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Home My WebLink About2019-06-17 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes 0CLERK Town of Reading RECEIVE Meeting Minutes TOWN READING, MA. Board - committee - commission - council: 2111 AUG -6 AM 10-' 00 Ad Hoc Human Rights Committee Date: 2019-06-17 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members- Present: Kyung Yu, Elaine Webb, John Doherty, Linda Snow Dockser, Russ Graham, Josh Goldlust, Andrew Friedmann, Army Landry, Gina Beck McCormick, Dave Clark, Sherilla Lestrade Members - Not Present: Lisa Egan, Andrew Grimes, Bob LeLacheur Others Present: Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Anne Landry Topics of Discussion: Andy Friedmann called the meeting to order at 7:11 pm. The Chairs explained they would delay a vote on the minutes until they had resolved the structure and process for the ad hoc committee with Town Counsel and the Town Manager. Those present agreed it would make sense to ask If town staff would be willing to compile in an Excel spreadsheet or other electronic document the information comparing the ad hoc committee had assembled comparing other municipalities' human rights organizations. They discussed having members of ad hoc fill out the blank Excel spreadsheet and submit it to town staff for compilation, assuming town staff has the bandwidth to do so. Those present shared their research on area human rights organizations: Josh Goldlust explained that Medford has a Director of Diversity and Inclusion (a hired staff member), who serves as the point person for their Human Rights Commission. The Commission is composed of 9 members appointed by their Mayor, 4 of whom are elected as officers among the 9. Commissioners need to work or live in the city. They have wide- reaching authority and seem to be grounded in fair housing, equity, dispute resolution, the civil rights of Medford residents, and understanding and eliminating prejudice. The Commission meets 10 times a year. They work with the town solicitor and are empowered to mediate. Linda Snow Dockser noted that in Somerville, Medford, and Melrose, they refer mediation situatlons/complaints to other trained organizations and professionals. Newton and Arlington both have a complaint process that keeps Information submitted as part of that process confidential. Page 1 1 Linda Snow Dockser explained that Somerville focuses on housing issues, in part as a result of their status of sanctuary city (as explained to her by the person In Somerville with whom she spoke). They have a sparse Facebook page and website. Somerville finds it a challenge to recruit for their Human Rights Commission. Commissioners can be removed from Mayor for cause. Non-residents are not allowed to be Commissioners. A quorum for them Is majority of however many Commissioners they have. They do a lot of collaboration and co- sponsorship of programming. Works a lot through subcommittees. John Doherty explained that the Arlington Human Rights Commission was established in 1993 through a Town Meeting, through a set of by-laws. Their mission can be found on their website. Their HRC has 13 members, all residents, some appointed by School Committee, Town Moderator, and Town Manager subject to approval by their Board of Selectmen. Their Executive Director is appointed by the Town Manager at the recommendation of the Commission and reports to the Town Manager. A quorum is 7. The HRC educates and Informs the town, conducts public hearings and forums, studies and surveys, recommends courses of Instruction for the schools and libraries and provides an annual report to Town Meeting. They use Town Counsel for representation. Anyone claiming aggrieved bylaw passed by Town Meeting on human rights can submit a complaint to the Commission. There is a 4-month statute of limitations for filing with the HRC. The Executive Director does the Investigating and presents to the HRC, who can decide whether to Issue a complaint. Sherilla Lestrade explained that Belmont Against Racism (a private organization) works with the government, schools, and churches. They have a board and report, answer questions and concerns of community, raise money, and donate to other organizations. They report to the Select Board, have officers and a Board of Directors. They plan family and community events. The Belmont Human Rights Commission consists of a chair, a vice chair, a representative from the police department and members of the community. Some members are on Belmont Against Racism. They have a complaint process. Gina Beck McCormick had looked into the Melrose Human Rights Commission and MORE (Melrose Organizes for Real Equality) and explained that the latter didn't get back to her before