HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-20-LHRC-minLexington Human Rights Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2009
Present: Al Zabin, Richard Capron, Hank Manz, Leona Martin, Joseph O'Leary, Puran
Dang, Bob Kent, Deb Jackson, Gerald McLeod, Helen Cohen and Linda Vine
Guests: Rev. Judy Brain, Margaret Coppe, and Capt. Charlie Sargent
Meeting was held in the Board of Selectmen's Meeting Room, and was called to order at
8:05 am.
1. Welcome and introduction of new member Gerald L. McLeod
• Contact information 71 Spring Street @ 781 862 -9094, as Mr. McLeod
does not have e -mail
2. Westboro Baptist Church — Lt. Joe O'Leary and Captain Charlie Sargent
provided background on the Westboro Baptist Church; how the community
responded in 2005; the planning group meeting held at Lexington High School on
2/11; and suggestions / role the LHRC could play in this event.
Joe felt confident that some of the key players in the 2005 response would be in
attendance on 2/25 including Jill Smilow, Stan Griffiths and Michael Brown. Mr.
Griffiths and Mr. Brown provided training for the 2005 event under the guidance
of Jill Smilow who chaired the NPFH Committee.
It was agreed the LHRC should take a leadership role in the 2/25 meeting and
reach out to other interest groups who might want to attend the upcoming meeting
to help craft a community response. In order to complete the outreach efforts the
following next steps were agreed upon:
• Al will draft an article for the MM publication and circulate for comment,
• Linda will contact the editor and invite to the 2/25 meeting,
• Linda will draft invite to the meeting on 2/25 and send to LHRC members
to distribute,
• Hank will announce Westboro event & 2/25 meeting at the upcoming BOS
meeting, and place on the TMMA list serve,
• Helen will announce Westboro event & 2/25 meeting at the upcoming SC
meeting,
• Judy will send out an announcement to the Interfaith Clergy Association,
• Joe will speak with Jim Shaw of the Colonial Times,
• Helen will look into placing information in the PTA newsletter.
The next meeting of the LHRC is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:00
a.m. in Estabrook Hall to continue planning for the visit by the Westboro Baptist
Church.
Helen Cohen announced she would be stepping down as the School Committee
representative after the March 2 election. She informed the group a new school
committee member would be selected.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9: 25 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Crew Vine
February 20, 2009