good morning good afternoon everyone we would like to call this meeting of the
0:06
special Commission of state of Institute to
0:19
order my name is Evelyn Matel and I'm one of the commissions coach here my
0:26
colleague Matt Melly is here as a
0:32
commission as the commission's other co-chair as usual before we begin we
0:38
would like to let everyone know this commission meeting must follow the open meeting law any votes taken during the
0:46
meeting will be done via qu v v vote we
0:53
ask the commission members please mute themselves when they are not speaking
1:00
and use the raised hand feature if they would like to speak before speaking
1:06
please state your name so everyone knows who is talking for any questions posted
1:13
from the audience and the question answer for this meeting Cedar will be re
1:19
viewing the questions and holding them until the end of the meeting we hope
1:28
everyone has taken a moment to view the agenda this these are the items we will
1:36
be discussing today
2:20
s
2:35
thank
2:47
you I'm sorry to interrupt Evelyn um just want to let you know there's a
2:52
couple of um commission members that are should be joining um as attendees they
2:58
came in as partici ipants so um I just wanted to let you know that
3:07
um I'm not sure if Matt do I just continue I'm sorry yes please he um he
3:13
hasn't um joined
3:24
okay since our last meeting we have had a new commission member appointed Bill
3:31
and H Bill hen who will serve as the representative of the center of
3:37
Independent Living bill would like to introduce would you like to introduce
3:44
yourself sure thank you Evelyn I'm Bill Henning um director of the Boston Center
3:51
for Independent Living I know uh number of you are we've crossed paths over the
3:57
year I've been engaged in disability ad for many years with a focus on some of
4:04
the deinstitutionalization that's occurred in massachusett so I'm pleased to be
4:09
here thank you Evelyn thank you Bill we want to
4:16
announce the departure of one of our commission members Conor snow who has
4:22
served as a representative of the massachusett state
4:28
archive on the special commission we will be leave we will be
4:33
leaving who will be leaving at the end of August on behalf of the special
4:38
commission I would like to say that we have greatly appreciated working with OK
4:45
Conor your Insight and knowledge have been very valuable and we want to wish
4:50
you the best of luck in the future Conor will you like to say
4:58
anything yeah this Conor snow from the master archives thank you Evelyn and um
5:03
yeah it's been a real pleasure working with everyone here at the commission uh the commission's been doing great work uh also want to give a special thank you
5:10
to everyone at Cedar and for being a part of this um without you guys the you know the resources of putting together
5:17
all this research in this commission has just been truly wonderful and uh I'm really excited to see where this is
5:22
going to go and uh yeah I wish you all the best of luck
5:42
we would like to invite Emily SE see from Cedar to provide a high level recap
5:49
of our last meeting before vote to approve the
5:55
minutes thank you so much Ellen so in in the last meeting uh the
6:01
commission discussed a number of areas there was a tool of commonly used terms
6:07
and acronyms that was prepared by Cedar that was presented to members which will be updated as needed the commission
6:14
members discussed a proposed timeline for the commission's Work Commission
6:19
members were reminded that they can expect a draft report from Ceder in September Commissioners agreed to add a
6:27
meeting in October to give them enough time together to discuss each of the
6:32
three areas of content which are burials records and a memorial before the end of
6:39
the year Commissioners discussed recent media about matters relevant to the
6:44
commission's work articles covered topics including the planning process
6:50
for the fold grounds a family member's efforts to get records about their
6:55
family member who lived at fernal and an article of about confidential
7:00
confidential police files that were stored
7:06
unsecured each of the working groups also gave an update the records group discussed a
7:13
state bill that was proposed in the past that would give people access to public
7:19
records from institutions they talked about the idea of an amnesty program to allow people to
7:25
return items previously stolen sold or purchased from institutions without
7:32
facing charges they also talked about information gathered from 36 other
7:37
states on their record access rules the burial work group talked about
7:44
putting together a list of all known institutional cemeteries in the state
7:50
and a gap analysis tool to review each institutional ceter we'll talk more about that tool in
7:57
today's meeting there was also discussion about the need to educate local towns and City officials about how
8:05
to properly search for unmarked Graves and handle it when there is a suspected
8:11
unmarked grave in their town in discussion commission members supported drafting guidance for these
8:19
towns and cities the work group on the framework for public recognition discussed what
8:25
they learned about work in other Memorial projects and plan and to learn
8:30
about the process used by the Willowbrook Memorial in New York I'll turn it back to
8:53
Evelyn so now we're going to um thank you
9:01
thanks Emily before we dive into the afternoon discussion we have our vote one minute from the commission's last
9:09
meeting back in March draft coffee of meet of meetings and email members last
9:16
week do members have any suggestion changes to the minute
9:29
if not we can proceed with the voting as usual we'll
9:35
be did this sorry contact the all if
9:42
anyone would if everyone would please unmute I will call out your names in
9:47
alphabetical order first we have a motion to approve the minutes please
9:53
remember to state your name thank you
