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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC minutes 061217Depa rnent of 1- lor�sing, �� °usnoin Il3ugtits and � Orange County Human Relations Commission Minutes Monday, June 12, 2017 6:00 pm -7:30 pm Orange County Animal Services Conference Room 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill NC MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF Scott Goldsmith Annette Moore, Interim Director Jacqulyn Podger Tara May, Intake Specialist Joy Preslar Monica Richard Rollin Russell Marc Xavier MEMBERS ABSENT Jessica Aguilar (unexcused) Andy Cagle (unexcused) Robin Criffield (excused) Deborah Stroman (excused) GUESTS L Call to Order Chair Monica Richard called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. A quorum was not present. II. Introductions No visitors III. Minutes Approval — March 13 & May 8 Approval of minutes for March and May was moved to August 14 meeting. IV. County Updates Annette Moore stated the budget meeting is June 13, where the HHRCD department will defend its budget to the BOCC and the Commissioners will ask questions about its contents. There is a BOCC work session on a later date where they have their intent to adopt the budget, and on June 20 they will officially adopt the budget. V. Subcommittee Updates A. Executive Committee Rollin Russell stated that it is time for the Board of County Commissioner's (BOCC) to appoint the HRC applicants. Ms. Richard clarified that Thom Freeman from the Clerk's Office recommended waiting to propose the applicants until the Commissioners' meeting on September 5. Tara May reiterated that it was the Clerk's Office's suggestion to postpone appointments and reappointments to the Fall to ensure all applicants have attended at least one meeting and to ensure there are enough applicants to fill all of the vacant positions at once. Annette Moore clarified that members with terms expiring at the end of June can continue on until the BOCC meeting in September. B. Diversity Matters 1. Mr. Russell announced he will attend the June 20 BOCC meeting to present on the Town Hall meeting and announce the Community Read. 2. Mr. Russell reflected on the Town Hall meeting and restated the panelists: i. Reginald Hildebrand, UNC African American Studies - history of flag ii. Mark Trustin, Esq. -legal latitude in another school district iii. Latarndra Strong, citizen - emotional response to flag iv. Ashley Campbell, citizen - Libertarian view of free speech as it relates to the flag V. Harry Watson -UNC Southern Culture- historical basis for white pride in the flag 3. Mr. Russell read aloud the draft report he will provide to the BOCC, emphasizing the 4 takeaways from the Town Hall on behalf of the HRC: i. First, there is a legal precedent both to support and not support the public display of the Confederate flag in public schools. ii. Second, many of the incidents of harassment and intimidation that were described could be dealt with through a clear policy on bullying. iii. Third, school personnel need to be trained and supported in how to receive and respond to such reports. iv. Forth, numerous modes or dress, including the display of inappropriate symbols, are or can be dealt with in the dress code, with an "e.g." that includes the Confederate flag and other symbols that are deeply and emotionally felt as an affront to particular minorities. Mr. Russell stated that once the draft is completed, he will run it by the Hate Free Schools Coalition and then send it to the school boards in Orange County as suggestions. Ms. Moore reminded members that the HRC is the advisory board, not the Hate Free Schools Coalition, so the conclusions are coming from the Human Relations Commission. Scott Goldsmith expressed his concern with presenting the report on behalf of both the HRC and the Hate Free Schools Coalition, given that the HRC is the advisory board. After discussion, the members agreed that the report should be given on behalf of the HRC rather than both groups that sponsored the meeting. Ms. Richard questioned the ability of the BOCC to enforce the HRC's suggestions, and Ms. Moore stated that the recommendations from the report are really more for the Board of Education and less for the BOCC as the BOCC does not have the authority to make a decision on their behalf. Marc Xavier clarified that the HRC is advising the BOCC and that the board will consider the HRC's insights. Mr. Xavier also questioned the HRC's stance as a neutral party on the topic of the flag in schools. Mr. Goldsmith stated that the HRC can have a position and draw a conclusion, but its duty is to facilitate conversation and convey the outcomes from the meeting to the BOCC. Mr. Xavier stated that the HRC's recommendation should be on the side of justice. Ms. Moore stated that there is a difference between coming up with a non - neutral conclusion than starting out from a position of being open to all sides