Human Rights Commission

Feb 12 2021 11:50 am CITY OF FITCHBURG PUBLIC MEETING HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Date: September 8th, 2020 Time: 5:30pm Location: via Zoom In attendance were: Commissioners: Barbara Nealon, David Roth, Adrian Ford, Hafsa Asfa, Jamie Darcangelo, April Moldanado, Maritza, Senovia Bolivar, Martiza Knight, and Maryam Ashraf Guest[s]: none Meeting called to order at 5:30pm  Welcoming and Introductions conducted  Review of previous meeting minutes from: August 11, 2020 meeting minutes accepted as written.  Public Comment Period-Opportunity for the public to speak during a Commission Meeting Chairperson or designee will ask if anyone in the audience wishes to speak on any matter appearing on the agenda. If you wish to address the commission, raise your hand, when recognized, you must stand state your name and address and the reason for your speaking: none New business:  Presentation-Overview of the Leominster Haitian American Community Center-deferred presenter did not show for meeting.  Addressing racial justice within the City a. HRC efforts on drafting recommendations to City Council on Racial Justice initiatives Human Rights Commission Assignment from the City Council: To craft a Strategic Plan to address the racial equity and economic empowerment disparities through the lens of the city practices and policies including but not limited to: hiring, interning, appointing and investment in community and economic development –refer to communication sent to Commissioners prior to meeting today with draft for comments by Commissioners. No additional comments, recommendations noted. Copy has been provide to City Council President and Vice President for review and move on to other Council Committees. b. SURJ’s Education Racial Justice Group-Barbara emailed membership asking for commissioners to join this committee as representative of the HRC and bring back information to the Commission. The group has three subgroups : a. Goal 1 School Workforce Diversity b. Goal 2 School System Leadership c. Goal 3 Equity in special Education and Increased Behavioral Health Supports  David Roth has signed up to represent the commission on Goals 2 & 3. Chairperson ask if there were any other Commissioners interested in representing the commission on Goal 1 and Hafsa agreed to work on that Subgroup. David agreed to communicate with Jonathan Dudley on her appointment to that committee. All meetings are being held via zoom. Old Business:  Old Business o Performance Improvement Policy with AA Plan & EOE specific measurements –update There has been update from the City specific to the Performance Indicators requested to assess AA & EOE plan. Commissioners discussed whether to write a formal letter to the Mayor was indicated or perhaps setting up a Zoom meeting with the Commissioners was more appropriate to stress the Importance of this process. Barbara recalled when it came time to approve the AA Plan all but Adrian approved the plan. Adrian did not as he felt not having the specific criteria for performance indicators included this would never be addressed and here we are now with no measures. After discussion, the Commissioners consensus was to invite the Mayor to a Zoom meeting for discussion rather than sending a letter. Chair agreed to follow up with the Mayor’s office to arrange for a meeting with the Mayor and Commissioners. o Other items, topics, programs for discussion for future meetings  Future Community Collaboration –funding opportunity specific to Racial Justice through the Universal Unitarian Church. Adrian agreed to share information with Commissioners for possible community educational opportunities possibly collaborating with other community lead initiatives. Action: Adrian to send out to Commissioners for review and Commissioner’s to provide feedback on efforts after review.  Community resident case discussed last month follow up: Barbara spoke with the wife of the individual discussed last month. Bi-Racial Couple with children in an apartment . Has lived in the apartment 6 years and finding it more difficult to live in that environment due to the Landlord’s daughter who now lives in the same building referring to tenants husband using the “N” word; and there is a list of things that have made this family feel unwanted and the Landlord is not returning wife’s calls to address his daughters attitude with the family. and feelings of mistreatment. She noted she did not pay her rent this month hoping to get his attention to address this behavior to no avail so far. She was unable to attend today’s meeting but appreciated bringing this to the Commissioners for recommendations. In light of the Sentinel and Enterprise’s article this week re:” Forest Ridge Apartments and the Attorney General’s involvement with alleging the company violated the state’s consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws by failing to address or prevent ongoing race-based harassment “ Could this be of similar nature? What resources or options are there? This family stated they otherwise enjoy where they live and their neighbors are very supportive and if they were to leave , to leave on their own terms. Barbara noted this ties in to the City Council’s Addressing Racial Justice plan . Action: Adrian agreed to follow up with the couple. Barbara to provide information to Adrian for follow up.  Future Community Educational Opportunities Discussed: Adrian shared the following: a. Defunding Police- The City of Fitchburg’s Police Department has been recognized in the State for being the 5 th most diverse Police Department through the work of Chief Martineau. He asked the Commission if we’d consider Co-sponsoring a Forum discussing Defunding the Police. Emphasis on the impact on defunding and resources would be of benefit for the City to know that not all Police Departments are alike. Commissioners agreed to having the Police Chief come to our October meeting to discuss further and follow up with potentially are future community program. For a community venue it may be helpful to enlist the colleges FSU and MtWCC as well. Action: Adrian will follow up with the Chief. b. A Financial Empowerment Center will be opening soon with the goal of helping lower class citizens with finance-based issues such as credit, mortgages, and occupations.  A coordinator is needed and they must be a person of color (they will receive a salary of $60,000)  The coordinators job description should be completed within a week Action: Informational David offered to host the October 13th HRC meeting at his home out on his lawn; respecting social Distancing seating for up to 20 people. Discussion re: weather was discussed. If inclement weather occurs Meeting to be cancelled or resort back to Zoom.  Venues to hold socially distanced meetings are also being considered in case the situation above doesn’t play out ;   Next meeting October 13, 2020 Barbara scheduled Mary De Alderete, CMC/CMMC City Clerk to present “Voting in Fitchburg” Commissioner’s would like to know the process for LEP {Limited English Proficient} and non-English speaker access. Action: Barbara will follow up with Mary re: addressing options available. Meeting adjourned: 6:30 Meeting minutes submitted by: Maryam Ashraf and Barbara Nealon  Old Business:  There has been no further update in regard to the Affirmative Action Plan  The HCR has decided to step in since there has been no real effort to put the plan in place for 2 years  Ms. Nealon will draft a letter, informing the Mayor that if he will not proceed with the plan, the HCR will take legal action (the committee members unanimously agreed to take this action)  Mrs. Asfa suggested we directly meet with the Mayor in order to force him to continue with the action plan and Ms. Nealon offered to try to schedule a Zoom meeting with him  Mr. Ford planned to send out information in regard to the Universal Humanitarian Church racial justice work and encouraged committee members to take a look, and possibly take part in a project together   Mr. Ford also offered to send support to the biracial couple with 3 kids who complained about racially centered mistreatment in their apartment by their landlord’s daughter. He planned to forward information on how to get the proper division and person to contact in situations like these.  Defunding the police force has been a rising issue within the youth, and an open and honest discussion in regard to this topic must be held  Mr. Ford planned to invite Ernie to the next meeting to talk more about this  Inviting college professors to engage in this discussion was also a possibility  A Financial Empowerment Center will be opening soon with the goal of helping lower class citizens with finance-based issues such as credit, mortgages, and occupations.  A coordinator is needed and they must be a person of color (they will receive a salary of $60,000)  The coordinators job description should be completed within a week  Our first safe and socially distanced HRC meeting will be held on October 13th, 2020 at Mr. Roth’s backyard  Venues to hold socially distanced meetings are also being considered in case the situation above doesn’t play out Meeting adjourned: 6:30 Meeting minutes submitted by:  Maryam Ashraf and Barbara Nealon Meeting minutes submitted by, Agenda submitted by, Barbara Nealon