AGENDA #13b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            Sabrina M. Oliver, Town Clerk

SUBJECT:       Appointments to the Continuing Concerns Committee

DATE:             February 14, 2005

Tonight, the Council may make appointments to the Continuing Concerns Committee.  On January 10, 2005, the Council authorized the formation of a Continuing Concerns Committee composed of one or more Town Council members, citizens and others as determined by the Council to address recommendations contained in the December 6, 2004 report as follows:

• Renaming and creating a room at the Library with a collection of materials honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights in Chapel Hill.

• Support a museum exhibit about Airport Road that includes oral histories, publications, etc. that the Town Council oversees.

• Further honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with information signs saying “Peace, Racial, and Economic Justice.”

• Establish a branch of the library in the African American community.

• Continue to address racial and power issues in Chapel Hill by coordinating activities such as:

a) An annual weekend meeting similar to this forum for a committee of unlimited size to address and discuss race issues in Chapel Hill.

b) A Town proclamation of “Racial Justice Week.”

c) An annual publication on the state of Black Chapel Hill that includes indicators of housing, jobs, education, political power, social issues, health status, etc.

d) A seminar series.

e) Public Arts.

f) Oral history.

g) Annual Brown vs. Board of Education forum.

• Advocate and voice support for the mission and work of the Orange County Human Rights and Relations Commission.

Said committee will coordinate its work with Town staff, the Library Board of Trustees, the Museum Board of Directors and the Orange County Human Rights and Relations Commission and others as appropriate.  Recommendations of the Committee will be reported to Council at a future Council meeting.