HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-30 Human Relations Advisory Commitee MinutesHUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MAY 30, 200} ~
TOWN HALL - BERGER ROOM CLERK
7:30 P.M. o MASS.
2001 Jul, 19, P W. 0 9
Present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Manager; Terry Jones; Paul Kelley; Phil Maher,
Board of Selectmen designee; Emily Maughan; Carol Roberts, Town of Reading
Personnel; Bob Silva, Police Chief, Sumi Sinnatamby, Realtor; Margaret Soli; and Ed
Toland. Guest: reporter for the Reading Chronicle.
Absent: Robin D'Antona, School Committee designee.
1) Meeting called to order by Peter Hechenbleikner.
2) Introductions made. Each committee member briefly described his/her interest in and
reasons for becoming involved with HRAC.
3) Election of officers held. Chair: Margaret Soli. Vice Chair: Terry Jones. Secretary:
Emily Maughan.
4) P. Hechenbleikner reviewed the charge to the committee. Points discussed included
reminder that committee is charged with looking broadly at issues and is not a
mediation body.
5) P. Hechenbleikner reviewed operating procedures. Meeting schedule must be posted
at least 48 hours in advance of meeting. Suggested we communicate with the Board
of Selectmen every three months initially, then every six months. Carol Roberts will
add HRAC to their agenda as needed. Peter also recommended that we reorganize
after Jury 1' and set terms of office through June 3e, 2002, as terms will expire on
June 30 , 2001.
Meeting turned over to Margaret Soli, Chair.
6) Agenda for next meeting discussed. Topics to include selecting goals and objectives
for the committee and guidelines for members; timeframes to accomplish agreed
upon goals; guest from the Winchester Multi-Cultural Committee (arranged by Sumi
Sinnatamby).
7) Meeting dates set for the second Thursday of the month.
General discussion took place. Need to verify what, if any, fund-raising efforts
committee can make, and what resources on diversity are already available in the town
and schools. B. Silva reviewed police interviewing process and noted that a power point
presentation will be made to the Board of Selectman on the Police Department. Noted
rt.. new statute which states that motor violation citations must record ethnicity of the
stopped driver and state whether the vehicle was searched or not. Data analyzed by
independent company. Part of effort to pinpoint existence of profiling and illegal
continued
car searches. Discussed the METCO program and concerns expressed regarding numbers
of students, commitment of Town to keeping the program, whether students are offered
opportunity to participate in program if they are in middle or high school. E. Maughan to
invite Wilma Frazer to attend a meeting to update committee. T. Jones very interested in
helping with METC4; felt he had benefited from the program in Walpole.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: June le, 7:30 p.m. [Berger Room tentative]
Respectfully submitted,
6/14/01 Amended and approved.
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