Anti-Racism Task Force

SECOND AMENDED MINUTES ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT SPECIAL MEETING September 27, 2021 Present: Brian Gartner, Councilman Darnell Ford, Bobbye Knoll Peterson, Chair Sacha Armstrong-Crockett, Kayon Morgan, Samantha Rival, Kirk Hart, Patricia Alston, Valerie Light, Precious Price 1. Call to Order. Meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. 2. Public Comment. One person in attendance from the public. Councilman Darnell Ford closed the public comment. 3. Approval of Minutes: MOTION: Patricia Alston made a MOTION to approve the minutes of the July 12, 2021 Anti- Racism Task Force Regular Meeting, August 9, 2021 Anti-Racism Task Force Special Meeting (Day 1 of Anti-Racism Task Force retreat and training), August 10, 2021 Anti-Racism Task Force Special Meeting (Day 2 of Anti-Racism Task Force retreat and training), September 13, 2021 Anti-Racism Task Force Regular Meeting where quorum was not met. The Motion was seconded by Kirk Hart. The Motion passed unanimously. Valerie Light did not vote as she was not present at the meeting during this time. 4. New Business. A. NCCJ Report – discussion about the Middletown Board of Education uptick in altercations. A MOTION was made to put out a statement regarding this issue by Kirk Hart and seconded by Brian Gartner. Withdrawal of this MOTION proceeded as no vote was needed in order to make a statement to the public by the Anti-Racism Task Force. It was decided that everyone would draft up their own thoughts, combine everyone’s drafts into a final statement to address this issue. Amended to the minutes is the following – A Board of Education member and 2021 candidate was posting videos of children of color fighting on his campaign page. A move that was matched with anger by the BIPOC community. This amendment was discussed on October 25, 2021 during the Anti-Racism Task Force Special Meeting. B. Feedback from the Anti-Racism Task Force retreat and participants – Members were very pleased with the two day retreat. Everyone shared positive remarks and experiences. C. Discussion of strategic two year plan – Members discussed taking on certain categories and develop goals, objectives, agendas, and timelines of achieving all these accomplishments. D. Discussion on plans to submit CRB recommendations by December meeting – the conversation was to set up meetings with the Middletown Chief of Police, Erik Costa,  Attorney Steven Mednick, connect with other CRB members from Manchester, New Haven and Hamden, David Roane from the DTC Police Reform Committee, and Jorge X. Camacho who is a Yale professor, in order to get recommendations and submit Civilian Review Board by December of 2021. 5. Adjournment. MOTION to adjourn made by Precious Price. The MOTION was seconded by Kayon Morgan. The Motion passed unanimously. Kirk Hart and Patricia Alston were not present during this MOTION as they left the meeting before the meeting was adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.