Equity Task Force In Town of Natick

Press release from the Town of Natick:

August 3, 2020

Applications Open for Equity Task Force: Apply by September 1, 2020

The Natick Select Board believes in the inherent dignity of everyone who lives or spends time in Natick. In order to affirm and advance that dignity, we are forming a Task Force (apply here) to develop a framework to advance equity in Natick.

The Equity Task Force will be a public body and will adhere to Open Meeting Law. It will be composed of eleven members, all appointed by the Select Board. The purpose of the Task Force will be to recommend to the Select Board the mission, scope, charge, composition, term of service, and authority of a town entity to advance equity in the Natick community and town government, and to recommend a set of responsibilities for any professional staff needed to help the town pursue this aim. The Task Force will work with a professional consultant the town will, if feasible, engage for the purpose.

The Task Force shall include the Town Administrator or designee, two Select Board members, the Human Resources Director, the Superintendent of Schools or designee, a member of the School Committee or designee, and five members at large with any or all the following qualifications:

1. Professional or life experience related to equity

2. Experience in community engagement

3. Experience in municipal government

4. The Select Board shall strongly endeavor to ensure that the at-large appointees are members of historically marginalized communities

The Task Force shall research the experience of other municipalities’ equity-related government entities, as well as what the town and community are doing in the equity sphere. It shall recommend a set of responsibilities for any professional staff needed to help the town advance equity.

The Task Force shall provide an update to the Select Board within 60 days of its establishment as an appointed Task Force and every 60 days thereafter. The Task Force shall provide preliminary recommendations within 150 days and final recommendations within twelve months. The task force shall, unless it requests an extension, dissolve after it provides its final report.

The Task Force may seek the advice of Town Counsel through the Task Force Chair.

To apply for the Equity Task Force click here.

This press release was produced by the Town of Natick. The views expressed here are the author's own.