Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Equity Committee Meeting
June 21, 2022 – Via Zoom
Minutes
Members Present: VLCT Board member Co-Chair Lucrecia Wonsor, Brian Carroll, Cate Cross, Joy Dubin Grossman, Alyssa Johnson, Charles Keir, Marguerite Ladd, Kathleen Ramsay, Sasha Thayer, Donna Toneatti, Al Voegele, and Deborah Wright.
Others Present: VLCT staff: Executive Director Ted Brady, Abby Friedman, Karen Horn, Jessica Hill, and Linda Mahns. Workplace Matters Consultants: Nikki Fuller and Wanda Heading-Grant
Agenda Item #1: Call to order by the Chair. Lucrecia Wonsor called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Agenda Item #2: Additions and deletions to the Agenda. Lucrecia Wonsor asked if there were any changes needed to be made to the agenda. Ted Brady asked to move agenda item #5 to precede #4 to assist with the Consultants’ schedules. With no additional discussion, Kathleen Ramsay made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Brian Carroll seconded. Approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #3: Approval of the May 16, 2022 minutes. Lucrecia Wonsor asked for motions to approve the minutes. Joy Dubin Grossman asked for the inclusion of her name in the attendees list. Brian Carroll made a motion to approve the May 16, 2022 minutes as amended. Al Voegele seconded. Approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #5: Adopt Equity Toolkit. Ted Brady began by sending an updated link to a Word document that was recently updated between himself and Nikki Fuller. Cate Cross asked about funding with regards to the VT Community Foundation as well as some clarifications on definitions to possibly be reflected in a future meeting agenda. Ted included some updates live during the meeting and the committee was asked to consider a motion to recommend the amended toolkit to be presented to the VLCT Board for adoption. Brian Carroll made the motion. Joy Dubin Grossman seconded. Approved unanimously. Al Voegele made a motion to review contents annually for substantive revisions and to give the Executive Director discretion to edit pages as deemed necessary for non-substantive updates. Brian Carroll seconded. Approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #4: Update from Workplace Matters Consultants. Nikki Fuller and Wanda Heading-Grant from Workplace Matters are finishing up a detailed summary report to provide to the Committee that will include results from the surveys that had gone out as well as the deliverables they have provided during their contracted time at VLCT. Committee members expressed their thanks individually to both Wanda and Nikki. Ted Brady provided a summary of an RFQ that will be created soon to utilize some funding for potential equity consultants to provide services to municipalities. Monies will also be used for trainings that will be provided by Abundant Sun (another equity consultant) and there’s consideration for stipends to be used for equity and policy committee members.
Agenda Item #6: Discussion Meeting Times and Review Schedule Polling. Lucrecia summarized the poll results and asked for input and feedback from the committee on the meeting times. With 2 members absent, it was decided to add this to a future agenda for discussion when all can be present to discuss.
Action item: A new poll was asked to be provided to members with additional dates/times.
Agenda Item #7: Member updates. Marguerite Ladd stated Essex had a wonderful Juneteenth event this past weekend. Donna Toneatti and Al Voegele both expressed the successful Juneteenth celebration that occurred in Swanton and included the St. Albans Museum, the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, and St. Mary’s Parish. Lucrecia Wonsor attended a conference recently for Clerks that offered a few diversity workshops that she took part in. Ted Brady gave an update on the IDEAL program which has received $225k from the Legislature and asked for recommendations for more applications to be received for the VT Community Grant Foundation program.
Agenda Item #8: Other Business.
The next Equity Committee meeting is scheduled for July 18th from 1-2:30 p.m.
Agenda Item #9: Adjourn. Lucrecia Wonsor asked for a motion to adjourn. Joy Dubin Grossman made the motion. Cate Cross seconded. The meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m. without objection.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Mahns
Executive Administrative Assistant