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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-13 Human Relations Advisory Committee MinutesOF$F'O'y Town of Reading Meeting Minutes ♦sJ9+INCORQOPP Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Human Relations Advisory Committee Date: 2017-07-13 Building: Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Monthly Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7pm Location: Conference Room Session: Version: Final , E J T0WIN CiLERK READING. MNG iDll NOV -b A 11=',"* I Linda Snow Dockser, Heather McLean, Kyung Yu, John Arena, David Clark, Josh Goldlust Members - Not Present: Lynn Dornink, Lori Hodin, Jamie Michaels Others Present: Tali Schorr, Susan Gaskell, Gina McCormick, David Mahoney, Rosemarie Mahoney, Barry Berman, John Meyers Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Snow.Dockser on behalf of Lynn Dornink Topics of Discussion: 1. Introduction of new associate members (5 minutes) Josh Goldlust and Jamie Michaels, associate members and Student Liaisons Tali Schorr and Josh Liberman 2. Update on Community event in response to swastikas found in town (Linda, Jamie: 30 minutes) .Meeting with Jewish Community: Deputy chief: well received; opportunity to hear updates and share; Barry attended the meeting as a citizen, nice to be in a place in Reading to hear from other Jewish citizens to hear about their experiences: One attendee expressed her fear of sending their kids to hs Students report Off color offensive jokes - sometimes the students telling the jokes understand their toxicity and sometimes they don't Wide range of emotions played out - people were free to share Troubling to hear that this is out there and folks are letting it go on Having listened to Anna Ornstein last month it is not ok to ignore the hate and ignorance that is manifest This meeting was a Cathartic kind of meeting John Doherty spoke for short time and took 8 pages of notes, listened, good place for venting, sharing, and sensitizing leaders about a Jewish Perspective that is seldom heard.. Page 1 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Police had the chance to reiterate that the schools should not cover up horrible graffiti and the rationale for the schools to handle the incidents which occur in the schools first, before calling the police in. Protocols are different and schools can make headway in their investigation faster before they call the police in because the police need to mirandize everyone and follow a lot more stringent procedures. The schools proceeded correctly in the investigation and did ,let the town know at an appropriate time. Description of Accommodation Policy: request for this to be sent to Heather for posting on HRAC Facebook Page - this was done on July 14th 3. Update on HRAC structure and presentation of policies and procedures document draft (Heather, John, Gina: 30 minutes): Met at library - discussed next steps about hrac structure; modeling on Wakefield's Human Rights Commission John repeated that the HRAC hasn't gotten the attention it deserves from Board of Selectmen; the HRAC is in a good spot to move forward with BOS; We were reviewing the nitty gritty of BOS policy - still work to do. about what the language means - HRAC need to be in a. position to learn about and do something about what is happening in the community. Decided to put together a draft of the Policies and Procedures of our own - related to how we work and how we. function - this is to make sure that we are aligned in how we will work and function as a committee. Gina pulled together the ideas into a draft Want to work as a committee to make sure that we are all working together to be collaborating on what will ultimately be presented to the BOS - there will be no surprises and no miscommunications. John confirmed that we do not need to do anything' as a committee for the sunset clause to be extended. The BoS will vote on it. Barry mentioned the expectation that we will `repeal and replace' old policies with this one - an example .of how we are.going to work together. Suggestion was made that there is no reason to sunset since the. BoS will always want to have this committee. Discussion on how this can fit into John Halsey's review of BoS policies. Concerns were brought up about how if the policies are being looked at now, shouldn't/couldn't this be reviewed during that? John Arena insists that no new ideas are being introduced, that language is being cleaned up to clear up the intent and meaning. There was disagreement on how this would/could affect the BoS policies in general. Discussion about the document: 3 things: purpose of the committee, mission statement, structure structure is similar to Wakefield HR Commission, could use them as a template Used mission statement updated with committee and Peter Heckenbleikner's updated mission statement which takes out the mediator responsibilities and focuses on informing and educating the community. We are thinking that we can create a governing document for our committee like Wakefield has for theirs - THIs could be drafted into the BOS policy to replace 2.3.1 Page 1 2 OFR�gOV r isJ9:INCORpO�P Town of Reading Meeting Minutes This Draft pertaining to structure evolved out of the HRAC meeting with Senator Lewis there - as requested by the selectmen after reviewing Wakefield HRC structure the structure is the same as 2.3.1 in the following ways- who appoints, who the designees; the purpose opening paragraph was the same; the membership, quorum Structure and Duties got most attention and updates: integrated discussion of last meeting; took bullets from mission statement made by the board; integrated what had been discussed over last 