 And I'm also going to enable the closed captioning. So there are four of us and that's quorum, right? A quorum for you guys is five because you guys are a group of seven so it's half plus one. I thought we were four. Oh wait, three plus. Yeah, I thought it was because we're seven so it'll be four right. So we're four, right? Yeah. So it is not the time it says on my computer at 634. And I am calling the meeting of the community safety and social justice committee to order. With the extension of chapter 20 of the acts of 2021 this meeting will be conducted via remote means. Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so via zoom or by telephone. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted. But every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. Can you guys hear me? Yes. Okay. Because sometimes I get a little bit too far away from my computer and people can't hear me. Okay. So I'm just going to make sure everyone can hear each other. Deborah. Yeah, I can hear. We can hear you, Lisette. I can hear you. Great. We can hear you and Everald. I can hear you. Wonderful. We can hear you. Okay. So we will go over the agenda. Approve minutes from March of last year, May of last year. June of last year and January of this year. What is there? Is there a thing about if people weren't on the committee at the time that the minutes were made? No, it doesn't matter. Oh, you're muted, Jen. They can abstain and or just the co-chairs because both of you guys were there and you guys are both co-chairs. Okay. Can approve them. So we have those minute meetings. We'll have public comment at the beginning. Okay. Okay. Member reports. Then the action item action discussion items include Crescent. Updates. Rob and youth empowerment center updates. Town counselor liaison. Which I believe will be counselor. Hello, Lord. I'm not sure if that's been made. Yeah, it has actually had the, yeah. Texted me. She said she is meant to be the liaison. So. That was easy. Arpa funds. Arps school committee budget proposal to town council. Civil rights complaints, co-responder and police activities in schools and holding future town forums. And then more public comment upcoming agenda items and meeting schedules and anything that was not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance. Okay. Does anybody have any announcements they would like to make. Jennifer, are there any upcoming events? Sorry Camila is trying to log on as having some problems. So I was trying to troubleshoot a little bit. So we do have lots of upcoming events. So. In May, we have on May. 19th, we have the AAPI heritage, AAPI. Heritage celebration. So that's Asian American Pacific Islanders. Celebration. That will be on the town common and or at the middle school, depending on weather. We also have the Jewish heritage. Jewish American heritage celebration. That will happen. There's two events. There is one that is. Sorry. There is one that is on. May 7th and that will be with the town council and they'll read the proclamation and have a small event. I don't know what's just going on with my computer. It just lost everything. So, and then also. There will be one on May 26th at Crocker farm elementary school. And then of course in June, we have the youth hero awards and the basketball tournament. And race amity day as well as Juneteenth. Is there a date yet for the youth hero awards. It is June 9th. And what was the time. All day because there's that basketball tournament. So, but the youth heroes and race amity today. Part and lunch will be from 12 on. Okay. But just, yeah, but the basketball too. At what times I just writing the word out. Yep. So registration will start at 9am and the games will start at 10am. And that's a mill river. At mill river. Okay, good. Yeah. When you have like a fly or anything, let me know because, you know, I'll share it with my networks. Absolutely. So apparently we have some folks that are having a hard time. So if you guys want to kind of go on with your meeting and I'm trying to troubleshoot with them. Okay. Do you have an announcement. Yes, everyone. So the ZBA voted to to build that low income housing that we've been discussing for quite some time now. So that has been fully approved. And it is now out there for the BIPOC community to get in with credit counseling, how to qualify for a mortgage and how to get into one of these houses. It has been led by Valley CDC and they are offering free credit counseling for people. So anyone that is interested should reach out to Valley CDC. I know there's more information about this should be on the town website, but the ZBA has voted for it. So it is moving forward with it is going forward. And I think it should be completed in construction either in a year and a half or two. But for now, what is happening is teaching people how they could qualify for one of these houses. So spread the word. Thank you. Great. And I believe that there is another development housing development going through some sort of zoning process. I'm not sure if it's at ZBA or the planning board, but the Belcher Town Road and Old East Street school building. So kind of like across the common from where Fort River is on Southeast Street and then around the corner on Belcher Town Road are supposed to be some affordable units as well, including I believe 23 that would be totally subsidized by the person's income. So that is also in the planning process but I believe those dates for construction would be farther out like 2027. But I think they are in the stage of kind of looking for community support. Because they're going for a comprehensive permit. I think they have to go through like the 40 B process. So I think there should be some more information at the housing trust meeting tomorrow so I can certainly bring that back to this group. Any other announcements. I'm not seeing any other hands in the zoom room. I guess we can move approval of minutes. Should we do that. Yeah, let's do that. That's what you're saying. So we haven't done public comment yet though, right. We haven't done public comment first and then approve the minutes. I'm just looking at the agenda itself. We can do what do you think public comment or minutes. No, that's fine. That's fine. I was just, yeah, I was just wondering. Okay. Yeah, no, go ahead. Do the minutes. All right. Let me see. Hold on, let me figure out where it is. Going to attempt to share my screen. Can you see the meeting packet on the screen. Okay. Let's say, wait, whoops, I went too far. The first set of minutes is from March of 2023. We talked about press and listening session, DI update. Chief Livingstone was retiring at that time. So it's JC budget, ARPA, public comment. Deborah, do you have anything you would want to change about these minutes or do you think we can vote on them as this. I mean, to be perfectly honest, I haven't had a chance to get any of these so we can go. Um, Deb. Sorry, Eric, can you check your phone? I didn't know any other way to do that. Do we want to table the minutes if you have another chance to look at them or do, I mean, they're old. They're so old. I wasn't present for any of this. So if you both think it's okay, then I'll hold to approve it. I mean, I'm fine with them as is. I think at this point it's so long ago that I wouldn't remember if things weren't as they were anyway, but it seems about right. Um, so, John, is this one of those things that we have to do the formal moving and voting and all of that jazz. That's where my pen the puppy I dropped my pen and the puppies got it. Um, no, you just need to approve them because it's just the two of you really. Okay. So I am okay with approving them if you are Deborah. And the interest of time and given that they're so old, we can prove them and block like all of them at the same time. Yeah, that that works. Um, okay, may also looks reasonable to me. And there is June at the June. I wasn't there. All right. And then the only ones. Okay, so I think that we can approve March, May and June of 2023. And then the January meeting was of this actual body that's here tonight. Does anyone have any concerns about that those minutes. Okay. Oh, that was a that was the very, very short meeting because it was just me. It wasn't a meeting. Nobody was everybody was unable to come. All right, yes. So that looks good. All right, I'm going to go ahead and say we can approve all of them. Deborah. Any opposition. No, no opposition. All right. So minutes are approved. And I suppose we will move along to public comment. I'm going to stop sharing screen for now. I can come back to sharing screen afterwards. So I have to read. During the public comment period, the chair will recognize members of the public when called on, please identify yourself by stating your full name for pronouns. And residential address residents are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes. Actually today, let's just do two minutes. Okay. For two minutes at the discretion of the chair based on the number of people who wish to speak. No speaker concede their time to another speaker. CSS JC will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during public comment. All right, so if you would like to speak as a member of the public, please raise your hand. We have nine attendees and the audience. So, yeah, we have one, we have Martha. Yes. Okay. Hi, I'm Martha Hanner living South Amherst. I just quick, quick comment. I mean, you're, you're doing old minutes, which I congratulate you for. I mean, our League of Women voters has always felt that it's really important for every public committee to keep up to date with their minutes so that the public knows what was going on. And so I'm just curious to, to know who it is that takes the minutes for your meeting. Do you rotate among the members or does your person like Jennifer take them all the time but I anyway, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Thank you, Martha. And a big thank you to Jennifer who has usually been the one taking the minutes and who has asked me in the past if I could get somebody to do it and I have forgotten to ask that at the beginning of the meeting. So if anyone going forward would like to take minutes. Feel free, but let us know. All right. If anybody else would like to speak, you may use the raise hand function. If not, there will be a second public comment period at the end of the meeting. And you will have another opportunity to speak. Oh, I see. Ms. Pat has her hand up. Good evening. Hello. Thank you all for your time. Thank you for what you do. I want to express my deep gratitude for putting up a funds in your agenda tonight. And I have a, you know, a couple comments I want to make. So on our town website. Our town government are, you know, launched kindness. And the department, you know, and backed on project of becoming beloved community. There is nothing wrong with this project. Except that it's an irony that the leadership, the leaders of our town. We're looking for, you know, residents to, you know, do random kinds of kindness. And yet they're not be able to show kindness to the most vulnerable residents and businesses in our town through the upper funds. Becoming a beloved community is never going to happen. Unless our town is ready to address injustice. This is happening in our town. So I just want to put that out. It's, it's very, very ironic to me. You know, I know you guys will be discussing upper funds tonight. I just want to, for some, for some folks who don't know, it's not just only BBAA. That didn't, you know, get the last round of upper funds. All the BIPOC-led organization that applied for upper funds did not get it. MSMedia is led by a BIPOC woman, Community Connections, and then BBAA, of course. However, all white-led organization in our town all got the funding. In your center, the Survival Center, the mobile market, the bed, the drink, the family outreach. All these organizations are led by white folks. They all got money. Okay. And so if we're becoming a beloved community, I would like to see groups and individuals to address, at the minimum, the inequitable distribution of upper funds. People are still hurting. Also, if you go to our website, our town website, you will see bed and the chambers on the website. Okay. So my group, BBAA, has been in existence for eight years. We established in 2016. What message are we sending to people when they go to the town website? And there is a very strong, you know, black business organization in our town, and it's nowhere to be found on the website. Are we really becoming a beloved community indeed? I would just pause right there and hopefully I'll have another opportunity to speak on the second public comment. