The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-04-23 Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment CommitteeTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Committee Date: 2025-04-23 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Attendees: Members - Present: ktCEiVtu _�VVN CLERK MA. 2 AM 7:42 Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment Time: 7:00 PM Location: Meeting Room Session: Open Session Version: Final Taylor Gregory, Chair, Board of Library Trustees Appointee Ryan Johnstone, Vice Chair, School Committee Appointee Eddie Dee, Select Board Appointee Colm Eliet, CATO Appointee Greg Selvitelll, Associate Select Board Appointee (non -voting) London Stith -Nichols School Committee Student Appointee Aujanetta Stith, Office of Equity & Social Justice Appointee Members - Not Present: Pat Silva, Reading Police Department Appointee David Monahan, Select Board Designee Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam, Select Board Appointee Others Present: Reggie Nichols Albert Pless (Director, Office of Equity and Social Justice) Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Greg Selvitelli Topics of Discussion: Meeting Called to Order: o The meeting was called to order by Chair, Taylor Gregory. Update on Bill Russell's Experiences in Reading in 50's/60's: Eddie Dee discussed the timeline and sequence of events Bill Russell experienced in Reading: o Russell was rejected when trying to buy a house in Wilmington, MA. o The family purchased a home on Main Street in Reading in 1957. o Months later, an attempt to buy a house on Prospect Street was met with a petition to prevent the purchase. • Greg mentioned an article where long-time Reading resident and teacher of RMHS stated in an interview he was proud his father was among those who did not sign the petition against Russell buying a home on Prospect. • Eddie has been unable to confirm if BIII Carroll still resides In Reading. Greg will try to find out if Bill Carroll is still in Reading. o Town Dinner Honoring BIII Russell vs Vandalism of Russell homes: • Two months after a town dinner honoring him, their house on Main Street was broken into. Police suggested the break-in was likely the work of juvenile kids; no valuables were stolen, but the house was vandalized. • The house on Haverhill Street, which the Russell's also purchased, was also broken into. Page 1 1 Trash barrels were knocked over at the Main Street house. • Police attributed the knocked -over trash barrels to raccoons. • After Russell applied for a gun permit, the issue of the trash barrels being knocked over stopped. Eddie Dee believes that the defecation in Russell's bed also occurred at the Haverhill Street house. Eddie Dee noted the contrast between Russell feeling overwhelmed by the town's support at the dinner and then experiencing the break-in a few months later. Aujanetta Stith - Office of Equity & Social Justice (OESJ) Liaison Update: Aujanetta Stith provided an update from the OESJ, noting that the topic of the recent PAIR meeting was primarily the upcoming Juneteenth celebrations. o Attendees at the PAIR meeting included members of SOCA (Students of Color and Allies) from the high school. o SOCA members expressed enthusiasm for Juneteenth, with a Basketball Clinic being a key Item on their wish list. o Aujanetta Stith contacted Anna Cuevas (SOCA's faculty advisor) to inquire about SOCA's outreach to Carl McFadden regarding the clinic. o Aujanetta Stith also Informed Albert Pless that the committee is developing a statement of intent to be presented at the Juneteenth celebration. o Aujanetta Stith is participating in the Juneteenth planning committee and will provide further updates. o It was suggested that the ACE committee could be involved in the unveiling of the Harriet Tubman portrait by Rob Surrette. o Juneteenth was Identified as a potentially suitable occasion for ACE to facilitate the portrait presentation, in collaboration with Karren Herrick and Matt Krunelis. Taylor Gregory - Financials Updates per follow-up with Laura Gemme o ACE committee currently has no access to town funding for expenditures. o If the town hosts an event, ACE will not be required to pay any fees. o For Friends and Family Day, which is not town -run, coordination with the Lions Club Is necessary. • Ryan Johnstone reported that the Lions Club indicated