 I'm going to go ahead and make the Dr. Shabazz and Allegra co-hosts. Allegra, you want to start us off? I sure will. It is 6.01. Look how timely we are on Wednesday, September 7th, and this is a meeting of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee calling to order pursuant to 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. See instructions below. 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. Welcome, everybody. It looks like all of our participants in the committee are here. I do not see Deborah or Freke. I don't know if we have to do everybody here and see thing every time we do. Deborah is driving at the moment, but she is with us. If you could just give her a high Deborah, can you hear us? That will suffice. Perfect. Deborah, can you hear us? Yes, I can. Perfect. Yes, we can. Thank you. Freke, can we hear you? You. Perfect. We hear you. Dee? Yes. Hello. Hello. I hear you. Ms. Pat? Yes. Perfect. Heard you. And Phillip? Hello. That is all of us. And how about Pat D'Angelo's? Can you hear us? Yes, I can. Thanks. Wonderful. Thank you. So first off, we will review the agenda. So we will start with announcements and approval of the 823 meeting minutes. Then we will have public comment, members, reports, action and discussion items, which will focus around the ARPA funding and CDBG, which is community development block grant as a potential funding source for the DEI department, youth and BIPOC centers, translation services, other services. And then we will also discuss the victim compensation fund. Then we will discuss upcoming agenda items and meeting schedules. Any other topics that we did not reasonably anticipate 40 hours in advance of the meeting, and then we will adjourn. So you're going to have to table the minutes from 823-2022 to the 928 meeting. OK. And so you'll get those and these. I just they just need to be formatted. So I didn't have them ready. All right. Thank you. So we will not be approving those minutes tonight. First off, does anybody have any announcements? So Allegra sent on our behalf as a committee, a follow up email to Lynn Grissmer for the town council that we did expect some response, of course, to our letter. And we have received no response from Lynn as of yet. These aren't items that we're discussing tonight. The next meeting regards a follow up to the July 5th incident. But I'm just letting you all know that we did not receive any word from Lynn officially. This is Deborah. Yeah, I can't I can't do raise hands that I'm driving right now. That was one of the things I didn't see that on the agenda in terms of like, you know, any kind of check in follow up in regards to this in terms of what we might want to do in response to the fact that the town council hasn't responded. We I'm assuming I haven't heard anything. Whether the police have finished their investigation. So I mean, are we going to discuss any of this today? I didn't see it on the agenda. So go ahead, we're sorry. I think you might have already left the last meeting, Deborah, but we had discussed at the end of the last meeting when we changed the date to Wednesday that for the next two months, we would meet twice a month because the budget season is going to start in November. And so that we would have this meeting tonight set aside to discuss budget implications and like the ARPA funds and CDBG and then our meeting at the end of the month, we would discuss more of the. The response to the July 5th. Yeah, I guess. Yeah, I guess I mean, I guess that's yeah, because I was on a meeting. So yeah, I mean, it makes sense to certain degree, but I guess the only thing would be like we need to kind of keep the pressure on. So I don't know, you know what I'm saying? Oh, agreed. And I am showing Deborah, please drive carefully. But I'm just showing the committee, the follow up letter drafted by Allegra asking, you know, for some response, we wanted to follow up about the next steps and moving this work forward together. We hope we can return to a council meeting in October to discuss progress towards implementing the CSWG and CSS JC recommendations. And basically, it's a repeat of what we asked for in the first letter. So I guess let's hope that they respond by the next meeting. But we can also send word that this is something that, you know, is pretty important. We want some some follow up and and them to actually consider what we've put forward. I see both Pats have their hands raised. I don't know if Pat Dangelis was going to respond directly to. This scheduling and not hearing back from the town council yet, if that is the case. Yes, thank you. I'm if you could send me a copy of this email, I can bring it up at Monday's council meeting as part of the liaison report and ask, when will you get a response and why haven't you if you want me to do that? Absolutely. That's up to you there. I do. Yes, I can with the rest of the committee. But I. OK, all right. So then if you would forward that email to me, that would be great. Thank you. Will do. Does anybody oppose to me for forwarding the email? No, thank you. All right. And Ms. Pat. So it's a quick announcement. So the I missed nine. And it's what they the youth. They were involved on July 5th, calling themselves. So some of the families have decided to write a joint. Narrative of what happened on July 5th instead of individuals. So I think between five families that put something together and whenever it's ready, I will forward it to the Human Rights Commission. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Pat. I also had an announcement. It's a little bit in a different realm, but I just wanted to make everybody aware that next Tuesday, the housing trust is having a forum about affordable housing in Amherst. There is a new family housing development in the works on both Belcher Town Road and the old East Street School, which is kind of right across the East Common from Fort River. So it is going to be on Zoom on September 13th from 6 30 to 8 30. And way, way finders will be there to kind of discuss their vision for the new buildings and kind of the priorities and who they're hoping to house in that development. Is that for both the place on Belcher Town Road and East and East Street School or just East Street School? It's for both. They kind of packaged it as a joint property to so so the developer will oversee both sites. Are there any other announcements to check in? Do you think that by forwarding Pat, the email and having Pat bring that to the next council meeting, that would be still keeping things in the in the spotlight? Are you comfortable with that as the plan? Yeah. And then just adding, like, when is the police report, the investigatory report going to be done? We haven't heard anything about that, too. We need to kind of get a response. So I'll get get some information on that once that's done. All right. Perfect. Thank you. So now we will move on to public comment. During the public comment period, the chair will recognize members of the public. When called on, please identify yourself by stating your full name, preferred pronouns and residential address. Residents are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes at the discretion of the chair based upon the number of people who wish to speak. No speaker can see their time to another speaker. The CSSJC will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during public comment. So it appears there are two additional attendees in the audience. I don't know if either of them wish to speak and perhaps we can leave space at the end of the meeting if if anything has come up during the meeting that people would like to respond to seeing no hands up. We can move on to the next agenda item. Member reports. Does anyone have any reports? Well, I think we did that. Unless there are other extended reports, I guess the only other thing to mention would be that crests officially, I guess, hit the ground running yesterday, responding to calls. So I don't know if they responded to any. I don't know how their first day was. Jen, do you have an update around that? Yeah, no, they haven't responded to calls yet. So they are doing outreach. So they've gone to the I know that they're going to the schools. They going to the Amherst Survival Center, Craig's Doors and other places in the community just kind of introducing themselves to folks as they as they go about. But they haven't started taking calls yet. This is Deborah. So two things on that. One would be like if we could, I mean, are we going to be doing like reports from Earl, like about press, like once a month? Then because I know now it's this week's situation. So I'm not sure if we're going to ask them for report every time we have a meeting once a month. So I mean, that's something we need to think about so that we can get that on a on a like routine. And then the second thing is around the outreach. Just making sure that, you know, it is really like very inclusive that it's out there. I mean, is it out there everywhere? Like in terms of like obviously making sure that's outweaching the people that English is not a second language. Outweaching also on websites and newspapers. And I don't know everywhere. I mean, it should be everywhere, you know, so that people know about press. And I don't know if that if that's happening or not. So just want to make sure that that's taking place. Because that was one of the things that I would be very wanting to happen. And I was part of the SFUG was that it would be very intensive outreach and marketing and media around press. I thank you for that comment, Deborah, and I do agree. I think that's really important that the community is made aware in many different ways and are all did say to me in passing that some funding around engagement strategies might be a helpful place for for Crest to get some support. So that might be something we can talk about later in our discussion. But it's super important. Last meeting, we did make that request, Deborah. And I'm sure everyone recalls that, you know, we would at least like an outline of what is occurring on the Crescent and D.E.I. So that we can be aware and know how we could help shape and guide and help these two offices with within the town. So, you know, again, if we aren't part of the discussion, we're in one silo, we're in one area, not wanting to be and then Crest and D.E.I. or in another. So we should be working together. And if we're not aware of what's going on, the good stuff, the stuff that's challenging, we don't know how to assist and how to, you know, consult and help guide this, this, you know, this new process of Crest, you know, we understand it's new and D.E.I. is new, but that's what we're here for. So again, if we could make that request, if we have to do it officially, I don't know, but maybe our town council members can also help us with that to make sure that we're given each time and an outline, you know, it can just be added to this. This is the timeline of Crest started here. And this is we're adding to this timeline now. Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't know that I was supposed. I mean, I'm sure Earl would have written something up. I didn't know that so. But I know that there'll be something on the 28th. OK, thank you. OK. This is Pat. Wait, sorry. This is Debra again. Councilor Dorothy had her hands first before me. Did you hear what I said? Yes, Dorothy, please go and then we'll have Miss Pat and then Deborah has something to add. This is really a quick question of question about Crest to Jennifer. I read in the newspaper that Crest was not going to respond to noise complaints. And yet I thought that was one of the things they were going to respond to. So it does seem that the direction of Crest is changing. And I do agree that this committee should know what's going on. So I'm wondering if you could answer, is it really true? They're not going to be responding to noise? I know that the noise complaints are a little bit more complicated than just send Crest alone. So I somehow I believe that the Earl and the chief are trying to work that out to see what the best safest path is. Because I think it, you know, and I think that my guess is dispatch has to really be able to weed through and ask the right questions to figure out who can be sent to what noise complaints. There's a difference between sending Crest to an off campus party with 300 or 200 kids at it. Then just something that we saw the other day on July 5th, right? So they're trying to figure out the best way to move forward with that or if it's a domestic or whatever the case may be. So I think that they are working on that. But I will make sure that Earl talks about that in his update for the 28th. Thank you. Yes, thank you, Ms. Patton and Deborah. So not to label what Deb and Dee have already said. And thank you, Councilor Dorothy, for bringing that up because I was going to comment on that as well. So from CSWG, with our recommendations, our report, we were very clear that, you know, both Crest and DEI, what, you know, our role would be to support them. And I had expected that we will have a rep from Crest Department and a rep from DEI. But it seems like the department rep, you know, are more consistent. So what I'm trying to say is that we need a better communication. Like, I was surprised that all is not here with us today. I expected him to come, especially launching the new program yesterday. I'll leave that comment like that because I was a little bit distressed when I read it in the paper that Crest will not be handling noise complain. And that's not what CSWG had recommended. But I can't comment any further because he's not here. Um, so I'm getting very concerned because we were very, very clear. What we would like Crest to do in the community. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pat. Deborah. Yeah, I mean, I, you know, again, as Miss Pat said, not to belabor the point, but I guess the point that I want to make is that DEI and Crest, you know, they need to to make sure that they're communicating with us. And I think even it doesn't have to be just on a monthly or I guess now biweekly type of time period. They need to communicate with us if something comes up and they need us to kind of really they need to consult with us. Because again, what happened at the last meeting where I was asking Pamela in terms of why she wrote that report, right, that that exonerated the police department when really I don't think she had a place. She shouldn't have done that. You know, let me just be honest, she shouldn't have done that, you know. So I think those are the types of things that she could have come to us beforehand and asked us about, right, so that then we could have advised her and be like, we don't think it's a good idea. Just let the police do their investigation and that we can figure things out as opposed to writing a report that still had a lot of gaps. You know what I'm saying? And then it looks like, you know, she exonerated the police, you know. And so so I can't say enough that, you know, these two departments need to utilize this more and all along the way, not just once a month or twice a month, but all along the way. And then, yes. And then second, if if press is not being utilized for complaints, for noise complaints, that's problematic. We said anything non-criminal press should be utilized for. So so, yes, we need to get updates. We need to find out more about that. And that's going to be critical for us to know what is being done and what is being decided. You know, we need to get those updates as it is happening. Thank you, Deborah. And I do think that that's kind of what we had started to touch on last time about almost us having people identified as liaisons to the DEI department and to Crest so that there is more consistent communication, perhaps in between our meetings. I know that we didn't kind of resolve that conversation in our last meeting, but but I think it absolutely would be helpful to have more and more consistent communication. Absolutely. Any other comments or member reports? So do we have anything from, well, under DEI? Well, so DEI is there because for CDBG. Yeah, I saw that. So we'll have that. OK. I mean, so I the agenda was set up to be about financials as last that I knew when that was it. So. That's fine. I'm just asking as as member reports go. So did we have anything from DEI? OK. All right. So we can go on to ARPA funds. Public comments. Oh, we're missing public comments. Didn't we do that already? We did. We did. We did. OK. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. OK. I want to start off by saying that this is the second time that I had requested for our finance director to join us. To discuss the ARPA fund. There was no response from him. And I feel like majority BIPOC town appointed committee is being disrespected. I just want to put that out before I speak on ARPA. So ARPA fund is tax dollar. OK, we all know that. I hope that part of my role in this committee is to raise awareness about follow the money in our town. I would just speak on our business community tonight based on what is on the town website. It's appeared that the federal government gave our town a little bit over 11 million dollars. And when I reviewed it a couple of weeks ago, my eyes were pumping because the funds that were targeted to our next business community did not fit into. Racial equity lens in the sense that. Bid business improvement district was given three hundred dollars or three hundred thousand dollars to for Drake. OK, for Drake. And then bid that is also two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to create an economic empowerment officer. Apparently to improve economic activity in our town. So a group that is made up of mostly commercial landlords rich people get more money. So that's five hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Now. Enamers for retailers and restaurants, they are mostly BIPOC business people. The town only gave forty thousand dollars for new startup businesses. Go figure. And then only twenty five thousand dollars for the rest of the business owners. In addition, the town gave Chamber of Commerce thirty five thousand dollars for technical support of businesses, whatever that means. Now, according to the Chamber of Commerce, that they were supposed to highlight prioritized BIPOC on businesses. And as far as I know, there was no outreach made to our local business folks, regardless of race, because I said this because I reached out to them and I said, oh, by the way, do you know about the funding app? I had to explain to some people what app a fund is. And then if they had applied, they had no idea what I was talking about. One is I spoke to four. I contacted four different BIPOC businesses. The only black woman in this town that runs her saloon. That's where people of color go to get our hair done, including myself. They don't know anything about that. One of the Baba Sharia, one of the BIPOC business owners, a shop that is owned by a black man, did not know anything about this app a fund. A Jamaican owned restaurant did not know about this fund. A Hispanic car repair shop did not know about this fund. And yet, with Chamber of Commerce, they're promoting that they will put BIPOC folks as priority in the funding for only $25,000 when we have more than 200 or even more businesses in our town. How is that fair? And this is tax dollar money. So basically what we've done here is how, you know, create welfare, welfare, welfare to reach people in our town. Plus, our town manager sits on bed board. So basically, you know, having access means a lot. Power speaks, money speaks. So how did get $300 for Drake? For what? When people who are most impacted by pandemic. Some of them did not even know about this. What type of outreach the Chamber of Commerce did? So businesses, regardless of race, there was no phone call made to them. There was no email, you know, sent to them. Some of the businesses are not even members of Chamber of Commerce. Yes, there was something in their newsletter. Even some of the members of Chamber of Commerce, they don't read the newsletter. They're struggling, start staffing, shortage, and, you know, as a businesswoman, I know the struggle of running a business. So some of them did not read it in the newsletter, but that's not the point. Chamber of Commerce was giving $35,000. Okay, for technical support of businesses, what did they use that money for? We need answers. We need to follow the money in this town. We need to know who is benefiting most from our tax dollar. And this brings me to, so, you know, more than $9 million have already been distributed. So we have $2 million left. My suggestion would be to please the town manager to hold off on this because CSWG recommendations have not been funded yet. DEI is underfunded severely. We recommended an administrative assistant to help our director and our assistant director. But that has not happened. Two black women need support to get their work done. They have a lot that they do. We talked about healing in our town. There was no funding in the budget. So APA Fund needs to be on hold. And if our liaison to Town Council, Dorothea and Councilor Pat, you know, can report back that we really need to use the rest of the $2 million towards CSWG recommendation and also to our business community. I'd like to see at least half a million to go to those businesses who are so much impacted. They pay taxes in this town. They help to bring economy to our town. And we need to do the right thing for them. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pat. I want to share with our group, maybe you've seen this or maybe you've been on the bid and the chamber websites. What's listed in terms of BIPOC businesses? First off, when you go to the packets that are the links for ARPA that we received, just to give you a sense of the wording because these funds you have to apply for, right? So here is the one for small businesses that Miss Pat was referring to. Small business economic assistance through ARPA funds, American Rescue Plan funds. So startup grants, there's a bid committee reviewing submissions to make the awards. We'll look at the committee in a moment. And then here, it says promoting equitable outcomes. So this is part of the purpose in the mission. A minimum of 50 percent of funds will be reserved for BIPOC, LGBTQ women and other marginalized community owned businesses. So they're looking at, you know, minority owned marginalized communities in a broad way. All these businesses, I'm sure need funding and help. But then I can find my link. Too many things open on here. We get to. Here's the chamber and the bid. You know, we have some some good folks on here. Jen's on there. I know Angelica Castro as a community members on here. Um, but these folks, I'm sure. No, I want us to understand because these are this is, you know, folks are there's the chamber and there's the bid. And these are folks making these decisions. The other thing I can get to it. Oh, here it is. This is what's listed under the chamber. And when you do a Google search for bid as well and minority owned businesses, it comes here. We can't see what you're looking at. I'm sorry. I just. Yeah. It's that's. Oh, I was sharing. But it was the same original page that you started with. So thank you. OK, so here it is. So this is what's listed under the chamber and the bid for BIPOC businesses. And I'm sure all these businesses need help and are struggling. One is in Belcher town and maybe that's an Amherst resident. I don't know the others in Hadley and they all belong in the chamber because the chamber is not just an Amherst locale. So when we're going to talk about as Miss Pat put this forward about accountability, we would like to know. Where are those funds going? Who did they go to? And how can this committee, but also DEI, help in making sure there's a more equitable outcome as the proposal reads. For BIPOC businesses, because the BIPOC businesses that Miss Pat just listed aren't even on here. So that doesn't mean there was an outreach, but it sounds like from from what Miss Pat is sharing, that there was no outreach to these businesses to get them the information to even apply for the ARPA funds. So I'll stop there for now, but I think the what we have on the website or the town itself pertaining to ARPA is very revealing in terms of a lack of outreach and education for these funds and their availability to the people, the BIPOC people in the community, BIPOC entrepreneurs and business owners. And I'll stop sharing now. Jen had her hand up Miss Pat. And then it looks like Pat DeAngelis have her hand up and is now not up. OK, so I just I. As Miss Pat, you sent us an email a couple of weeks ago from the email chain that I chain that I forwarded to the group. And as soon as you sent that to me, I was like, OK, we have to find out where this was advertised. And I honestly would think that there at some point is an email for all the businesses, like a large email listing where they serve where they can send out. But when we asked or when I asked where these things were advertised, it was said that it went out in a press release to all media. They were written about in the Gazette and Mass Live listed in both the chamber in the bid newsletter and plastered more than once on the both the chamber in the bid socials, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Representative Mindy Dom shared them on her pages as did. And then so the town shared it on our Facebook page. The Twitter page and our town website and not to say that that's enough. But I just wanted to I soon as you sent me that email was sent to us, I asked the question of of where it was advertised because that to me seems like a legitimate question. And it doesn't seem like there should be anybody that is a business and Amherst should have been able to benefit from those funds. And it also she also stated that the preexisting grants were first and we have given 25,000 to businesses throughout Amherst. The first round of technical and new business grant deadline has passed and we have awarded 20,000 in new business grants. And I believe almost five and technical to this moment, 100 percent of the grants have been awarded to BIPOC, LGBTQ plus and women owned businesses. There will be a second round for new business in December. So the technical support is to help businesses who need. I don't like I don't want to label or name one particular business, but sometimes businesses need assistance that they're not so they can have an architect come in and help guide them or because a lot of the businesses needs architects to come help lay out the the layout of the business. And so that's what the technical support is for things such as. Architects and or guide advice for how to move forward with their business. And then so Angelica and I are part of the chamber's equity task force, but we don't know who applied because the bid is handling the piece with the ARPA funds and not the chamber. So we don't we don't vote or we don't know who's on who's applied and hasn't applied. That's not something that we've been doing. So I just wanted to clarify that piece of it. And then there was one more thing that was said. And I can't remember off the top of my head. Sorry, I'll remember in a few minutes after maybe after Miss Pat speaks. But I just wanted to express or let you guys know, though, that's what I have for the information on the ARPA funds. Miss Pat. So, Jennifer, thank you for sharing that update. I think the whole point of inclusion that we're trying to achieve in our town is to understand that not everybody, you know, go to social media or always read their emails. Some people may not even have emails. What has happened to the regular traditional outreach, making phone call to people, reaching out, you know, distributing flyers. Chamber of Commerce got thirty five thousand dollars. They would have used some of this money to send our flyers to all businesses in their door or mail it out, now they're out one on one. And then there will be no excuse for a business to say, I didn't say it. When, you know, I know what it feels like to run a business. Sometimes you're behind some news, breaking whatever it is because, you know, strong, you know, trying to, you know, run your business on a daily basis is no is no easy. So that's a flaw. And I will hope in the future, when the AR is fully funded, that if ever there is any type of financial distribution issue, go through the I to to handle. For a couple reasons, some people are not members of Chamber of Commerce. So they may not. They would just assume that, you know, they will not be included. I have really issues with the application process. I have very, you know, I have issues where what type of projects that businesses could use the fund for. They, you know, handle the funds and they want businesses to use that