Reparations Task Force

149 Church St. City Hall Burlington VT, Queen City Room March 28, 2023 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Reparations Task Force Draft Minutes Recording: https://zoom.us/rec/share/dmVyYJFKfeqX7I3kPlZ4RdAaRzlally6spxtXsir2bGm3lgUnqgTjEdFSGmLbseb.VByNT4jDqh4M7RXN Passcode: p#!43JqP *recording started in the middle of the meeting Start Time: 5:35 PM Attendance: Josephine Daigle, Pablo Bose, Rebecca Zietlow, Phet Keomanyvanh, Sydney VanTassel, Christine Hughes, Mark Hughes, Katie Green, and Jayna. Agenda Pablo proposes amending the agenda to include agenda items 1-4, with an additional item of discussion. Christine seconds the motion. Minutes Pablo motions to approve the minutes from January 24, 2023. Christine seconds the motion. Public Forum No comment Vote for Chair Pablo suggests rotating chairs per year and offers to chair for one year. Christine motions to nominate Pablo for chair for a year term, and Rebecca seconds the motion. Voting: 3 out of 5 confirmed Pablo’s nomination to be chair; motion carries. Discussion Pablo shares about the next steps and scope of work before discussing funding requests. Katie shares about the reparations task force timeline and information for the reparations task force. Pablo discusses conversations with Kim and policies of conflicts of interest and having a larger discussion at the next meeting. Pablo introduces UVM student, Jose, and Jose’s research into reparations work done across the country. Christine shares concerns about conversations that are not including the task force members. Pablo clarifies his conversation with Kim was not about the committee, but was about the system to apply for funding. Christine shares about her proposal for the Richard Kemp Center and involving community to engage with this topic. She shares the  difference between public comment and public engagement. Christine also enquires about conflict of interest within the City of Burlington, as not a financial, personal, or individual gain. She describes challenges of doing this work without community engagement to find recommendations. Pablo discusses looking for clarity on scope of work in the resolution and looking for more precision on outcomes. Rebecca discusses issues of progress with the task force, moving forward the agenda, and interest in a community conversation about reparations and the impact of slavery. Pablo discusses looking to the spring and summer for next steps and gathering information. Christine shares about reparations conversation they are having on Saturday about truth and reconciliation. Pablo asks about communications structure for the task force and Sydney shares about REIB Department Instagram, website, and social media. Rebecca requests to add agenda item for next meeting about what else is happening that is relevant to reparations in Vermont and across the country for five – ten minutes. Pablo agrees and shares about reparations conference he attended, which discussed San Franscico and Philadelphia. Discusses challenges of reparations definition and usage, as well as the importance of land in showing harm. Katie shares about history of mapping out zoning to look at how things are zoned in a racialized way. Pablo discusses zoning atlas tool that was used in all states, except in Vermont. Christine discusses Act 250, the uniqueness of Vermont, and asking about why Vermont is so white. Katie shares about Jim Loewen’s work with sun down towns and thinking about criteria. Christine shares about wealth gap and gap in homeownership of black residents in Vermont. Pablo discusses Jose’s role and coordinating with the office of REIB. Taskforce discusses industries, including textiles and cotton, in relationship with the history of slavery. Pablo shares that UVM hired a new professor on African American History, focusing on reconstruction area, and she will be joining in the fall. Christine shares about the public engagement proposal in the summer. Pablo asks for next task force meeting, the state of work to be provided to task force members. Katie asks questions about community engagement and engagement methodologies. Mark shares about proposal and Christine asks about the process of City Council approval for proposals. Pablo asks about REIB audit concerning contracts and agreements with the Reparations Task Force and asks about involvement in the process. Mark asks about proposal and Pablo shares that Kim will need to clarify for the remainder of the discussion. Mark shares concerns about the task force and its history, as well as needing to be funded for expert research. Adjourn Pablo motions to adjourn. Rebecca seconds. End Time: 6:34 PM Notetaker: Sydney VanTassel