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, one more thing. I'm sorry. One more thing. Can I say quickly? Yes. Okay. So another thing that has been bothering me is that our town government, meaning town council, town manager, whoever is in charge, has been in the habit of promoting, amplifying outstanding people that have been recognized in our town, that has served our town. I think it's a great thing to do. But why the double standard? Dr. D. Shibas, we have so rest in peace, was recognized by Rep Dumb, and D. We have served our town as a former registrar and also on this committee co-chair. Nothing on the website. Alicia Walker received Black Excellence in Springfield. This is the most popular counselor in our town, elected twice, and nothing on our website. Okay. And the last person, but not the least, obviously, is Dr. Amiko Shibas. He served on reparation, town community, and he was also recognized in Springfield by another group for Black Excellence. Nothing. No mention of the town council meeting. Nothing on the website. Why is our town government picking and choosing who they promote? Are we really becoming a beloved community? Question mark. Thank you. Thank you. There are two phone numbers that are on the screen. I'm not sure if you have been, if you've asked to speak or have public comment you want to make. So I'm going to put them back in the audience during our, I feel, I forget how this works. It's a weird thing it says remove permission to talk and that seems, I don't like the way that it's worded, but I think that's what I do. I put them back in the audience while I, oh no. Okay. No, you did it right. Yeah, I just saw, so sorry. I'm putting, I didn't realize apparently these are our, one of them is the new crest director. And the other one is Pamela and Camille. Yes, but now they're gone. Okay. I'm not going to touch it. And if Jennifer wants to be the technical wizard, I will stop trying to let people in or out. Yeah, Jennifer, we didn't know that the phonemes were Camille and Pamela. So, yeah, can we try to figure it out so that we can bring them in? Can they rename themselves? They're in the phone, they probably can't. Can I rename them? Should I will stop talking? I will stop doing things. Do we know why they can't get in? Actually, I think you can. I like to rename them. I can. I'm just going to guess and if they're, if it's the wrong person, then I am apologetic. Can we just not put the phone, the people with the phone numbers back on and then I'm going to, I think Sean and I have figured out a way to handle this. Okay. If, if I change their name, yes. Does that work that then I can put them in and if it's not the right name with their night wrote right phone number than nobody will ever know except them. Thanks. All right. Hello. Hello. Can you guys hear me? Yes. Hi, this is Pamela. I have tried multiple times Jennifer's tried with me and for some reason I'm not being able to get in. But sounds like you have done. Yeah, he, yeah. He's asked that the two of you sign into your actual zoom account instead of trying to use the link that's there. All right. We might have to try to walk come meal through. I don't know if she's signed in through her into her town. Zoom account. Previously, so I'm not sure if she'll know how to do that. And she and I both also tried the public link and had. Probably doing that. But all right, I, I'm going to try to have the, an actual zoom account that the, you need to sign in through the zoom link first. Okay. Through zoom first. All right. Do you know how to do that? Are you set up to do that? I doubt if she is. Oh, she's muted right now. So. So can I propose that? Well, if we have any member reports, we can do that. And then maybe if kick Camille and Pamela are still trying to figure out the technology. We can go to like the ARPA funds thing first. And then when they're squared away, we can do Crescent. Does that, is that a okay planner? Sure. I'm able to hear, hear you guys. I'm, I'm trying to sign into the zoom account now. So do we have any member reports? Well, I think we'll, we'll end up talking about it in more specific as we have it on the agenda in terms of the, you know, school committee budget and then the ARPA funds, but just to say that, you know, I've gone to a variety of town council meetings and school committee meetings to the school committee, the regional school committee meeting was around the budget that will be discussing later and then obviously town council meeting in support of the budget as well as ARPA funds for a BBAA and making sure that those are equitably distributed. So, but we'll talk more from the agenda. Anybody else have any member reports? Oh, I am not seeing police search as an update and I meant. April, does there anything like timeline wise that you can share with us about the police search? So, I think it's appropriate that it's off our agenda and I say this because we had our town forum, open forum last Tuesday, where the public had a chance to ask her to finalist questions and form their opinion. And they're also for the opportunity to provide feedback to town manager via websites on until, I think it was until Friday or this Friday. So this, but in terms of timeline, what the committee is doing now is we're having internal discussions as to whether or not to make a form of recommendation as to one candidate or the other, but we cannot publicly discuss who we are recommending to the town council. And at that point, he will meet with his internal team and make a decision as to whether or not to choose those people or to reject both or one. His timeline, I'm not aware of just yet, but the goal here is to submit the committee's final recommendation to him hopefully by Friday. So yeah, when you're saying him you're saying town, the town manager. Yes. So yeah, I mean I thought that that was on the agenda so that was a kind of mistake because I thought we were going to talk about that because yeah I was also at the police chief forum, and I did want to talk more about that. So, did we talk about it here then since I'm sorry I'm because I'm having multiple conversations, but I believe that the update for crests and is the not an update for police chief on the agenda. Nope, it's not. I don't think so I don't see it. We're talking about it so Debbie can talk about it in here. Yeah, I just want to make sure. So, yeah, so I guess my questions ever since you're on the committee is that you know I didn't go to it. There was a two candidates. So, yeah, I'm switching her if I can. My question is, will, will, you know, are these the only candidates type of thing are there going to be any others that we're going to get to see, or is the town manager going to make his pick from these two candidates. These are the two final these are the two finalists. So, he will either pick one from the two or say, I want to see other people. Yeah, because I did, you know, I went to when I did provide comments commentary to through the kind of provide feedback and everything. You know, obviously one is external, which, you know, we don't know much about but of course talked a lot about being about inclusivity and outreaching to the community and things like that which I like to hear. Ting is internal. I did like hearing about his background and the story of, you know, his immigration story. I'm an immigrant to this country. So I was excited to hear that. But I didn't like the way he responded to a lot of my questions, especially around questions related to CSS JC and to the work of outreaching to the community and, you know, around down baby. And then around July 5th. So, so anyway, so I guess, you know, out of the two candidates, I guess I would be more supportive of the external given that, you know, there's only two choices. So they both have resumes published online from when the announcements were sent out for the town halls, both their resumes were published. And so you can, people can actually go on there and see what they've done. And to your point, Gabe is local. And yes, everything is known about him. And Lieutenant Herne is not. But I think if people want to do Google searches, a lot of information is out there about him and see the things that he's done. In terms of this committee, if the committee as a whole wants to, you know, submit a letter on behalf of the committee to town manager, I don't think that'd be inappropriate. I just don't think I could be part of it given that I am chairing the search committee. Okay. Yeah, that's a good idea. But that would have to be probably sooner rather than later because aren't you all isn't the search going to be making the formal recommendation. I would, I would suggest yes sooner rather than later. Yeah. But anyway, but I guess even if we don't send it to you, even if it's not in time for for the now stop. It can also just go directly to the town manager. You can. And I'm saying if you want to submit something you can because I think you were there that I believe some officers came and voice support for chief Tang. So I think we're open to having those kinds of, you know, support voiced either for or against. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. But yes, given that the public forums have concluded. I think sooner rather than later would be probably best just to make sure voices are heard. Okay. Okay, so it looks like Pamela and Camille made it through the meeting. I apologize for all of that. There's, I had to call it and they'll work on it because it's happened in a couple other meetings unfortunately so. So, welcome to Camille. So that's exciting. I don't know if we want to go around and introduce ourselves. And then maybe Camille can give us just a brief blurb. Yeah, and, you know, and just to say, you know, Camille obviously, you know, we're very excited that you're on board. And that Chris has a new director. And yeah, I think, you know, it would be more so to kind of get, you know, more like an introduction from us for us to be able to tell you who we are on this group. Right. And for you to be able to tell us a little bit about yourself, you know, because obviously we know you just started on the 8th. So we want to be fair to you and everything. Yeah, three. Two actually since being sworn in. So, exactly. And then, but then, you know, obviously Pamela, you know, after we do the intros and Camille does her intro would be just to kind of get an idea from you in terms of what the transition has been like though, you know, and the steps you all have been taking as things get transition to Camille. But that being said, I can introduce myself. So my name is Deborah for era. I am have been a resident of Amherst for. Whoa, let me see probably a total of like 27 years, something like that, because I went to UMass as an undergrad left for 10 years and then came back and I've been here like 22 years. You know, both my kids. My oldest went through the Amherst school system and he's in college right now a sophomore. And this is in the middle school is a 1414 years old. I'm an attorney. I work for the, the university UMass Amherst. My entire career has been in civil rights diversity equity inclusion. I have directed, you know, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at UMass, as well as been the title nine officer, ADA compliance officer, chief diversity officer for the university. But now I'm back to my attorney roots and I am general counsel with the university, which means I'm part of the legal team for the entire university system. So that's my day job. But what I do obviously is, you know, also community activists, I like to advocate for equity, inclusion, diversity, social justice for people in general, right in the community. And that's it. That's my life. That's, that's what I do. And I'm an immigrant to this country. I was born in West Africa. I'm from Cape Verde Islands. And obviously growing up in the United States as an immigrant, you go through a lot of challenges you go through a lot of dealing with isms right sexism racism, xenophobia, and so on and so forth. So for me, it's a goal of mine to make sure that others don't have to go through that that my kids don't have to go through that right. And so that's why I do the work that I do. And that's why I've dedicated my life to, to this type of work. And why I got involved was after the George Floyd murder, which unfortunately was yet again, another black man murdered. I really, you know, of course I took part in demonstrations and things like that and Amherst, but I didn't want something like that to happen again, one, and obviously I wanted to do other things besides do demonstrations. And so that's why when I got nominated to join the community safety working group. I was one of the original members of that group. And a lot of the hopefully Camille you'll get a chance to read the reports that the community safety working group put together part a part B, and seventh generation collective movement. Part two that was the consultant that we got to put together a report for us and then leap also was another consultant that we contracted to get us information for the part B. And so, you know, I took part in that and then I became a part of the community safety and social justice committee, which is the committee that you're here with us today. You know, one of the things that CSSJC were about is monitoring and making sure that the recommendations that CSWD put together community safety working group put together that they are going to be put in place and monitored. And so some of the recommendations have been put in place, others have not, and that's something that we continue to do. But we also are an advisory group to the town council, even though a lot of times the town council don't use this as such. We obviously are very much committed to Cress being successful, being fully in place, and actualizing is full potential in terms of the mission and vision that CSWG put together. And we're very committed committed to that I'm very committed to that. And, and obviously, you know, the youth empowerment multicultural multicultural center resident oversight board and so on and so forth. I'll stop here. But I want to, you know, welcome you and obviously very excited and, you know, looking forward to working with you on these issues. Next person. You want to go. I can go. Hi Camille. Nice to meet you. Welcome. My name is Edward Henry. I'm a local attorney in Amherst. I do a lot of immigration and criminal work in my criminal work. I take cases for people who cannot really afford attorneys. I'm part of this committee. I'm CSS JC as well as the zoning board of appeals. I am very vested in social justice. And so this is an opportunity for me to serve and know that you are new and there's going to be a lot of things on your plates, a lot of moving parts and people coming from all angles. So I just want to say that we're here to help anyone, which way that we can, and don't be afraid to lean on us like Deborah said. And so just walk them. Yeah, did you want to go? Um, good evening. Come out. My name's Lisa. Um, I'm a resident of South Amherst. I have lived here for roughly maybe 24 years now. I myself did go through the Amherst public systems, but the exception of high school. I'm currently a sessions clerk in a Springfield district court. Specifically in the criminal department. I joined this board in August of 2023. So I'm relatively new member to this board. I will say that just about every Wednesday, I am learning something very new. And I think that safe to say that some of the other members in the board as well. Certain things are new to them as well. Um, so I say that so that you know that you will be constantly learning on every, if you were to join our meetings on Wednesdays. But our chairs Allegra and Deb, they are really great at providing information and being very good at guiding us through this board meetings. Um, I actually, this is my first board that I have joined in regards to social justice and equity. So it's, it's, it's been very interesting. So far, for the last few months. Um, you know, I've lived in Amherst, like I said, for X amount of years 24, but there's a lot going on in the community that I really wasn't aware of until I actually joined this board. Um, and some of it actually really does surprise me on how different things are with, you know, different members of the town of Amherst. That's it for now. Thanks for the set. Thanks for the set. And so I'm Allegra Clark we met at your interview, but I am the co-chair with Deborah. And so during the day I am a social worker I work between the Holyoke and the Palmer district courts doing involuntary commitment hearings for substance use and mental health. And I had previously done that when I was living in Boston so I think one of the things that kind of struck me was just the disparity