Police Community Advisory Committee

City of MASSACHUSETTS www.cityofmalden.org Gary Christenson, Mayor Police Community Advisory Council Meeting Minutes City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden Conference Room #113 September 18, 2024 7:00 PM This meeting was recorded through Zoom. MINUTES Roll call of Council Members Chloe Cheung: present, in-person Jessica Farrell: present, in-person Kevin Graham present, in-person Kevin Small Jr: present, in-person Vincent Spartichino: present, in-person Brittany Torelli: present, in-person Council Liaisons Present: Kashawna Harling: present, in-person Carey MacDonald: present, in-person Chief Glen Cronin: present, in-person Commissioner Barbara Murphy present, in-person NEW BUSINESS Introductions and Committee Roles Discussion Kashawna led the introductions of the participants, including herself as the DEI Coordinator, City Councillor Carey McDonald, Malden's Police Chief Glen Cronin, and the newly appointed Malden Police Commissioner Barbara Murphy. The participants included Kevin Graham, a new homeschool teacher, Kevin Small Jr., an entertainment and politics magazine owner, Chloe Chan, a long-time Malden resident, Brittany Torelli, a mental health counselor, and Jessica Farrell, a recent Malden business owner. Barbara Murphy also discussed the importance of identifying the committee members and segregating their duties for quorum purposes. The conversation ended with a review of the minutes from the previous meeting, with corrections made and approved. The discussion about having a chair and vice chair for the council was moved to the end of the agenda. Police Community Advisory Council Discussion Carey McDonald led a discussion about the Police Community Advisory Council's role and updates from the police department. The group discussed the scope of the Commission's charge, including learning about and engaging with the diverse community, reviewing data from the police department, and understanding the open meeting laws. Kashawna also clarified that personal notes taken during meetings are not subject to public record. The group then discussed the next steps, including scheduling times to visit the police department and possibly doing a tour together. The possibility of holding meetings at the police department's community room was also discussed, with the need to check with facilities about availability. Shared Documents Folder and Web Page Creation Carey led a discussion about the formation of a shared documents folder for the group, which included previous reports and policies. He asked for feedback on the folder's contents and encouraged the addition of any relevant documents. Kashawna also discussed the creation of a web page and email address for the group, with a meeting scheduled with Elena Savino to work on this. The web page was to include the group's charge, members' names, an email address, links to meeting agendas and minutes, and possibly photos of the group's activities. The group also discussed the possibility of posting public documents on the web page. Developing Prescriptive Responses and FAQs Kevin Graham proposed the idea of developing a prescriptive response to handle inquiries beyond their scope, suggesting an automated response to avoid confusion and ensure everyone receives the same information. Carey suggested the development of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for the website, which could be useful for handling inquiries outside their purview. Kashawna also proposed inviting a representative from a similar group in another community to discuss their experiences and provide insights. Carey also emphasized the importance of considering the pros and cons before making decisions, as they are setting a precedent for future communities. Website Page Drafting and Brian's Invitation Kashawna expressed her willingness to assist in the upcoming meetings while Carey suggested that he could help draft the website page for the community. She also proposed that Brian Cox could be invited to a future meeting for professional development. The team agreed to wait a couple of months before inviting Brian, with the next meeting planned for November to discuss website and email logistics. Carey clarified that the city website is a structured platform, not as flexible as a standalone website, but still manageable for adding a page with standard format. He offered to write the page, and the Commission update it as needed, but noted that it might need to be maintained by someone with a city email. Community Outreach Plan Progress and Suggestions Kashawna discussed the progress of the community outreach plan, focusing on reaching out to various groups in Malden. She suggested reaching out to the high school and participating in Community Connection Day and Public Safety Day on October 5th and 6th, respectively. Kashawna also proposed the idea of having a table at these events to introduce the group and encouraged the committee members to consider this. She offered to help with the logistics, including creating a banner and flyers. The committee members agreed to consider these suggestions and brainstorm further. Community Engagement and Safety Initiatives Carey emphasized the need for the group to have a presence at city functions and suggested choosing events suitable for all ages. Vinnie expressed concern about school safety and the need for children to know about additional safety groups. Kevin Graham offered to help with promotional materials and stressed the importance of community engagement and a targeted approach to reach different groups. Chloe suggested conducting surveys and engaging with community groups that feel both safe and unsafe. Vinnie also highlighted the need for a police presence at community events and discussed the possibility of working with specific groups, such as the Malden Youth Civics Council. Carey clarified the concept of quorum and proposed engaging with community groups to further their mission and outreach. The team agreed to work on a draft letter for discussion in their next meeting, focusing on introducing themselves to community groups and inviting them to participate in their activities. Upcoming Meetings and Community Engagement Strategies Kashawna led a discussion about upcoming meetings and community events. The group agreed to meet at the MPD station in October for a tour, with the date to be confirmed. In November, they planned to discuss community engagement strategies and potentially meet with the city solicitor. In December, they aimed to meet with Brian Cox from Cambridge and reach out to any of their groups. The group also discussed the availability of members for the Community Connection Day on October 5th and the Safety Day on October 6th. Kashawna emphasized the importance of communication and suggested using a group text for scheduling, but also noted the potential risks of violating the open meeting law. The group agreed to share their phone numbers for better communication. Chair and Vice Chair Nominations Discussion Carey led a discussion about the need for a chair and vice chair for the group. He clarified the roles and responsibilities, including leading meetings, determining agendas, and handling correspondence with community groups. The group discussed the potential for other roles, such as a secretary or communications handler. After considering the roles, the group decided to nominate themselves for the positions. Jess expressed interest in being the chair, while Kevin and Chloe showed interest in being the vice chair. The group agreed to vote on the nominations and decide. Committee Roles, Responsibilities, and Student Selection Kashawna led a meeting where the committee members discussed their roles and responsibilities. They decided to have co-chairs, with Jess and Chloe being nominated and elected for the position. Kevin Small Jr. was nominated and elected as the vice chair. Carey clarified the concept of quorum, explaining that a majority of the present members are required to vote, not the total number of members. The committee also discussed the selection process for student representatives, with Vinnie suggesting ways to advertise the positions to ensure a fair chance for all. The conversation ended with a vote to adjourn. Summary of Meeting Carey led the introductions and discussions about the Police Community Advisory Council's role, updates from the police department, and the formation of a shared documents folder. The group also discussed the development of a prescriptive response to handle inquiries beyond their scope, the creation of a web page and email address, and the importance of community engagement and outreach. The conversation ended with discussions about upcoming meetings, community events, the need for a chair and vice chair for the group, and the roles and responsibilities of the committee members. Next Steps and Action Items ➢ Kashawna to coordinate ride-alongs and police department tours for council members. ➢ Kashawna to send an email to the group requesting availability for ride-along tours. ➢ Kashawna to create a Doodle poll for scheduling a group tour of the police station. ➢ Kashawna to work on setting up a web page and email address for the council. ➢ Kashawna to forward flyers for the Community Connection Day and Public Safety Day events to council members. ➢ Kashawna to secure a table for the council at the Public Safety Day event. ➢ Kashawna to prepare informational materials for the council to use at community events. ➢ Jess and Chloe (co-chairs) to work with Kashawna on determining agendas for future meetings. ➢ Chief Cronin to provide an overview of police department data and reports at the October meeting. Next Meeting Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 pm, Malden Police Department Community Room Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm.