Safe, Healthy, Connected People Commission

5/11/2021 - Minutes I. Call to Order Members Present: Mary Hussmann, Paul Rabidoux, Courtney Blasius, Thomas Renner, Katherine Lowe (Alternate) City Staff Present: Ray Coffey, John Audy, Rick Hebert, Nate Eddy, Jenny Hill, Gwennie Talbot, Hal Colston (City Council) Guests Present: Kate Nugent, Jane Henderson, Lily Deware Call to Order by: Mary Hussmann Meeting Start Time: 6:33 PM Minutes Recorded by: Ray Coffey II. Public Comment None III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes Decision: Approve Minutes of 4/13/21 as presented Motion by: Paul Rabidoux Second: Courtney Blasius Minutes/Notes: 3 – 0 approval (Thomas Renner and Katherine Lowe abstain since they weren’t appointed members at the previous meeting). IV. City Council Liaison Update Councilor Colston provided updates on the following: l The City Manager Search Committee has had their first two meetings, and Phoebe Townsend and Jon Rauscher will be serving as Co-Interim City Managers after Jessie Baker’s departure. l The City’s Charter was up for vote in the Vermont Senate, including the addition of all resident voting. Mary asked if there was a predicted dated for a new City Manager to be on board. Hal anticipated late summer/early fall. V. City and Department Updates l Mary and Courtney are still working to coordinate a follow up meeting with the community group organizing a Police Survey. l Chief Hebert provided an update on the status of the SRO at Winooski School District, and shared that the School Board voted to allow the SRO to remain for the remainder of this year and next school year, and has brought together a group to review the issue and make a decision by November 2021 about the future beyond the 2021-22 school year. l Chief Hebert shared that with support from City Council they will be bringing on 3 new  l Mary and Courtney are still working to coordinate a follow up meeting with the community group organizing a Police Survey. l Chief Hebert provided an update on the status of the SRO at Winooski School District, and shared that the School Board voted to allow the SRO to remain for the remainder of this year and next school year, and has brought together a group to review the issue and make a decision by November 2021 about the future beyond the 2021-22 school year. l Chief Hebert shared that with support from City Council they will be bringing on 3 new staff, all members of the BIPOC community. l Chief Hebert will be bringing forward the State’s new Bodycam Policy for review by the Commission next month. l Chief Audy shared that the Fire Department is bringing on 4 new staff (3 of which are Winooski residents). l Chief Audy shared that they are in continued conversations with Colchester Fire and St. Mikes around the future of emergency response in Winooski. Mary asked if the conversations will lead to concerns around response from St. Mikes, and Chief Audy assured the Commission that at this time nothing has changed in terms of service response for Winooski. l Chief Audy shared that they’ve seen an increase in housing complaints recently, including 3 health orders. l Ray Coffey shared that the City’s new Equity Director, Yasamin Gordon, started on May 10. l Ray Coffey shared that the City Council approved a contract with the Winooski School District for $300,000 of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds to support increased recreational programs for youth. l Ray Coffey shared that there have been some challenges with starting up the pool after the winter, but that we are still on track for the anticipated June 6th opening. l Ray shared that at their most recent meeting that City Council had voted to terminate the lease for North End Studios (NES) as a result of their determination that the Board of the Vermont Performing Arts League (the organization that manages North End Studios) had not sufficiently addressed the concerns Council had stemming from allegations of sexual harassment and assault against former NES Director Ben Bergstein. VI. Appoint Secretary Tabled to next meeting. VII. Review Master Plan Recommendations for City Council Priority and Strategy Session Ray Coffey introduced the process by which the City Council will be setting their “Policy Priorities and Strategies” for Fiscal Year 2022. Council will be meeting on Saturday, June 26th for a half day meeting to develop a shared workplan with staff for the coming fiscal year. Leading up to that meeting, the Commissions were asked to use their May 2021 meetings to revisit the feedback they gave to Council in November 2020 around progress towards achieving the City’s Master Plan, and to assess whether any changes are needed. Generally, the Commission expressed support for carrying forward their November 2020 recommendations, with discussion around the following items being noteworthy: l Mary Hussmann encouraged a continued focus on childcare. l There was discussion about the need to further strengthen the City’s working relationship with the School District, including the School Board. l There as a great deal of discussion about the need to further work around “Goal #22” from the Safe, Healthy, Connected People section of the City’s Master Plan (“Increase gender and racial diversity on Staff and Boards to more accurately match the gender and racial make-up of Winooski residents.”) l Councilor Colston recommended a retreat for local BIPOC youth with elected officials of color. l The need to expand and/or replicate the Cultural Liaison efforts happening through the Winooski School District to support municipal efforts. l The group discussed the potential for providing stipends for Commissioners and  racial make-up of Winooski residents.”) l Councilor Colston recommended a retreat for local BIPOC youth with elected officials of color. l The need to expand and/or replicate the Cultural Liaison efforts happening through the Winooski School District to support municipal efforts. l The group discussed the potential for providing stipends for Commissioners and expressed general support of the concept. l The group also discussed childcare as a barrier for participation in Commissions. l Thomas Renner asked about whether the City was exploring Federal earmarks, and staff shared several projects currently under consideration, including Regional Dispatch. VIII. Winooski Partnership for Prevention Kate Nugent, the Director of the Winooski Prevention Partnership, presented to the group highlighting current initiatives and sharing some recent data on youth substance use in the Winooski community. IX. Adjourn Motion by: Courtney Blasius Second: Thomas Renner Meeting End Time: 7:59 PM