of the argument in order to assess and then coming up with a decision based on what is known. Ms. Moore reiterated that the four conclusions are geared more toward the Board of Education than the BOCC, as the former is independent of the latter. Ms. Richard stated that as long as the report touches on each aspect of the charge, it's in good shape to present at the BOCC meeting. Mr. Goldsmith and Mr. Russell also discussed the first and fourth takeaways and discussed the legal complications of banning the Confederate Flag in the dress code while allowing other symbols. Ms. Richard reiterated that the legal suggestion in takeaway four was based on the legal precedents provided by the panelists at the meeting. Mr. Xavier disagreed, stating that schools have the right to decide. Mr. Russell pointed out that the criteria suggested in the fourth conclusion was that the flag has historical and emotional ties for particular minorities, which justifies it being banned while still allowing symbols like the rainbow flag which does not present historic and emotional offense. Joy Preslar again questioned presenting the report to the BOCC considering they cannot make a decision on behalf of the school board. Mr. Russell clarified that this report will serve to notify the BOCC of the HRC's conclusions from the meeting, not to ask them to enforce them. Ms. Moore pointed out that the legal discussion happening is the same the school board is having. She stated that the wording of the fourth takeaway is what should be addressed, stressing that the symbol can also be offensive or distracting to people who are not minorities. However, given the historical significance of the flag, the emotional response it may invoke is distracting to the learning environment. Therefore, she suggested that the criteria be adjusted to emphasize that if a symbol causes a significant distraction from learning, it should not be allowed. Mr. Goldsmith suggested the fourth point be amended to read "...numerous modes or dress, including the display of inappropriate symbols, are or can be dealt with in the dress code, which should recognize that some symbols may be deeply and emotionally felt as an affront to particular groups ". Mr. Xavier expressed the importance of using wording that will not eliminate the discussion that took place at the forum. Jackie Podger stated she feels the report to the BOCC would be more effective if it served more as a summary of the Town Hall Meeting rather than as suggestions, emphasizing that the HRC serves as the eyes and ears for County Commissioners. Mr. Xavier and Mr. Goldsmith pushed back, stating that making recommendations from the forum is a critical piece of the HRC's Charge. Mr. Russell agreed to continue working on the report and running it by HRC members via email prior to the BOCC meeting on June 20. 4. Mr. Russell discussed the Summer Read program in partnership with the HRC, Orange County Library and UNC. Incoming UNC students will be reading "How Does it Feel to be a Problem" by Moustafa Bayoumi. The HRC was offered 30 seats to give to community members for the discussions on campus when students return to UNC in the fall. HRC members will receive training on campus in order to sponsor its own discussion groups. The university and the library will also be sponsoring discussions. Ms. Moore stated the library will be obtaining additional copies of the books, and the flyer will list various locations for discussion groups for residents to participate. She also announced that county department directors will read the books and have a facilitated discussion. June 20 will be the kick -off for the flyers so people can begin reading the books. C. Community Relations No updates D. Community Justice No updates VL Other Business /Announcements /Upcoming Events A. Election of Officers 1. A quorum was not present, so election of officers was moved to August 14 meeting. 2. Ms. Richard announced she has accepted a new position and will be stepping down as Chair of the HRC. 3. Mr. Russell announced he is interested in being reappointed as Secretary. B. Language on HRC application 1. Board will revisit Dr. Stroman's concern with changing language on application from Caucasian to White on August 14. 2. Mr. Goldsmith suggested the Race portion be taken off of the application altogether, stating that not enough categories are present if they are using a checkbox policy. He suggested the question be left in an open format to allow applicants to tell us about the diversity of their experience and identity. 3. Ms. Moore stated that the Clerk's office uses those categories to verify diversity. She also suggested the HRC present this topic to the BOCC for consideration. C. Ratification of UNC Center for Civil Rights Resolution 1. A quorum was not present; will be revisited on August 14. VII. Adiourn Meeting was adjourned at 7:14pm. NO JULY MEETING NEXT MEETING: August 14, 2017 6:OOpm at Animal Services