I would see in the courts whether it was out here, or in Boston between kind of just the treatment throughout the process of white people versus people who aren't white. And I feel that I am in a role that does interact with, with communities that might not come to the court as a place for help. I'm thinking about that in the community and thinking about some, some communities in Amherst might not see the police as a group that can help them. I did become pretty interested in the work that the local defund group was doing in terms of trying to get some money rerouted from the police department into some alternatives. And that was kind of before Cress was called Cress that was what people were hoping to see. I've been really invested in the idea of something like Cress being here and being an alternative for people who might have had negative experiences with in the criminal legal system or who don't feel comfortable with the police for whatever reason but still might need some assistance from a public safety department. So that was what kind of drove me to join CSSJC as well as obviously my background professionally because I do think there are ways that my work could be improved by having a resource like Cress and a community like Amherst. That's why I'm here and I, I graduated from Amherst High School myself so I do have that kind of aspect of coming back to this community after having been away for a while and now being a grown up here as opposed to like being a kid it's it's different and but I did want to get involved in making Amherst a better place for everyone to be so I think that's all of our board members and we'd love to hear a little bit more about you. Sure. Good evening to you all. As you know my name is Camille Therriak. I am a retired firefighter. I did was in my 20th year when I retired in Holyoke. I was the one of the first women on in Springfield and then was laid off the day before we graduated. And I came to Holyoke a year later. There were two women and then one way back so it was me by myself with all the men for seven years. I also am the first lieutenant on the department woman and also the first black lieutenant in the state of Massachusetts woman female. I was on the critical instant stress management team. I did work with the hazmat team. I taught at the fire academy. I worked as a Red Cross instructor. Very community oriented. I love working with people and after I left the fire service I went back to school with the intention of just getting my associates degree and then found a love for why I always knew I love psychology but became a social worker. And most recently I was a clinician for the PAC program for BHN which is progressive assertive community treatment which is wraparound services. So I'm very familiar with wraparound services and getting out in the community. And Allegra, you would understand this because some of our people, one of them in particular was recently before I left in the Palmer court system after they were questioning a section 12. So I'm familiar with those and very much so understand that there has to be something better than calling. The police or the fire department or anyone else to aid some of our residents, our neighbors. Actually, it was kind of funny the week before the week before I was sworn in, I was sitting in my house and all of a sudden the front door I'm knocking, you know, went to the door opened it. And there's two police officers there, two cars in front of my house and I'm like, hi, you know, I said, do you have a dog thinking, yes. Well, you know, some of one of your neighbors was concerned because they saw the dog out and they were worried about you. And I'm thinking to myself, no one, my next door neighbors, if they were worried about me would come over here. So why are they sending the police to my house? Because my dog is outside and it was like 45 degrees. And that really hit home again about utilizing police for things that they don't need to be there for. You know, somebody, you know, if somebody, if one of my neighbors and I know it wasn't one of my immediate neighbors that knows me because they would have just called me or come over. So, but situations like that. And I've also had other situations where I have been dealing with someone and had them get angsty with like firefighters being around or someone else being around and being able to be there to deescalate a situation is very important. Well, and it is, I'm, that is the, you know, one of the missions of Crest is just to be there and to be supportive for the community. And that is my intention. Oh, thank you. One quick question for you. Hopefully you'll be able to meet with us when we have our meetings. We meet once a month on Wednesdays. So hopefully, do you think you'll be able to attend our meetings? So what I would like to do actually is to meet individually with people when we can work it into our schedules, because I want to get a sense of what each of you bring to the table and what your thoughts are on what can be done and different ways of doing things. And I find that working one on one with people works a lot better than getting in a group of folks where, you know, a quieter person may not necessarily speak up as much as someone like me who is very vocal. Yeah, I think I'll be great, but I was wondering whether it could be an and both though, you know what I'm saying, because the only the only reason why I'm asking and I'm sure Allegra and others will ask if you are able to attend our meetings is just that, you know, this is public. And so then issues and then and then the community can hear right and they can be, they can have the knowledge and they can know what's going on and things like that and sometimes if people can't attend our meetings they go to the recordings. And then they they they find the information. So, you know, for us, that's the other thing is that we like to impart information to the community because we know knowledge is power. Yes, unfortunately, a lot of information about crests and other things. The community, they don't find out about and so one of the avenues in which they can find out about things is through our meetings. So yeah, so that's why if you're able to I mean I love the fact that you want to meet with us individually that's that's great. And I'll look forward to that and I will welcome it but also if you're able to attend our meetings so that we can kind of discuss issues because once a month it's not like we meet, we don't usually meet more than that, then kind of bring, you know, topics and what happens to is that a bunch of us we all have like different people that are part of our networks and so they tell us things and they they ask us to ask questions, you know, on their behalf. So we're kind of like also a voice for the community. So it becomes that type of of exchange to So in the future I will be able to go right now, you know, there's so much that's going on and just coming in and coming up with the end of the fiscal year and everything else. There's a lot of work to be done. As I've called it crest 3.0. So, you know, my goal is and I know everyone's goal is to see this to work, you know, and not just to work to be emulated in other communities because it works so well. So. Okay. All right, well, we'll continue to let you know and then obviously when you can make it that will be great. Definitely an invitation and we'll continue to share our meeting times and dates and things like that, which is usually so much. Actually, I'll just let you know what is it second Tuesday of the month at 630. Second Wednesday of the month at 630. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. So I guess, in terms of what Chris has actually been up to I don't know if everybody got a chance to look at the public records request response that was sent. But it does. It did break down the calls over the left from November 11 until about the beginning of March. And there were some definitely interesting things, but I don't know Pamela before we launch into that. Do you have any updates as to kind of the transition or anything else that that would. Sure, let me go over what has happened. Obviously, this is just day three. So there's not a lot that has happened in the last two and a half days, but the transition team, the internal leadership team was present for Camille swearing it on Monday. So we have tried to schedule her so that she's not just meeting rapidly people and not having a lot of time to process so. So the plan was over this first month, she would have individual meetings with various department heads. She has begun that process. I think she met with DPW today and we prioritize the department heads that have a lot of interactions with the crest department and because of the interaction with DPW and members of the unhoused population so they are her meeting with Amy was placed higher up on the priority. She's also meeting with members of the community from the social service. Agency so the schedule is being coordinated by one of the members of the one of the responders who will send to you guys a link so that you can find an individual time to meet with her. And by shadowing all of the responders, she's planning to have one on one meetings with with each of the responders, and by shadowing what I mean is that the responders have different assignments and teams of two and so she's coming to their various locations. For example, she, I think this week. So probably yesterday went to the emmer survival center and had a chance to meet with live and and had a tour of the center so that's happening with teams of responders so she gets one on one time with them as a team. She's being introduced to different social service agencies. She will have one on one meetings with department heads. Let's see. One of the things that we thought was really important was so a lot of energy from the interim leadership team has gone into creating what Chief Nelson called a continuity book. So she has two gigantic binders of materials and those materials include information about the Cress budget, like the three funding sources includes information and copies of the DPH grant. It includes both reports A and B from the community safety working group as well as the leap report. We asked each of the responders to write their own, you know, short biography to share with her so that she, they could in their own words, describe their work and who they are and what they bring to the department so they did that individually. That's in the binder. The interim leadership team also wrote reports on each of the responders for what we see is the strengths and weaknesses and, you know areas for growth that's also in the binder so she got a perspective from the responder, the responders themselves as well as from the interim leadership team. And so we're trying to really moderate the process because obviously it is overwhelming taking on the responsibility of as director of this department as it's still growing and in transition. And I think I've said to the responders and to anyone who will listen to me I think even as a member of the interim leadership team who had been hearing Earl's reports for over a year, it took quite a bit of time to sort of have an in depth knowledge of what was happening. And so we're trying to really give her all of the materials that she would need to sort of take the time to read about these various areas, as well as to spread out some of the meetings so that you know she's not just meeting one person after the other without having some context to it. So that's all happening in the plan is that within the first month you know she would have made the rounds to all of the departments, as well as to community leaders and have an opportunity to meet with those of you for who are would like to meet with her one on one. And I have, well actually all of the interim leadership team so Sergeant Griffin has moved out of the space that she was occupying. I now go into my DEI space. One of the practices that the interim leadership team started was having a team meeting every morning. So Camille is there, you know, Kat Newman who was part of the, of the leadership team is there but the rest of us have not been around, you know where we are, as she's stepping up we're stepping back. I think we're trying to be selective about how what areas we provide support so this really becomes her department. And so I did attend with her today, a meeting with one of the members of the accounting department who's over the DPH grant because there's some things that are coming up for the grant that we need to bring her up to speed with. I have been notifying and I think the other interim leadership team members as well, like all of the meetings that we did with the Harvard GPL and the Council of State Governments. And even with the DPH, we've been stepping back and introducing Camille as the new director so that she can move into those spaces so I think, I think that the pace that we've tried to outline is one that will allow her to really learn the department and the people and the key issues and a rate at a rate that will allow her to be effective, right, not just to dump everything on on her. So, and Camille if I've left something out, please. Not that I can think of, sorry. The puppy. I know it's been a invigorating three days. And I am really pleased at the welcoming that I've gotten from people. And I have a notebook of already started of concerns and ideas. And again, I'm meeting with my responders. I put out an email to them about some things that we could talk about and where they are and where they'd like to go. And what, you know, they're, what their gifts are, what the steels are that we can work on to make crest even better. Pamela, in the meantime, though, this patch is still dispatching calls to crests and responders that's still responding to. I mean, so the operations are going on as normal. There's, you know, there hasn't been a change in the operations. I think, you know, this is my opinion, I think that one of the next big steps for the department will be expanding the call types. Probably not likely to occur right away because one of the things that we built into the onboarding for Camila and I don't even know if we've had a chance to, she might be hearing this for the first time. I don't know if everybody has, has shared with her but you know we were the interim leadership team was successful in getting an additional $25,000 for from the Department of Public Health to support the department. And the vast, the bulk of that money is meant to be spent on three site visits that the, that Camila as the new director and responders and maybe if possible a member of dispatch would take to other alternative units so that they can see firsthand