money to renovate their buildings. Who does that? There was no input from the businesses who need the money the most. There were like criteria where, you know, where to spend the money for. As a business owner, myself, I mean, healthcare field. And when the APA fund came for healthcare, MassHealth basically told us to use it for working capital to give our staff raises, whatever you feel that is appropriate to, you know, with your, with your businesses. But our bid is telling people use it to improve their own building that they, that the retailers don't own. Decision was already made for the retailers and restaurant owners. I don't agree with that. That's not equity. That's not inclusion. That's not, you know, these businesses are not on the same table making decision. It's not okay. It's not all right. It's tax dollars money. We need to have the list of the people who receive the money. We need to know how much. And we need to, you know, moving forward with the $2 million left, that money should not go to bid or chamber to manage. We should find another group to distribute money to our businesses. And we should rethink, re-imagine what the businesses need the money for. Let them give inputs to our town. Like this is their need for the funds. Thank you. Thank you. Just to, you know, it's, this is not an anecdotal discussion. The Amherst heritage reparations group. Did a preliminary report. About black entrepreneurship and the economic need. In Amherst, pertaining to folks of African heritage. And the numbers as you could see are not fully filled out. These are old data sets. But what is occurring is that there has not been an adequate survey. Of black and brown businesses. And I have, I have nothing against that. I have my own business as a woman. And as someone of African heritage. You know, and I employed folks who were white, who were from the Caribbean, who were, who identified as LGBTQ. Trans, you know, so. This is something that I approach as diversity is needed in every sector. Particularly business. But when we're talking about. Black and brown businesses. And the lack of representation. I mean, I think it's more than the chamber, but when it has, when it comes to, you know, the dispersion of funds that. You know, all businesses needed, but particularly the most vulnerable and I, and the most vulnerable in this case. Most likely. And again, we need some survey data to, to back this up. And we need some survey data. That are already struggling. And so during COVID. And quarantine. A situation. Many of those businesses barely made it. And from what I understand, and I'm so glad that Ms. Pat is there with, with her business acumen, they reached out to. The chamber. And so the chamber, you know, you would, you would think that this is something that they would have gotten better at during a COVID and quarantine. Because. The CSWG. Had meetings with the chamber and the, the bid about this very issue, the lack of representation, the lack of outreach. I attended one of those meetings. So. This is something that I think is appropriately. In our kind of wheelhouse of the CSS JC, when we talk about equity, but also in terms of what can be newly created. In terms of what can be newly created DEI office. Do in trying to make. You know, the business sector. Much more equitable, not only in terms of representation, but in terms of funds that are available to everyone else. Okay. So there's something lacking. And, you know, if you have not read the HRA report, it goes on to then talk about, you know, why particularly African heritage folks then leave the area because of the difficulties in terms of a business startups difficulties in terms of, you know, just the cost of living here, et cetera. So I just wanted to share that. I just wanted to make sure that the report of courses on the town website under the HRA committee. So this is Deborah. I know I, you know, I can't raise my hand or whatever. So I don't know if there's someone else in front of me. No. So yeah, thank you. Thank you, Miss Pat. And D for, for obviously sharing all this information and enlightening us on some of what's been going on. So for me, I guess what would be kind of like the next steps, right? I know Miss Pat, you said you've asked for the director of finance to come, but has not, you know, the person hasn't come to, to really, so we need to kind of focus in on, on what are the next steps so that we can really, you know, talk to those that can really, you know, let us know like, what has the money been used for? What is the remaining amount going to be used for, so that then we can put the pressure on them to utilize it for this purpose in terms of equity, inclusion, diversity, and making sure that they're doing actual outreach. I mean, obviously, yeah, you know, social media and all that is great, but it's not going to get into the hands of those that really need to, to know and yeah, and how can we use DEI, now the DEI is in place to really do that more intimate outreach. Agreed. So what, you know, where's the money? Who received it? Right. We'd like a reporting out of that because this again, these are not privatized funds. These aren't private donations. This is public money. Yeah, and how much is left and who's going to, and what's the plan for the remaining amount of money that's left to. Well, that's, that's something that Ms. Pat has called for. Let's, let's stop and hold, hold on to the money until we can figure out a more equitable way of dispersing and sharing those funds. So we need to audit, you know, a type of BIPOC equity audit when it comes to the ARPA funds. So can we ask our town council liaisons, like who it is that we need to, you know, make that request of because since the finance director is not hearing our call. So who do we need to communicate with to make this happen? Dorothy Pat. Okay, we have been informed and reminded that as liaisons from the town council, we are not supposed to be in the room. We are not supposed to stay in the audience and that we're not to speak at the meetings. Those are the present rules. They may be looking at them again, but I really apologize. I, I just think your discussion is just fabulous. And I really appreciate it, but I, my picture really should be, I should be put back in the audience. Okay. So thank you for reminding us of that, Dorothy. I think we have a question. That came up in one of the town council meetings. And how should you all proceed as liaisons? We have very similar to issue. With, with. Amherst media, but what I think is going to be necessary from this committee is to once again draft a letter. To the town council members, whether it's our two liaisons or other council members. Raising this, this up. As a question. That deserves to be prioritized within the town council. Committee discussions and actually get a reporting out. From Sean. What's going on with these ARPA funds. Okay. So I don't know who's, there's three. Now there's four hands raised. And I don't see the fourth. So Allegra, do you know who's first? You want to first Allegra? I believe Jen and Miss Pat were ahead of me. And then it looks like Pat D'Angeles has her hand raised as an attendee. I'm not sure if we should call on her based on what Dorothy just said. Well, maybe she has something to, you know, to say that she's a part of the committee. So I don't know if we should call on her in terms of clarification, but okay. Jen. Yep. So Sean wasn't able to attend to this meeting. And I, I think from what I'm understanding is that he's asking. He's being asked to attend a lot of committee meetings at this time, because it's budget season. So either two things can happen. You can write. Questions and they can be sent to him, or you can set up a private meeting to meet with him. And I think that's what I was told. And I think that's what I was told. Is that so many different committees are asking because it is budget time for his presence. And I think they're trying to really kind of hope that they can get a list of the questions because a lot of the different committees have the same questions, some of them, not all of them. So that's what I was told. And he wasn't able to attend today's meeting. So if you would like to set up a meeting with him, then we can do that. If you have specific questions, please go ahead and comment to that. So thank you all for joining us. Thank you, thank you for your time, everybody. Thank you for your time, everybody. Thank you for your time. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, everybody. Thank you everyone. I would defer to Allegra because I also would like to pick it back on what Jennifer just said. Because. I will sound it to me. I will express later. So I think I, why don't you go? And I'll come. And I just also wanted to note that there. Somebody Pat. to write something in the Q&A. So I just, my question, and this I guess might be for Jen, is that one of the ARPA categories is that there is supposed to be an ARPA like grant manager person who I would imagine would be the person who would have a lot of the answers to these questions in terms of who are the small businesses that have received the funding, et cetera, et cetera. So I wonder, is that actually a position that has been filled? And is that a position that we could perhaps reach out to? On the town side, it's Leah Carver. She's the ARPA grant manager. And I know that the bid hired someone through the ARPA funds as well. Her name is Lizzie Awan. And my other thing, and I don't know if we wanna wrap up kind of the conversation about business first. I did just have one other note about some of the ARPA categories. So I don't know if we wanna go to Pat D'Angeles and then Ms. Pat and then come back to me if that makes sense. Does that make sense? I'm flexible, so. Sure. Oh, okay. In the Q&A, it says liaisons can answer questions, but we are not speaking for the council. You can request us to ask questions directly to the council. Thank you. Okay, it's clarification. That was from Pat D'Angeles. Yes. Okay. So I hope that our two liaisons then will take these questions pertaining to ARPA funds and wanting to know how much is left, what is the plan on spending the rest of the funds and just a basic audit of who received the money and how much. Ms. Pat. Okay, Allegra, you sure? I should go. Okay, so two quick points. One is in addition to the people who the businesses who received the funds, I would like to know businesses who were declined the funds. I said that because two of the businesses that I spoke with, not the four that I mentioned today, but in the past, said that they were declined several times in applying and that worries me a lot. Okay, the ARPA fund that my company received, nobody asked me for my tax return. I mean, it's fair game if you want to make sure that the businesses pay their taxes, that's different, but I will have to leave it there. So I want to go back to what... So real quick, Ms. Pat, because I want to make sure I'm writing down this request. So you are requesting a record of applicants. Yes, basically. And who got funded. And another thing I found out which in part of commerce, some folks were told we give priority to our members first. And they give funding according to whatever your pre-pandemic money. That is like all kinds of criteria that they put forward. Simple because the people who are most affected are not on the table making the decision. So there's a lot to unpack when it comes to how our tax dollar money has gone to the business community. Yeah, which is not the government website, the state and federal website does not... You know, you don't have to belong to the bid or a chamber of commerce in any town or city in order to receive funds. Yeah. Okay. So very quickly, I'm okay if the finance director wants us to make a list. I want to make sure that the same standard is for other groups. Is that the same with the town council? Would that be the same with the finance committee? Or is this rule only for majority, BIPOC town committee? And this is not a question to Ms. Jennifer. You know, she's the messenger. She just relayed what was said, you know, she got. And I thank you for that, but I need to find out more. Is this done across the board? This is budget season. Is the finance director asking all the board, all the groups to submit questions? And if we were to meet with him privately, wouldn't that be violating open meeting law? So I'm confused by that. But thank you, Ms. Chen, for your comments. Well, you'll be able to, I would say you should choose a few representatives as long as it's under the four folks so that there's not a quorum reached. And, you know, I really only oversee, not oversee, but I'm only the staff liaison for AHRA, HRC and this. But I do know that one of the, I think it was the ECAC asked Sean to attend and he didn't. And so the staff liaison took down the questions that people hasn't submitted them to Sean and then he answered them and she brought them back to the group. I don't know who else that happens to or not. But I mean, I know that finance committee is one of those that he is a staff liaison to or he's usually at finance committee meetings. So I think that that one is a little bit different, but yeah. Thank you. Allegra. So I was going through the quarterly reports for expenditures and all of the different like what's it called, like descriptions of the programs. And I noticed that a few were missing descriptions and that also like a few programs had just like magically appeared in the June 30th report that weren't in earlier reports. And so I don't know if there somewhere is a description of some of them, but one that doesn't have any sort of description that is a large chunk of money is mental health services, which I think is clearly an important thing to have create post pandemic, if you will. And there's no description of what that looks like. And I know the two big million dollar each chunks for affordable housing and house unhoused folks services don't have descriptors either. And then in the third quarterly expenditure report, all of a sudden there was a public restroom project, trail maintenance project, and then a capital projects management. So I'm wondering, especially based on the capital project manager, is that somebody that would be in charge of say like liaisoning with the school and the library committee and the fire station and DPW, is that money that would be going towards some of those projects? Or so those