HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-20 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: R}C.
Ad-Hoc Human Rights Boar42il Ft8 -3 AI 10: Q(j
Date: 2019-08-20 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:
Andrew Friedmann, Elaine Webb, Gina McCormick, Chris Kelley, Kyung Yu,
Linda Snow Dockser, Bob LeLacheur, David Clark, Anne Landry via
telephone, Sherilla Lestrade
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Angela Mason, Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Caitlin Saunders
Topics of Discussion:
Mr. Friedmann called the meeting to order at 7:15 once a quorum was reached.
The board discussed different ways to structure this new committee/board/commission i.e.
governmental vs. non-governmental like RCASA.
Ms. McCormick looked thru the Town's bylaws to see the different ways b/c/c's are set up.
They then discussed who boards report to and who staffs them.
The board then discussed if this new committee/board that comes out of this ad-hoc should
be in the Charter or not.
The time frame for accomplishing this for November Town Meeting is dwindling and the
more appropriate time would most likely be for April 2020 at this point.
The board then moved into discussion about who would be on the committee. Do they want
elected officials to sit on the board or just appoint people to the board? There were
advocates for both options.
Mr. Yu expressed how well RCASA does as a separate entity but still very much a part of the
town, maybe it would be good to set this committee up like that.
Mr. LeLacheur noted the board can ask for an employee if they think it would be essential to
this new group.
Ms. Webb then presented her draft mission statement and the board discussed a few minor
changes.
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Ms. Landry noted Human Rights is a very large umbrella and suggested narrowing down the
mission to speak more about ridding the town of hate. The board then discussed that and
even considered changing the name of the board from Human Rights to something different.
The board then discussed the minutes and noted the minutes should be less detailed going
forward.
The board moved to approve the meeting minutes from August 5'h as amended. The motion
was seconded by Ms. McCormick and approved with a unanimous roll call vote.
The board then discussed what they think their next steps should be.
Dr. Snow Dockser explained her idea of sharing stories and each other's personal
experiences.
The board then had a recap discussion and talked about changing the enabling language.
Ms. Landry then asked about the recommendations that came from the original meeting
creating this board. She asked if those recommendations are to be looked at by this ad-hoc
or the committee that is going to come out of this.
Ms. McCormick feels that the Select Board should be handling those noting the community
gave them those recommendations after a failed proclamation.
The board discussed the next meetings and what they want to have done before then
including a revised mission, how to structure this new committee and a name.
Ms. Webb moved to adjourn at 9:16 pm; with a second from Mr. Yu, the motion passed with
a unanimous roll call vote.
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