how dispatch is working in other communities and, and use that as a way to, you know, to learn about how it might, how dispatch might work here. So those none of those trips are have been scheduled we really just tried to hold all of the major decisions. Until the time that a director was announced and in the office so that that person could participate. And, and that's true I would say of all of the upcoming major activities so as much as possible we tried to delay the work of the Harvard GPL, so that their work their primary work would not be with the interim leadership team but would would be with the new director. So that Harvard GPL grant is supposed to end in June. We have expressed meaning the interim leadership team has expressed a desire to reapply so that, you know, Camila would have the benefit of working with them for an extended period of time. And, although you know they haven't guaranteed that that will happen. There is there has, there have been other communities who've been the recipient of multiple years and have had more than one year of support and we're hoping that that would be the case for, for Amherst as well. So can I ask a question based on the public records request. I don't have a chance to look it over but. One thing too though because I don't think the public records information was added to the agenda was it. Um, it's, I don't, I don't think so, but so all I'm saying is the question under crest, I'm going to put it under crest. But I'm saying we didn't share it like the public records itself. Oh, like it's not. I mean, I, I'm going to, I can share my screen right now. Yeah, that's fine. But all I'm saying is that what I want to do is let's, let's talk about it right now but then let's add it, add it again to next month because I want to add it to the agenda so it's there. And, and then, you know, so we can discuss it and so that the community has an opportunity to digest information. But yeah, if you could share your screen and ask the questions, but I think we want to also share it with the community. Absolutely. So I, I don't know who did all of this formatting or if this is already how you were formatting it, but it did help like break it down into easy to digest information. So that was really helpful for me and I did like that. Can you explain it a little bit because this is a community. Yeah. So each. And so the, there was a template that had Chris had X number of calls the most popular. Sorry, let me, let me stop it. So just so folks who are listening in and then for folks who are going to listen to the recording. So what happened was that a lego and I talked right about doing a public records request to get information from Chris and Chris calls and, and, you know, what Chris has been working on for the past two years. And so this was the information because with public records is whatever records that's already in existence. And so this was the information that we got. And then I guess, you know, and they can charge for the information. So I guess, in order for us to get any other information, then we'd have to pay over $600 is I guess what the bill is that they sent me. So, you know, which obviously that's not going to be doable. But we did get this information for now. And then, you know, once we kind of dissect this information, then, you know, I'll see whether I want to, that's the other thing we can tweak our request. And maybe, you know, send it in a different way to possibly get other information is what I'm thinking. So, um, may I sort of just give you an overview of what you have as a before you are a leg or do you want to start because the, I think it would be helpful to understand a little bit about the process and what you have what what you asked for. I mean, this is only a portion of what you have what was asked for right. Yeah, that's what I'm saying, because if I want the rest of it, then it's 600 and something dollars. Yeah, which is a lot. Yeah. So what is that all right if I just talk about what the how we gathered the information that you that's there or do you want to just do do you want to explain what what what you have. Well, I guess, I guess the question would be and then you can kind of explain the question would be was this was what was produced something that you guys were already tracking internally kind of in this informal way because there's no like we know there's no like data collection system or whatever, but this, like, was this something that you had as kind of like an internal stopgap or was this something that you had to go back to day one to like me. Yeah, so I think I think my overview will help clarify and answer that question. So there are now two different data sets that the department had and and the first data set is you don't have any of that information that the dates from that data set or September 6 of 2022, which is the day that the first responders were deployed to November 6 of 2023. And that data set is like, you know, I'm not the technical person is like thousands of pages. And would it was not collected in the same manner as this template. So it would, it would require it going through this process to extract the data and then having it read by, you know, someone and the Crest Department and checking to see if there are any exemptions or if information need to be redacted so it provided me with their process like as simply as possible knowing that I'm going to be the one who try to explain it. So what they have is like step one is that we have to query the database for the parameters they're searching for, which in this case is all of the data records for that time period that I just described. And then the results of that query are compiled into a digestible form so you know they're doing some things internally just to help sort out the data, and then the information is then divided by individual records. So for that first data set, you don't you don't have any of that information. The second data set is November 6 to 2023, and you have a portion you have November 6 to the date of the public rest its request, which was, I believe, March 4 or you might you because it was that second data set is is being kept internally, you might actually have beyond March 4 so that you have that information. And then the other information that you have is the CAD reports from December 18, which is when they started to use the system to met March 4, which is the date of the public records request. So you have two of the three types of data sets that would be available to are, you know, that have information about the department. The, the thing that I think is really important to know and what I've been saying repeatedly is that the data methodology for that first data set, which is quite different from the methodology from the data set to so when you when you see this week ending template. These, this is a process that the interim leadership team and the responders created so that they could start to gather information in a way that I would argue is more accurate. And then what we know coming up, and this is a meeting that Camille will have happen, we'll have next week is that the Donahue Institute recommended that the town purchase the Qualtrics software system. So there, there will be a the the software system will create yet a fourth data set, and will we will refine what we sort of put in as a stopgap measure that contract has been signed it's a three year contract. Next week Camille has a preliminary like just short meeting with the IT and Qualtrics to start the process of creating that next data collection methodology. We've been told by IT and by Qualtrics that they work, you know, fairly quickly they're certainly happy that they got the contract and they're anxious to really work with us. I, I know that it's likely that, and I may be speaking out of turn but it's likely that it will be in place by the beginning of the new fiscal year. I think the one big question mark is that the department of public health has required that the Crest department utilize the Donahue Institute again to assess the work that has been done. And before we completely finalize any work with Qualtrics around the design of their data collection methodology will want to have the results of the second assessment by Donahue, so that we are designing a data collection methodology that captures everything that needs to be captured. So there are still a few question marks, but it is moving, you know it's moving ahead. So I just, I think that context is really important to know. Thank you. So I guess that being said, if this was something that was kind of developed internally this template as kind of a stopgap is that something that we would have to request each time like for each meeting, and then wait 10 days and then wait 10 days together or is this something that like you can share, or I guess Camille could share as a, you know, as part of the update that we ask for as on an ongoing basis as this committee. Since it is kind of de identified it's not like there's anything that needs to be redacted and just like numbers. So I, so the reports are done on a weekly monthly and quarterly basis I think that would be Camille's decision right now but the process is it has been in has been in place since November to start, you know, what I would say is a more accurate data collection methodology. And then, so I'm just looking at the first week for example so it has the number of crest calls and so that specifies the number of people called to crest directly not dispatch calls that were then dispatched to crest. So language and definitions are really important I think probably what needs to be provided to you, and they have, they have changed a little bit are the definitions for what the different call types so I think the crest calls are are are any calls that have been report well. Yeah. So in November it would have been calls that are coming in directly to the department. So we'd have to look and I haven't. I haven't like. I did not do a lot of the in depth worked around the data collection. So we'd have to look at the December reports or the reports after December 18 to see if there's a distinction between the calls that are coming in through dispatch and the calls that are coming in directly into the department. One of the things that I know that the interim leadership team and the responders have tried to do is to make sure that the definitions for the different call types are are accurate and and so they're probably between when the department first started in November and when the department went on dispatch, there might have been a few changes and that this is sort of the, the, I would say, as the department has learned and has worked with with the dispatch center, we they've gotten better at defining the calls, and I think, you know, I think we shared that there was a there was an incident where a call, someone called in directly to just called in directly to the Crest Department, there was also a call, I think we discussed this that went directly into the town manager's and then a call that went directly into dispatch for the same incident. So, figuring out some of those nuances. You know, it's still an ongoing, that's still I would say an ongoing matter for the department. So, I wanted to go because I took some time with it yesterday okay so these are like the weekly number thingies. So let's see where the first sorry I'm going super fast. Okay, so this would be the week starting the 17th ending the 23rd. And so now it has origin as dispatch and here we have zero. And then there's phone calls in. So, when I was going through this, and I don't know if you would know the answer to this question or not weird. So the first call from dispatch came in the week of 1224 so that was one call. And then there was one the week the next week. And then I, I believe that there was maybe one more. And that was all I saw. Okay, so then one over there. Yeah, 128. And so that was those were the only calls I know that's really small. But then yeah another zero. So I only had counted three calls being coming in through dispatch between the 18th and the, and then that's the monthly report, the 18th and the fifth or whatever day that is. Yeah, that seems inaccurate to me I thought and I did not gather this information. And I thought that you had the CAD reports in it, but I don't know. I mean, I am not the expert on on looking at the at the reporting system. But so that that number seems seems low to me. I don't know if that seems accurate. I think it may be worthwhile to ask Sergeant Griffin to join to explain the process because calls are are being reported through dispatch if they are self initiated, or if they're coming direct from dispatch and I don't know the difference between how that is recorded. Okay. I think that would be helpful to get that kind of drilled down because it three seemed very low to me and it seemed like kind of disappointing honestly. And so, I think getting clarification on that would be helpful. Then there was the idea. I don't know how to go where it says unsafe calls, and I don't know if you can read that but I is that just something that is triggered as like, there's the potential that this could be unsafe, and we are not sending the responders out or is this like, maybe we should let the police know that we might be requesting backup or what does a potentially unsafe call mean. No, I don't have any knowledge of the of those definitions. I just, I don't know because I, I, I haven't been involved. So I think this section of the report. Okay, is the cat reports. Yes. Yeah, well those those though I think we want to be careful in terms of show notes because those need to be redacted. Yes, there were some that were not redacted I just, if there's one. I just want to see, because it was around February something that it seemed as if perhaps the okay so here it is. So the Amherst regional middle school with seventh and eighth grade lunch support, and that was like it looked like it was kind of an ongoing thing that now the responders are doing is that accurate that they're going to the middle school regularly for lunch duty. Yeah. I think that I thought that we had reported on that that a request came from the superintendent's office. To the middle school principal will high school and middle school principal that because of the staffing issues at the school there. So the, they, there was a request to see if if responders could provide the some support to the schools and so they have been doing that on a regular basis. So in other words, it would be a really bad idea for the schools to cut an additional 10% of their staff. Just saying, but no, I mean, I think. But then that yeah but that concerns me because obviously, you know, as we've been