Anti-Racism Task Force

MINUTES ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE INFORMAL MEETING MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 15, 2021 Present: Councilman Darnell Ford, Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell, Precious Price, Brian Gartner, Stacey Barka, Chair Sacha Armstrong-Crockett. Staff: Human Resource Specialist Cayla Jones Members of the Public: Chief Erik Costa THE FEBRUARY 15, 2022 MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE WAS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF A QUORUM. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN, AND THE DISCUSSION COMMENCING 6:06 P.M. AND CONCLUDING AT 8:23 P.M. AMONG THOSE PRESENT CONSISTED THE FOLLOWING. 1. New Business. A. Discussion with Chief of Police Erik Costa. Councilman Ford welcomed Chief Costa and thanked him for joining to discuss Chief Costa’s insight of a Civilian Review Board. B. Discuss plans to submit CRB recommendation. Chief Costa declared his support in implementing a CRB and communicated his experience and knowledge of a CRB. Chief Costa answered a series of questions that were asked by the Anti-Racism Task Force Members; and shared his ideas of what a CRB would look like for the City of Middletown. Further discussion ensued regarding Anti- Racism. C. Discussion of forums and invite speakers to the meeting. Coucilman Darnell Ford stated that the Task Force’s plan for the near future, is to invite the Human Relations Commission to an Anti-Racism Task Force meeting; to help support with community conversations. Next, the Task Force would like to invite the groups who were involved in writing the NCCJ report to discuss Anti-Racism, Community Review Boards, and a Community Response Team. Another suggestion was to invite Wesleyan University and Yale Director Jorge Camacho and the Justice Collaborative. Chairwoman Sacha Armstong explained that some of the data gathered in the NCCJ Report is now dated, and informed the task force of the guidance that will be provided to the Task Force by the Justice Collaborative at Yale Law School. D. NCCJ Report (standing item); discuss next step. Councilam Darnell posed a query to the Task Force, inquiring if all remembered their individual assignments pertaining to the NCCJ report.  E. Discussion of strategic two year plan; discuss next steps. The Task Force Members agreed to plan a community conversation, to gather input from those of the BIPOC community. Also, to determine how the Anti-Racism Task Force should proceed with recommendations on CRB’s, and future recommendations to the Mayor’s Office. 2. Old business. A. Discuss and set Anti-Racism Task Force meeting Calendar for 2022 – Meetings will be 2nd Monday of each month unless otherwise noted due to holiday or an unforeseen event. MOTION: Councilwoman Blackwell made a MOTION to approve the Calendar for 2022. The MOTION was seconded by Precious Price. The MOTION passed unanimously. B. Discuss plans to submit CRB recommendation C. NCCJ Report (standing item); discuss next steps 1) Clarify member assignments 2) Review of theme assignments 3) Member report back (data collection/research/projects) on each assigned theme area D. Discussion of strategic two year plan; discuss next steps 1) Review and approve template for strategic plan 2) Input assignment work into the strategic plan