are my questions, but those five things seem to be missing descriptions. And then there was one other thing. Oh, so in terms of, in terms of where our funds might actually be allocated to something from CSWG's recommendations, there is the $500,000, well, there's the 250 for Cres and then the $500,000 for the youth empowerment center development, and I'm still unclear because reading the description, it seemed like that was just $500,000 for a report and a planning and I don't know if I'm reading that wrong but it seemed not like that funding would be actually put towards the center and programming at the center, but it would be more based on getting community, doing a needs assessment, getting community input, which are important things to do. But I'm just, I'm wondering a little bit more about that piece of the budget. And I do note that it's going to the recreation department and I know CSWG had made the recommendation that that goes under DEI. So I don't know if that has shifted now that DEI is actually a thing that we have. We have far too lovely DEI assistant director and director working for us now. So I hope that as they continue in their work that that will get shifted back on to their plate. They might not hope that, but I don't know if you have any further information about that $500,000. Jen, we don't expect you to answer all the questions, but I mean, I... But if you have some info or the town council members about the buddy, please share. I don't, I think that the $500,000, the bulk of that $500,000 is still in existence and hasn't been used, although don't necessarily quote, I mean, I haven't heard that that money was spent yet. And so I think that it's back to the drawing board with how they were going to move forward with the Youth Empowerment Center, which is also on here under the CDBG. So we can talk about it, kind of merge it into one conversation, but when it comes to the Youth Empowerment Center and the BIPOC Community Center, it's like you have to have a funding source, but also it has to be approved by council. And I'm just not exactly clear like if this group needed to move forward with trying to initiate one of those, which one they should move forward first with, right? Like I don't, cause I don't understand why you would have to find the funding stream for either one of these programs necessarily. So it seems like you should be able to go to council and it would be their, I could be wrong, responsibility to find out how to fund it, although you guys can always suggest or recommend, make recommendations to it. But as far as I know that money has not been depleted, it's still there. And they're, I think that they're reshaping the way that they're going to move forward with the process for the Youth Empowerment Center. That's all I really know. Thank you. Yeah, so similarly over the summer, there was a finance committee meeting to, and I'm gonna share screen right quick to talk about this overall strategy not that I want to move us out of ARPA, but it sounds like it's merging with the CDBG funds. So the community development strategy and there are all these categories, housing, community service, land use, economic development, natural and cultural resources, open space and recreation, transportation, sustainability. Then we get to diversity, equity and inclusion. What's important about this is that once you get to priority projects, everything has a ranking. What does not show up on here is the Multicultural Center Youth Development, which is again under diversity, okay? So Youth Empowerment Center, BIPOC Multicultural Center and the implementation of translation services for town's communication with residents. That does not show up under priority projects for FY22. So would they go into 23? That is why we decided as a group to have two meetings during the month because this is the budgeting period. So I just want to make it's there on the town website, what they're prioritizing and what we need to work on keeping on their radar and agenda. So I agree, Jen, that that is something we need to decide as a group. Do we push for a proposal so that the town council members can approve? What's our next step? And Debra, I'm sure is gonna bring that around. What's our next step? Because this is the budgeting period and ARPA funds, CDBG funds, we need to make these two items a priority. The ARPA funds will be available so there'll still be an existence for the FY 2023 if that becomes the top priority for FY 2023. Okay, thank you. But when I, so just when I went to the finance committee meeting, Sean Magano was there and that was a question that I actually put to him because what it sounded like during the meeting was that they were sidelining the Youth Empowerment Center and the BIPOC Multicultural Center. And when I asked for clarification, I said, oh no, we're not sidelining it. So it was kind of double-speak. So there was nothing conclusive and obviously there still is nothing conclusive pertaining to it. Do we want to co-chair, go into the CDBG funding which then brings us to DEI Youth and BIPOC Center Translation Services and then the Victim Compensation Fund on the agenda. I just want to check in if Phillip or Freca have anything to add about ARPA before we move on. Okay, Freca, do you have anything? Okay, thank you. Deborah, I saw that you unmuted, are you? Yeah, no, I'm okay, it's just about, yeah, I'm home. So yeah, that's it. Is everyone following this? I know, okay, so it's a lot of moving parts. Yeah, okay. So CDBG as a potential source of funding, some of the projects are that the CDBG has funded in the past. Jen, was the dog park funded by CDBG or was that, how was that? I know that the bulk of CDBG fund, I mean, the bulk of funds for the dog park were private funds. I think it was a small amount that came from the town but I can find that out if you would like. Yeah, just what pocket of money? I know there was an initial set of funds. Ms. Pat, did you wanna speak to CDBG funding? Absolutely, so I actually attended their meeting. Very good people on that committee. I like the way they run their meeting. They allow a lot of public comments, people to speak. I listen in for an hour and a half. So basically for the folks that came and spoke about their organization, the work they do, I was quite impressed with all of them and I think that CDBG funding could benefit the CSWG recommendations like the cultural center, the youth center, the visioning and healing process that we have recommended for Dr. Barbara and I can go on and also to fully fund the AI as well to meaning the administrative assistant position and also Chris, when I read yesterday in the paper was that they're not doing 24 seven at the beginning. I get that because this is one of the fears that CSWG had that this program is starting off with under funding. So I think CDBG might be a good source of revenue to really fully fund Chris and also DEI. In fact, at CSWG group, we have talked about exploring different avenues of funding in addition to the town annual budget allocation. So CDBG will be one of those sources for us to explore. And it looks like the town actually can apply to CDBG. So I will imagine the town's grant writer with the collaboration with the DEI administrators to apply for funding for some of the project I just mentioned. And I know there are only two staff and it's a lot of work, but if the town grant writer can help out, that would be great. So yeah, thank you. Any questions or comments? Everyone knows what, yes, Jen. So I have some information on the DOG park. So in 2018, the state and this is all on the DOG park task webpage too. So also in 2018, the state and foundation a nonprofit organization that supports the development of enclosed DOG parks in Massachusetts awarded the town a 25,000 design grant to play in the park. The state and foundation recently gave another grant for 225,000 to fund 90% of the DOG parks for hard construction costs, including labor and materials. So in the fall of 2021, the Amherstown council authorized an additional 75,000 to cover unexpected costs related to protection of the landfill cap. So the other funds came from CPA, which I believe was, let me just find it now. So it wasn't CDBG, it was CPA and I just saw it and I think it was like 90,000 maybe. Ouch, that's a lot of money. Yeah, I stand corrected. For sure, I'm sorry, but it is. Amherstown in February 2018 Amherstown meeting authorized $90,000 in CPA funds. So that's what it was, it was 90,000 authorized by town meeting through CPA funds. I'm just gonna grab some water, I'm very thirsty. So I'll be right. No worries, thank you for checking that out. So... It's one comment very quickly, isn't the town employee supposed to maintain the DOG park too? So we need to, that's the resources, town's resources going to DOG park. And then we're here begging for BIPOC cultural center. Where is the equity? Where is the equity? Absolutely, thank you, thank you. And as I shared their CDBG, their document, we're not even on the list in terms of priorities for 2022. And so, for those of you who haven't participated in like the budgeting process, I know we bring our different experiences, but as a community, it's important for us to get those, you know, let them know what our priorities are and to submit that. I know that, excuse me, a leg, Barbara and Ms. Pat and some others in the community have participated in trying to, you know, basically talk to the town council, send a proposal, a letter about what are the community's priorities and how the money could be spent or shifted even for the, you know, the year's budget. So I'm suggesting, and this is only one part of the process, that as we meet together as a group, that we begin to try to figure out on behalf of this committee and representative body, you know, for people in the community, what should those priorities be? Based on, and we need only look back, like San Cosa, you look back to move forward at CSWG and what they laid out. This is the moment in which we as the CSSJC committee can begin trying to figure out how are these items to be funded? How are these items to be funded? So, and we can, of course, propose it, make suggestions, but eventually it would have to go and get voted on through the town council. So that's just one way. Any other thoughts in terms? I know we have the other ones to discuss, ARPA, CDBG funds, particularly to, when you were saying DEI department, and I wanted to pick up on that, Ms. Pat, you said that the DEI department, and I'm gonna say this is D saying it deserves, an assistant, right? That would be responsible for more of the kind of office managing type of secretarial calendaring, I'd imagine type of things. Yeah. Okay. So that would be something to add there. And then youth and BIPOC center, we've written so much about that, both my group, the CSWG, the research that has gone into the youth and the BIPOC centers, how to fund that, right? And then the translation services that have yet to be fully actualized and realized in terms of town council Zoom meetings for one. Which is the larger meetings, but then other meetings that would be important to, non-English speakers, but in general to people in the community, right? And then we have other services listed, what might be those other services as well? Are there other things that, again, within the purview of the legacy of the CSWG, but also as CSSJC, I can think of something which would be what I guess a workshop pertaining to the rights of residents when confronted by the police, different workshops like that. Anything else? Yes, I hope people understand that when we said BIPOC cultural center, we're not just talking about physical space. We're also talking about staffing. We're talking about vehicle. We're talking about delivery of social services. This center will be the center where, if people are going through hardship, they can access the emergency fund. Yes, housing voucher I think is wonderful. However, there are people that will rather pay their rent or their mortgage and then be behind in their medical bill or other stuff. So I think we need to reimagine what emergency funding should be instead of making only for housing. Like it could be, emergency fund could be different thing for different people. So it would be like a center where people get the help they need or referral or whatever. So it's not just physical space. There has to be a psych coordinator and we lay all that out in our CSWG report. So I just want to put that out and also going back to Cress, it has to be 24 seven. And if we're talking about equity, let's look at how APD is funded. I expect, in order for Cress not to fail, they need financial support very strongly. And I don't see it right now. So do they even have a vehicle? Does Cress have a vehicle? Do we know that? To go out for calls, how is that working out? So it's harder for them to get a electric vehicle at this point and I think they were pushing for a hybrid. So because we have to do it through the way we have to do it, which I can give more of a definition of that, but there's a process to how a municipality has to make a purchase such as a vehicle. And so they're all on hold, like not on hold, they're just not here yet. And so they will be using vehicles from the fire department, I believe, has extra vehicles in the meantime. And then we also have the town electric vehicle that they've been utilizing. So they do have a way to get around that's not their own vehicle. Thank you. So to follow up real quick, Ms. Pat on CDBG, is there, since you attended that meeting, is there a possibility of getting one of the chairs or someone from that group to maybe attend one of our meetings and to talk about possibilities for the youth and BIPOC centers and how potentially something like that could be funded through CDBG? I'm just trying to think of what's the followup to this. Okay, so my understanding is that they make recommendation to the town. They don't actually select. So when they had their public forum that day, that's what I had expected for the Chamber of Commerce to do, for example, with the money they got for businesses, like a public forum. And so different organization came and presented what they would like to access the funds. So they would take all those application that people put in and then forward it to the town or something like that. Yeah, so I'm not sure if it's productive to invite the chair to come because it's not them that make