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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-02 Human Relations Advisory Committee MinutesTown 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 Seema: It's important that we have these spaces to receive concerns, that HRAC fill that role of a place where people can feel heard and feel safe. We need the buy in that Wakefield HRC has for these ideas. Theresa: Where is the buy -in not happening? Linda: We're trying to find a structure that works with the BoS to work in our town. Seema: We put together a presentation for the BoS on the structure we believe would best serve our community. We received some push back on what we are trying to do. Linda: One of the concerns of the BoS is that what we do is taken as representative of the town's opinion. We recognize that's an important responsibility. We need to find a way to be more empowered, however, to be more proactive. John Halsey: Not one member on BoS that does not support Human Rights in this town. There are rules and regulations we have to live within. Three paths forward: 1. Private non-profit, 2. Commission, 3. Advisory Committee Linda: it's necessary for a community to make a statement that makes a statement. One of the sticking points is does this happen in Reading? While we do have examples of events that do occur in Reading, what happens elsewhere still effects Reading. When John Arena said at the Human Rights Resolution meeting of the BoS "Tell me what the difference would be tomorrow, if we pass this statement today?" (statement related to the Human Rights resolution presented to the BoS by Reading citizens), my answer would be that it makes the statement "We don't hate here'. Playing it safe doesn't always work, and we are not feeling safe. Heather: It is our job to advise the BoS on these issues, and we are trying to do that. Catherine and Jess present the results from their survey of HS students, 415 respondents out of 1200 students. Received help and support from Adam Bakr. Residents: Have you ever been discriminated against in the Town of Reading? 11% Yes Have you ever been witness to discrimination in the Town of Reading? 33% Yes Non -Residents (METCO): Have you ever been discriminated against in the Town of Reading? 30.7% Yes Have you ever been witness to discrimination in the Town of Reading? 57% Yes Students want to see all of the following as a "what to do" follow up to the above: Town speakers on diversity topics Transparency about acts of discrimination that occur in town Published condemnation of these acts by the town Town forum/discussion Experts to talk on subjects Town sponsored referrals John Halsey: We speak from the point of view of the town. I want this committee to acknowledge the hate. I think we need to go forward with the presumption that all people are right-minded in thinking about Human Rights. Catherine: It's important to make a statement. BoS asked if this is happening in Reading and our survey shows it is. There is injustice in town. John Arena: What are HRAC goals? We need to focus on form and substance. Page 12 Theresa: We need to be careful about blindly accepting Mr. Halsey's premise of right-thinking people. It's hard to fully invest If you're not one of the ones being directly discriminated against. I have the privilege to sit back and do nothing, but I try not to. Lod: To answer what form the HRAC should take, the commission structure is best for what our goals are. Human Rights Resolution is a great example, also training in the community. As a commissions we would have the autonomy we need to address the issues proactively and make Reading welcoming to everyone. John Arena: We need to focus 1. The form of the committee and how it ties into the town and 2. The Construct of the mission and vision. Maybe the committee should be more tied to the schools. Jess: I think the HRAC should be related to the town, to serve the whole town, not just the schools. John Arena: There are certain limitations that every committee has. I don't think we should polarize our town. Form over substance question: I think form is what you are trying to get to. Gina: 1 have seen other towns that respond to events and acts, how do other towns get around these restraints/restrictions? These statements are made by other towns that still must comport with town legal issues. Bill: When we put Policies and Procedures in place (we purposefully avoided ByLaws), we established relationships with the Chief of Police and Town Administrator. We responded to unpleasant letters that appeared in the paper, situation was vetted by Town Counsel. We decided to spend our first year in an education