human rights commission meeting monday, march 8, …
TRANSCRIPT
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021 – 6:00 P.M.
MINUTES
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Glenn Morgan Patricia Osborne Gary White Carrie Louer Rayshma Ali BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT John Papagiannakis Jenny Rosado The Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission was held at the Municipal Building Council Chambers, One Main Street. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Glenn Morgan. Chairman Morgan began the meeting with the presentation of the Woodbridge Townships School District’s Annual Martin Luther King Junior Essay Contest Winners (Appendix A). OLD BUSINESS
Minutes from the previous meeting on February 8, 2021 were discussed and motioned for adoption by Chairman Morgan. Vice Chair Osborne motioned and Gary White seconded. All members present voted to adopt the minutes. NEW BUSINESS
Following Old Business, Chairman Morgan motions replace Rayshma Ali on the subcommittee for mental health with Dr. Nolan and Vice Chair Osborne to replace Rayshma Ali on the subcommittee for Genova Burns. Chairman Morgan motions, Carrie Louer motions and Gary White Seconds. All members present voted in favor of these changes.
Chairman Morgan Glenn asks Gary White to report on his subcommittee meeting. Gary White explains that there will be a subcommittee meeting with Senator Vitale, Speaker Coughlin, & Assemblywoman Lopez. The agenda for this meeting will include police camera, mental health, domestic violence initiatives, and other issues the State Legislation is working on. Gary White will present back to the Human Rights Commission & public at the next meeting on April 12, 2021. Gary White states for people to send questions that the public might have to [email protected].
Chairman Morgan reminds all HRC subcommittee chairpeople to report back to him following their discussions.
Chairman Morgan asks Carrie Louer to update him on Genova Burns subcommittee. Carrie Louer explains that at the April 12 public meeting Genova Burns will present the survey results. She announces the subcommittee will be meeting on March 29th.
Chairman Morgan motions to accept the 2020 year-end report. Vice Chair Osborne motions and Carrie Louer seconds and all members present voted to accept the report (Appendix B).
Chairman Morgan announces May 10th meeting attended by Dr. Bonnie Nolan for next meeting and Vice Chair Osborne give background on Dr. Nolan.
Vice Chair Osborne announces the parade of food.
Chairman Morgan opens the meeting to the public.
PUBLIC
Don Green, Iselin NJ -- asks for point of clarity for upcoming meeting to share with WONAC to which it is explained that the March 12 subcommittee with State Legislators not open to the public, April 12 these findings will be reported before Survey reports. ADJOURN
Chairman Morgan called for a motion to adjourn at 6:47. Carrie Louer motions and Gary White seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.
WTSD ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ESSAY CONTESTHOW DOES DR. KING INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS DREAM?
DARRYN CAMPBELLMAWBEY STREET SCHOOL #1
CONSTANZA DORANTES-RESENDIZAVENEL STREET SCHOOL #4/5
TYLER AUSTINPORT READING SCHOOL #9
JEREMIAH CRESPOROSS STREET SCHOOL #11
JERMAL GOODRIDGEFORD AVE SCHOOL #14
KALP DOSHIINDIANA AVE SCHOOL #18
PEYTON SMITHMENLO PARK TERRACE SCHOOL #19
SAMANTHA MERCADOCLAREMONT AVE SCHOOL #20
RUDRA PATEL – DISTRICT WINNER OAK RIDGE HEIGHTS SCHOOL #21
ASHER D’AGOSTINOLYNN CREST SCHOOL #22
LIZZY OJINUKAWOODBINE AVE SCHOOL #23
MARIAM MOUSTAFALAFAYETTE ESTATE SCHOOL #25
SOUMYA CHOUDHARYROBERT MASCENIK SCHOOL #26
JAIDEN ASKEW – DISTRICT WINNERPENNSYLVANIA AVE SCHOOL #27
ALYSON BALDWINMATTHEW JAGO SCHOOL #28
WANNIA SYEDOAK TREE ROAD SCHOOL #29
WTSD ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ESSAY CONTESTHOW DOES DR. KING INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS DREAM?
