HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/15/2009ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE
Town Hail, 53095 Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, New York 11971
SOUTHOLD TOWN ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE
MINUTES FORM THE JUNE 15, 2009
Present are: Carolyn Peabody, Michael Domino, Peter Beltz, Valerie Shelby, Eleanor
Lingo, Nathaniel Heyward and Cindy Smith
Excused are Betty Murphy, Merle Levine and Jean Le Pre
Motion is made by Mike Domino to accept the minutes of the last meeting, seconded by
Carolyn Peabody. No corrections are made.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Eleanor Lingo reports the grafitti has been removed. ABTF members helped the
process move more quickly. Thanks to all who were involved.
2. Our town Supervisor (Scott Russell) is encouraging minorities to apply for town
positions when there are openings. He will provide mentors to help train for positions.
Suggestions are made to contact Marvin Dozier, Linda Ortiz to let them know of the
above. Also we need to ask the education committee (ABTF) to be talking to the
schools/Guidance Depts. to advise them as well and to keep the line of communication
open.
3. Philip Beltz enters the meeting to update regarding the recent ABTF Day. There has
been positive feedback from town staff on them mandatory training held that day. It is
good to have the town and schools on board. We had good coverage from the press on
our focus. The "you tube video was telling and the Youth Bureau has had a follow up
meeting and would like to have 4 events per year (fall, winter, spring and summer).
Town training and public involvement are hoped to continue. Philip has met with a
Latino man who my be interested in more involvement in the community.
4. The mission statement development is ongoing. Carolyn will contact Michael
Simon to check on the status, so that we can move forward to getting it on our website.
5. Reverend Heyward will be meeting with other ministers in Sept. to explain the ABTF
goals and to encourage their involvement.
6. Check with Adana re: collaborative vigil with Floyd Memorial Library in Sept.
7. It is tmlikely that the town will financially support sending members to the Erase
Racisim workshops.
8. Elaine Breeze resignation is accepted with regrets, but we will certainly keep her mind
qnd will call on her for her expert advise as needed.
NEW BUSINESS AND DISCUSSION
1. Greenport School has a new Supt. Who has said that he would like to see the hiring
practice changed at Greenport and wants to look into hiring L.I. candidates when there
are openings.
2. Carolyn Peabody has a Doctorate intern who has met with Civil Rights committee and
Council for Unity. She hopes that the ABTF/FEGS will do a study survey with an
eventual goal to get kids involved in anti- violence activities. She will meet with Supt's
of East end schools. Funding grants need to be sought to do this.
3. Peter suggests Speaker's Bureau out of the Library.
4. Hispanic population needed to be involved with ABTF. Joan Olson wonders about
informal questioning of the Hispanic community to find people to participated. Let's find
out form Patchogue community what they have done to successfully include it's
community. Another idea discussed was to ask sister Margaret if ABTF could go to
Spanish mass and be available to mingle afterwards.
5. Frank Rich's article in N.Y. Times ( following the murder of abortion Dr) -Right
wing has released a lot of zealots- need conservatives to take responsibility.
6. Next years plan is to have a community picnic in Southold,(make it on a Saturday in
the Fall) Possible locations of the Polo Grounds in Greenport or Strawberry Fields.
7. Complaint from a Shelter Island resident regarding bias in the school. Carolyn has
called her and will advise client of the Human Rights Commission and will encourage her
to contact the school bd. NAACP Lucius Ware will be notified. Peter puts an idea up for
discussion Should the Southold ABTF contact the Southhampton ABTF and both write
a letter to the S.I. School atating we will not tolerate this behavior?
8. Suffolk Times reporting seems to be biased in it's reporting. Carolyn Peabody will
ask for an audience with the editor. (Mike, Cindy and Nathaniel will be on her
committee)
9. Fruit basket to Jean Le Pre/loss of her son.
NEXT MEETING - JULY 20, 2009
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia A Smith