8-10 months; added in Wakefield advising of other town entities; other state agencies; focus on the actions - planning of educational events In. the draft, we asked that the selectmen appoint and also involve HRAC members in the process, similar to Wakefield. John Arena expressed that he would like to see ideas more than a finished document. John Arena voiced concern that advisory was only mentioned once, does .not want that aspect of the committee to be lost. Response was that even without Advisory in the title, it would be in the mission/purpose - the 'thou shalls' dictate other, responsibilities of equal importance and separate from the advisory role, but advisory role still a key part of the purpose There are barriers in language that have stopped us from moving forward we have talked about how we want to be able to advise but also do other things without having to ask_ permission, move nimbly and quickly.to engage/react with the community in a timely manner when necessary The committee would like the shalls be a real part of our mission - things to be done in our community cannot hold an "advisory" community event. Advisory was. just looking at how things were going and suggestions of what to do, NOT doing something - no ability to produce the what from the shall. There are many other committees that do not have advisory in the title The BoS appoints the members of the committee, and yet it feels as though the BoS is afraid that the committee will go rogue as opposed to considering the committee an arm of.a family member. It makes sense to let town and committee have a purpose. If we keep advisory in the name, perhaps BoS can add something/include written language in the policy to show. some level of how the BoS is prepared to be advised by the committee and how they will be required to act specifically on that advice. This content will build in how the BoS will act more respectfully and supportive of the HRAC. Ie: We are looking for language from the BoS of how we are going to work together. Page 1 3 OFR +INCOPQ���C Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Barry Berman acknowledged that this organization is different from the other 40 pages of BoS policies - this committee needs to be able to go.outside of the comfort zone ie: a controversial speaker or ideas that might rub folks the wrong way because it is a catalyst for positive change and learning. The HRAC needs to have the ability and independence to do that. That means it might be uncomfortable at times. Suggestion from John Arena that we could take this from the other side and ask the BoS what they think the group ought to be doing? Replay: From our committee, we are concerned about what we will be allowed to do - hope to include what the definition and function of "advisory" is to the BoS. This is a board and makes decisions for town - for a committee like this it is important for an objective opportunity outside of -the BoS control. Our credibility - if the BOS is controlling what we do then we lose credibility for people to share with us. One of the things the town can point out is that we have this committee. Advisory is in our title and one of the most important parts, but there are the other. shalls that are also very important - the intention of this committee was to do things and make a difference - so we need to move forward with that. More reflections on Draft: Why would the committee need a treasurer? Linda replied that we have raised the funds through grants and donations to support all of our events. Committee does not use any of the town's fund's. A treasurer could help the chair by keeping track of our funds. Right now the funds have been deposited into a town account through Paula Santarpio with the schools. All protocols have been followed ie: receipts etc. John asked how much is in account now. Linda replied that she didn't have numbers with her but somewhere between $1300-1500 are left. Funds are used for the town faire, Festival of trees, friends and family day, MLK etc. Discussion of access to town counsel:.John doesn't think this is appropriate. What for?. Proactively do you bring in the counsel in - why would we need town counsel? Wakefield's commission doesn't exist in their -charter - they need this (?) Response: Wakefield has access to town counsel Administratively the committee fits in the Police Department - police are the first place to ask questions. Daytime government is first stop Next steps: Mark up, document: send to chair and we'll consolidate and distribute - anyone who wants to send feedback- may do so. 4. Vote on participation in Fall Street Fair (5 minutes) -'vote to participate in Fall Faire. Discussion of tent - Sunday after Labor Day - Reservation has been made by Linda Snow Dockser after meeting. Annual METCO BBQ is 8/10 4-7pm @ Linda's - Next meeting: August 3rd - David Clark - Lt Brown, Patrol Commander will be there instead; Community room to be confirmed Page 1 4 0 or in 'sJ9-UNCORQOPP Town of Reading Meeting Minutes John's corrections to April meeting minutes read the entire letter at the April - correct spelling: Myers - he feels it is important to stress his comments including: "what can I do to change response - Nothing". Linda apologized for delay and promised to send them to town clerk for posting. Done on July 14tH Linda's sharing of a concern expressed to her about the term Islamaphobia. The concern was that this term is a tool some people use to shut down free speech about their concerns about the role of Islamist in violence and past genocides, Heather moved, John Arena seconded and 5 in favor of accepting the minutes from June. Adjourn: Heather moved and David Clark seconded to adjourn, all in favor Page 1 5