DARRYN CAMPBELLMAWBEY STREET SCHOOL #1
CONSTANZA DORANTES-RESENDIZAVENEL STREET SCHOOL #4/5
TYLER AUSTINPORT READING SCHOOL #9
JEREMIAH CRESPOROSS STREET SCHOOL #11
JERMAL GOODRIDGEFORD AVE SCHOOL #14
KALP DOSHIINDIANA AVE SCHOOL #18
PEYTON SMITHMENLO PARK TERRACE SCHOOL #19
SAMANTHA MERCADOCLAREMONT AVE SCHOOL #20
RUDRA PATEL – DISTRICT WINNER OAK RIDGE HEIGHTS SCHOOL #21
ASHER D’AGOSTINOLYNN CREST SCHOOL #22
LIZZY OJINUKAWOODBINE AVE SCHOOL #23
MARIAM MOUSTAFALAFAYETTE ESTATE SCHOOL #25
SOUMYA CHOUDHARYROBERT MASCENIK SCHOOL #26
JAIDEN ASKEW – DISTRICT WINNERPENNSYLVANIA AVE SCHOOL #27
ALYSON BALDWINMATTHEW JAGO SCHOOL #28
WANNIA SYEDOAK TREE ROAD SCHOOL #29
Woodbridge Human Rights Commission 2020 Annual Report
The Human Rights Commission was recommissioned by Mayor John McCormac, approved by Resolution by the Woodbridge Town Council, on June 23, 2020. The purpose of the Human
Rights Commission is set forth in Ordinance 2-37, section 4 as follows:
The purpose of the Commission shall be to make recommendations to the Mayor for the
formulation of policies in an attempt to foster, through community effort, goodwill,
cooperation and conciliation among the groups and elements of the inhabitants of the
Township with the intent of eradicating bias in our community due to race, color, creed,
gender, ethnicity, physical, mental or cognitive disability, religious affiliation, political
affiliation or sexual orientation. Additionally, the Commission is to also assist or make
recommendations to the Mayor for the development of policies and procedures in general
and for programs of formal or informal education that will aid in eliminating all kinds of
discrimination, mentioned above and shall have such further powers and duties as may be
provided by the law against discrimination of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et
seq).
The recommissioning of the Woodbridge Human Rights Commission was one of many actions taken by the Administration to address the concerns of the Woodbridge communities of color that were articulated at the Woodbridge Town Council meetings and at public rallies held in the community during the summer. At the August 31, 2020, meeting, the Commissioners determined that:
1) the public portion of the meetings would be an open forum with no time limitations on speakers provided that they (the speakers) addressed the topic under discussion by the Commission. All new topics generated by the public would be entertained and addressed after all public comments regarding the topic under discussion were concluded.
2) they would not only educate themselves, but the public as well, about the services
and operation of each of the Township’s Departments, as well as other community stakeholders, in order to determine if any population within the Woodbridge community is underserved and/or has unintentionally experienced bias due to race,
color, creed, gender, ethnicity, physical, mental or cognitive disability, religious
affiliation, political affiliation or sexual orientation.
3) Government Transparency and the Woodbridge Police Department would be on the October 5, 2020, agenda.
Continued on page 2.
Page Two Continued. The following are the Township Departments that came before the Commission and the topics discussed from October 5, October 26, December 21, 2020. Meeting: October 5, 2020
A. Government transparency presented by Municipal Clerk, John Mitch.
Topics: 1. Open Public Meetings ACT (1975) 2. Open Public Records Act (2004) Public comment centered on the following:
