2020.09.14 Council Agenda Item 6
Summary
Discussion about racial and social justice.
A public comment period will not be included with this item.
ACTION: Council action is not anticipated.
Description
The Town Council identified social justice as a high priority in its 2020/2021 Annual Work Plan. The Town Council will discuss what types of action it may consider to advance more discussion and policy considerations regarding social justice.
Staff have collected resolutions and other actions from other communities in Maine. A summary of that information is attached.
The Town Manager is working with a consultant to develop training for staff on several subjects including Black history, systemic racism, implicit bias, and cultural competency. This type of training could be offered to board and committee members and/or formatted for community discussions. The Town Manager is also researching available consultants to offer in depth reviews of operational policies and guides such as hiring policies, personnel policy, policing and training policies/procedures, purchasing policies, and more. The Town Council could consider whether this type of policy review should be extended to a review of ordinances and other polices authorized by the Town Council.
