01-03-2019WHRichfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
January 3rd, 2019
Members Present: Mark Westergaard, Debbie Eng, Carrie Chillman, Sarah Musgrave,
Ben Sunderlin, Heather Eastlund, Bob Mulcahy, Husniyah Dent Bradley, Katie
Goodemote, Bret Stursa.
Public Safety Liaison: DC Mike Flaherty
School Board Liaison: Tim Polis
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Mark Westergaard at 6:34pm.
2. Motion to approve Agenda: Deb moved to add social media support to New Business;
Sunderlin/seconded Eng; motion carried.
3. Motion to approve Minutes: Sarah mentioned correction in section 8, change Wood Lake
Lutheran to Richfield United Methodist, Stursa/seconded Musgrave, motion carried.
4. Open Public comment: None
5. Reports:
a. Chair’s report: Mark says goodbye to the group as this is his last meeting.
b. Secretary’s report: none.
c. Vice Chair’s report: none.
d. School Board Liaison report: Tim Polis gave a synopsis of the work the school
board has been involved with, including the Reimagine Richfield work with input
from students, the continued effort to diversify staff and the challenges faced,
and discussion of how homeless students are identified and served.
e. Public Safety Liaison report: DC Flaherty reports the Richfield Foundation
donated $1500 for the speaker series, and $500 was in the general budget for
the new year with no carry over of leftover money.
6. New Business
a. Elections of 2019 officers: elected were: Chair, Brett Stursa, Vice-Chair: Heather
Eastlund, Secretary, Bob Mulcahy, Social Media liaison, Katie Goodemote.
7. Unfinished Business
a. Gender neutral bathrooms: There was some ambiguity over topic development
for mayor-elect, Brett and Sarah will work on this before the next meeting; Tim
reports the need of gender neutral bathrooms has been passed on the school
level and things are going well.
b. 2019 Events Planning:
i. Children’s book reading at Augsburg on Feb 6th from 10:15-10:45am,
Bob, Heather, Carrie are maybes to participate.
ii. Naturalization Ceremony: Ceremony at Holy Angels at 10am, doors at
8am, will need people there early to support Deb, Mark, Ben, Brett, Carrie
will attend, Katie will try to be there; Brett will work with Katie to send
press release. Professional attire please.
iii. Proclamation team: Review and clarification of document, Brett will
attach sources, DC Flaherty will inquire about adding whereas
statmentment to reflect HRC’s history and commitment to equality, will be
sent to city staff to present to Council at the next meeting.
iv. 2019 Speaker Series: Ben reports there was a good meeting with the
Black Student Council to develop partnership, asked to share resources
with them from the Richfield Foundation grant which group agreed to,
some discussion about why not able to accept grant from Best Buy but
there is still work to gather other financial support, however future of
series is unclear and he will have more info at the next meeting.
8. Announcements/Open Forum: None
9. Next meeting: February 5th, 2019, 6:30pm
10. Motion for adjournment: Eastlund/seconded Eng, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at
8:02pm.
Submitted by Carrie Chillman 1/31/19