discussing for a long time that is an alternative to policing and crisis is not just a social service department. It is responding to nonviolent any nonviolent concerns, and that should be the focus. I mean, I understand obviously, you know, the issues that the schools are having. As you said, Allegra, that even more reason right that our schools get get the funding and that the budget, you know, is increased and that they get budget that they don't have to beg every year for money, you know, and we'll talk more about that. But I don't know if it is Cress's responsibility though to be filling in during lunch, you see what I'm saying. I mean, and those are some of the things that because that's not the original original mission vision of Cress original mission vision as I said is alternative to policing to the police, you know, go out to the to staff lunch. You see what I'm saying. I'm just kind of like no, it's an alternative so anything that's not violent. So there's a lot of other calls that that Cress should be going to and that you all have stated that they can go to for a variety of different reasons, but then that's how their time is being spent. So, you know, these are some of these discussions and of course we're going to delve a lot more into these into this data. And because there's quite a bit and then and I haven't had the time to look more closely and that's why we need to put this data again on for the next agenda. I mean the next meeting and on the agenda for for for us to discuss. And I completely agree that, you know, is this what Cress was intended for and I guess, I guess my thought process also was wondering if it was a staffing issue versus an issue of there's so much going on during lunch that they need assistance because it's unsafe. And, you know, I could see that perhaps not having safe staffing levels could create unsafe, you know, feeling of unsafety for the children but I also again, take it back to the idea of like, we don't want Cress to be seen as another way of surveilling people and like adding to that school to the pipeline scenario if it is in fact, you know, a surveillance issue. And it is, you know, hopefully they're able to build relationships with the young people and they're able to, you know, be a positive presence and influence but again, I wonder what are the kinds of things that might be taking Cress away from in the community. If, if that is good, if that is going to be a de facto ongoing strategy for staffing the schools which I don't think is the appropriate way to staff the schools and I'm, you know, I'm not saying Cress needs to stop doing what they're doing or anything like that but I think it's again, and Cress has certainly stepped up to fill some sort of need but whether it's a public safety need or a school need, I have a little bit more question about. But I hear Deborah's point about wanting to make sure we get to delve into the data a little more and perhaps we should put in another request just to have kind of these fact, you know, face sheets for lack of better word up until. Yeah, but I mean, you know, but to Allegra's point, though, it's like this is ridiculous in terms of why do we as the CSSJC, who is the group that was put in place to monitor the recommendations of CSWG, one of the recommendations is Cress. One of the recommendations is to make sure that Cress is successful. We've been asking for data for months, and we're told that there was no data. And so we had to resort to public records request in order to get the data. And then you all have data. So why isn't it that we can just get this information without having to go through the rigmarole of a public record request. Okay, so I believe that what I've said in the past is that the data sets are inaccurate and incomplete, not that there was no data. And there, and I mean I've repeatedly said and I will stand by the statement that the record keeping from for that first data set is inaccurate. And when you see it, you will have an opportunity to review it for yourself and make your own assessment of that, if you choose to, you know, but it, the, the accurate data has, has only been collected, I would argue, since November 6. And it is still, I would also argue, an ongoing challenge for the department because as with any sort of data collection, you need everyone to be on board completely 100% accurate and their recording of the of the data and in their methodology and this department is still the responders are still actually learning grasping, refining their collection, their data collection skill set, and that and that's just, that's just the reality of it so you know it is. It is still a work in progress and I think even once the Paul track system is in place. It will still take some time because, because there's so many human hands who are collecting the information. Everyone has to be inputting it and at 100% in order for you to get 100% output and it's gonna, it's, you know, it's just going to take, take some time. You know, that's my opinion, but you know I know that we have been working really hard to make sure that everyone is clear on the definitions is clear on the call types is clear on when they're on how they're recording different incidents. So if I go out and I respond to call tap a and I market as a and someone else goes and does the same thing, but they market as be that you know the information is inaccurate and and so it has been a real challenge to get uniformity around the collection methodology and around the definitions and actions. You know, it's my opinion but that's what I that's what I believe to be the case. And I think if you if you were to look at the first data set and compare it to the second data set that you would probably come to that same conclusion because the responders actually have more responsibilities that are akin to what the working group wanted and desires, then they did previous to December 18, like there are more things that there are part of their responsibilities now than they were before. So the information that was collected before. You know, I would, in my opinion had far less to do with the work that was desired of the department than now, because they're their responsibilities have expanded during the internal leadership team. To look at this information more closely when I added to the next month's agenda and talk about it in most specifics, if you need to have Pamela I don't know if you need to have Sergeant Griffin on or what have you but we're really going to dissect these for the next And, you know, obviously we're going to redact whatever needs to be redacted, because obviously we don't want to include any, any names and things like that in this in this request when we share it with the community. But we'll add the public records request with the redactions in terms of identifiers or any, you know, personal information. But we do want to make sure that we get into these numbers and I guess for me, it's just like, you know, I hear what you're saying about the data possibly, you know, being skewed or what have you. But the thing is, is that as the group that is in place to, you know, assess help monitor assist support, you know, we do need to have some data we can't continue to be blind in terms of what is going on. Usually I'm saying and that's why like I said, that's why, you know, myself at Allegra had to resort to doing a public records request. It's not as if I don't have other things in my life that I'd rather do than submit a public records request. You see what I'm saying. So, so my thing is, you know, we had to resort to it. So moving forward, if there's a way, right, to just make sure that we are able to get some data, you know, relevant to the template that you all have here, what have you, and especially since now it's being dispatched and things like that. I'm assuming they have some way that they're capturing data that that the police capture data. Yeah, so you have the CAD reports that that's part of the of the pack. That's not the easiest thing to capture, because there's a system in place. It's, it's actually the internal data collection that's more, more of a challenge than the cat reports. I get that. So that's why I'm just kind of like, but if we could have that, you know, continually, because like you said, right, it ends on the day that I submitted the public records request. So for us, what we're asking for is just like, you know, prior to each monthly meeting of ours, if we could get the report a few days before, you know, at least a week, let's say a week, because for me, I'm a busy person. I have a lot going on. I don't have time to just be reviewing data the night before, you know what I'm saying. If we can get a week before our meeting, so that we can look at it so that we can share it with the community. And so that we can discuss it at our meeting. That's what I'm asking for. And so I think that that's a conversation that, you know, obviously you'll have to have with Camille. She's hearing this, but she's going to be the director. It won't, it won't be me. So it won't be my decision to make. And, you know, you can have more conversation with her when you guys meet with her. Yeah, no doubt. And I, and that's good, you know, and I understand, you know, like I said, with Camille, obviously today was just an intro day and things like that. But I did want her to hear a conversation because, you know, that's really the expectation. And I do think that Sergeant Griffin would probably be the best person to answer those questions or perhaps with Kat Newman. She has returned full time to the police department. Obviously, back to her regular job. And so I will, I, you know, I can make the request. Yeah, if you could. Yeah. And, you know, then, but it will depend on her schedule. Definitely. All right. So then if her, so if, yeah, if you can ask Sergeant Griffin and Kat to see if they can attend our next meeting, which will be, you know, second Wednesday, then, you know, in May, then if that would be great, because yeah, we're going to talk about it and we are going to share it and we're going to add it to the packet, you know, for the next meeting. So hopefully we'll have people that can explain it to us. If not, we're going to end up making our own kind of conclusions. Any other questions from folks? I guess I have a quick question. It's more like a comment or a confused comment. Going back to the middle school. Crest responder, when did that happen? Like who would have initiated that call? What happened to someone from the school? Yeah, it came as a request from the interim superintendent to the town manager to the department. So it came at the request of the of the school department. And the, you know, it's two, two responders teams of two they've been rotating in the responders have been involved in actually to, I guess, three programs at the school are two additional to that. So there is a morning movement program. That happens. And then there is another program called rise. The morning movement is, I think, a program that involves the police department and the school department rises an initiative of the wreck department with Crest and DEI and the police department. And it's a Saturday mentoring program. That's operating for like, I think, I think initially it was scheduled to be like eight weeks, but now it's seven weeks. And that's Saturday mornings from nine to 11, I believe. And so we have two responders who are attending that. And then the responders are rotating in pairs of two through for the lunch hour. And the request was for assistance throughout the remainder of the school year. I think because because of the staffing shortages that they have, they needed additional support. When there are large crowds of, you know, larger groups of students, I shouldn't say crowds. Okay, so they've been needing assistance due to shortage, but we don't know what how they are assisting. Oh, yeah, we know how they're assisting. But I mean the request came from this is not something that this department initiated. No, you know, it was from a superintendent slaughter. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So the request came from the from the superintendent to have Crest responders present during the lunch hours. I mean, it is, it is, I haven't attended. So I'm saying this without having been there in person, but essentially the responders are helping to monitor the larger numbers of school of students that would be gathered during the cafeteria. So as I can't remember who said this, but it has turned out to be an opportunity for them to actually build relationship with students, and they have seen students that participate in the other two programs and lunch. So, you know, I think it is not something that the department has committed to doing on forever. But this was a need. And so we're trying to assist another, you know, department for lack of our of the town with a need. Is this request something that the school would typically ask of the police. So the police are involved in other, in other programming at the at the school. Yes. But I don't where they would they do this specific type of of, you know, a request where they answer requests like this, I think you'd have to ask that question to the superintendent and the police department. Yeah, I mean, I think Pamela is the same question that I had asked and and everyone is asking the same thing that I had had asked, which is, you know, is this the best use of crisis time, given the fact that like we've been saying that they are an alternative to policing and public safety. So I would not be seen. They cannot be seen solely as a social service department. And I get it that the school needs to help, but it's even more reason as to why the school needs budget and funding, as opposed to it being press that is going to be the using, you know, the time to now, you know, do lunchtime, you know, and also like I said, you know, the other part because they out there public safety, are we really sending the message as Allegra said that we're monitoring kids. You see, yeah, in the schools in the school so is almost kind of double whammy one is that the best use of the time to what what message are we sending to the kids that they're there monitoring them. So I would say that in response to the to whether this is the best use of the press department time. At this point in time, there has been no call that has gone unanswered, because two responders were at the school. So there's the capacity. And I think we were very clear when we met with the school department that if there were not capacity, and we have not there have been days when we haven't gone I mean, it is not our number one priority. Prioritize other things in the department. And when there have been