here and listen to and deal with complaints, but to go with their Mission Statement to
engage the community, to be part of the community, lift up the community, listen to
the community, bring the community together. She stated that it should not be “What
about Me?” noting that if they had a Children’s Day Adults would not complain that
they did not have an Adult Day. She stated that it was not about that, stating that it
was about helping the communities that need to be helped. She stated Black History
Month was very important, Women’s History Month was very important, Pride
Month was very important, noting that was why cities and towns around them were
embracing it, noting that they were doing it on a government level and on a municipal
stage. She stated that there would be other events coming along through the year such
as Indigenous People Day. She stated that if there were procedures that she did not
follow it was not because she just did not want to follow them, she stated that she
was brand new this year and that she was doing the best that she could. She stated
because they did not vote on them in the past that it did not hit her that they had to
vote on this one.
Councilor Paul addressed the need to vote on proposals, explaining that they had to
have the item on the Agenda, they have to discuss it, it has to be made public, and
that they had to at least have a consensus. He went on to address Hosting Events,
stating that when they host something they were taking on that responsibility. He
stated that he agreed that they need to lift up the difference diverse groups in their
community. However, he suggested they work to get other Organizations involved,
and for the Committee to provide a supportive role. He addressed the liability to the
town if they allowed one group to raise their flag and then denied another group.
Councilor St. Vil stated he read Councilor Paul’s emails and that he respected him as
a Town Councilor, noting that he took his job seriously. However, he stated that he
holistically disagreed with his comments. He stated he disagreed on the premise, that
he expressed this evening of an “Us versus Them”. He stated that these were people
who were in their community, noting that they were our brothers and sisters. He
stated what drew him to Ledyard was that he could have a conversation with his
neighbor and he did not feel that he was any different. He stated that applied to
anyone on this planet, noting that this was about equality. He stated imagine if you
had five kids, and did not have enough money to buy a birthday cake for all five kids,
do you think that you should not sing Happy Birthday to none of them. Or should you
do what you could for the one that you could. He stated that this was what this was
all about, noting that he was speaking from a passionate perspective, stating that this
one hit close to home because he is a minority. He stated what he has heard people
say was that “I don’t recognize you”.
Councilor Paul questioned the reason they would want the Government to recognize
them and not the people to recognize them. Councilor St. Vil stated because it was
his Government. He noted as Councilor Brunelle stated that the Committee did talk
about it (Pride Pizza Party), noting that they could go back and watch videos. He
stated Councilor Brunelle stated that these were some of the things that we want to
celebrate, noting that they talked about Indigenous People Month, and they all
nodded their heads, stating the Councilor Brunelle took action on it.