process, but now we are established. Bob: I think the Reading HRAC could be well served with more written guidance. Policies and Procedures to delineate what they can and can't, should and shouldn't, do. We dont have any jurisdiction to take on complaints, more like Town comes to us for advice like a referral service. We do not interact with complainants. We have autonomy, but keep Town Administrator appraised of situations, they also come to our meetings. It's mom *Situational awareness". HRC works as a group of concerned citizens who can apprise our BoS of what's going on. Concerned citizens report back to BoS. John Arena: You have an operating document? Bob: Yes, we adapted much from Arlington because they are a town. Lori: On the record, we do not want subpoena power. John Arena: Is that what you want, the Policies and Procedures operating document? Linda: Yes. Our ask was to go to the next step and create a Policies and Procedures document. We need to know that this committee is important to the town. Seems: If just one person feels discriminated against, it should matter to the BoS. It shouldn't be a question of whether there's enough discrimination in town. When we presented in June, there was pushback on every single slide, every single point. There was a lot of negativity. John Halsey: "Do you think you're contributing to that?" Seems: "Excuse me?" Dan Ensminger: "Think about it." Seems hands her written resignation as BoS liaison (to HRAC) to Kevin Sexton and leaves the meeting. Susan: I want Reading to be a welcoming committee and want it to have a voice. If we can educate ourselves, we can help the BoS to make decisions. We are a welcoming committee that values people for whatever they bring to the table. We're informed, educated, and a valuable resource to the town. Jess: I think we need to stop talking about what happened in June and move on. Take the Wakefield Policies and Procedures and move forward. Theresa: I just watched the way you addressed another citizen and I am disappointed John Halsey: Point taken. Page 1 3 Bob: You've got to believe you can come together as a community. Create an action committee to move forward. Catherine: We shouldn't just forget about the presentation in June. Seems's passion was admirable. It was opposition that we expedenced at that meeting, not support. Heather: Community Resolution Update; to go in front of the BoS again potentially on 3121 Gina: We have an action team including BoS members to discuss the resolution. Town Counsel will be available after 3/9 to look at how to look at how other towns deal with the legality of such a resolution/statement. Ruthie: Library event update; March 29" from 2-3:30pm ages K-5. Special story time with themes of diversity. Need publicity, Heather to send email/post on FB from HRAC perspective. Kevin OK'd. Heather: June 17'" is Friends and Family Day, motion to have a table. Lori seconded the motion; vote was 5-0 in favor. Lod and Ruthie leave the meeting. METCO lobby day is March 1e, Senator Lewis will be hosting a meeting there. Linda taking a load of people if anyone is interested. Connection to future student Liaisons: Heather and Linda attended Mrs. Richardson's Missing Voices Gass, please let us know other opportunities to connect with students. Jess: AWOD was thinking about having our own resolution for the school, but now thinking maybe we should just embrace the one from Gina and Kaitlyn. We could coordinate with a speaker and have published, read at graduation, have students sign it. John Arena: Where do students go who face discrimination? Catherine: I am not sure that they know where to go. Vote on minutes from 2/2 HRAC meeting to be delayed to April meeting so they can be updated to accommodate Deputy Chief Clark's revisions re: freedom of speech vs hate crimes. He is to send to Heather to update. Jason Lewis: Thanks for inviting me. Hopeful that you have a path forward to work together. If I can be helpful in any way, examples of policies, etc, please let me know. Heather moves to adjourn. Lynn seconds, vote is 4-0 in favor Page 14 -4--+ ry S g � g m E� W Y � R i f ` o 61 -8 E e r a a � a � a 6 � C c O « O N u A N <`• N T O y N T uL x maw x;•30 R N C CL r O d O V > 0: •O d M N a 3 O W d O C C C 0 t0 7 q d N N =Yv m m a 9 n a x R R e t � $ g c°' �C.- 7 ' - M L N N N L „ O (� .Oil V - y N C Ol � N N IM N V C K N d�•O � N p O N i0 R d 3 •— O m 8 d s N S R R _ 8 s 1 n E m v O "s a =S $� 6 4 x �e � '� 8 O P �xb V R ,� R a � a s n � � a £ n`� f qE t � Q � � a 8 uj 3C < a F ®;■ § ! I ! 0! k■�±C, 0 a o 0) ■ �saf� |�■ (�kt)� ■ � ■ {2� |#�p}. | icf£w WS) x . § % ' ` S ! _ : �._. 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