conflicts, we have simply said we're not able to go because there are other things that are more pressing for the department. So it has, this has not been an area that we have prioritized, but we have certainly tried to be good partners with the school and have gone when we, when we're able to. No other call has been neglected or gone unanswered because, you know, responders were there. Well, I mean, I think, you know, they're, they're not at capacity because they're not being utilized to the full potential because obviously right now, they're not responding to noise complaints and not responding to low level disturbances and exactly. So we have. Right. Can I finish? Can I go ahead? Yeah, so so and since they're not being utilized to the capacity for for all of those other than yeah so they have all this free time. And so it's a filler. I don't, I think that I, there is no disagreement about that, but I think that, as I said, like it has not been prioritized over other aspects of the work. And when other aspects of the work. You know, if there were if other aspects of the work were more demanding than the, the answer would be no as and as I've said, we've said no because we have prioritized other things in the department. I think that's the first, but do they have the capacity now? Now they do. Will they always have the capacity? Yeah, probably not. Other questions. I think we can move to the next agenda items and like I said, we'll revisit this next month. Thank you Pamela for answering these questions and asking Sergeant Griffin and cat to see their availability to attend next month. We'll be discussing this again. So, are we on to DEI updates? Yeah. So I have only been able to return my attention to DEI in the last three days. The last several weeks have been really busy trying to prepare all of the stuff for Camille's onboarding. There are several events that are coming up. AAPI, Jewish Heritage, Youth Hero, and Race Amity, and Jennifer Police weigh in with details about that. The department was successful in applying for a grant from the Pioneer Valley Planning PVPC for $15,000. We haven't received those funds yet, but we are happy that we were able to apply for the grant and receive them and those funds will be used for probably primarily for cultural heritage events. You have as a separate line item, the resident oversight board, but I can go ahead and speak to that. The final report that was the community engagement aspect of the resident oversight board was completed and has been shared with the town manager. The second aspect, the technical support RFP was released and that period has ended and we have received some responses to that RFP when the town manager has returned from his leave. Then Jennifer and I will meet with him and assess the responses and he will probably make a decision about beginning that second part of the process for standing up the resident oversight board. So, from my perspective, I think at the last meeting I had said that I could see the possibility of the board being up and intact, you know, if not by the beginning of the next fiscal year shortly thereafter and I think that we're still on track to do that. So it's moving along quite well. I don't really have any other, as I said, I've been distracted by things with the crest department so I don't have any other DEI updates but Jennifer, you might have things to add. Well, we already talked about the events so that I've given updates to and then I would just say that. Jennifer, for Juneteenth, when is that going to be? Is that going to be on Juneteenth or? The goal is to have the jubilee as well as the collaboration with ancestral bridges on the 15th and then to do a separate, but small scale events on the actual 19. Okay. All right. So then that will that's forthcoming in terms of information on those. Yeah. Okay. Great. Thanks. And so I would say that we still continue to do the the staff monthly trainings that we've been doing for the for the staff who choose to sign up. And that's been going pretty successful. We always have at least 10 to 15 staff. I would say staff. This is town staff. Yes. So you're providing what kind of training town staff just different kinds of training. The last one was on with cats and she did a training on. On on on gender. And the one that's coming up, which will be next Friday is it's, it has a catchy title. It's what's in a name. And it looks at at inclusive language, both in terms of pronouns as well as other inclusive language and terminology. And following that there will be the three that are that are scheduled for this quarter are what's in a name bystander awareness and white fragility. So those workshops are have been given on a monthly basis now for over a year. And they're staff only events. And then the one thing that has faltered and I think I probably said this at the last meeting, you know, just, we, I simply haven't had the capacity to do the department only our department doesn't have the specification say workshops, but our hope to restart those in May. So during the first year of employment. Jennifer and I met with every department and delivered a DEI workshop that was tailored for the specific department. And we will start that again, but you know, they just did. And the last six, seven months, they have not taken place. It just didn't have the capacity to do them. So we've done our monthly workshops, but not our department workshops. Okay. Thanks. And was the community training about microaggressions. Did that end up getting held because I know it was on the day of the snowstorm. I feel like those events are like curse because every time they're scheduled, there is a snowstorm. So it has been postponed. Okay. And yeah, yeah. So that's that is scheduled for, I want to say May 5. Is that right, Jennifer? I think it's May 2. So I might maybe, maybe May 2, but it's been postponed until May. And one of the things that that I'll just say publicly is that space is at a premium, even more so now because the library is going offline. And so everybody wants to use the, you know, either Mensen or the banks community center. And so it's been very difficult to find space to hold some of these events in town. And what, and I say that to say that, you know, we had hoped to plan to have a public reception for Camille this week during her first week. And there was no space at the end and the earliest available date. That was sort of like towards the end of a week. Like I didn't think a Monday night event would be that helpful was May 25. So May 25 is was the first available date for us to have a public reception for Camille. So is that the day it's happening. That is the day. Okay. Yeah. So you'll let us know so that that's the Thursday evening. So, most likely I'll be out of town, but, but yeah, I still be good to let folks know. Um, so one question that I have, I know that, you know, it's almost ended. Well, we're going towards the end of the fiscal year, you know, budget time and things like that. Um, is, has there been any information from the town manager, because obviously, you know, I don't have the time to attend all these town council meetings and finance meetings or what have you. In terms of budget for crest budget for the I di resident oversight board youth empowerment multicultural center. We have anything in terms of those. Right. So, um, for the crest budget cat Newman and I worked on it and we did make request for additions to that budget for a number of reasons. Um, primarily because we're unsure whether there will be funding for a for the department through the department of public health. And so we tried to hedge our bets by anticipating that if there were not DPH funds available. What would we need for the town to support the department. The town's budget supports all of the responder positions and the director position. The DPH budget has provided support for programming and services and so the department will. If that money is not funded by the governor, then the department will definitely take a financial hit. We've tried to be strategic about the use of ARPA funds. There are some ARPA funds that we're trying to to utilize, but the federal government. They've changed their protocol for the use of ARPA funds. And so one of the reasons why the resident oversight technical RFP needed to go out really quickly and and have responses do really quickly is that in order to fund that process through Arbor, the deadlines had to be moved up. So the short answer is that we've tried to anticipate what the department's needs might be. If there were a shortfall from DPH. We've tried to think about what we might be able to use from any remaining ARPA funds. And we've submitted a budget. You know, that reflects those requests. And of course, it's a process. We had our preliminary meeting. There will I think be one more that maybe Camille will be able to attend. We had our preliminary meeting with Sandy pooler who is, I don't know what his formal title is, but he is acting in the role of as finance director in the absence of a finance director. I'm working with the accounting department. So, so those conversations have taken place. The indication that we have have received is that, you know, it's going to be a difficult year for the town concerning expansion of all budgets but we've were very aggressive and and requesting money for the for the crest department. For the youth empowerment that has not been that responsibility was taken by the town manager who has stated that he was going to form a working group to work on that issue. So that's not something that I have been working on, nor have we worked. In the culture center, right. Right. Yeah. And what about, and what about Rob, is there money for Rob? I know that the that, well, there, I know that the, that Sandy pooler has had conversations with the town manager about what the financial support for the resident oversight board might look like so. Oh, so a question because that is one of the things that, you know, I talked to I ran into the town manager at the police chief, you know, what is it open forum. And he said that, you know, class them, you know, that we've invited him to CSS you see a variety of times because we want to ask him some of these questions that I know that obviously he's not in your bailiwick it's in his bailiwick. And, and he said that we can meet with him individually so Allegra and I want to meet with him I want to set up a time to meet with him. So who do I contact and Angela Mills. So Angela Mills. And can you provide, you know, her number, you don't have to do it right here but if you can send me an email with her number. So that then we can schedule that because yeah, you know, we have a series of questions because you know obviously we've been. He has been around for how long now like almost two years and you know he's never, you know, come out to meet with us so there's questions that we need him to answer. But I guess we'll go to him then. Any other questions from the rest of the members. The members of the youth empowerment stuff I know there was the survey that the AmeriCorps volunteer had worked on and then there's no more AmeriCorps volunteer so is that survey still going out to youth. So I think Jennifer will have to weigh in I believe that that she met with one class at the high school. The survey is still live but you know, I think the honestly answer is that nothing really took place right because we were, we, you know, I'll just say for myself I, I had higher hopes of productivity from the AmeriCorps member then we actually realized and so you know, that was somewhat disappointing, but so I think that we're, you know, that we are really going to have to renew those efforts again at the, you know, over the course of the really I think if I think what I would advise is that over the summer we devise a plan to start some youth empowerment activities and try to use those activities as a starting point and then to try to have conversations with youth about where they would like to see further efforts. I really mean at one point and I think we had this probably was early last year had said that I that I thought that the plan are the activities that were mentioned in the community safety working group were an ideal sort of blueprint to start with some activities. And then there was a question in the, among this group about, where are we going to have the locations and whether, you know, the spaces that were available, we're not ideal and, you know, spaces even now, even more of a premium at this point, but I think that that's the starting point. I am one of the things that we try to do and we are still trying to do this with Cress is to partner on this issue of youth empowerment. And one of the reasons for the partnership with Cress is because of the way in which they are funding. They are funded, they have more capacity to actually support youth empowerment and youth enrichment activities than the DEI office does. So they have actually, one of the responders has has submitted a proposal. Of course, Camille hasn't, I don't know if she's had it even had an opportunity to read this or weigh in or what her thoughts will be, but to, to think about some additional things that we might be able to do for the next academic year. But, you know, the truth of the matter is very little if anything got done. We just, it, yeah, just fell apart. That's just that there's no way to, to sugarcoat it. It just fell apart. Speaking of space, actually. So I was at the town council meeting where the town manager presented his plans for the remaining ARPA funds and there's a lot that was allocated potentially to the Bang Center renovation so was DEI. And or Cress consulted about space they might need or the time frames they might need in terms of space being available like later hours. So, so I actually think, I mean, you know, again, this, this is Camille is hearing this for the first time because we haven't had a chance to really talk or update her on all of these things. I think that there are some possibilities for expanding the hours that the building is open, but they have not. I mean, they've been very, very, very preliminary discussions. The bulk of the money that has been set aside for for the renovations at bangs are are really money set or set aside for infrastructure. So you might be surprised to know that the building is not up to code as far as like fire safety. The kitchen needs to be needs to be remodeled. So the bulk of it is not going towards activities or space that would support DEI or Cress, but they are going it is going to much needed infrastructure and evident of that is that I think the elevator has now been out of commission for over a month. And we are told that the necessary parts. You know that it might be out for a little bit more. So, although it is a large, it's a, it sounds like a large sum. It's going towards needed repairs and not really towards remodeling space for DEI or for the Cress department. The DEI space. I was happy to see today that there is some work being done so when you guys were visited the last time there were a ton of boxes and things at the end of the hall for current space at DEI and has actually been designated for the health department and DEI is supposed to move to the other end of the hall and that has been under renovation for since last summer. So we are, we are hopeful that we will be in that space. I don't know. I don't know whether it will be by the beginning of the new fiscal year, but it's likely that we will at some point move into the space that is designated for us. I'm not sure if you can answer this question or not. And if you can, that's okay. So, I understand that there's money for the ARPA funds and it sounds different from what I just heard, that some of that money may go towards the banks and a renovation. Are there clearly defined rules as to how to qualify and who qualifies for this money for ARPA? Yes. So, there are. I am not the best person to answer the ARPA specific questions. I do know that the guidelines for how it may be spent have changed dramatically. So, and the deadlines for some of those decisions, as I mentioned with the resident oversight board, some of those deadlines moved up. You know, we really anticipated that resident oversight board RFP going out after having a discussion with the town manager about the first, and it had to go out really quickly. So, but that the, you know, so we don't have a finance director. We have someone coming in as a consultant. And that individual and the comptroller would be the two people who would be able to answer specific questions about ARPA funding. Thank you. ARPA funds. Pamela Camille, obviously, I don't think we have any other questions for them, right? I don't think so. They want to head out because I know it's it's a late night. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Bye. Bye. I look forward to meeting you all. And what about Jennifer? Jennifer, did Jennifer need to stay? Well, she's our staff liaison, so. Oh, okay. See Jennifer, I was trying to help you out. And we'd like to have Jennifer around. I saw that. Thank you. Appreciate it. So, in terms of ARPA funds, I know that we have had ongoing public comment. I think even back in the minutes that we approved earlier from last year. So, I think we're going to talk about the inequitable distribution of ARPA funds. And having attended some of the more recent meetings and seeing some of the, the, the asks from community in terms of money to go to Amherst media or money to go to the black business association of Amherst or money to go to Amherst community connections. So, those groups received anything in the final kind of report out of what the town manager was planning. I had taken it upon myself to write a letter on our behalf to address that, which obviously I didn't send it was to discuss tonight since we do have a quorum we could vote on whether or not to send it. Because I do think that a it's something that the community has brought to us over and over again. And it is a matter of social justice and equity. I think one of the things I know ever old had just asked what the kind of parameters were for ARPA funds and my understanding was that they were covert relief funds and it and they were supposed to be distributed to people who were most impacted by COVID. And so obviously looking at all the research there's no high risk medical groups there's low income communities and there's you know black indigenous Latina people were all kind of in those categories of people who were more directly impacted. So, requests put forward by groups headed by people of color and they were denied. So I wanted to put forward the letter if we can look at it we can decide whether or not we want to let me pull it up on a word document. Yeah, and just a little bit of Allegra since you did go and maybe I don't know February or any others have gone to some of those because I've gone to some of them but I forced because of everything, you know, things have been super busy on my end. I haven't been able to stay for the entire meeting. So where we are I know that the town manager did his report in terms of where he is thinking of dispersing the ARPA funds have decisions been made or not when our decisions supposed to be made. Do we know any of that information. So it seemed a little vague I can't I think the meeting was the beginning of the end of the middle of March. Basically he gave a presentation and the three big chunks of remaining money were to go to the bangs renovation. That was about 2.5 million I think then 1 million was schedule or was so it was planned to go to building solar at the new school and then basically any of the remainder of the funding. Which would be 300,000 that isn't allocated to anything else but say there's money that's already allocated to something that doesn't get spent on that one thing would all go into road repair, which is clearly an issue in Amherst but I don't think it's an issue that was driven by COVID, although I think the way that they have now reframed some of the ARPA is that like, well COVID caused inflation and road repair is more expensive now so you can use it for that purpose. But I don't know that it necessarily addresses the disparities to different communities that COVID created or exacerbated. And also I'm offered for solar but why is it being used and also being used for solar you see what I'm saying. As opposed to funding the most vulnerable in our communities which you know I think per your letter I don't know if you want to add your letter up on the screen. I just want to ask, since I, because I think we've been hearing about this for a while, for the people that were denied, were they given reasons as to why they were denied. Not that I've been made aware of. Because I, when I saw the agenda, I was doing some research and mass.gov has a lot of information on ARPA funds, and there's an office of the Inspector General that people can make complaints to. So I imagine if there is a process to do that, then if someone applies, they have to be given a reason as to why they were denied, and then they could voice concerns later on as to why they were denied. Well, as far as I know, I know that from BBAAA, they've put in a complaint. I'm not sure if it was to the same office that you're talking about, but I know there is a complaint right now in regards to the distribution of ARPA funds. So I think like those avenues are being utilized, but I don't know if there's any relief happening. The audience, I don't know, she has her hands raised. It should be coming on right now. Thank you. So thank you for your flexibility. Can people hear me? So I want to respond very quickly with Emerald's question. So with my group, BBAAA, they were denied, some of my members that applied were denied for illegal reasons. They were told they applied late, even though there was still money left. You see here, Ames's extensions applied, and she was told that she applied late. We have some members who applied. They were told the only condition to get ARPA funds was to rent a storefront in Ames, which is illegal. That's not what the ARPA funds stated. Because also, as we all know, hazels, they applied on two categories. As new startup and existing, they were denied because they said they are so much in debt that ARPA funds will not help them. The same bed and chamber that denied black-owned businesses and our town gave Drake $300,000 that is run by the wealthiest, the most richest land developers in our town. So what our town did in conjunction with Bade and Ames and the chamber was illegal by denying the most vulnerable that deserve the ARPA funds. And so my group is demanding a robust audit. Our town distributed the ARPA funds in equitably. And in terms of what are the general use of ARPA funds, the main purpose was to help those most impacted by COVID. To help towns and cities who were impacted by COVID infrastructure. However, our town decided to make up their own rules. So this is not over yet. The scandal is going to be much larger nationwide because BBAA will keep pushing. We're not going to stop until the truth. Everything is exposed. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Pat. We'll do a time check because we still have a variety of different things at the agenda after this letter. We reviewed a letter. Can we just talk about the school committee and then table the other? Yes, and I would actually propose tabling G until we know who the next police chief is going to be so that that can be a conversation with the public. Yes. Which was recommended to me by interim police chief Ting when I asked him to come talk to us about that. Okay. So yes, I agree. It's 856. Okay. So have others read the letter? Do you need time to kind of, because you can maybe scroll up, leave it there for a little bit and then scroll down, leave it there for a little bit for others that haven't read the letter. I think I would just add a youth empowerment center and multicultural center too. We need to put that on the table. I know we've been focusing on youth empowerment and Rob, but we need to put the multicultural center. Yeah, exactly. Just say and multicultural center. We need to keep that on the scope too. So people know that this was taken the, I'm pointing at it like you're sitting here with me, the bullet points were taken from the public comment that was submitted. That was the proposal that BBAA sent to the town council and town manager. I would feel completely comfortable adding in information about, you know, another BIPOC led agency Amherst media also made a request and did not receive any funds. If people feel that that would be important to as well, because I know this is highlighting the black business association, although they were shut out of the first round. So there is something, this is something we've heard more regularly. I do think that the point about the other nonprofits were also told in the last round to apply for this round and then nothing, no funding went towards them is my understanding. One of the reasons. One of the reasons I ask about qualifications and, you know, how business qualify and I, and I appreciate the frustration that's been raised by MISPAT and others is that we need to make sure that if we voice concerns and complaints that were supported by how do people qualify, what are the rules pertaining to this. And I understand that, you know, outside looking in, we're seeing that like to the most common example, the Drake getting $300,000. We should make sure that we understand why and why were these other business denied. And as I said, I was looking and hearing Pamela earlier about the rules changing as to how the money can be allocated and spend it. I saw some of that. But it wasn't very clear. Yes, there's there's generalization as to the intended purpose of ARPA. But I couldn't find information as to say, you know, here's how you apply. Here's how you meet the criteria. Here's, you know, here's how you get these funds. So I'm always mindful before we cry foul that we have something that supports what we're saying. So my understanding back. So as I'm going to talk as a member of the Affordable Housing Trust for a minute. So we were given like a big number like you this town is getting $11 million right the 11.9 whatever it was. And so that was gosh November ish of 2021. I remember the town manager came to our meeting and talked about what would some helpful things be in affordable housing. And so there was there, there were other groups that he met with other town boards and that was during the time that this group was on hiatus. It was in between CSWG and CS SJC. So he got a bunch of ideas and then, you know, kind of, it's been, there was a million set aside for the homeless, you know, trying to find a permanent location for a homeless shelter, which has been purchased the old VFW. And then there was a million set aside for affordable housing, which we didn't really have an accounting for up until last meeting and month much of that money has been spent already. And it was spent to kind of help with some of the pre development things related to some of the new developments that will be going up. And I don't recall if that was exactly what was suggested to him or not, but it's, it was basically it fit into one of the categories of housing and I think there was public health was a category there was some money that was allocated for, you know, giving essential workers like first responders some hazard pay during that period of time. So there were some broad categories from the offset that were set up that the town had allocated different, you know, different sums of money to and then kind of the details seem to be up to the town manager. I just want to make sure I am hearing it correctly. So it is possible, the town received $11 million and it is also possible that from that $11 million, none of that money went to a minority owned business. So, the town received $11 million. There was a breakdown of the money spent for the, for the small businesses and there was a category for existing businesses and startup businesses. And from my understanding and from some of the things that the former finance director produced, they did break it down into minority versus not minority but minority was including white women as one of the categories as well as. So all women were included in that category and black and Hispanic and Asian, but it wasn't broken down. So when we asked for more specific data, I believe there were two of the new businesses that. So, I believe it was White Lion and Carefree Cakery that did receive some of the startup funds, but then none of the pre existing businesses owned by black business owners and Amherst received funding that had applied. So. And, and there was money allocated for pre existing businesses. There were once so I believe that there were about 100,000 perhaps set aside for the business community, not including what the Drake was awarded. Okay. So I don't think it is unfounded to ask then questions as to why none of this money went to any of these pre existing black owned businesses or the black owned business association. I think it is, it is public money. Therefore, there should be public transparency. And so we should ask to say, you know, and I think we should have them tell us like, what is the criteria for allocating for distributed money to these businesses. And can you explain outside looking in. I can organization such as the Drake that is owned