HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-04 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes r
Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
HPAC
Date: 2020-06-04 Time: 7pm
Building: Town Hall Location: Town Zoom Call
Address: Remote Session:
Purpose: Monthly Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Kyung Yu, Kern Perry, Josh Goldlust, Anne Landry
Members - Not Present: David Clark
Others Present: Linda Snow Dockser
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Josh Goldlust
Josh calls meeting to order at 7:03 pm
1. Sharing Experiences
a. General sharing of a word to describe how each person was feeling in today's
unprecedented time of change and upheaval
b. Rally/ March/ Vigil in response to George Floyd and other. Recap of individual
discussions associated with planning town wide event on Saturday 131M1 to
support Racial Justice
2. Additional Item;
a. Discussion of HRAC's support of a rally to support Racial Justice along with
many other reading organizations. Josh stated this type of event is fully in-
line with HRACs charter to promote and encourage understanding, tolerance
and diversity as well as prevent prejudice &discrimination.
b. Group voted to endorse the event. 3 in support (Kern/ Josh/ Kyung) no one
opposed.
3. HRAC Facebook page as a community resource
a. Kern shared thoughts on how to transform HRAC's current Facebook page to
be more of a resource, highlighting and linking to other information sources.
Josh and others in support of sharing info on other local events that support
HRAC's core charter.
b. Linda Snow Dockers mentioned that previously HRAC had other resources
hosted on town website for Jewish related information that could also be
brought into this effort. Kern would investigate.
c. Kern suggested adding a new recurring agenda item to meetings for
discussion of activities associated with different holiday celebrations in the
coming month. Members could then decide which to highlight on our FB page
and how to recognize. There was broad support for this idea.
4. Police Readout:
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a. Chief Clark not present due to monitoring of other protest activity in the
community
5. MA Human Rights Coalition (update from Linda Snow Dockser)
a. Linda delivered an overview of the organization and history of interactions
with Reading from her former time as a leader in HRAC. She shared the
mission statement of the organization and background of current organization
chairs.
b. The group was looking for an updated member from HRAC to attend the
monthly meetings. Linda continues to attend as a Reading citizen for other
groups and offered to continue going on behalf of HRAC. She would share all
meeting information &events. There was some discussion but a vote on this
was tabled to a future meeting.
c. Discussion of questions Kerri raised about use of the wording `disillusioned'
from past MA Human Rights Coalition minutes.
d. Linda raised a request from MA Human Rights Coalition to have Reading host
a virtual event with speakers & discussion topics relevant to other town &
cities on human rights issues. Motion to vote for HRAC to co-host this virtual
event with other reading groups; motion passed 3 in support (Kerri/ Josh/
Kyung) no one opposed.
6. Ad Hoc meeting (update from Anne Landry)
a. Yes the format for the ad hoc has changed over time. It was reconstituted so
only elected officials could vote. She stated that all others can attend and
advise, just not vote.
b. Kerri raised questions as to when the ad hoc met. Anne acknowledged it
hasn't met regularly but the meetings are posted on the town website and
apply to open meeting laws.
c. Josh re-iterated that Ad Hoc is open to all to attend. No one from HRAC is a
voting member on ad hoc, just participants in the meeting.
d. Anne gave brief historical summary of the Ad Hoc recommendation to the
Select Board. Select Board approved to bring it to the Library Board [before
COVID which was end of March]. Library sent it back to Ad Hoc to fully
develop the proposal with all details vs just a broad recommendation as well
as address all community questions/ concerns.
e. Select Board has extended Ad Hoc from ending in June 2020 to December
2020.
f. Next meeting tentatively scheduled for 6/17 and will be over Zoom.
g. Kerri asked if there were any new volunteers for HRAC. Anne couldn't recall
though Kerri knew of (2) recent applicants. Anne said she would make
another call for more people to apply
7. Motion to approve March minutes: Kerri moves, Kyung 2nds, passes 3-0 (Kyung,
Kerri, Josh)
S. Feedback from Patch article from mid May
a. Deferred until next meeting with Chief Clark is present
9. Pride Month
a. Josh confirmed he submitted application to town to put up HRAC's Pride sign.
Expect to post it any day. Town approved for max 2 weeks. If there is extra
space, can request to keep sign up an additional 2 weeks for the entire month
of June.
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b. Josh and Kern shared examples of what Wakefield was doing for Pride month
with various virtual activities like book readings on relevant topics. Talked
about linking to those events from HRAC's Facebook page.
10.Establish date for next meeting
a. Confirmed it will be 7/2 @7 PM most likely as a Zoom meeting (dial in TBD)
11. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM
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