HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-09 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes NF (,;CIVL.0
TOWN CLERK
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes - " A
AI DEC 24 A410: 05
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Ad Hoc Human Rights Committee
Date: 2020-12-09 Time: 6:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Public Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Carlo Bacci, Shawn Brandt, Andrew Grimes, Anne Landry, John Parks
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Library Director Amy Lannon, Linda Snow Dockser, Josh Goldlust, Christine
Kelley, Gina McCormick, Town Manager Bob Lelacheur, Pat Calley, Monique
Gnanaratnam, Sherilla Lestrade, Jack Devir
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Anne Landry called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm and thanked everyone for all their hard
work on the Committee.
Update from the Library:
Library Director Amy Lannon stated that the Board of Library Trustees will meet on
December 14t" with a main agenda item to discuss the Reading Alliance for Equity and
Social Justice director position and division. As required, the Library has filed its Strategic
Plan to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissions, which includes everything relevant
for any programs that the library may want to apply for grant funding. The plan includes
three strategies, the second one being the Strategy for Community Learning and
Engagement, which reaffirms the Library's civic and educational responsibilities within the
community. This includes the hiring of a full-time Equity and Social Justice Director, and
creating a corresponding division to the Library's organization. Assistant School
Superintendent Christine Kelley and Ms. Lannon already meet weekly to discuss the district
improvement plan and to build an educational platform for the schools and the community.
There is a Civic Hub grant for FY22, for which the Library intends to apply, with portions
relating to the goal of equity and social justice planning.
Discussion and Vote on whether to Continue the ad hoc Human Rights Committee
past 2020:
The Committee is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2020. Members and advisors
discussed whether to extend the sunset date. The mission of the ad hoc was to develop the
proposal and structure for a Human Rights organization, which has been completed and
handed off to the Library Trustees for implementation. The Committee agreed that instead
of extending the sunset date, they will prepare a letter of endorsement for the Library
Trustees to present to Town Meeting, which will include the statement of need, statement of
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purpose, naming the commitment going forward, the work that has been done, and the
Committee's recommendation. Grass roots advocacy work can be continued and carried out
with more flexibility and without the more formal structure of a Town Committee.
The Committee will hold one more meeting to approve meeting minutes, approve the letter
of endorsement and vote to sunset the Committee.
Mr. Brandt, Ms. Kelley, and Dr. Snow Dockser volunteered to draft the letter of
endorsement.
Minutes for Approval:
On a motion by Mr. Parks, and seconded by Mr. Grimes, the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to approve the meeting minutes of August 18, 2020 by a roll call
vote of 5-0-0.
On a motion by Mr. Parks, and seconded by Mr. Grimes,the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to adjourn by a roll call vote of 5-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 6:48 pm.
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