Published in the August 11, 2020 edition.

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD – The Wakefield Human Rights Commission continues to be a lightning rod for controversy as a discussion at last week’s Town Council meeting became heated when councilors talked of the process for filling the four current vacancies on the commission.

Those vacancies came in the wake of comments made at a meeting of the WHRC’s Pride Month Subcommittee last May.

In the course of discussing possible speakers for a Pride Day event, the name of Town Councilor Edward Dombroski came up. During the discussion, a number of jokes and unflattering remarks were made at Dombroski’s expense. When Dombroski learned of the discussion, he addressed the matter in a letter to the Item Forum and also at the next Town Council meeting. At that same meeting, WHRC chair Maria Muti apologized, calling the comments “hurtful and inappropriate.”

In the ensuing weeks, all four members of the WHRC who participated in the Pride Subcommittee meeting resigned.

At last week’s Town Council meeting, Dombroski noted that applications to fill those positions are due on Aug. 19. He also expressed disappointment that his previous request asking that the Town Council have a “robust discussion” regarding what the WHRC should look like going forward had not been honored.

A Town Council appointment will fill one of the WHRC vacancies. The other three will be filled by the School Committee.

“I’m disappointed that as a body we have not had that discussion,” Dombroski said, “and have not talked to the School Committee either. I’m not sure we have any more clarity on what our objectives are on how to improve a culture that has become problematic. Just posting the positions doesn’t do the job.”

Dombroski suggested possibly extending the deadline for WHRC applications until the Town Council could have that discussion.

Town Council chair Ann Santos acknowledged that she had refused Dombroski’s request to put the matter on the agenda.

“I have had a robust discussion,” Santos told Dombroski. “I just haven’t had it with you. I’ve had it with other members of this council individually.”

Santos said that she and the chairs of the School Committee and WHRC had changed the process for filling the vacancies. She said that all members of the Town Council would see the resumes when they come in.

“You may not like how it’s being presented,” Santos told Dombroski, “but I’m pretty sure a lot of other members of this council are just fine with it.”

Santos went on to allege what she called “abject racism” in comments posted on Facebook by supporters of Dombroski directed at last spring’s local Black Lives Matters march and its organizers.

“We can have a robust dialogue when the resumes come in,” Santos said. “We don’t need to re-invent the WHRC. We need it now more than ever.”

Dombroski reiterated his request for a full discussion of what the town wants from its Human Rights Commission and how to get there.

“We and the School Committee are the appointing authorities,” he said. “We have a responsibility when things are not right to fix them.”

Town Councilor Mehreen Butt also addressed the issue.

“The moment to have a discussion about who we’re appointing is when we get the applications,” she insisted, adding that that has been the procedure for all other appointed committees.

As evidence of community support for the WHRC, Butt noted that earlier in the meeting the Town Council had accepted an unsolicited donation of $1,000 from  “a random business” to the Human Rights Commission. (The business making the donation was actually Greenwood Wine and Spirits.)

“I’m livid that you’re making this personal,” Butt said to Dombroski, insisting that because some people “misspoke” at a meeting should not erase five years of good work by the WHRC.

Councilor Julie Smith-Galvin agreed that the time for discussion “is when we appoint people.”

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In other business last week, the Town Council:

• Approved a request from the Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department to relocate a utility pole in the area of 55 Court St.

• Approved a new liquor license for Bamboo House on Broadway due to a change of ownership.

• Scheduled a Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department requests for Pole Petition Public Hearing on Sept. 14, 2020 at 6:15 p.m. for a pole to be located on Murray Street.

• Authorized the Town Council clerk to advertise for members for the Disability Commission as requested by co-chairs of the commission.

• Authorized the appointment of Michael LaVecchia as the vacation replacement Inspector of Buildings.

• Approved a request from Beebe Library to accept and expend a gift to the library in the amount of $100.