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Home My WebLink About2024-01-23 Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes ACREIHR Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers Members Present: Chair Liana Fellis, MemberJason Canniff, MemberTheron Letterlough, MemberAndre Chasse, Vice Chair Katie Brydon, MemberJulie Davis, Member Kathryn Robinson, MemberTheron Davis Members not present: Member Gabrielle Wiley, Student Rep. Evelyn Marasco, Student Rep. Rebecca Jones, Member Melissa Bulcholz City of Bangor staff and guests present: Assistant City Manager (ACM) and HR Director, Courtney O'Donnell, and Assistant City Solicitor, Grace Innis Call to Order Call to order at 6:OOpm Introduction of advisory board members and city members Election of Chair and Vice Chair • Member Brydon moves to nominate Liana Fellis to continue in her role as Chair o Majority vote, unanimously passes • Member Chasse nominates Katie Brydon to serve as Vice Chair for a second year o Majority vote, unanimously passes FOAA Training by Assistant City Solicitor • Freedom of Access Act review • Documents and communication shared between advisory members regarding city business are considered official and members should be aware that all of their communication, even on private devices, are subject to FOAA • Meetings are public and all communication should be available to the public as open meetings or via record • Committee members should not be perceived as representing the city in their private social media posts • Question: what constitutes a quorum and how do we maintain the number less than the quorum? o Needs to be four or less people on the committee or else it will need to become a public meeting with public notice and meeting in available city places • Question: are things that members share or discuss on Facebook open to being FOAA'd? o It is recommended that—in order to mitigate confusion— members should add language to their social media bios to ensure it is clear that each individual's view is their own and does not represent the views of the City of Bangor o It is recommended that if inembers speak to City Council in an official capacity that they also disclose their participation in the REIHR committee and clarify that they are either acting as an official representative of the committee or as an individual citizen • Suggested that members create their own email to keep business from the committee separate from personal business Review of the Committee Overview Document Developed two years ago to provide insight, history, background, and best practices of the committee to give additional information and guidance to new members. • Any questions that new members might have? • Member Chasse recommended that new members take time to review the mission and charter to ensure their work and actions are aligned with the goals of the committee and the purpose/reasons the committee was founded 1 Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers • Take note: the original document says that the committee should meet quarterly; however, based on the goals of the appointed citizens, the committee has consistently met monthly and will continue to do so based on the work and needs of the members • The onboarding document also includes an annual calendar of topics and goals so that the committee can stay ahead of the expectations for topics or city work Approval of Minutes • Member Chasse moves to approve November and December meeting, seconded by Vice Chair Brydon Education • Bangor Area Homeless Center will be holding a Hike for the Homeless in April • Committee members could act as a team and sign up to raise funds and participate Policy • No new business Subcommittee Working Groups Review of the four subcommittees and ways that new members can join and get involved. • Subcommittees: Human Resources, Accessibility, Events and Education, Housing • Examples of committee engagement: Education and Events participated in the Bangor PRIDE events by hosting a table and sharing information with the City of Bangor during the day's events • The subcommittees provide more opportunities for the members to meet more often and complete work outside of monthly meetings in an effort to push forward different missions and goals • New subcommittee o Will add Review of Equity Index to subcommittee work. o Question: how does this tie into the update of the website? Assistant City Manager O'Donnell will take the lead on website redesign o ACM added Accessibility and Accommodations page to the website; ACM acting as ADA Coordinator for the City o Question from Member Canniff: how do we streamline the 'voice' and tone of the website to ensure the messaging and language seems the same and that a welcoming culture is conveyed? o ACM mentioned that because it's a government, the website needs to be simple and straightforward for accessibility o Recommendations from members: colors, language, and branding of the website needs to convey 'Bangor Positive' and welcoming messaging. Member Canniff: can we look at other cities and the campaigns happening to welcome new individuals and how we can grasp onto it for Bangor to be memorable for things we care about? o Member Chasse: reminds the committee that the original tagline for Bangor is 'Heart of Everything.' Can we build on this? o Recommended that the subcommittee report out during the ACREIHR meetings to the City Manager, then share the information with the website team • Meeting schedule o Completed and shared with the committee o Developed so that no city meetings conflict with religious and culturally significant days o Will put on the Google Drive so that members can update and add days that may be missed z Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers Annual Report • Review draft report by the committee • No adjustments to the report, approved to move forward • Chair Fellis and Vice Chair Brydon will present the final approved report the Government Operations committee on February 5tn Ordinances • Request that calendar invites will be sent as far in advance as possible Assistant City Manager Update • In an effort to boost hiring and retention for City Staff, recent adjustments were approved to increase the available vacation time and sick time for all employees. This update is the first in 25 years and is available to non-contract workers (14 unions work with the city; will address their contracts separately). • Member Chasse requests that HR documents be sent to the subcommittee for review. Once the HRIS is in place, more time will be given to the committee for the review • Expected that the City of Bangor will be in the Penquis building for at least 18 months o The City is identifying more resources to ensure the communication of new city hall location is clear and also to ensure that citizens do not continue to enter the old City Hall while under renovation Closing • Vice Chair Brydon move to adjourn; seconded by Member Chasse • Meeting adjourned at 7:28p; next meeting Tuesday, February 27 3