the decision. They make recommendation and forward it. Correct me if I'm wrong, Jen. That's my understanding that night. So organizations put in a proposal which the deadline is October 15th. So if this group would like to make a proposal for anything that deadline is coming up quickly. And from what I saw, I went to that meeting too because I'm VP of the Amherst Survival Center Board. And so from my understanding, that was my first meeting too. So from what I understood was people were going there just to kind of lay an outline, but it seems like it's perpetually the same group which I'm not saying that these social service agencies don't deserve that money, but it looks and it appears that it's the same five to 10 groups every year. So it looks like there could be room. And I'm gonna say that there's probably other people who are looking at that funds too. So if this group would like to put in a proposal for CDBG funds or a request for CDBG funds, not that I didn't think that it was strong, I just think you need a very strong solid plan. Because obviously, and this year, I think the funds are for, they're being, usually it's a year to year, but this year it's two years. And so they, you'll get the funding for two years all in one shot, and then you don't get any more funds for another two years. So I think that's the way that the state is moving forward with CDBG allocations. Yeah, if I, thank you for that. If I may add, I believe that the town can also put in proposal. So if we already have town grant writers, why can't they work with us and put in the proposal because we're all very busy. Part of our job is not to write grants, but if we can identify, you know, if the town manager can direct the town grant writers to put in stuff for, you know. Yeah, but we don't have a town grant writer. But none, okay. Like we have the, Leah does the ARPA funds, but any grant that any department receives, it's because someone in their department applied for that grant themselves. So, you know, and I think the CDBG didn't really look at the application process, but I think at this point right now at this stage, it's an application. I'm gonna try and take a peek now. So we have other folks with their hand. Yes, you're looking at that. And maybe Allegra or Deborah to speak. Well, Allegra, did you want to go or do you want me to go? Oh, Allegra has her screen on. Go ahead, Allegra. I just, I pulled up the link from the packet that was sent. So the 2022, 23 application process. So the non-social service priorities and the social service priorities. So, I mean, youth services and development is under there. So I don't know if this is something that we think we wanna move forward with if looking at that category and thinking about the youth center would be a more aligned recommendation for a CDBG. I keep on feeling like I'm saying it wrong. CDBG proposal. But then that begs the question of like who would actually be writing an application for this. And I guess my other question, and these are just questions that I'm like throwing into the environment because I don't know that anyone in this meeting has the answer, but do they fund things that are like more startups or like to get something off the ground or do you have to be kind of an established thing already? Would be my question. I mean, my understanding of CDBG is it's project base. So whatever you need it for that project those funds could see in theory be available. I'm not, you know, that's how I understood CDBG is that it's project base. So the Youth Empowerment Center is a project, right? Right. To get it going. And also BIPOC Cultural Center is social services. Yeah. So I think, you know, it should be eligible for funding. Well, wait, wait, but I mean, I have my hand up. Yes, yes, yes. I need to kind of interject over here. Yes. So CSWG, we made recommendations to the town to create the Youth Empowerment, to create the BIPOC. So I don't know how it's now falling on us to go, you know, apply and write a grant to give money to the town to create what we have sent for them to create. That's not our responsibility. The responsibility is for the town to do this work and to find the money to do this. So how is it now? Because I'm not understanding, I guess, CBBG or what have you. I'm not understanding this because I'm not gonna sit around going to write grant applications to fund a program that the town's supposed to be finding money for. So I guess enlighten me because I'm confused right now. Well, I mean, there is that part of it that, you know, you guys are an advisory. You make a recommendation and, you know, some people would say it is up to the town to find out where those funds are gonna come from. That that's not your perspective. And then there's the other piece of it that you could look at it through the lens of, right, but you don't want them to come back and say, well, we just don't have the funds, whether you know that they're there or not. I mean, I don't have a clear response to that because it could just go back and forth. Yeah, but I don't have a project, Jennifer. That's not my project. I'm not running this project, I'm not doing it. I mean, I think we're overstepping bounds if we're gonna go, you know, find, go, you know, what is it, apply for a grant that I'm not running. I'm not the project manager. I'm not the anything of the youth empowerment, you know? What I did as far as CSWG was to recommend that we needed a youth empowerment, that we needed a BIPOC, that we needed vehicles for Crest, that we needed XYZ PDQ. So now, you know, CDBG has its money. So, okay, how can I guess the town get access to this money? I mean, I think that's what we need to think about, but I don't know, I don't see our role as a role to be applying for a grant. The DEI department could try it or you could lay it on the town manager, but... There you go, the DEI department. And I know that she's already spoken with Ben Breger, who is the staff liaison for the CDBG. Yeah, so that I think would be appropriate because DEI is the one that's supposed to be working with the youth empowerment and the BIPOC to a cultural and obviously Crest and stuff like that to be doing some of those things like Crest to be applying for some of that money, for vehicles and so on and so forth. I mean, it's established programs and departments within the town that need to be doing that stuff. I mean, we recommend, we don't go out and actually apply it or we ask the town to find the money, departments to find the money, but I don't see our role as going and applying for grants. Thank you, Deborah, for getting us out of the weeds because that's where I think we started and then we just started looking at all the details. It's to make the recommendation for the DEI, Crest, the town council, because we are not program heads. We are not trying to run a program. So it is our guidance and suggestions and trying to push them to do this, but we shouldn't be applying for it. There's no place for a committee to then be over the youth empowerment center. So we're here to try to make it happen. So thank you for that. Yeah, and I think we can support the DEI because this deadline's coming up. So my thing is, and thank you, Ms. Pat and Dee for bringing this forward and putting on the agenda, we wouldn't even know that this is happening and that the deadline's coming up. Why don't we know, you see what I'm saying? So that then the DEI and Crest and all the other departments too that are BIPOC focused, LGBTQ focused, so on, so with focus so that they can apply for that, right? They need to know this information so they can apply for that funding and we can support them in order to do so, right? So would we see our role in this committee as kind of maybe sending like a memo to Crest and DEI saying, hey, don't know if you are aware of this, but this CBDG is a thing. It's got an application, the deadline's coming up. Maybe this could be a source of funding for Crest and or DEI initiatives. You might want to take a look at it. Absolutely. Cause I absolutely agree. You know, it's, well, what are we gonna do once we've applied for $500,000, like sit on it because we don't have a project. And the thing is, is that CSWG and the other entities that CSWG hire to do the research that research to support those grant or ask is already there. So, you know, that work has already taken place in terms of like, well, you need some research to back it up usually for a proposal. Okay, well, they just have to go back to those reports and that research is there. So Ms. Pat. So this discussion is necessary and useful. At the same time, frustrating for me and sad that a whole town of Ames doesn't have grant writer at all but we have a development director, economic development director to benefit, you know, big because they're the property owners that's yeah, economic development director. Budget, you know, was budgeted for that we don't have grant writer. And again, this is equity issue. When we talk about Cress, first of all, it's underfunded. I wouldn't support, you know, for Cress or DEI to be going after grant writing. I think our committee as an advisory committee should push for a town-wide grant writer so that if we identify source of revenue we'll have that person or even two people to the grant writers. I don't think we should add additional work on DEI and Cress. And these are BIPOC led departments. Okay, let's see APD. They're well funded. You know, there's a board that I sit on that, oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Pat, you go ahead and stop. I'm almost done. So I'm looking at this from equity lens and it will be overworking our DEI staff and also our Cress staff. The town need to get grant writer to do this. And like Deb said, it's not our responsibility to write grants. Our role is to make recommendation, support DEI and Cress period. And this is what we're trying to do because they're not, you know, the staff, the administrators are not going to do it. This is what we are meant to be doing. Like supporting these two departments by saying, no, they should not write the grant because they are underfunded. The town should get a grant writer to do it. Thank you. So should, then we are making a recommendation. We're going to send an email, memo, however you want to phrase it. The town manager. To the town manager. Yes. To ask for a grant writer, right? Yeah, to write to that CDBG, yes. In lieu of that. Just in general. Because I think the only thing is. In general, yes. So Ms. Pat, I'm sorry. But the only thing is, is that we're going to miss the deadline. There's a problem. The deadline's October 15th. You know that that's going to take forever. Yeah. I mean, so that just falls on us for now, right? Yeah, but that's going to take forever in a day for them to hire someone. And so then you miss the deadline. Consultant, consultant. If I want grant, I hire consultant in my business to write it for me. I can't do everything. So let the town hire consultant to write the grant when I say hi, Erin. I don't mean like right away, get an employee. Get consultant to write the grant on behalf of DEI and Cress. It's what I'm saying. I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear in the beginning. Thank you. So I'm going to just push back on that knowing because when I was hired by the town, how long it takes for that process to occur. So I'm going to be with Deborah on that. Is going to miss the deadline. But what I'm going to suggest as the co-chair here and maybe put this out to the group, if we write to DEI and alert them to these deadlines and that we would like to see some type of proposal submitted to CDBG on behalf of those two projects the Youth Empowerment Center and the BIPOC Multicultural Center. Now we can make the request to the town manager, but that's something that's probably further in the future in terms of it being actionable. The shorter route, if they agree that they could take it on is to write to DEI and see if they could write something up, a proposal. I worry about burnout. That's what I worry about. We're not going to get burnt out. We got it. I mean, I'm just trying to stay in like positive about it. So there's already been conversations about it. So we'll just continue those on. Right. And the research, like I said, the research if I was a grant writer in another life the research is already there. So when you write a proposal, you write a grant you need that research to try to substantiate what's the need, right? Well, the CSWG put the need out there, you know they did the research, they wrote up the need. So that's already captured in that report. It's to now make the request. Okay. So that's my vantage point. If we agree at the end of all this to do that then I guess Allegra and I'd be willing to write something up. Yes. I would just add Crest 2 to also apply for anything else that they need like vehicles and whatever else that they need in terms of their, you know the resources they need to be fully, hopefully funded and resourced. Okay. Thank you. Allegra? I keep on like going backwards and I apologize but I'm looking at ARPA one last time and I'm realizing that there are $30,000 allotted for public health support translations. So I'm wondering why we couldn't get some money for translation from ARPA under say like the category of provision of government services translating meetings since COVID has made us meet remotely. Why can't we then provide access to those meetings translated through ARPA funds which are supposed to have some sort of COVID impact. So sorry that I backtracked, but I'm just realizing. No, that's a great idea. Yeah. It's a great idea. Now that is something in terms of trying to distribute the responsibilities here. That's something DEI, I would imagine would write for. I'm asking you Allegra, is that how you imagine that or is that press or? So back, so I'm on the affordable housing trust as well and back in last year sometime when they were when they got this amount of ARPA funds, Sean came to one of our meetings and kind of asked for suggestions from us around what kinds of resources were needed for housing. And at the time, I believe it was around the period maybe where CSWG was not functioning anymore but before CSSJC had started. So I don't know if this might actually be a time where we could try and put a memo in and just say, hey, I know you looked into other committees for their input and we weren't a committee yet but why aren't ARPA funds being