HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-17 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes Town of Reading
i Meeting Minutes `
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: W`
2020 Jan 13 AM 11: 22
Ad-Hoc Human Rights Committee
Date: 2019-09-17 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:
Anne Landry, Andy Friedmann, Elaine Webb, Linda Snow Dockser, Chris
Kelly
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Gina McCormick, Bob LeLacheur, Angela Mason, Josh Goldlust, Andrew
Grimes, Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam, Kyung Yu
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting started off with a few members sharing their personal experiences and reasons
they are in the room.
Elaine Webb announced she resigned from the School Committee therefore this will be her
last meeting for this group as well. She redid the mission statement and included all the
comments and suggestions from the last meeting.
The board then talked about if they should define certain words like community and shared
humanity. Some members thought it was a good idea but quickly realized it would be
difficult to define those.
They discussed the possible idea of having a background document for Town Meeting and
that they can later give to this future committee.
The board reworded some of the bullet points under the mission statement to make them
clearer.
The board then had a discussion on putting in the language of being a safe place. The board
agreed the new committee should be a safe place but then also realized the importance of
utilizing professional services if people come to them with an issue. They can be the help
someone needs to find the right resources.
The board then tossed around ideas for a name for this future committee not arriving at any
official decisions.
Gina McCormick then explained to everyone the way RCASA is structured and gave the
board some options about how they want to structure this future committee.
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Mr. Friedmann thinks the new committee should be vetted through Town Meeting. He
believes that sends a stronger message of support.
The board then briefly discussed a potential staff member for this future group and
suggestions of them sitting at the Library were brought up.
Elaine Webb made a motion to adjourn at 9:18 pm. The motion was seconded by Andy
Friedmann and approved with a 5-0 vote.
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