BCAT News

As previously reported by BNEWS at the March 14th Select Board meeting the board offered their apologies for their indelicate response to an initial report by the Town of Burlington’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee by Dr. Barbara Addison Reid at the February 28th meeting. Addressing the DEI Committee was not listed as an agenda item for the March 14th meeting.

At the most recent DEI meeting on March 23rd the Select Board apologies were discussed. Addison Reid responded. 

“I was not invited to the meeting, I’ve not had an apology.” stated Addison Reid.

DEI member Nancy Bonassera called for more direct communication with the Select Board.. 

“I think a special session is needed because we really need to talk. It’s been more than two weeks and we haven’t heard anything directly from the Select Board,” said Bonassera.

With the Town Election mere weeks away and candidate Mike Espejo running unopposed for the departing Bob Hogan’s Select Board seat, Nick Priest, DEI and Select Board member suggested waiting until after the election to reconvene on the matter. 

“At which point we open the discussion and set a time for a special meeting,” said Priest. 

Bonassera responded to the proposed delay.

“Are there plans to give Barbara a formal apology? I understand there were some apologies last Select Board meeting, but I feel like she needs one that’s formal from all the board members,” stated Bonassera.

Priest replied.

“I agree, I don’t know where all that stands. I’m trying to understand whether a written or oral apology is going to be addressed,” said Priest.  

A DEI update was on the agenda for the Select Board meeting of March 28th and the entire DEI Committee was present. Priest discussed the communication he’s learned from attending the Burlington Public Schools Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ray Porch’s “Let’s Talk About It” sessions. 

“The first is this notion of intent versus impact. Whether or not the intent of something was to be malicious, the impact that it’s having is in fact a negative one. And so how can we begin to look at these things and say, ‘This is in fact causing a negative impact, is there an opportunity to turn it into a positive impact?’ Priest continued. “Our perspectives, our worldview is vastly different from where each of us stands. And to begin to acknowledge that and understand that, I think is an important step forward as we continue to have these conversations.”

Priest asked the board to move forward following the Town Election on the action items named in the DEI report; update the town’s DEI statement, the diversity scorecard, the language and the mission statement for the Select Board. Priest also asked for the board’s participation in a special meeting with members of the community to participate in an open discussion and look into an educational seminar for the board. 

 DEI Committee member Nancy Bonassera addressed the board following Priest’s statements.  

“I was hoping to have a repeat of the apologies that were given two weeks ago. Myself and my fellow members, none of us were here. And I’m disappointed that this is the first time since the DEI report was given that the Select Board and the DEI Committee have had any direct communication,” Bonassera continued. “I would like to move forward and I look forward to working together. I appreciate that we can schedule a special session and just get started on this really important work.” 

Select Board Chair Jim Tigges replied to Bonassera’s disappointment in the timing of the board’s apologies.

“We know a lot of people are upset. The reason why the comments were made at the last meeting was because a lot of the emails we received said the Select Board should make a public apology at the next Select Board meeting which is why it was done that way,” Tigges continued. “Moving forward we’ll discuss it on the agenda, we’ll discuss it in the special meeting, and we’ll all move together as one.” 

The next meeting of the Select Board will be on April 11th.