used for general translation services? So as Sean Magano you're saying? Yeah. About it? Or and the town manager, I mean, because I think, I think, because it was both of them that came to the meeting and we gave them a list of things that we thought would be helpful in terms of housing so forth. And OK, Ms. Pat. So I just want to think else, Ms. Pat. Very quickly, I just want to talk along what you said, Allegra. So I was following the ARPA fund stuff because I, you know, I'm very good on finance and everything. And yes, CSWG was forced to dissolve, I sure can remember them, right? And then this our group was not created and there was a huge vacuum because if we had this group would have been, you know, advocated for funding for what we're discussing now but it's good that we're doing it than never done, you know. So that's the consequences of the town not creating this group much, much earlier and then nine million dollars have already been distributed and there is no BIPOC cultural center and no youth center. That's the consequence. So I want people to know there is consequences when people of color are neglected. This is this is part of it. Agreed. So on the website, actually, that you brought us to, Allegra, it's November 4th. Looks like that the applications are due back to the town staffer. Is that the CDBG? Yeah, for CDBG. So not October 12th. Is that correct, Jen? I mean, I'm going to go back and look again. I left that page for something else but I was under the impression for some reason that the application deadline was October 15. And of course, I, you know, I could be wrong. I mean, it looks here like it says November 4th. So a little bit more time, if that's the case. We need a clarification, but if that's the case, we have a little bit more time, which is good. But those departments, Cress and DEI, have a little bit more time. Yeah, but see, I just, it is November 4th back to town staff or due back to town staff. I don't fully understand what that means, but I am also just a little bit concerned because RFP is issued and sent out to the agencies. So is it by invitation only? I'll find out and then I'll send you guys an email tomorrow. Like I'll just go straight to Ben tomorrow because I'm trying to figure it out too. And I, you know, I don't want to tell anyone misinformed information, but I also don't want us to miss anything. Yeah, sounds good. Thank you. If you could get back to us about it, appreciate it, because then we'll know how to write our memos. Anything else under CDBG? If not, we can move on to Victim Compensation Fund. Okay, this will be like five minutes. So basically, we all know what happened on July 5th and this case is still suffering and their families, you know, it's the start of the school. Some of them have no resources to deal with the emotional trauma they've been through, like counseling and therapy. And I feel this is such a priority if we're really, if we want to support this families and their kids. So I would like us to come up with a proposal that we can submit to the manager and to the town council. If somebody wants to volunteer with me to put something together for next meeting for the Victim Compensation Fund. And I'm looking at APA fund for that because I don't think APD will not release any money. You know, for this, ideally I would like it to be APD but they have power, they wouldn't allow it. So I do suggest that you speak with Pamela because she ran the one in Springfield, or something very similar to the one in Springfield. So I know that she is working to some degree. She knows that this is something that you guys have been talking about. So I do suggest that you speak to her. And my only concern with funding anything through APA funds is when APA funds runs out, what happens? That's, you know, I'm all for using stuff for APA funds but they do run out at some point and they won't be, we won't get more after a certain point of time. So I just do worry about setting specific stuff up using APA funds unless we have a funding stream for them otherwise. So my idea of the APA fund is to do these kids and their families right, right away. But I would like to see the vector compensation fund be part of annual budget funding for our town. Eventually, it's my thinking. So if that makes sense to people, but these kids need to get help ASAP. It's a priority, it needs to happen very quickly. They're struggling, they're having nightmares. They feel that the AMS police is, you know, looking behind, you know, they're looking behind their back. They don't feel emotionally safe. This is our kids, regardless of race. We need to do something now. Thank you. Thank you. I do know that sometimes APA funds, well, APA funds are being used in the school district now in terms of extra counselors, I believe, were hired. Say that again, Ms. Pat. Oh, go ahead. The kids don't want to get counseling through the school system. They will right now choose their own set up piece. Yeah. Right, right. But that's what I'm saying. So maybe in terms of APA funds, which are not continual, but could be used now to provide counseling, individualized counseling or with their families if preferred. Of their own choosing. The families need to, you know, decide where to get the help. You know, it doesn't have to come through. The town cannot direct anyone to any therapist. Exactly. The family needs to choose. It's confidential help, whatever that help means to, you know, it will be different from families to families. But, you know, let the families take the power back to themselves. Let them decide who, you know, how they want to heal from the harm caused by APD. Right. Yeah. Right. Thank you. Yeah. So, yes, Deborah. Deborah. So, yeah, I think along those lines, I guess I have two questions. One will be for Jennifer because Ms. Pat, what you're saying is exactly right. I mean, we need to set that up. But again, timing is going to be an issue in terms of that. And you're right, you know, these young people and the families are hurting now. So my question to the town is what can we do now? You know, is there an emergency fund? Is there something where we could tap money now to provide to these families? Because we know that these families have been hurt. You know, I mean, Ms. Parity said they're writing a narrative in terms of all the pain and hurt that they've had to go through. And we were able to witness that through those 54 seconds or 53 seconds that happened. I mean, never mind whatever else happened that night. You see what I'm saying? So what Jennifer, if you know, or if we need to contact and that would be a question for the town manager, what can be done now? And in addition, right, using our funds to set up, you know, do a victim proposal in regards to that. So I think we need to kind of like, you know, figure that out. And also it's not going to be just counselors, right? Because the young people that went through this, you know, they might not be able to do their classes. So they need accommodations in the schools. They might not be able to do their job. So they need accommodations at their job, right? These are young people that I'm sure have worked after school or have worked on weekends. And what if the trauma is impacting them in different ways? So we're looking at possibly, you know, when we're talking about a victim's compensation fund, it's not just the fund. It's in terms of a person that will be there to really assist, you know, families and people that are impacted by the police to be able to kind of deal with the ramifications. It's a ripple effect, right? Of a bunch of different things that impact them. What if they're just at home not being able to do anything, right, because of the trauma? So, you know, I think we need to kind of branch out and we're talking about the victim compensation fund to make sure that it encompasses all the resources that they need to get. But I guess back to my question, any emergency fund, anything that we can tap right now? Jennifer, do we need to ask our manager? I would say there's, you know, there's, there are funds somewhere, right? But I am not necessarily qualified to say that. So I will check in with Paul and see what Aang and Sean to see as one of the questions for Sean is, is there something that we can do now? And that, you know, if the nine children feel like they want to go to therapy, if we, you know, we don't have to, I couldn't imagine why we would have to pick out a therapist. We would just have to pay the therapist, right? And that's something we're asking for. Yeah, actually, when I, oh, go ahead, I'm sorry. No, I just wanted to follow up, just finish up. And this is something that, you know, in terms of the town, obviously, you know, going at like molasses in terms of, you know, a response, this could be an actual response of help and support, right? If the town will put their money where the mouth is and really just funds therapists or whatever else that these young people and families might need right now. So actually, my thinking of this compensation fund is not for the town to pay for therapists directly. No, we need to rethink how, what healing means to different people. I think, you know, there has to be a certain amount of money paid out to these families for them to heal. So if they, you know, they can use it, they can use it for therapy, they can use it, whatever they want to that will help the family as a unit to heal. It's not for the town to send a check to different therapists. No, we're not doing that, pay up the families. I think it's a more positive way to start healing than litigation because if some of these families, you know, I imagine if it's like upper middle class or middle class, they would have loyal doubt. I know I would have loyal doubt. So let's go to a more positive resolution of this. Pay up the families and let them use the money to heal themselves, whatever that means. Thank you. Do we have an, I mean, I just trying to bring it to Paul. So is there an amount that you have in mind? Do you want to check that with the families? I didn't check with the families. I don't have an exact amount, but I can definitely reach out to them this week. Is there an amount they're asking for so they can get help? As we know, therapy is very expensive, you know, a hundred bucks an hour or something. You know, it's very, very expensive, but it's just like an example. You know, it impacts parents in their job performance in their parenting and running their household when their kids, you know, are so worried that they've been targeted so many, many, many times. So I would like to see money paid out to the families and not tell the families what they, what they should spend the money on. No, we're not doing that. That's not empowering the families. Allegra and then Freke. I guess I'm bringing it back to ARPA again, but what's that $500,000 for mental health services doing? I mean, is that an area from the current ARPA funds that are allocated for mental health services that it could be tapped into? I'm not prescribing any sort of amount to any family, but I'm just wondering if that would be a reasonable place to make a more direct request since it is, again, listed as one of the service categories that we are funding through ARPA. And so that would go through DEI or are quite a crest or town manager in terms of asking about the $500,000 to be used potentially for mental health services for this specific reason. Well, I guess just to kind of piggyback on if Jen was going to talk to Paul and Pat was going to talk to the families and relay that information to Jen. Perhaps that could, if that seems appropriate, perhaps that could be harder. We still have $2 million that have not been spent yet. Right. $2 million. That's where I'm looking at. The unallocated money, $2 million. And I hear you, Allegra, about the $500,000 I will assume is for crest program. I don't know. I can't assume anything. I don't know. Okay. Thank you. Freke. I think the conversation as it is is still a bit hasty. I think what we could do is wait to hear from the families and the kids who were part of that incident in July. This relates to what Jennifer had said, which is it'd be good to hear from them what they've experienced and what they might be interested in before jumping ahead of them, whether it's in terms of giving some lump sum or whatever it is, I think what we could do is first of all, hear from them and then from that case, we'll know what is reasonable or unreasonable to request or ask from the town. I think with regard to the with regard to the bigger fund, the compensation fund, my position, which is consistent as soon as soon as we need to speak with those who have worked in this area, I know a bit more, and then we won't be shooting in the dark, but we would have a better sense of what we are asking for and what we can achieve. So for example, I'm hearing about this Apple fund, but just as was mentioned, that's something that will run out. So again, I think we need to determine the scope, speak to those who have worked in this area and then come up with something that would be more tangible and possibly effective if we need to do that. I don't, thank you. Okay. Thank you, Miss Pat. So thank you for a key. Actually, you're right that, you know, we need to hear from the family as a matter of fact, the letter is ready. And I would like to request that our coach here. Do you show us? Read it. Check your text message. Okay. So they, it's, it's ready. If people want to hear it now, just to save time. Then I will eventually email it to the human right commission. I'm sorry, what is it? It's a letter from the families. They seem to. It's written. Yeah. A letter. And I mean, I can read it just so we can have a separate letter. I can read it just so we can have a sense of, I guess what would be useful in this instance is to get a sense of where the families are because we haven't heard from them. So with you all's permission, I'll go ahead and. I got your email. Yeah. Okay. So I'm going to read it. This is what the families are saying. It seems it has been a little over two months since two armed in the uniform. Amherst police officers responded to a noise complaint at a working class apartment complex. As many were setting settling in from independent state festivities, police with their cruisers and flashing lights pulled into the apartment complex parking lot. Found a group of young teens to assert their power and authority and deprived