Human Relations Committee

Laconia Human Relations Committee Monthly Meeting April 10 2023 - Monday 3:30pm – 5:00pm City Hall Rm 200A also via Zoom Agenda Welcome and Roll Call Review and Acceptance of March 20 , 2023 Meeting Minutes Work Groups  MLK Celebration Planning Old Business  Welcome Stickers  Genocide Awareness - Yom HaShoah o Celebration with Temple B’Nai Israel – Sat. May 6th 4pm  Banners on City Hall – see attached discussion paper  Looking forward – 2023  Hate Images at State School New Business  Policy & Procedures (see attached)  Other business  Next Meeting Room 200A, Monday May 8, 2023, at 3:30pm also via Zoom Public Comment – The public is invited to offer their opinions. Initially, they will be limited to four minutes until all have had an opportunity to speak. Each person is constrained to their time period or to ask questions of the committee. Everyone is expected to speak respectfully. If on Zoom, the public will be visible but muted until unmuted by the chair. Members of the public wishing to speak will use the “raise hand” option. ------------------------------------------------------ Note: The meeting will also be held online through Zoom and will begin at 3:30pm although people are encouraged check in early. Contact David Stamps, 387-4382 if you are having trouble connecting. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Topic: Human Relations Commission Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81922296874?pwd=M0E4a1pES0VGV0Rsa1hmT0ZDU3Bmdz09 Passcode: 793636 Or One tap mobile : US: +16465588656,,81922296874#,,,,*793636# or +13017158592,,81922296874#,,,,*793636# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 819 2229 6874 Passcode: 793636 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k661pCha  BANNER DISPLAYS AT CITY HALL Purpose: As the City of Laconia’s center of government, City Hall is more than an administrative government building. City Hall is symbol of the City of Laconia itself and of all it represents and stands for. Because of this the display of appropriate banners at City Hall will also be seen by many as representing the values that City embraces. Both longtime residents and first time visitors will find the banners displayed at City Hall will give them an insight as to what kind of community Laconia aspires to be. Banners can be of many different types: Affirmational: Some banners will celebrate and affirm basic human rights such as the Gay Pride Banner. Awareness: Some banners such as Alzheimer’s and Cancer Awareness draw attention to the ongoing need to support medical research to find a cure for these terrible diseases. Celebratory: Some banners will recognize the heroes who walk among us such as our Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Service Officers and those in our community serving in the Armed Forces. Promotion: Some banners will promote community wide events such as Multi-Cultural Day and Pumpkin Fest. Religious and/or politically themed banners are not appropriate and will not be allowed. Management and Review: The City Council at all times retains approval authority of what is displayed at City Hall. The Laconia Human Relations Committee will have the responsibility of reviewing all applications to display banners and make a recommendation to the City Council for their approval. The committee will also develop a formal set of rules and guidelines for banner display that will be presented to the City Council for their review and approval.  LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE Vision & Mission Approved 12-17-2019 Vision: The Laconia Human Relations Committee envisions a world where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness, respect, and kindness. Mission Statement: The Committee shall strive to: a) Cultivate a community-wide climate that does not tolerate prejudice of any kind which undermines the dignity of any person. b) Engage every individual, group and organization in Laconia in support of our vision. c) Educate ourselves and our children about the presence and dehumanizing impact of any prejudicial attitudes that are currently at work in our community. d) Promote, in as many segments of our community life as is possible, policies and practices which encourage equal opportunity through equity and justice for all. e) Proactively resist and publicly condemn any practices or incidents in our community which either result from or might encourage prejudice, intolerance, harassment and discrimination. Objectives: The Committee shall: a) Educate about and establish a comfort level with the changing face of our community by working with individuals, City Council, business groups, service, health and educational institutions. b) Actively pursue the prevention of prejudice, intolerance, harassment and discrimination in our community through public discourse, media exposure, community action and education on these issues. c) Create programs and initiatives in furtherance of our vision such as the Welcoming Laconia Initiative, the Laconia Multicultural Festival and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.  LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE Policies & Procedures Amended 03-12-2021 Name of Committee: Laconia Human Relations Committee. Appointment of Members: The mayor shall appoint no fewer than 7 and no more than 13 members to this committee. They are subject to reappointment on an annual basis. These appointees shall be uncompensated. Appointed members will receive a letter of appointment and will need to be sworn in by the City Clerk. The Mayor will be a non-voting member but otherwise will have all the rights and privileges of members. All members of this Committee agree to support its mission and goals and to participate actively as far as able. Make up of Committee: Members must live or work in Laconia. The Committee will strive to include people from all areas of Community Life. Each year in March, the chairperson in consultation with the Committee will recommend new or renewing members to the Mayor for appointment. Votes: Each member present shall have one vote. Meetings: Regular meetings shall be held on the second Monday monthly at 3:30pm. Special meetings may be called, as necessary. Officers: Each year the Committee will vote for chairperson and secretary. The City Finance department acts as the fiscal agent for the committee. Quorum of Members: A quorum shall be no less than half of the official appointees. Members, at the discretion of the chairman, may attend via telephone or other electronic means but may not be counted under NH RSA 91A. Agenda/Minutes: Minutes will be kept for all Committee and Subcommittee meetings. The Committee and Subcommittees will notice all meetings at least 24 hours in advance and post minutes within five business days through the City Manager’s Office. Meetings will not be taped or recorded. Finance: Expend monies as requested from the City for programs and services the Committee deems appropriate. Social Media: The Committee’s Facebook page may only be used to post announcements and scheduled events. No comments will be made or allowed by the Committee.  LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE Policies & Procedures Amended 03-12-2021 Name of Committee: Laconia Human Relations Committee. Appointment of Members: The mayor shall appoint no fewer than 7 and no more than 13 members to this committee. They are subject to reappointment on an annual basis. These appointees shall be uncompensated. Appointed members will receive a letter of appointment and will need to be sworn in by the City Clerk. The Mayor will be a non-voting member but otherwise will have all the rights and privileges of members. All members of this Committee agree to support its mission and goals and to participate actively as far as able. Make up of Committee: Members must live or work in Laconia. The Committee will strive to include people from all areas of Community Life. Each year in March, the chairperson in consultation with the Committee will recommend new or renewing members to the Mayor for appointment. Votes: Each member present shall have one vote. Meetings: Regular meetings shall be held on the second Monday monthly at 3:30pm. Special meetings may be called, as necessary. Officers: Each year the Committee will vote for chairperson and secretary. The City Finance department acts as the fiscal agent for the committee. Quorum of Members: A quorum shall be no less than half of the official appointees. Members, at the discretion of the chairman, may attend via telephone or other electronic means but may not be counted under NH RSA 91A. Agenda/Minutes: Minutes will be kept for all Committee and Subcommittee meetings. The Committee and Subcommittees will notice all meetings at least 24 hours in advance and post minutes within five business days through the City Manager’s Office. Meetings will not be taped or recorded. Finance: Expend monies as requested from the City for programs and services the Committee deems appropriate. Social Media: The Committee’s Facebook page may only be used to post announcements and scheduled events. No comments will be made or allowed by the Committee.