Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TO:
Town Council
FROM:
Sarah Brayman, Kathy Wilson, and Jane Millett
Human Rights Task Force
DATE:
August 11, 2016
SUBJECT:
Task Force Report, Findings, and Recommendations
The Human Rights Task Force (Task Force) presents this report summarizing its findings and
recommendations resulting from its review of incidents, reports, or perceptions of bias and
discrimination in Brunswick. This report was prepared in response to the Town Councils order
that established the Task Force and defined its assignment.1
Background
In the late summer and fall of 2015, in meetings with representatives from Bowdoin College,
members of the Town Council and staff were advised of a perceived increase in the use of racial and
genderbased slurs in and around downtown. In response, the Town assembled a roundtable of
community leaders to discuss the perception and to determine the breadth of this concern. As a
result of the meetings and roundtable, the Town Council established the Human Rights Task Force
and directed it to explore the increase in the reported use of race and gender slurs. The Town
Council further ordered the Task Force to examine bias directed against all protected classes listed
in the Maine Human Rights Act.2
The Town Council directive specified that the Task Forces examination focus on incidents
occurring in the downtown and the areas surrounding it. However, due to the nature of the issues
under consideration, the Task Force found it difficult, and at times inappropriate, to limit the focus
to this geographic area. The Task Force determined that its efforts would be better served by
allowing the focus to shift as circumstances warranted. That is, the Task Force put the goals of its
mission ahead of artificial limitations.
Composition of the Task Force
As established, the Task Force was comprised of three Council members. At its initial meetings, the
Task Force considered including additional members, but given the limited time given to complete
its work, decided to keep the membership at three Councilors Recognizing the need for public
input, the Task Force made several outreach efforts to various community organizations and
actively encouraged public participation in its work.
Derek Scapchansky, Assistant Town Manager, and Debra Blum, Executive Administrative Assistant,
served as the primary staff for the Task Force. Other staff members who regularly attended
1 Human Rights Task Force, Established by Town Council, December 21, 2015
2 Maine Revised Statutes, Chapter 337 Human Rights Act
June 3, 2016
(NEW).
(AMD).
(AMD).
(AMD).
1973,
1975,
1989,
2005,
c.
c.
c.
c.
347, 1 (AMD).
358, 1 (AMD).
245, 1 (AMD).
10, 1 (AMD).
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