Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, & Community Relations

CDICR Minutes – Town Hall, Room 2, First Floor. July 13, 2022 6:00 PM (Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations) Attendees: Andrea Baez, (chair); Walter Connelly (sec); Suzanne Martucci-Gallo; John Morgan; John Bentley. Town Council president Jim Letterie, Town Manager Tony Marino, Police Chief Terry Delahanty, John Munson, Kathleen Cappuccio, Judy Hanlon, Scott Mahoney-Wright 1. Roll Call 6:00 PM 2. Minutes from May meetings  Approval moved to next meeting by unanimous vote. 3. Chief Delahanty addressed two reports on traffic stops (both public record).  Vera Institute (covered by Channel 5 News)  Salem State & Worcester State studies used “veil of darkness” criteria and found no disparities between racial groups in traffic stops. No disparities between day and night traffic stops, indicating no profiling. Below state average but not population level.  Data is good starting point for discussion but requires more detailed analysis of data.  Police reports in newspaper does not convey measurable data. 4. TC President Jim Letterie invited to share his vision for CDICR and resources  Letterie acknowledges the CDICR needs more direction from Town Council.  Commission has been sidelined on critical matters and often included as an afterthought.  Lydia Edwards was moving force Pride event in conversation with others (not the CDICR).  Commission frustrated with poor communication, faulty email system, poor access to meeting space.  Letterie suggests that Commission make regular reports at Town Council meetings, giving it greater visibility. 5. Town Manager Tony Marino  Related his experience on Diversity & Inclusion in past position.  Commissioner Connelly offered to donate resources toward developing better communication skills within community to stress the “Community Relations” dimension of the commission. 6. Public Comment:   Kathleen Cappuccio highlighted other events in town around diversity concerns, for example David & Roman scholarship and Pride events at school.  Scott Mahoney-Wright suggested contacting such organizations as ADL to sponsor wider, respectful concersations. 7. Meeting ended: 7:20 PM (next meeting Sept. 14). Submitted by Walter Connelly, Secretary of CDICR