The following is the charge of the taskforce: 

To examine and create a plan to develop strategies and community partnerships to address racial inequality, to educate residents and to increase awareness about Black Lives by identifying areas of improvement in the Community and to recommend an Action Plan to eliminate factors that lead to inequality.

 To view the complete charge click here.

The taskforce will be charged with the following objectives:

1. To hold meetings with residents to identify issues in the community that have led to unequal treatment based on race and to engage residents through holding community forums, dialogue groups, and training workshops on implicit bias; to develop a campaign to increase public awareness of these issues.

    

2. To analyze the current Town services in collaboration with the Town Manager to increase transparency, to address racial inequality and to develop initiatives and measurable goals.

    

3. To collaborate with and support the Farmington Valley Health District in their mission to incorporate and adopt principles of social justice into everyday public health practice.

    

4. To support the Board of Education in their efforts to ensure anti-racism, social justice and equity within the PreK-12 school system in collaboration with the Superintendent of Schools.

    

5. To analyze current procedures and policies of the police department in collaboration with the Chief of Police, including use of force; to increase transparency to address racial inequality and to develop initiatives and measurable goals in collaboration with the Chief of Police.
6. To encourage a diverse workforce by providing education and training to local businesses in the areas of racial inequalities; and to research possible incentives to increase the number of Black owned businesses in collaboration with the Economic Development Director.

AND, 

Due to the urgency of this topic, the taskforce will provide the Town Council with a timeline for the Action Plan and a report on its progress at the October 13, 2020 Town Council Meeting,

AND,

The taskforce will provide regular quarterly reports to the Town Council and the public on its progress.

AND,

The taskforce will provide an Action Plan, including an analysis of the objectives and the recommended initiatives, programs and future actions to the Town Council to continue addressing racial inequality in our community based on the timeline provided by the taskforce.

AND,

To Appoint the Following Members to the Sub-Committee:

• Joseph Capodiferro, Town Council Liaison
• Rafeena Bacchus Lee, Town Council Liaison
• Vacant, Human Relations Liaison
• Nadine Canto, Board of Education Liaison  
• Sarah Smith, Community Member
• Yahmina Penn, Community Member
• Nieka Thompson, Community Member
• Jeremy McLaurin, Community Member
• Chris Cloud, Community Member
• Jessica Harrison, Community Member
• Tanner Musznski, Farmington High School Student or Recent Alumni
• Vacant, Farmington High School Student or Recent Alumni
  

AND,

The Following Non-Voting Members:

• Nancy Parent, Staff Liaison
• Kory Vincent, Police Department Liaison
• Anna Savastano, Clerk
• Various Town and School administration as needed