by to Miss Pat's previous comment, a wealth of developer receive such a large sum of money, but the businesses that are minority owned that are struggling didn't receive any such grant. You know, can you, you know, put pen to paper and say, this is a criteria and here's why you didn't qualify. A few times in previous meetings and I don't know that we've gotten direct answers to some of them. I don't think they can. I don't think the town can shield how they spend this money. It is government money that came from the federal government. So there has to be some public visibility to it. So they may not want to answer the question, but I don't think they can refuse to answer the question. Already trying to meet with Paul and I think that again having him kind of answer those questions would be helpful I think it's important that it is that it also gets answered publicly. Again, as it is public money. So I don't know who would be the best person to try and get to answer those questions besides Paul. I mean, isn't someone, wasn't there someone in charge off distributing this money. I mean, it may be one of those free life information requests that is absolutely necessary at this point. If they've not been answering the question, then, you know, filing public request, I don't think they can refuse to answer that. And I do, I know that there is somebody specific in the role. And I don't know, Jen, if you have the answer, if you have something else to say, I don't know how to. I was just going to say there is an ARPA grants. I don't know if it's a coordinator position or manager, but there's someone who deals specifically with the ARPA grants. Her name is Martha Martini. Her name's what now. Martha Martini. I get all that, but I still think it's important for us to, you know, even if we need to kind of tweak this letter, but I think we need to put something out publicly in regards to this. I mean, I, you know, like we're not going to meet on the schedule to meet with the time manager, who knows when he's actually going to set us up, you know, to actually meet with him. So, you know, time is time is ticking. And this has been going on for a very long time. I think you should add to this letter. You know, we're asking for a full accounting of how the money was spent to this letter. And just say how it has impacted the most vulnerable communities, because I think that that's, or if that's okay, because I kind of, that's kind of the lens that I'm coming at it from is some of the things it doesn't seem like, I mean, roads are nice, but again. Yeah, I was going to say, I think if you do that, then. We can be rolled into, well, we spend a million dollars to do this. We're going to do that. But if we ask for a full accounting, then we actually get like line items. Right. To clarify a little further, because I know this, the black business association of the Amherst area is 501 C three and so they've put together a presentation or the proposal that they put together was so that they would get the funding and some similar to what bid I think was able to do for the current communities like help their members through the payments and then help the community who comes to their members through additional support. So I think that this is not just to say that the individual businesses need the support but also the collaborative that is the blackness and this association has a plan to work together as a community. Does that make sense. It does. I feel like it's getting late and my brain is getting fried. I apologize. So are we okay to take, I don't know why there are so many spaces. Are we okay to take a vote on this? I am. All right. Oh dear. So, I guess somebody needs to make a motion. So moved. Thank you. Is there a second? My second. Thank you. All right. Lucette, how do you vote? Yay. Thank you. Everald. Hi. Deborah. Yes. And I am a yes. It passes forward to nothing. So I will send the letter to I'm going to send it. To the town manager, the assistant town manager who I believe is currently the acting town manager in the town manager's absence and I will send it to the town council as well. Yes. Thank you. All right. And let's say. So in terms of the last, but the last item that we will discuss tonight, which is the school budget proposal to town council. So I think it was important to hear from Pamela tonight that the school had actually reached out to press to help with their staffing shortage. So I think it was important to hear from Pamela tonight. So I think it was important to hear from Pamela tonight. And knowing that the proposal, so the proposal on the table. Is to restore any funding that was going to be cut from teaching positions. But if the towns. Don't come up with that funding. Then the cuts that were proposed are on the table, which again includes the restorative justice coordinator positions. It would lose educators both in special education and in the interventions that help, you know, kind of assess whether a person moves on to special education or not. There would be cuts to the dance program. So there would be no more dance at the middle school. There would be a cut to the computer science teacher at the high school cuts to the science department and a restructuring of how the department heads work so that mental health, right? Yes. And some mental, I think one full time position at the high school and a halftime position at the middle school. So it amounts to 10% of their staff would be cut. If the, if the, if the town of Amherst and then the three surrounding towns that are part of the regional district do not find additional funding to help the schools or do not rearrange their own budgets to help them. So I think hearing again, just hearing that Cress is being used to do things because the school is already understaffed. It really drives home the point to me that like this is again an issue of safety in the schools because the kids don't have all the support staff that they need to kind of safely move through their days. And it's an issue of social justice because a lot of the positions, well, especially the restorative justice positions are were made to address the discipline disparities that were going on between white youth and black and brown youth in the schools. So again, that would be concerning if those positions are taken away what will happen in the disciplinary tract for people. And just, I mean, they're already struggling so much. I just don't know how much more they can struggle. It's very concerning. And these are our kids, you know, and where else are they going to go we don't have a youth center for them yet. So what else is going to support them. So that's my spiel I don't know and Deborah if you've had anything you wanted to add. I mean, I think you covered everything pretty well. I mean, this is really just an opportunity for us to say publicly that, you know, the regional school committee did the right thing. I mean, obviously there was an outpouring of community. You know, just calling in showing up and saying that for them not to put it put ahead that proposal that would have cut those positions. And that the positions really go towards really impacting besides of course a lot of other positions to but the students that are most vulnerable within our school system. And there's been cuts already happening because I like I said last time, you know, my older son was able to take a lot more classes than my younger son and I was in the middle school. Right. So there's already been cuts and so they're continuing to make cuts and this is not okay. It's not okay that our schools continue to always have to kind of beg and plead to keep critical staff in place, especially as as I was saying in terms of being a BIPOC person, and then having the only, you know, black male at the high school who's doing an excellent job in the restorative justice position, then be cut. Right. When there are not a lot of black males within our entire school system, you know, there was one other one that my son came across in the middle school and then he was terminated. And then now he's a para I believe in the middle school. And so that's not okay, you know, that's not okay that that excellent BIPOC teachers are expendable. And so, you know, we just need to make sure that we're being vigilant, and that we're sending the message that that this budget, you know, the Amherst and the other three regions, you know, need to fund this budget because as a lego said and we all know these are our kids. Right. And we're not only talking about our kids currently, but we're talking about, you know, kids that are coming after them to to make sure that they have something right in in the school system. We're trying to make sure that we stabilize the school system so that, you know, kids that I hear now and kids that have come before and kids that come afterwards, get a great education as which is one of the things that Amherst is kind of known for right is it's public education. So we can't continue to, you know, just shave away at it and pick away at it, which is what's happening. And again to our most vulnerable student populations. So, yeah. So I think I think they said, would you know when's the date I think I remember them saying there's a date when they're going to be voting on the. Yes. So the 425 so April 25, the finance committee is hosting a public hearing on the budget at 630. And then they will vote as to whether or not to recommend the budget to town council, who will then have a meeting on April 29 to vote on the budget. So the 20. Okay, so that April and the 29th will be at 630 also. I believe so. Okay, so hopefully, you know, someone can kind of send us that information so that then we can get out to our networks and things like that because we need to show up to, you know, as many of these meetings as possible, and again, show our support. I don't know if you want to add anything else. I'm in agreement with everything that is being said. It's, I was thinking a lot. It's the budget that's proposed, is it published somewhere versus what the cuts are. You kind of have to go digging around, but if you get to like the school committee page where they have their meeting list. You can go into their older agendas and then there should be like a document that it. Okay. I don't have anything to add. But just a question is this is this budget just for the middle school and high school or is it for elementary schools too. So it is just for the middle and high school because the middle and high school or the regional district so they have. Preschool that was proposed to be cut and then the elementary music instruction position, one of them was slated to be cut but then after the initial budget was proposed. More money came forward from the state I think they raised the raise the number that they were funding per pupil or something so it actually ended up being enough to cover all of the positions that that were teaching positions that were planning to be cut. So that is like a glimmer of good news but obviously it's still there are a lot of children who could be affected by that big cut at the middle and high school level so. Okay, we can keep moving things right along. All right, we are not talking about anything else tonight we do. We do have our second public comment period I don't know if anybody else wants to make comment there are only two members of the public remaining. If you want you can raise your hands. If you don't want you don't have to. All right, let's see. Here we go. Okay, I'll be really quick. Thank you guys for voting on the ladder. I really appreciate it. I would like to suggest that you guys also send it to media to MSND and the dessert. Thank you. Thank you so much. So, I think that during the public comment for the school budget. I think the push should be to use the money that is set aside for the banks community center to fill the gap and the town can borrow money for infrastructure they did that. You know, for Jones library, I think that would be a white support to borrow money to bring banks community center up to date. And also the Biden administration infrastructure bill. You know, there are other places that money, you know, could come from to upgrade banks community center. So let's push for that. You know, use that money. You know, towards restoring positions this year. And let's worry about next year. Thank you. Thank you miss. Thank you miss. We have Brianna as an attendee and I thought she had raised her hand and now she appears to not be here. No, I don't think she raised her hand. She wasn't. Yeah. Okay, so I think that that's all for public comments. So our next meeting will be May 8 at 630. So, obviously we have our usual crest D I updates. Rob youth empowerment. I believe we'll have crest record records as a separate thing and we'll make sure that those get redacted and sent out again. It is a lot of information to digest. But it is, I think important. I, I did want to mention that I forgot earlier that so there was at the town council meeting like two meetings ago that they had there were some members of the public on zoom who spoke and made some pretty anti-Semitic racist remarks. And so I think I think it would be helpful to look at the what what the rules are around that because unfortunately there's a lot of stuff that's protected by the first. Well, not unfortunately, but there is a lot of stuff that's protected by the first amendment and some of it is considered hate speech as long as it's not inciting or threatening to directly to people. But I think it would be helpful for us to maybe talk about if that does happen in our meeting, how can we still hold the community because it is really unsettling to hear some of those things said, but also to know that we can't legally cut that off. So I would like to put a first amendment here. Yeah concerns. Yeah. During public comment, maybe just put it like that because that would really be the only time since everything else is a fair if there's if somebody in the town manager's office or town council like because I think they had to get an opinion from the council, I don't know if that's something. Maybe I can ask reach out to them and just say like, as a board who might come into contact with this we'd like guidance. Does that seem reasonable. Yeah. And then we'll so keep the civil rights complaints and holding future town forums on this. Future town forums we can actually get to next time because I think if we just try and set some projected dates and places that could not take up too much time but the actual planning for them might take more. Yeah. Okay. Anything else. Well, in that case it's 929. And I am going to adjourn this meeting. My second and third it. All right. Thank you guys. Have a good night. Thank you. Good night.