea, 1 abstains. Linda- thank you so much for writing powerful and important document. This will tum into a powerful tool. Interesting taking a step back to think about how we are evolving. How this is all happening, maybe by being more public. What's process? Mostly behind the scenes, a member of HRAC calls town counsel or selectman. (Waking up White ex.) Would like to see Resolution posted in town hall. Discussion on what we can do next: Interest in surrounding communities about hosting events jointly. Jason Lewis– March 2nd—purpose to help us figure out how we can promote human rights in our community. Core values in schools, social emotional skills in embedded. We could invite someone from school? Ruthie and Jess will talk to AWOD and Mr Bakr about bringing Jamele Adams to RMHS Inviting speaker to the town? A refugee family? International Institute of New England speaker? Word Cafe? Do we have a town protocol for hate speech? Deputy Chief Clark explained that you need to be careful saying hate speech, there is freedom of speech. A hate crime is different and that is recorded in police Jog, I see everything, public log is different. Can see full report and photos. Page 1 3 I'm interested in stakeholders- if something happens in school, school resource officer will log it. That's protocol. Technically, School Principal should contact SRO. This was referring to a hate crimel Is it worth to have a discussion and maybe a refresher about response if there's hate graffiti? Deputy Chief Clark explained that graffiti is vandalism, needs to be investigated, a swastika alone is not a crime. Might only get reported as vandalism. Not everyone thinks that if they see hate speech then they should contact the police. Conversation ensued on speech and freedom of speech. Deputy Chief Clark explained that there is a difference between speech that could be viewed as hateful and a hate crime and told the group that not everything is a hate crime, that there is a difference and the word crime needs to stop being used. Also, not all speech is hate, need to be careful not to interfere with Freedom of speech. There's an anonymous tip line, legally police can't subpoena records. If you don't feel comfortable you can send an anonymous text. HRAC Plan: Reissue press statement about protocol. Our press release was approved and published 2 years ago Also, the little incidents add up. ADL advises to keep track to see if patterns emerge. Difference between hate incident (NAZI flag on my yard) and hate crime (NAZI gag put on a Jewish person's yard). Again, would need to be investigated first to see if it rose to a hate crime. If I see anything, the Chief and I will discuss and if appropriate I will report to Heather if there's a hate incident or a hate crime. Heather suggested: We should include this information in the press release. Is it correct for someone to call police if there's a hate incident? Yes, police are 24-7 resource. Educate publio- we host a forum/panel to help define key terms and describe options and resources in library. Web of stakeholders and options Future ideas: Choosing to focus on one. -Support A World Of Difference -Press Release -Stakeholders meeting, which will tum into a Forum/Panel -Training (about protocol) -Meeting with superintendent to find out protocol -World Cafe Final decision is to support AWOD with hosting speaker at RMHS. Editing the previous press release to update Lori Hodin moves to support AWOD in hosting a speaker at the high school on fighting hate speech. Heather seconds the vole. Unanimous 6 votes. Heather moves to approve the minutes. Lori seconds. 5 in favor and Linda abstains because she was not at the meeting. Page 1 4