the meeting. The Melrose HRC was established In 19905 and has a broad mission, including dispute resolution and programming. It is an 11-person commission, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen. It includes three assodate members. The residency requirement may be waived by Mayor. It has a $3800 budget. It does not require permission to act. It has a hotline that allows people to leave voicemalls of concern. The HRC directs people to resources primarily. Their last complaint was a housing Issue. The HRC tried to advocate on behalf of the complainant with the landlord but was unable to resolve the dispute. Anne Landry reported that Newton Human Rights Commission is set up within Newton's Health and Human Services department. It was founded in 1973. They do have a complaint process, In which complaint information is kept confidential. They are currently reviewing and refining their complaint process. Andy reported that Brookline has a Commission for Diversity Inclusion and Community Relations. It Is appointed by the Select Board and answers to the Town Administrator. It includes a non-voting member of Select Board. No non-residents can be voting members. It can have up to 15 Commissioners and is designed to have a minimum of 6. The Chief Diversity Officer Is hired by the Town Administrator. They take In complaints and notify the Town Administrator or the Superintendent if within schools. The process and complaints are more Internal to town staff than external (meaning, applicable to residents). The ad hoc committee reviewed each person's top three objectives pulled from the brainstorming session, reflected below: Page 1 2 1) Anne Landry- safe place, pulling together like we are family; input from every difference/diversity. 2) Gina Beck McCormick- listening culture, committed to self-education, education- experiential and academic on privileges. 3) Sherilla Lestrade- community outreach, more diversity with welcoming attitudes and action, setting community expectations, goals, and accountability. 4) John Doherty- more conversations, shift culture, set community expectations, goals, accountability, proven best practices to apply here. 5) Linda Snow Dockser: education-experiential and academic on privilege, take action, more diversity with welcoming attitude and actions, safe place, setting community expectations, goals, and accountability. 6) Russell Graham: A process which allows these words (reflecting on Linda Snow Dockser's) to become reality. 7) Joshua Goldlust: Education-experiential and academic on privileges; educational programming; diverse membership groups/members of the community. 8) Andy Friedmann: More diversity with welcoming attitude and actions, recognition of our existing diversity; commission able to take action; reaching out to new residents/marketing package for Reading. 9) Kyung Yu: Diversity in town employment (police/school); community input; different opinions welcome. 10) Elaine: welcoming in attitude; fulfill undefined community needs; education- culture of privilege and bias. Elaine Webb provided the following breakdown of the prioritized goals: 1) Priorities receiving three votes: • Be Welcoming in Attitude &Action • Community Outreach/Education/Training • Diverse Representatives & Membership • Dynamic - Unencumbered to Make Change • Educate for Economic Diversity Acceptance • Learn about Our Culture of White Male Privilege • Set Expectations&Goals • Understand How Our Bias Impacts Us & Our Actions 2) Priorities receiving two votes: • Community Input • Listening Culture • Safe Place to Report Issues • Welcoming 3) Priorities receiving one vote: • "Market" Reading • Different Opinions Welcome • Fulfill "Undefined" Community Needs • Inclusive &Welcoming • Investigate Best Practices • Learning to Transform Hate to Understanding • More Courageous Conversations • Not encumbered by CML "Government Process" • Proactive Outreach - Listen across all diversity strands • Recognize Our Existing Diversity • Take Action • Work Together as a Family Page 1 3 Elaine Webb asked that we define the problem our community Is facing based on data. Anne Landry suggested we Identify the gaps in what we are doing/not doing as a community. Sherilla Lestrade suggested that exercise would be duplicative of what the ad hoc already did with the brainstorming exercise. As"homework,"the ad hoc committee decided to Identify groups the ad hoc committee could reach out to proactively to seek feedback through a focus group approach to allow us to hear from a broader cross-sectlon of the community. Gina Beck McCormick mentioned that Reading Embraces Diversity had agreed that she could speak for RED on the ad hoc committee. The meeting adjourned at 9:07 pm. i i 3 i Page 4