Human Relations Committee

Laconia Human Relations Committee Monthly Meeting June 10, 2024 - Monday 3:30pm – 5:00 pm City Hall Rm 200A & Zoom Agenda Welcome Roll Call Review and Acceptance of May 12, 2024, Meeting Minutes - attached Work Groups  MLK Event Committee –  Endowment for Health Committee – report on May 23, 2004, event  Banners/flags on City Property Committee – minutes of May 30, 2024, meeting attached  Rally/Sign Committee – report on rallies on May 31, 2024, and June 1, 2024  Vision and Mission Statement Committee Old Business  Multicultural Festival  Financial Report New Business  Discrimination Issues – People with Mental Illness or Disabilities  Other Business  Next Meeting Room 200A, Monday July 8, 2024, at 3:30 pm 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 to check in early. 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  Laconia Human Relations Committee May 13, 2024 Meeting Minutes I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Patrick Wood welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Laconia Human Relations Committee (LHRC). Committee member roll call was taken, a quorum was established, and the meeting was called to order at 3:04 pm. II. ATTENDANCE Present – Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Chair Patrick Wood, Carol Pierce, Rev. Judith Wright, David Osman, Matt Soza, Janet Simmon, Heather Stanley, Kay Anderson, Richard Littlefield, Patricia Okinedo, Faith Pakasuk and Carrie Chandler Zoom – David Stamps Excused – Seifu Ragassa Invited Guest – Beth Vachon Pat announced that Jasmine Sanborn, who served on the committee for a short time, is stepping down due to a job opportunity in Maine. Also, stepping down is Trish Weatherbee. Trish will continue to help with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration planning. We very much appreciate Trish and the work she contributed to the LHRC. III. OLD BUSINESS Minutes Approval – Motion was made by David Osman, seconded by Matt Soza, to accept the minutes of the April 15 th, 2024 Laconia Human Relations Committee meeting (LHRC); with no further discussion the motion passed unanimously. IV. NEW BUSINESS Work Groups Updates: Martin Luther King Jr Celebration – no further update; meeting scheduled for Friday, May 17th. Endowment for Health – Beth Vachon, Community Development for Lakes Region Mental Health Center (LRMHC) was in attendance. Beth and Heather Stanley are co-chairing the TM-CEI grant sub-committee. The first scheduled event is an Open House and Art Walk at LRMHC on Thursday, May 23rd from 6- 8pm at LRMHC. Mayor Hosmer will speak at 7 pm regarding the “Importance of Community.” Carol Pierce suggested a major story in the Daily Sun to promote the work of the LHRC and the grant that was received to promote trust building within the community. David Stamps offered to draft the article. David Osman made a motion, seconded by Judith Wright, to approve $500 of the grant monies towards the Open House/Art Walk event at the mental health center; with no further discussion the motion passed unanimously.  Banner Proposal – The Government Operations Committee has been working with Pat Wood, David Osman and Carrie Chandler to draft a policy. The policy has gone to city legal counsel for opinion. There is a City Council Meeting tonight with the proposed policy on the agenda. The desire to hang banners on city street light poles that reflects the diversity of Laconia has been in discussion since January of this year. Carrie commented on lights on city buildings is another potential policy item. City Hall is currently decorated with green lights for mental health awareness. Vigil/Signage – Matt Soza, committee chair, stated there is a plan in place including a final draft letter to the Daily Sun with invite to attend a rally with signage. Rally dates are scheduled for Friday, May 31 st at 4:30 pm and Saturday June 1 st at 1 pm. Yom HaShoah – Pat Wood stated that the movie “Defying the Nazis: Sharps’ War”, discussion with Q&A event held on May 4th at the Congregational Church was in good attendance. Rev. Judith stated that the historical documents to create the film may be housed in the future at the Laconia Unitarian Church. Multicultural Festival – Becky and Tammy are working hard at planning for another great event. The festival has raised approximately $10,000 thus far. Matt Soza made a motion, seconded by Richard Littlefield, to approve $1500 towards the Laconia Multi-Cultural Festival operations; with no further discussion the motion passed unanimously. Vision & Mission Statement – the Mayor suggested a sub-committee to review; Janet Simmon and David Osman agreed. If other committee members have suggestions, please send them to Pat Wood for consideration. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was opportunity but no public comments were made. VI. ADJOURNMENT The Meeting was adjourned by the chair at 4:20 pm. th Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 10 , 2024, room 200A, at 3:30 pm also via Zoom. Respectfully Submitted, Carrie Chandler, Secretary Laconia Human Relations Committee Flag and Banner Subcommittee May 30, 2024, Thursday, 10:00am – 11:00am 18 Wesley Way, Gilford, NH Minutes Call to Order – 10:02 am. Present: Carrie Chandler, David Osman, Patrick Wood  Discussion of recent City Council action – Patrick reported he had sent a message to Mayor Hosmer inviting him to this meeting but did not hear back from him. General discussion about issues and recognition that the City Attorney could be dealing with all of these flags and banners as being government speech and how to put reasonable constraints on free speech. Patrick also reported that he had talked with Mayor Hosmer after the City Council meeting and that the Mayor was reviewing the most recent proposal and was separating the flags from the banners. The Mayor also said that he had talked with Carrie earlier that day. Discussion of types of banners - Patrick reported that he had told the Mayor that there were supporters for the banners for Pride Month but that he, Patrick, was concerned about flying those banners this year until the City Council had addressed the issue of the banners. It was agreed that this Committee would like to meet with the Government Operations Committee of the City Council as soon as reasonably possible. Patrick said he would reach out to Councilor Cheney to see if such a meeting could be set up. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 10:50 am. Respectfully submitted, Patrick Wood