HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-23 ad Hoc - Human Rights Committee Minutes rpt 0E11- tU
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Town of Reading CLERK
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Ad Hoc Human Rights Committee
Date: 2020-12-23 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Carlo Bacci, Shawn Brandt, Andrew Grimes, Anne Landry, John Parks
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Pat Calley, Josh Goldlust, Chris Kelley, Linda Snow Dockser, Kyung Yu
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn Laverde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Anne Landry called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
Minutes:
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 14, 2020 by Mr. Parks. Dr. Snow
Dockser requested her title be corrected to Dr. The Committee agreed to strike the Board
of Library Trustees items following the adjournment of the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee.
On a motion by Mr. Parks, and seconded by Mr. Brandt,the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to approve the meeting minutes of September 14, 2020 as
amended by a roll call vote of 5-0-0.
On a motion by Mr. Parks, and seconded by Mr. Brandt, the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to approve the meeting minutes of December 9, 2020 by a roll
call vote of 5-0-0.
Discussion of Letter of Support to the Board of Library Trustees/Town Meetina•
Ms. Landry noted that one advisory member wished to not be included as a signatory on the
letter, as she was not involved on the ad hoc from the beginning. Other advisory members
in absentia this evening will be contacted to ask if they would like their names included as
well, though the Committee agreed that it would be important to have the support of Town
officials including the Police Chief and Town Manager.
Mr. Parks made a motion to support the letter of endorsement, seconded by Mr. Brandt.
The Committee discussed revisions to the letter, and how to present it to the Board of
Library Trustees and Town Meeting.
The letter included verbiage and a link referring to the United States Department of Justice
Guidelines for Effective Human Relations Commissions. Because the guidelines were not a
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focus of the discussions throughout the process in drafting the proposal for the Reading
Alliance for Equity and Social Justice, the Committee agreed to remove it from the letter.
Ms. Landry requested that"live, work, learn, pray, shop and visit" be changed to mirror the
verbiage as written in the RAES] proposal. However, because the RAES] proposal referred
to roles of members on the proposed RAES] advisory board, and the letter refers to the
community as a whole, the ad hoc agreed to keep the verbiage as drafted. Clarification for
the intention to have the position included in the FY22 budget was also added.
The Committee agreed that the intent of the letter is to show that the ad hoc and Town
leadership support the addition of the Division of Equity and Social Justice and Director
position as outlined in the Library's FY21-FY25 Strategic Plan. Just because the ad hoc
Human Rights Committee is sunsetting, does not mean that those involved are abandoning
the cause. But with the Committee dissolved as of December 31", the members and
advisory members will now act as individuals to advocate for approval at Town Meeting.
The Committee discussed what documentation to include with the letter of endorsement.
Because the Library's budget narrative will include the FAQs, proposal, draft job description,
as well as the Library's Strategic Plan and detailed budget, the Committee agreed that the
only supplement to distribute with the endorsement letter would be the letter submitted to
the November 2020 Town Meeting from Ms. Landry and Mr. Bacci.
On a motion by Mr. Brandt, and seconded by Mr. Parks, the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to approve the letter of endorsement as amended, with copies to
be distributed to the Elected Boards, by a roll call vote of 5-0-0.
Ms. Landry will confirm with the Attorney General's Office the proper process for releasing
the minutes for this meeting, as it is the last meeting of the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee before its sunset on December 31, 2020.
Sr. Administrative Assistant Jackie LaVerde will edit the letter as discussed, then distribute
via email to the advisory members to ask their preference for inclusion as a signatory on the
letter.
On a motion by Mr. Parks, and seconded by Ms. Landry, the ad hoc Human Rights
Committee voted to adjourn at 8:03 pm by a roll call vote of 5-0-0.
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