Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-17 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes Town of Reading X Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: � A Ad Hoc Human Rights Committee ° "�` -- 3: Date: 2020-06-17 Time: 7:30 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Anne Landry, Carlo Bacci, Andrew Grimes, Shawn Brandt, John Parks Members - Not Present: Others Present: Patricia Calley, Christine Kelley, Gina McCormick, Linda Snow Dockser, Kern Perry, Sherilla Lestrade, Lori Conway, Angela Mason, Jack, Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: Anne Landry called the meeting to order at 7:35pm. Following brief introductions by everyone in attendance, Dr. Snow Dockser reviewed the events and circumstances that led to the creation of the ad hoc Human Rights Committee. Around 2014 or 2016, the Human Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC) was reframed into an advisory role to the Select Board and planning processes were curtailed. In 2017 Anti- Semitism emerged when swastikas were discovered on a classroom Floor. The incident was reported to Dr. Snow Dockser as Chair of HRAC at that time. She reported it to the Schools and Town, and the Town delegated to the clergy. Rev. Jamie Michaels took the reigns and established Reading Embraces Diversity (RED) to intervene in social justice matters, but not replace the Town organization. Ms. McCormick shared the recommendations Reading Embraces Diversity made to the Select Board at a stakeholders meeting on September 26, 2018, which members asked to be incorporated into the minutes for reference: —The Select Board commits to continuing the strong position it took in its adopted statement on June 19, 2018 where it publicly recognized "the deep impact these disturbing crimes have on our children, friends, and neighbors". The Select Board also commit to continuing to publicly dispel the myth that words and symbols don't matter. We have heard time and again in our listening meetings that the first step in addressing these acts of hate needs to be a recognition that the impact on our community, and not the intent of a perpetrator, should be the measure of harm. —The Select Board appoint a point person to oversee and coordinate the protocols for reporting acts of hate. Duties would include 1) keeping all stakeholders timely informed about future incidents, 2) receiving updates on the ongoing investigations from the police and schools, 3) coordinating communication on these issues to the town at large, and 4) Page 1 1 establishing protocols to increase communication between the police, the select board and the town. —As background, RED identified four pieces of information from recent months that the community considered significant that were not communicated effectively. Most significantly, the police closed one of the graffiti cases because the perpetrator was identified, interviewed, confessed and disposition was handled through the police department's diversion process. Also significantly, sometime after June 2018 the police cooperated in an MA Attorney General and FBI review of Reading's recent history of anti- Semitic vandalism. A determination was made during this review that the incidents do not rise to the level of hate crimes. There were also two incidents that were reported to the police that RED has since identified as hate-related but that were not communicated to the Human Relations Advisory committee. —As a result, RED also recommends the Select Board 1) review the protocols for reporting police incidents to HRAC and 2) commit to facilitating increased communication between the police and HRAC about all hate-related or possible hate-related reports and investigations. —Anti-Defamation League training for Reading's police, schools (for those who have not already received it), elected town leaders and town staff. During RED's meeting, the Chief agreed that this is an important goal and made a commitment to start with the 7 detectives in his department. We would like to see this happen as soon as possible with a commitment to expand the training. —The Select Board form a sub-committee to research establishing a Reading Human Rights Commission, the goal of which would be 1) to take the town's work on these issues out from under the select board in an advisory role and elevate it to a community-wide priority; and 2) to create a purposeful, strong and permanent collaboration between the town side and school side on these issues. —The school department, in consultation with the police, create a specific protocol for who students and parents should report related information to. In our listening meetings there was a lack of clarity about this that was concerning to parents and the community at large. RED also recommends that the schools explain clearly what will happen with that info, whether it will remain anonymous and also give parents more specific tools to help their kids understand the importance of reporting. It may also be informative for the School Committee to convene its own public Stakeholders meeting to collect additional concerns, ideas and recommendations. —The town and Select Board adopt an Accommodation policy for Ethnic and Religious Observance, similar to the school department's, to ensure that town events are not scheduled on important holidays. —Finally, RED supports HRAC's recommendation for a town-wide show of community support and solidarity. The Select Board then created the ad hoc Human Rights Committee whose duty was to develop a structure for a Human Rights organization in Reading. Stemming from previous meetings, the ad hoc agreed that the structure of a new Human Rights organization should be similar to the newly reformed Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support (formerly Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse/RCASA), with an Executive Director who appoints an advisory board. The proposed organization would work with, and be budgeted under, the Library. With the approval of the Select Board, Ms. Landry presented the proposal to the Board of Library Trustees at their meeting on March 9, 2020. She noted that there were many residents present at the meeting who had questions, and the Library Trustees seemed amenable and open to the proposal. However, the Trustees asked that the ad hoc develop the mission further and present them with Page 1 2 details of who will be on the advisory board, and document the process of how the ad hoc came to its decision. With funding a major concern, the Committee discussed pursuing grant funding. Before grants can be applied for, the Committee will need to first flesh out the organization structure and job description of the Executive Director, as well as explore what types of grants are available. Mr. Parks volunteered to contact Erica McNamara, Executive Director of the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support, to get a better understanding of their structure, responsibilities, accountability, and funding. Ms. Calley, Dr. Snow Dockser, Mr. Brandt, and Mr. Goldlust volunteered to also work on tightening up the mission and developing further details on the organization. Ms. Kelley volunteered to work with her staff to explore appropriate grant opportunities with the information gathered. Ms. Mason volunteered to work with Ms. Kelley to research grants as well. Dr. Snow Dockser explained that the Massachusetts Human Rights Committee offered to hold one of their meetings with Reading. The group supports communities to create Human Rights organizations. Having a meeting with the Mass HRC will help the community understand why Reading needs an organization. They can also help with refining the mission of the organization and job description for the Executive Director. Dr. Snow Dockser will invite members of the Mass HRC to the next meeting of the ad hoc. Following discussion, the Committee agreed to schedule the next meeting for Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 7:30pm. On a motion by Mr. Brandt, and seconded by Mr. Parks, the ad hoc Human Rights Committee voted to approve the meeting minutes of January 30, 2020 by a roll call vote of 5-0-0. On a motion by Mr. Brandt, and seconded by Mr. Parks, the ad hoc Human Rights Committee voted to adjourn by a roll call vote of 5-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:47pm. Page 1 3