1. Complements to Mr. Mitch. 2. Inquiries on government posting of meetings. 3. Specifics on OPERA filings.
B. Woodbridge Township Police Department Operations and Policies presented by
Captain Scott Kuzma, Lieutenant Edward Barrett, and Captain Robert Brady
Questions generated by the Commissioners centered on the following topics: 1. Number of policemen employed by the Township
2. Pre-requisites for determining if an increase in the number of police officers are necessary
3. Racial composition of the department 4. Total number of calls for 2018,2019
5. Total number of arrests by race for the years 2018, 2019? 6. Various classifications of “use of force”
7. Appropriate “use of force” 8. “use of force” incidents for the years 2018, 2019 by race
9. Policy in place on the use of choke holds 10. Policy regarding a police officer under investigation for using
excessive force? 11. Number of bias complaints filed against the police department
for the years 2018, 2019? Out comes? 12. Liability insurance for the Police Department 13. Role of police officers in Woodbridge Township schools 14. Workshops provided by the department for Officers to
reduce bias, systemic racism, and de-escalation procedures for individuals suffering from mental illness, sensitivity training, etc.
15. Type(s) of community programs conducted by the Department 16. Status of the use of body cameras. Continued on Page Three.
Page Three Continued, Woodbridge Township Police Department 17. Overtime pay. 18. Military service 19. Department’s philosophy regarding the Black Lives Movement Public comment centered on the following:
1. Compliments on the thoroughness of the presentation. 2. Hiring practices. 3. Lack of diversity among the officers. 4. Percentage of Black residents arrested compared to township
demographics. 5. Use of force. 6. Internal investigation procedures
Meeting: October 26, 2020
Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response Team presented by Coordinator Walter P. Assistant Coordinator Louise R., Detective Cindy Perez and Lt. Klimuc, liaisons between DVRT and the WPD. Questions generated by the Commissioners centered on the following topics:
1. Mission of the DVRT 2. Number of team members 3. Training of members 4. Number of domestic violence call per day? Week? Year? 5. Relationship between the DVRT and the Police Department? 6. Different types of domestic violence situations
7. Most common form of domestic abuse in the Township 8. “on call” crisis team 9. Meeting with victims?
10. Procedures followed by the DVRT when called to assist a victim of domestic violence
11. Resources provided to victims of domestic violence 12. Follow up provided to the victim(s) 13. Access to mental health providers Public comment thanked the WDVRT for their many hours of volunteer service to the
Woodbridge community
Continued on Page Four.
Page Four Continued. Meeting: December 21, 2020
Woodbridge Township Department of Health presenters Director Dennis Green, Deputy Director Phil Bujalski, and Public Health Educator Ashely Ristaino. Note: Director Green, Deputy Director Bujalski and Health Educator Ristanio utilized an in-house generated power point presentation detailing the extensive services that the department provides to the residents of the Township. Questions generated by the Commissioners centered on the following topics:
1. Impact of COVID-19 on the duties and responsibilities of the department
2. Staffing to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 virus 3. Department’s involvement in the distribution of the COVID-19
vaccine? 4. Effect of COVID-19 on the township’s population by age?
Gender? Race? 5. Number of Social Workers employed by the department and
their roles and area(s) of supervision. 6. Number of Social Workers assigned to administer the “Division
of Multi-Service Program on Aging”. Explain their roles. 7. Types of mental health assistance provided by the township
independently, or with partnerships with outside agencies, for residents that experience domestic violence. Depression? LGBTQ? Addiction? Homelessness?
8. Number of nurses employed by the township? Explain their roles.
9. Are there any cultural/ethnic/racial/gender group that the Department feels are under served?
10. Area or division within your department that needs additional staffing and/or funding?
Public comment centered on the following:
1. Complements for the thoroughness of the presentation. 2. Lack of specific services for the Townships youth in crises
and the LGBTQ community. Continued on Page Five.
Page Five continued. The members of the Human Rights Commission will continue to review and evaluate the Township’s Departments as well as major community stakeholders in 2021 and, if necessary, make recommendations to the Mayor. Respectively Submitted, ___________________________ _____________________________ Glenn Morgan-Chairman Patricia Osborne, Vice-Chairman __________________________ _____________________________ Rayshma Ali Carrie Louer _________________________ _____________________________ John Papagiannakis Jenny Rosado _________________________ Gary White