City seeks public input on diversity committee

Port Washington residents are being asked for their opinions on a Diversity and Inclusion Committee officials are planning to form. 

A short survey seeking input on the committee’s mission and make up is on the city website, Ald. Dan Benning said.

The survey should take less than five minutes to complete, he said, noting that he and City Administrator Tony Brown will then use the answers to revise a draft charter for the committee.

Benning proposed forming the committee last month, saying the summer protests tied to the call for racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement prompted his suggestion.

“I want this city to take the lead and be the benchmark on diversity and inclusion,” he said at the Common Council’s Sept. 3 meeting. “We as a community can do better and do more. 

“I can do better. I can do more.”

Aldermen were swift to embrace the proposal.

“I think these are times that call for grace, compassion, empathy, understanding. I’ve been looking for ways to become an ally, a stronger ally,” Ald. Jonathan Pleitner said. “I wholeheartedly support this.”

“This is something important,” Ald. Paul Neumyer said, adding that it’s important that the group do more than just talk about inclusion.

“So often these things start out so promising and they fall apart so easily. That’s why we are where we are,” he said.

Benning told the council Tuesday that the committee should be a standing committee, not a short-term group.

“There’s a lot I believe we need to do over time,” he said, and consistency is a key to its success. 

The Common Council on Tuesday reviewed a draft charter for the committee, which is charged with reviewing city policies, procedures and practices with a focus on diversity and inclusion and making recommendations to the council.

The draft charter calls for the committee to have eight members — the mayor, who would be a non-voting member, three community members and an alderman nominated by the mayor and three staff members assigned by the city administrator.

Ald. Pat Tearney suggested the committee also include a high-schooler since “a lot of them have been on the front lines,” while Neumyer suggested adding a member of the Police and Fire Commission.

The Common Council is expected to receive a final charter for the committee when it meets Tuesday, Oct. 20.