them wrongfully of their constitutional rights. The teens were instructed to sit on the pavement and in a row like suspects in a police lineup. Of the nine youth involved six are black and Latino. They're, they are our sons. Try to put yourself in our son's shoes. They were simply visiting and congregating in a friend's parking lot to provide accompaniment and comfort in a distressing or unfortunate time. When they were, when they heard a friend was stuck with a flat tire. This is what grownups call mutual aid. They weren't going anywhere until that friend's problems were resolved. Our sons were, were the wrong color at the wrong time. Or some who have lived here longer than the ages of our boys will tell it like it is that our color has always been the wrong color for Amherst. And based on color have always and will forever be a target, a target of unfair punishment, interrogation, detention and harassment. Our children have been traumatized, not by brutal physical force, but by the blood force of racism and the suffocation of racial, racial profiling that they have witnessed and now have experienced themselves over and over again. We look forward to continuing solidarity work with the community, safety and social justice committee to achieve our goals of protecting our children, their identities and their future. So this was from one of the, the parents. On behalf, actually it's a group of parents. And I got it. And in a draft that I was instructed to have it read tonight. So I delegated to. The issue of as well as the culture to read it tonight. There might be some edits or updates. And when it's finally ready, I will email it to a human right commission. So you're hearing, you just heard, you know, from the horses mouth, the youth and their children. Thank you, Ms. Pat. Right. Okay. You have your hand up. Thank you. Thanks for. Reading that message, which came from them. I think this is the first time we've had. An opportunity to hear from. Another party. In that incident, but again. I think it raises a number of questions, but from that event. But also right now. So for example, how do you square. What was given in the reports last time and what we have. At this time. How do we actually get that, that's something to. Consider, but. Also it raises the question of. What appearance writing this. Or is it. All of the parents. Most of the parents. Most is. An inconclusive number. So five out of the nine. And so. That leaves for what's. What they have to add. To what has been said at the moment. So again, this is why I say we are being hasty. It would be good. To get. A bit more. They're having a start. You know, we had the reports. We discovered that it was incomplete. Now we have this. And we can build on that to get more as we go. Now I also recognize. That time. Is an issue. And so we can get to 100% of what we need. To know what I would. Again. Not to be hasty, but to see as many voices as we can have in the situation as complicated as this one. But thank you again. Thank you. Deborah. Thank you. So I mean, me first, I just want to thank the families obviously for coming together and writing that letter that was very brave of them. Because, you know, we know how intimidating it is. Standing up and sharing. What transpired with the police as, you know, as they reminded us to armed police people showed up. And, you know, and put in and had the young people sitting down the pavement like they were on the lineup. You know, and sending those messages of intimidation and power. And sending that message. Of course, I want to commend these parents for being brave to, to, to, to share, you know, their stories. And I want to invite them, you know, obviously with us being supportive. And obviously, you know, they're writing this to the human rights commission because last time that's what we determined, right? Would be the place to go. But you are, you are right. I mean, though, that, that report needs to be updated. But even though I don't even know what the point of that report is, though, I mean, maybe the police report needs to be updated or whatever, because, you know, again, that report for me is neither here nor there. I don't even know what the function of that report was, but to again, kind of exonerate the police. So, so my thing with this, though, is, you know, we've heard from them. You know, I hear you freckled. We still need to hear from others if they feel safe to do so. We cannot. We cannot just say that we need to hear from the other four. Maybe the other four don't feel safe to come forward. Maybe they feel like they're going to get penalized or they're going to get targeted further in this town, which can end up happening. So we can't wait until the other four. To come forward, you know, before we act, we need to act, you know, even with this. So the town can act with what they stated, especially in terms of providing resources and support for these families and young people that are already suffering. Thank you. Miss Pat. Thank you, Deborah. And thank you for a key. For me, because I know that I have a lot of people who are in the community. Thank you, Deborah. And thank you for a key. For me, because I have intimate information and some of the families, I think. For those who were able to put this together, I have great admiration for them. It doesn't matter if it's one or two parents that wrote. I think we need to honor that. And I think it's important to me that sufficient. We don't know the reasons why other parents don't want to, but it could be that. There's Austin. They're afraid. You know, to insist to have all the night parents is re-victimizing. All the kids. Why do we need to hear from nine of them? Maybe they don't want to. For whatever reason. It's very distressing to feel like, because we don't have all the night people. Maybe we're not ready yet to move forward. Maybe, you know, they're not, you know, it's not the right time for them to do it. Maybe they will do it in the future. Please. Please, for the sake of humanity. Empathy. These families who have gathered courage to put this, we need to move forward. To have the APD, combine the whole thing, report from Human Rights Commission, everything we need an update. And these kids needs to heal and their family. And the town needs to pay up. Period. In order for our town to heal individual. Kids and their families, they need to heal first. When we're talking about healing, we need to talk as much as we want. If we don't, you know, if we don't just support for this youth and their families, anything we are doing is just window dressing. It's all talk talk. I don't believe in too much talk talk talk. People who know me know that part like action. You know, let's talk. We can talk as much as we want. If we don't, you know, that part like action, you know, let's act. Let's keep moving. That's what that's how CSWG was highly effective. Action, action. We need to get stuff going, not talk talk talk. We don't have time for that. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I think it's important that we center BIPOC voices. And these youth, what we have learned from the past two years with CSWG, the research with my group and then the outside group that was also brought in is that people, people of color, people where English is not the first language, where people don't have the legal citizenship to protect them. They don't feel safe here. We have that from qualitative research. We have it from, you know, we can bring anecdotal evidence and just conversations, but we have this instance. Where it was fully. Demonstrated. Dramatized. And when you see the makeup of the Amherst nine, it's actually a microcosm of. Our youth here. There's what is the 20 some odd percent now. Of BIPOC youth in the school district. It has grown tremendously. That's where our diversity is. And it seems that our police force and the town. Has not caught up with. The needs. And the issues. And the, and the distrust. So the healing goes back to the healing. That people of color in this community live with on a daily basis. And this was, but one instance, there are a couple of youth in this group that I also know. This is, this has happened not just once, but a couple of times, three times. So this isn't something like, oh, it was a one-off incident. This is happening to these youth as they grow up in this community, continually. So, before we get to you, Phillip, Phillip, you had your hand up. Down, I guess. Oh, okay. All right. I just want to say thank you. So are you. With. Am I here? We can't hear you. You're going in and out a little bit. That's weird. I just want to say thank you for having me now or no, that's better. Okay. I want to say thank you, Miss Pat, for having that connection with the families and the youth really appreciate that. And I want to say thank you to the families for writing this letter and coming out. And as a co-chair of the human rights commission, definitely welcome the letter and. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to extend. Further in an investigational standpoint with. What transpired and how we can push. APD and other related. Town organizations into. Further investigation than what's currently being done. I would say. I would say. I would say. I would say. I would say. In. Of the letter to be edited or not. If we could get. More on. What's the perspective of. The children's understanding of being told you have no right. And. Being detained and not being able to call parents. That also. I would say. I would say. This is coming from the horse's mouth. This is how they felt in that moment. No one else can. Create that narrative or speak on that. Other than. What is felt. By the youth. And if we have that in writing and have that. To be able to be pushed. I think would also be. I greatly appreciate what is done. I am just simply giving more to. To the youth. To the youth. To the youth in writing and writing. I think that would be helpful as well. I agree, Phillip. You know, knowing what they, what they felt at that moment, not to re traumatize them, but at least get a sense of what was happening and how they felt. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the perspective. I don't think anything I said. to push those who didn't want to speak to speak. I was simply pointing to the fact that if you have nine people and five speak, it can't be supposed that the five are speaking for those who haven't spoken. That's what I just wanted to mention. And that leaves room then to consider if there is an additional perspective. And there are a lot of reasons why that perspective might be missing. And there are reasons, numerous reasons why those others might keep silent. And I think we can all respect whether it chooses to do so. But I just want to clarify if it ever came across as I wanted it to be unanimity with the nine, that's not my intention, but simply we need a broader picture. Thanks. Appreciate that. Okay, so then on that, we're talking about the victim funds. It sounds like Jen has given us some information that Pam Young is investigating, possibility of how to do that, how to set that up because she did that in Springfield, you said. Did I hear that correctly? She did do that in Springfield. And so she would be a good resource for those perspective, for that. So that's something that, in our memo, I have like four different things to send memos about, but to ask and inquire about how something like that might be set up, including the 500,000 in mental health that was ARPA funds. And then you're saying, Ms. Pat, but there's also the 2 million that has not been spent. Yes, there is, yeah. And I hope the 2 million that has not been spent, some of them can go towards our retailers and restaurant owners in town. Yes. Okay. And do you know, when you talk about 2 million that hasn't been spent, that's not specifically in ARPA funds. Are those part of the... It is in ARPA funds, I'm assuming it will be second round, where we, the 9 million plus is first round funding. So that is 2 million left. So it says, J.C. should request to put a pause on that. So that our group can recommend to the town and the town council what the rest of the 2 million could be allocated for. Great, thank you. Because I know that there's also quite a bit in the miscellaneous funds in the town that bills each year. There's this miscellaneous pot of funds that, you know, sometimes... I don't know if it's called free cash. I know that it's listed under miscellaneous. So I don't know if Jen has a quality, can clarify or we just need to get some more clarification. But that's something we can look at in terms of the larger budget, just where that's coming from. That's enough for me to say, okay, in the memo, this is 2 million in the ARPA funds. Anything else that we can do with ARPA funds? Anything else? We are now at the end of our agenda here. Oh, I'm sorry, Deb. Yes. Yeah, I mean, I think just to, and you probably already have that, but just like, you know, what we had discussed in terms of asking the town manager whomever in terms of emergency funds or what funds to give the money to the families so that we can make sure to do that. And then in terms of the victim compensation, in terms of maybe a way to go, Ms. Pat, might be since Pamela already had worked in that, maybe she could kind of present something to us at the next meeting. And then we could kind of start there as opposed to us maybe, you know, trying to recreate the wheel if she has that information. Maybe we can start with her and then go from there. So that would be then an agenda item you're suggesting for next time to talk about. Ask her about victim compensation funds. Yeah, exactly. That and obviously, you know, next time to a report from DEI, right? About all the other issues, anything else they want to update us on, but yeah, the victim compensation would be something we'd want included in the report. Okay. All right, so now we're, thank you. So real quick, I can tell you what we've covered here. So ARPA funds, to inquire about the ARPA funds and the use of funds to businesses in general to get an actual report, how much, where did it go into whom? Because it was not obviously dispersed to BIPOC businesses. We just wanted accounting of that. So that's one, like a report having to do with that. The other is, go ahead, is there clarification on that? Okay. And then we're, of course, inquiring about that 500,000 with the town manager specifically. Is that correct? We