Representative Town Meeting Regular Meeting Materials (linked)

To be read into the public record:
To RTM Moderator Thomas Dembek and the Waterford RTM,
We are confident that the government leaders in Waterford share our concerns
about how people of color are included in our community and know that we can do
better in providing living, working and learning opportunities for everyone in our
town.. We are writing this letter to formally request that the RTM establish an ad-
hoc Social Justice committee to:
¢ review hiring and contracting practices in all our town offices,
e review housing and zoning practices in our town,
* review practices followed by our law enforcement officials,
* encourage our Board of Education to review policies in order to eliminate
racial inequities, punitive consequences, or exclusionary language that
perpetuates racism,
* review symbols of racism that may exist in our town,
« determine how our town web page and other social media might be inviting
to people of color,
« based on the reviews to recommend and advocate for appropriate diversity
and sensitivity training around racism and implicit bias,
* provide information about findings and progress to our larger community.
There is no question that discussions of justice and inclusivity are often as difficult
as they are important. However, we are hopeful that our elected representatives
will rise to this challenge and create a space for our community to discuss these
vital issues.
Waterford Members of Niantic Community Church,
Mike Guarini
Linda Helvig
Paul Helvig
Jerry Holmberg
Margaret Holmberg :
Jane Milardo “
Ruth Morgan :
Stan Morgan
Ocean Pellett
Sue Smith