[Adopted 7-6-2020 by Ord. No. 04-20]
The City of Middletown recognizes that communities of color
historically and currently battle systemic and structural racism in
covert and overt methods. The purpose of the task force is therefore
to put into action efforts to combat racism in our community and our
country. Its purpose is to supplement, not supplant, the work of the
City’s other agencies in fighting racism, including the Commission
on Human Relations. The task force will provide advice to the Mayor
and the Council, including, but not limited to, written quarterly
reports, and will consider various matters relating to racism, including,
but not limited to, housing, employment, health care, educational
equity, policing, inclusion, and criminal justice.
The task force will consist of 15 members to be appointed by
the Mayor and approved by the Common Council, including three Council
Members. Membership terms will be four years and appointments to the
task force will comply with statutory requirements for minority party
representation. The members will be Middletown electors. The original
members of the task force will be appointed as follows: five will
serve four-year terms; five will serve three-year terms; and five
will serve two-year terms. Future vacancies will be appointed in a
manner that maintains the staggered term expiration dates. New task
force members appointed to fill unexpired terms will serve the remainder
of the term. New task force members appointed at the start of a new
term after the original membership terms expire or task force members
being reappointed after this initial service will be appointed to
four-year terms.
The task force will coordinate with the Commission on Human
Relations in order to effectuate the goal of fighting racism locally
and beyond. While the focus of the commission is on fostering understanding
of, and conversations on, racism, the focus of the task force is to
take concrete steps to translate discussion into action.
