Human Relations Committee

CITY OF LACONIA – HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE June 16, 2020 - Quarterly Meeting City Hall Chambers MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER David Stamps welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Laconia Human Relations Committee. Committee member roll call was taken, a quorum was established, and the meeting was called to order at 3:04pm. The Chair reviewed procedures related to public access to electronic meetings as required under Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #12. II. ATTENDANCE Present - Chair David Stamps, Carol Pierce, Rev. Judith Wright, David Osman, Janet Simmon, Dennis Bothamley, Matt Soza, Margaret Donnelly, Kate Bruchacova and Carrie Chandler Excused – Mayor Andrew Hosmer III. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND SECRETARY Secretary – Nominations were opened and Carrie Chandler asked to continue to serve as Secretary for the 2020-2021 year. A motion was made by David Osman, seconded by Dennis Bothamley, a roll call vote was taken, and with no opposition, the motion passed. Chair – Nominations were opened and David Stamps was asked to continue to serve as Chairperson for the 2020-2021 year. A motion was made by Carol Pierce, seconded by Janet Simmon, a roll call vote was taken, and with no opposition, the motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES A motion was made by Margaret Donnelly, seconded by Rev. Judith Wright, to accept the minutes of the December 17, 2019 quarterly Laconia Human Relations Committee meeting. A vote was taken, and with no opposition, the minutes were accepted as written. A motion was made by Carol Pierce, seconded by David Osman, to accept the minutes of the June 3, 2020 meeting related to the Social Justice Vigil. A vote was taken, and with no opposition and two abstaining, the minutes were accepted as written. 1 V. AGENDA • Committee Reports: o FINANCE David Stamps reviewed the finance report which states a balance of $1,378.62 as of March 8, 2020. There have been no expenditures since last meeting. We typically expect $2,000 from the city after July 1st. A vote to approve was postponed as the report has not been posted yet. o CHAIR ▪ LACONIA MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL David Stamps reported, due to Covid 19, this year’s festival has been postponed until next year – September 11, 2021. ▪ COMMITTEE FOCUS/RELEVANCE David Stamps requested new ideas for how the committee can evolve and respond to issues of racial and social justice. Some thoughts include: • Current events justify an increase need for our committee • Committee should take a more proactive/activist stance • Focus on specific projects that are a challenge to the city due to circumstances o Black Lives Matter – a second silent vigil is scheduled for 6/19/20, Belknap Mill in conjunction with the Historical Society is working on a project (details to follow) o School history curriculum – invite local and state reps to a meeting o Police sensitivity training • As a Mayor’s committee – we should dialogue with Andrew Hosmer to get his thoughts • Children are the future – how best to affect change at the educational level so they have a full picture of American history (Southern Poverty Law Center has training materials regarding racial sensitivity and implicit bias) • Allocate some of the Multi-Cultural funds to local initiatives that the committee supports (ie. training for police, mental health center works with prison) • Offer community programming / open forums around a specific issue (streamline conversations with Chief of Police, etc) • Gather list of resources available for children to explain current issues 2  • Regular column in the Daily Sun on behalf of the Laconia Human Relations Committee (include where to get Everyone is Welcome in Laconia signs) • Change committee meeting schedule from quarterly to monthly - ideas o IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION INITIATIVE Kate Bruchacova reported that her program received funding to continue the work. Hospitality employers are in need of staff this summer; some students have received VISAS – quarantining has been a challenge and she is awaiting guidance. VI. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. VII. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jim Thompson – stated there was good conversation around how to make things better in the community with schools and police. He stated that more community involvement is needed to represent other views/ideas. VII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Margaret Donnelly, seconded by Carol Pierce, to adjourn the meeting; and with no further business the meeting was adjourned at 4:13p by the Chair. Next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, 3p, via Zoom invite. Respectfully Submitted, Carrie Chandler, Recording Secretary 3  LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE MISSION To: a) Cultivate a community-wide climate that does not tolerate prejudice of any kind which undermines the dignity of any person. b) Educate ourselves and our children about the presence and dehumanizing impact of any prejudicial attitudes that are currently at work in our community. c) Promote, in as many segments of our community life as is possible, policies and practices which encourage and demand equal opportunity and responsibility for all people. d) Proactively resist and publicly condemn any practices or incidents in our community which either result from or might encourage prejudice, intolerance, harassment and discrimination. 4