HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES-FINAL
FEBRUARY 19, 2003
IN ATTENDANCE ABSENT
Marlissa Briggett Cecilia Akuffo
Chris Carney Sheri Baron
Chris Deshler
Kim Lam
Kevin McGann
Sue McHugh
Nick Minton
Bill Shea
Nancy Sweeney
Jim Webster
Kevin McGann called the meeting of the Human Rights Commission to order at 8:06 PM at the Jefferson-Cutter House.
NEW COMMISSIONER WELCOME
The Commissioners welcomed Kim Lam to the Commission. She will select a sub-committee to serve on for the year.
REVIEW MINUTES
A motion was made to accept the January minutes with these corrections:
· Under the Sub-Committee reports section, the second bullet capitalize “March”
· At the bottom of the first page, last sentence change to read;” Marlissa Briggett spoke to the Police, who reported that after an investigation they believe it was not motivated based on the student’s Middle Eastern decent.”
COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS
· A complaint packet was requested from the office, yet not returned as of the meeting day.
· No new complaints or incidents were reported this month.
· 9 out of 10 Commissioners voted in favor ( 1 abstained due to lack of knowledge of case) of sending the letter written by K. McGann after agreement with the sub-committee’s finding of “no jurisdiction”.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
K. McGann reported that on February 26, 2003 at 7:45 PM in the Community Safety room at the Police Station the Finance Committee would be discussing the AHRC budget. He would like some Commissioners to attend on behalf of the AHRC to present reasons for not cutting the budget by 50%.
SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
· Policies and Procedures: There was nothing to report.
· Education: Sue McHugh reported that the Career Day date at the Ottoson is May 29th. She will reconfirm this and report back.
· Dialogues/Book Groups: Reported 2 dialogues in the future:
1) Warrant/Patriot Act Dialogue is set for Tuesday, March 25, 2003.
2) United Nations Dialogue is tentatively set for May 7, 2003.
· Rapid Response/ Publicity: There was nothing to report.
· 10th Anniversary: There are 3 events planned for the 10 year Anniversary:
1st Event: a thank-you reception has been set for March 30, 2003, 2:00-4:00PM at the Whittemore-Robbins House.
2nd Event: the Celebration date has been set for April 3, 2003 at 7:30 PM at the Town
Hall.
3rd Event: a Panel Dialogue on where the AHRC has been, what the AHRC has done, and Where the AHRC is heading.
The proposed title for the 10 Year Anniversary is:
Human Rights, Arlington, and You
A 10-Year Celebration of Arlington Human Rights Commission
The sub-committee will work on the advertising of the Anniversary.
· Town Day: There is nothing to report.
· Fund-raising: There is nothing to report. They will meet after the budget is announced.
NEW BUSINESS
· C.Carney pointed out that the April meeting coincides with the beginning of Passover, so change the meeting to Wednesday April 9, 2003.
· M.Briggett would like any Commission information that would be good for the Library display to be e-mailed to her.
· A decision to table the discussion on donating to the Gay/Straight Club until N. Sweeney finds out how much they have already raised.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM.
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