talked about, yes, that it would be specifically with the town manager. What is happening with that? What's the plans for that? We have some suggestions. One of them being, you know, mental health services specifically for the Amherst 9. So, and then the CDBG have DEI and Cress make requests for transportation, for fully funding Cress, for the BIPOC Center and the Youth Empowerment Center. Okay. I just got thrown off with the transportation piece. Or human translation, or did you say transportation? No, for vehicles. Well, they have the funds for vehicles. Oh, they do. They're just, they're like back-ordered. Okay, so we, all right. Because of the process that they're waiting for them. All right, good. So translation would be good too. I don't know where that is, but I can definitely replace that. Okay. Yeah, let's add that. Let's add that translation. I just added it. So, and then make a request to the town manager about a grant writer. We need a grant writer. And to also include an assistant for DEI that there should be someone, you know, to do more of the scheduling, secretarial office manager type of thing. So they don't get in with too much. Okay. And then, well, we already did the ARPA funds. Well, we would like a report from Sean Magano. I don't know. Are we going to submit questions? It was suggested that we submit questions to Sean Magano pertaining to the, you know, again, how ARPA funds are being used. Is that something we want to pursue? Yes. And is that something that to not violate meeting law? We should all send our questions only to Jen and the co-chairs or just to Jen. And Jen can compile them or... So Jen. I thought we already had the questions. Today, we're only focused on business community. I have questions with other funding too. Oh, with other funding. For clarifications. Yeah, I have lots of questions. Okay. So send our questions to Jen and Jen. Do we have deadline? Yeah. Can Jen compile all the questions and then just send the list to the whole committee? Or is that violating the meeting law? No, I will compile them and then send them to you guys so that you can make sure that your question was answered. The only thing I would say is please don't reply all. And that they're not duplicated. And I send it if you have the corrections. Well, yeah, that's why I would take those out, but... Can we set like deadline? We can send questions to Jen. So can we set a deadline for next Tuesday or Wednesday? And this is specifically having to do with the ARFA funds because CDBG is handled by someone else or would it be appropriate to also send to Sean McGonough questions about CDBG? No, CDBG is through the planning department. Right. So just, so simply to do with ARFA. And if you check out all those links that were sent, you can actually see on, it gives you a snapshot of the reports and different things like that. So send your questions to Jen. Let's go ahead and set that by Tuesday. Is that reasonable for everyone? Okay. Okay, so I think that's it. And to ask about the two million and we're asking about the two million to the town manager. To the town manager. Can I go back to finance director? Do we need to let him know when we would like to hear back from him or do we expect his response to be part of the packet in our next meeting? I would think so. I mean, he can usually, you know, this is his wheel out. So he can usually respond pretty quickly to things. So I think then it's important to have him then by Tuesday so that he'll spend some time in the questions and send the responses in a report for the next meeting. But, and I will just, as soon as I have them, I will just send the responses. I'll just send them to you guys. I won't, it doesn't have to go in the packet. I'll send them directly to you. Cool, cool, cool. Anything else to add to that? I'll just email Pat D'Angeles about the, I'll forward her the email that I sent to Lynn so that that can get on the town council agenda for the latest report. Yes, thank you. I'm speaking it out loud so I remember double the lulling ground and sometimes if I don't write things down and wrap things up it loses. Agreed, agreed. Okay, so next agenda. Next agenda will encompass the police. Hopefully we'll have more of accounting from the police having to do with the July 5th incident. I wanted to report on post and I'll just do a short presentation and post is simply, excuse me, the new guidance that was created by the state having to do with policing. Part of it involves how to interact with youth. And so it also involves how to post a complaint using the post guidelines on a state level. And from what I understand or what I've seen the our local police, they are not necessarily using these new state guidelines. So I'd like to make a presentation on that and won't be very long because you could read up on it but I just wanna hit kind of the important points and how it relates to this incident, how it could have been used constructively. What else to go on the agenda for next meeting? Pat. So in our last meeting, I believe we asked the DEI director to make presentation on her proposal for the timeline for the resident oversight board. I think she's planning to do that in another meeting, not this one. So if we can put her in the agenda. Okay. So DEI timeline on Rob, a resident oversight board, yeah. Yeah, as well as the other stuff, right? You put it the victim compensation. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's already on there. It's on there. Victim compensation, hold up and you said something else, Deborah? No, just a report from what the DEI's been up to. Oh yeah, I mean. And then how, and then her report, I'm still kind of confused about that report she wrote about the police. And so now with this new information, so what's gonna happen? Is she gonna update that report? Is she not? I mean, because that report was really confusing. So we need any clarification on that. Okay, all right. So one more last thing is for me, it's not an agenda item, but there is a group of youth who are planning know your rights, training. Is it something the town should join and there's our school districts to collaborate with this group? I know we run out of time tonight, but they're planning to sponsor that. So I made some rights. So Phillip? Yeah, I'm just about to say something. Yeah, the Human Rights Commission just received an email about how they were going to co-sponsor that event. Well, I mean, and I got an email response on that and they're looking for the SSJC also to hopefully co-sponsor that event. And I think that the Human Rights Commission is trying to do a series of know your rights workshops as well too. Right. So that's great to know that it's how bodies, you know, will be collaborating with Amazon rights. That's wonderful. Okay. And so what if a press, a report from Crest? Yeah, and I would like specifically information about the noise complaint. And I understand that there's nuance in that, but I think that, you know, what I read in the newspaper is that, you know, Crest isn't going to respond because they don't want to, they can't issue fines. And I think that's great. I don't think Crest should be issuing fines. That's punitive, but I also think that that shouldn't be the go-to only response that we can have to a noise complaint. We're reimagining public safety. So what else can we do rather than just have the town get some money and not repair whatever harm the person who called the noise complaint might have and the person who is then being policed might feel. So I think I would like to hear more about how that decision was arrived at specifically as well as just kind of a general update as to the rollout and there was one other thing. I know we talked about street lights. That was the other thing that was brought up at the last meeting and the equity around how they're deciding when and where to place street lights and when and where to take street lights away. Maybe I'll look into when that's going to whatever town committee has to go to next to see if that's something that can be on a different agenda or if that's something that's being discussed by the town. Yeah, this is a hefty agenda. I wouldn't necessarily add anything else. That might be good, but that's a hefty agenda right there. Yeah. But it does bring up something that I think is within the purview of the CSSJC. We need some type of list or clarification even if it's being created while Cress is on ramping. This is what Cress handles and this is what is appropriate for APD because I've been asked by someone in transportation on the transportation committee, I guess, I don't know what it's called, but for the town does having to do with sidewalks and complaints about sidewalks and people not shoveling their walk or people having a blocked areas on their sidewalk for people unable to walk around it or whatever. Who handles those types of complaints? Obviously, we hope that those are non-threatening, non-violent type of situations, but is that appropriate for Cress? Is that appropriate for APD? Because there could be a fine involved. And again, as Allegra says, if we're reimagining public safety, couldn't that be something under the purview of Cress? So I would like some type of listing as Cress is on ramping here, trying to figure out what is appropriate for them, what is appropriate for APD, that type of thing. So I don't know if we'll get answers this meeting, but eventually I'd like to see that. If there's anything else in terms of, looks pretty hefty, but if there's something else to add, send it to Jen, to add to the agenda. Any comments? I just wanted to point out that Anna Devlin-Gautier wrote in the chat that she was one of the co-sponsors of the Street Lights proposal and it's going to town services and outreach. So I can reach out to her about a little bit more information and timelines. And I know we are beyond time, but I did say at the beginning of the meeting that we would reopen for public comment at the end of the meeting and I want to make sure that I hold my word. So there are second attendees if anyone wants to make a public comment, is that appropriate? Yes, it looks like we have one hand up. So how do we, are you going to get them in the room, Jen, or? Hi, can you hear me? Yes. Okay, this is Vera Duongmini Cage. I live at 12 Long Meadow Drive, Department 21 in Amherst. And I just wanted to comment on the discussion that you folks had about the CDBG funds and grant writing and all that. And I just wanted to say that, I've been very curious about what gets funded in this town under that because it is meant to really serve underserved communities. And I just thought sometimes the town will use it to do, for example, Pave Main Street. And Main Street is used by everybody, right? And they're able to say, we'll use CDBG funds to Pave Main Street because there are low income apartment complexes that sit on Main Street. For example, when the Amherst 9 incident took place at an apartment complex off Main Street. So, you know, let's really think about the irony of that and how CDBG funds and other funds are being used to materially benefit everyone. And how much is it really specifically meant to uplift communities that really need it, right? And so I just want to leave you with that. And also, you know, it's people who make, you know, six bigger salaries in the town, $90,000 salaries in the town. They're the ones on behalf of the town that are also submitting these proposals for CDBG funding requests. So Dave's Almak, for example, right? Has written on behalf of the town to get money to tap into CDBG funds. There are other people who are already employed in the town that are doing this work of writing proposals and obtaining grants. So it is something that we need to think about. And so I'll just, that'll be my public comment for this evening. So thank you. Thank you. Okay. All right, if there's no one else, any other topics that either chair did not reasonably anticipate 48 hours in advance of the meeting? Okay. So does someone want to make a motion to adjourn? I just have one last comment to make. Oh, yes. So I want to thank everybody for the active, you know, discussion on our tax dollar who is benefiting more. It took you all courage to speak your truth. And because we are talking about powerful people in this town and I thank you all. I know this work is not easy. I know, you know, people will come after you, develop thick skin. I'm sure that's why you're serving here. You're here, just remember what your legacy will be. Did you help move Ames into a better place? So the next generation. So I want to thank you. This is a difficult discussion that let's keep looking who is benefiting more most in this town. And then using BIPOC as leverage saying, oh, this will benefit marginalized people back when you dig deep, who is really benefiting from it. So I thank you all for tonight's discussion. I feel very encouraged even when we disagree. It's necessary. And that's why we have this group. You know what is good about this is you have majority BIPOC people, you know, besides CSWGA for the first time in this town bringing a different narrative of how we want the town that we also live to contribute to how, you know, we would like it to be. And not what it has always been. So we need to continue to do this work and be bold and courageous people will come after you. But that's okay because you're doing the right thing. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Pat. Agreed. All right, anyone wants to make a motion to adjourn? Take a motion to adjourn. Second. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Aye. See you next time. Can you just call the time, please? I need a time. Oh wait, when is the next meeting actually? The 22nd is it? I thought it was the 28th. Okay, that's another meeting. It's two Wednesdays, two Wednesdays from today. Yes, it's the 28th. That's 21st, that's the 21st. Oh, well, three. Did you all mean the 21st or did you all mean the 20th? I have the 28th. Wait, Phillip is trying to say something about the Human Rights Commission meeting. And it's hard to hear. This is on the 21st. Wait, what? Can't hear you. Again. The Human Rights Commission meets on the 21st, and that's why you guys decided to meet on the 28th. That's true, that's true. Thank you, the 28th, six o'clock, right? Okay, got it. Okay, so the meeting has been called at 847. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. See you then. Bye-bye. Goodnight.