City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD TWO CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Special Council Work Session March 14, 2019 Final Report from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Thursday, March 14, 2019, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding. Vice-Mayor William C. Withers. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Charlie L. Frye, Jr. (7:32), Jason N. Graham and Matthew J. Kelly. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Assistant City Manager Doug Fawcett, City Attorney Kathleen A. Dooley, Business Development Manager Angela Freeman and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Others Present. Mr. Braden Paynter and Dina Bailey both from International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. Final Report from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC). Mayor Greenlaw noted that this meeting was to receive the final report and recommendations from ICSC. Mayor Greenlaw read a quote by James Baldwin “History, as nearly no one seems to know, is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, we are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. It could scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities, and our aspirations.” - (1965). She said it was precisely this recognition of how our history affects us today that the community has requested with over the past year. Mayor Greenlaw thanked all who participated and shared their concerns. She said when the question was raised what to do with the slave auction block the City Council held a public hearing, extended online comment and ultimately held a serious of public forums by ICSC. She said this was a proud moment for Fredericksburg because the community has undertaken this exercise and she was looking forward to the report and the summary of what it said. She said she was looking 1 forward to not only what is said about the auction block but also for continuing the dialoged and for doing a better job of telling and living our history. Councilor Frye gave the history of how the Council got to this point with the slave auction block. He spoke about the protest that was held and how the item was put on the agenda and there was great dialog by the community and the item was brought back to Council for a vote and the vote was taken to keep the slave block in place. The Council later voted to hire International Coalition of the Sites of Conscience (ICSC) to help determine how to best tell the story of the City. City Manager Baroody added that this has been a fifteen month process and he was very encouraged by over 250 participants over the year. He said the City was committed to action and this report would highlight recommendations. Dina Bailey explained that the ICSC was headquartered in New York City, and it is a membership organization. There are over 250 member sites in 65 different countries. The thing that brings them all together is that when you connect the past and the present you can make more just and humane decisions for the future, and this is what they try to help with. Ms. Bailey and Braden Paynter presented a PowerPoint and they discussed: the three phased initiative, and as a result of the initiative the Community would recognized what historical narratives are currently being told and how they affect contemporary discussions in Fredericksburg be able to reimagine the space that surrounds the slave auction block, and come together to better recognize the varied perspectives of their fellow community members. They also discussed the three phases and what happened in those phases. They discussed the big picture takeaways. The consultants went into depth about the Phase III Report and its findings, and their recommendation both short- term and long term. (See attachments for more information). Councilor Kelly expressed how important it is to have the community’s input in this process. He also stated that it was impossible to tell the story of the slave auction block in its current location and he suggested maybe telling it in several areas. Councilor Duffy said the City needed to move in a more sensitive way. He said all the discussions have changed him. Councilor Devine thanked everyone for the open conversations and she said acknowledging the different positions was important. She said she would like to see more young people involved. Vice-Mayor Withers said he agreed with Councilor Devine and he said he was opposed to moving the block but he has softened on that stance. Councilor Graham said many have learned a lot through this process and he also suggested letting the African American Community decide on what should be done with the block. He said it 2 is recognized that so much of the history in the community has been built for white people and these decisions should be made by the African American Community. Councilor Frye spoke about how he grew up here in the City and it is a City rich in history but all that he learned about black history was verbally told and it was not taught in school. He thanked that community for coming out and getting involved. Gay Abdegbolola, said she was born and raised in the City and she thanked the Council for their work and investing in the ICSC. She said it was important to invest in the African American history. Ms. Abdegbolola said she too had changed her position on the removal of the block. Originally she wanted it to stay because it fueled her to want better but she’s changed saying the pain is so bad for some it should be moved. Mayor Greenlaw said she was very impressed with the work of the ICSC. They have given the City a clear process to follow, with rules and how to maintain them, they gave a working document and because of this she was assured something would be done. Mr. Baroody said he was going to have the meeting video posted and then the staff and Mayor Greenlaw and Councilor Frye would come back to Council with the report and implementation plan. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 9:31 p.m. _Tonya B. Lacey _______ Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3