there would be no cost to participate, but a donation is welcome o Fundraising? If allowed (which is unlikely), provide instructions from town approved process to donate. Or do we just get funds from town funding or a grant. o Ryan took action -item to talk with town / David Monahan about financing. . Talk with RCN / follow-up needed about recording ACE events Discuss ACE participation in Reading Friends and Family Day June 14th: o Motion to participate in friends and family day by Ryan, seconded by Coelm, pass 6-0. o Motion to motion to procure a booth site on Reading Friends and Family Day for ACE to staff and operate by Ryan, seconded by Coelm, pass 6-0. o Discuss our goals, materials/artifacts needed for Friends and Family Day (June 14th)? o Comment from Albert In Audience - can ACE fund -raise to fund a banner and other needs for table. Or can we get an agreement from town for funds for specific needs like a banner (approximate estimate $25-$75). Page 1 2 Juneteenth Planning: o The committee discussed finalizing plans for Juneteenth. o A Statement of Intent focused on acknowledgement and accountability is being drafted by Aujanetta Stith, Ryan Johnstone, and David Monahan for presentation at the event. o A table on the Common for Juneteenth was discussed. o A basketball clinic, to be run by SOCA (Students of Color and Allies), is planned. ACE will provide volunteer support as needed. o Eddie Dee contacted Carl McFadden to potentially volunteer with the SOCA clinic. o Aujanetta Stith is following up with Anna to determine SOCA's volunteer needs. • Messaging at June events (FOF and Juneteenth): Seeking public input and volunteers Discuss Potential Commemoration Activities, Including "Easy Lift" options: o What our plan Juneteenth and beyond o Books/Video series through Library • Start off with Bill Russel books/videos and expand to other tangential materials. • Request all direct BIII Russel books be purchased by library and made available for loan from Reading Library if not already in supply. • Create book club / mixed -media club with sign-up in summer and starting in September and then held quarterly. • Create alcove display in library and try to coordinate with mixed media club start in September. • Display/alcove at town hall? Perhaps rotate between town hall and library. • Have town/library fund authors related to ACE mission o Murals, Artwork, Quotes: • BIII Russell quotes - display around town. • Town Mural - what locations in town could support/host a mural / public art? Can ACE coordinate murals with the Arts Council? Need to talk to planning team Planning@ReadingMA.gov. Albert volunteered to make connection with the arts council. • The possibility of artwork murals in schools was raised? Ryan Johnstone will check with the School Committee about options for incorporating art, book clubs, and "Bill Russell -isms" into the school environment. o How will these programs / projects get rolled out longer term after the ACE committee sunsets in Jan 2026? • METCO Meeting: o The School Committee meeting in Boston related to METCO is scheduled for May 12th in Boston. Page 13 Action Items: • Need Table: Secure a table for Friends and Family Day and Juneteenth. • Wooden Tree Display: Colm Ellet to check the availability of the wooden tree display with Linda Snow Dockser/Library. • Harriet Tubman Portrait: ACE to facilitate the unveiling. • Juneteenth Point of Contact: Ryan Johnstone volunteered to be the Point of Contact for Juneteenth. • May/June Meetings: Plan for two meetings in May and June. The next meeting is scheduled for May 14th. • School Committee Inquiry: Ryan to check with the School Committee on art, book clubs, and 'Bill Russell -isms" in schools. • Arts Council Connection: Albert Pless to connect with the arts council. • SOCA Volunteers: Aujanetta touching base with Anna regarding SOCA volunteer needs for the basketball clinic. • Statement of Intent Draft: Aujanetta, Ryan, and David to continue working on the draft of the Statement of Intent. Next Agenda Items: • Liaison reports • Friends and Family Day preparation • Review of Statement/Acknowledgements Approve Meeting Minutes • A motion to approve the prior meeting minutes was made by London, seconded by Eddie, and passed 6-0. Meeting Adjournment: • A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ryan, seconded by Colm, and passed 6-0. Page [ 4