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Belmont Human Rights Commission Meeting
Belmont Town Hall
November 10, 2011
Meeting minutes
Members: Carl Brauer, Jirair Hovsepian, Fran Yuan, Pallavi Khare, Regina O'Brien, Nan Donald
Liaison: Cpt. Peter Hoerr
1. Minutes: Carl moves to accept the October minutes; Regina seconds; group is in favor, with changes to “Safe” v. “Secure Communities”. September minutes, Fran seconds, accepted.
OLD BUSINESS
2. Phone Line: John V. called re: census data, wanted to come to the 11/3 meeting (Which was rescheduled) and talk about the numbers regarding highest foreign-born resident numbers in the U.S. (14%). Jerry will take November for phone line.
3. New Membership: Barbara Watson has applied, will be reviewed by Selectmen.
4. Waverley Woods: Nancy Marsh has left as manager, does someone want to initiate a discussion with the new manager? New manager wants a “relevant agenda” if we come to have our meeting there; potential concerns about the police interacting with residents. Fran will contact new manager to get back in touch in the new year (2012).
5. “Thank Globally, Act Locally”: Regina and Pallavi will work on a way to get high school groups and the HRC involved in a discussion/action plan that could connect global/national-level work with something specific to Belmont.
6. Many Faces of Beech St. Center project: Filming is starting; six seniors have signed up and student interviewers are available; will start after Thanksgiving and through the end of the year. Fran is meeting all the students before they are approved for interviewing.
NEW BUSINESS
7. One Book, One Belmont: Voted on co-sponsorship; all in agreement. Book has still not been determined; Carl is our spokesperson on the selection committee/group.
8. MLK Breakfast Event: 1/18/2012; BAR will sponsor the event in the high school cafeteria; voted on our involvement as “convener” – all in agreement.
9. Belmont Town Website: What's it like to live in Belmont? Could we get information from the IT group involved in the town website to see what our capabilities might be?
10. Front Line Documentary: “Lost in Detention”; Carl watched it and shared his thoughts; linked into Secure Communities re: quotas for deportation; how can we (BHRC) be involved in the discussion w/ the town? Members agreed to watch/read about film prior to 12/1 meeting.
11. Fran shared that there is an Anti-Bullying Presentation on 11/17 at Chenery School w/ Dr. Englander.
12. Community Preservation Act: Paul S. emailed that there is an opportunity to get involved if we have any projects involved with open space, community recreation, affordable housing.
13. Assisted Outpatient Commitment: Nan shared that this legislation impacts public mental health facilities and the ability for patients to make choices regarding their treatment/medication, effectively treating people against their will.
14. NLRB Postings: Regina shared that by late January most employers will be required to display posters outlining employees' rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
15. Liaison Report: No news to report from Cpt. Hoerr.
Adjourned at 8:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Regina O'Brien
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