10:01
and from the dppc I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the last
10:09
meeting does R Kelly I second
10:14
it thank you I'll read the me read out members names in alphabetical order from
10:21
last name um I Arena
10:33
all right Elise go ahead you approve yes okay thank
10:41
you Kate Benson yes sister Linda B Bess yes sister Linda
10:50
bessam I approve thank you Reggie Clark
11:10
Reggie Clark yes and um
11:18
f I approve Alex green sorry stay because I
11:24
wasn't there Bill hennon uh stain I wasn't on
11:30
the commission at that point Kelly
11:36
yes Andrew yes Mary
11:49
Mahon Mary Mahoney
11:58
[Music]
12:04
W
12:14
Moore rest Moore Brenda
12:23
ring yes or no for aing minute Ming minut you approved them yeah
12:32
okay thank you Conor snow yes and Matt
12:43
M and myself have liit I approve did I miss
12:56
anyone no you're all set thank you everyone the minutes are
13:03
approved as a reminder copies of the approved minutes and all the materials
13:08
from our commission meeting meetings are available on the commission
13:18
website okay the next item on the agenda on the
13:23
agenda is the letter of inquiry regarding records and Records access
13:30
that were sent to the Govern Governor Haley and secretary Walsh in March the
13:36
special commission got a response on Monday and it will it was included in
13:43
the materials of this meeting it is is there
13:48
anyone who did not receive the
13:53
letter um
14:03
we would now like to turn the discussion over to commissioner member reggy
14:23
clerk hello hello hey Reggie this is Jen fugle stad
14:30
the slide is up for you yeah well yesterday when you call we talked
14:37
about the letter yesterday and you read the letter to me telling me about the records and
14:47
everything
14:52
yesterday we talked about a little bit about what we're going to talk about today during the meeting
15:10
are you there Jen I am Reggie would you like us to read out a summary of the
15:17
letter yes okay great yes please I think um I started I think that was um Emily that
15:24
was gonna read out the letter um summary Reggie perfect
15:29
okay yeah yes thank you so the commission made five requests in their
15:36
letter of inquiry and I will go through each of the requests in a plain sum plain Language summary of their response
15:43
so the first request was to look for any remaining records at the closed
15:49
institutions the response stated that the dmh and DDS so the Department of
15:54
Mental Health and the Department of Developmental Services checked State institutions that they used to run to
16:01
find out if there were records left there they found that records of people who lived uh at these locations were
16:08
moved to other buildings at the Department of Mental Health and at DDS
16:14
before the institutions closed and changed ownership there are some places that
16:20
were not safe to search so at places like Medfield state hospital where only
16:26
part of the buildings are closed um eohhs which is the Executive offices
16:32
of Health and Human Services has been surveying the campuses dh's survey at
16:38
Medfield state hospital was limited because of safety worries with condemned
16:43
buildings they plan to work with other state agencies to see if they can safely
16:49
get into those areas to search for records there was also a request by the
16:55
commission to address any record security issues identif ifed the Executive offices of Health and
17:02
Human Services checked closed dmh and DDS facilities and they said they found
17:08
no record security problems except at the fernal Developmental Center which is
17:14
a previous topic of discussion of this commission they said that if any issues come up dmh and DDS will handle them
17:23
quickly following federal and state rules the commission asked the uh
17:30
agencies to develop an easyto follow process to make record
17:35
requests the executive office in he Health and Human Services wants to help the commission and families of people
17:43
who used to get Services by making it easier to get their records according to their letter they said they're working
17:50
on simple clear ways to do this the steps for former and current
17:56
service recipients to ask for their records or for a family or a state to ask for them are on both the dmh and DDS
18:06
websites on ma.gov according to the letter according to state law family
18:12
members can get medical records of dmh and DDS clients in certain
18:18
situations this includes when the family member is legally authorized to
18:23
represent the person like being a custodial parent Court approved guardian
18:29
or a personal representative of the diseased person's
18:34
estate records can also be given if a court orders it if the client agrees or
18:41
if the commissioner decides it's best for the person the fourth request of the
18:47
commission was to create a clear process for how all confidential records were to be stored and when these
18:54
records are allowed to be destroyed the letter stated that dmh and DDS have specific rules and procedures
19:02
for handling client and patient records both DM's privacy handbook and
19:08
dds's privacy handbook outline rules for how to handle store and keep
19:15
confidential records the handbooks are stated to follow state and federal laws requiring
19:22
staff to protect the confidentiality of protected health information or Phi um that the agencies
19:30
create or keep the policies require taking reasonable steps to present
19:36
accidental sharing and to keep protected health information in Secure places like
19:43
locked offices or filing cabinets DDS and dmh stated that they
19:49
follow the Massachusetts Statewide records retention schedule for deciding
19:54
how long to keep records and how to dispose of them a copy of the schedule can be found on
20:01
the secretary of the Commonwealth's website the law that governs how long
20:07
medical records must be kept requires a 20-year retention period medical records
20:14
can't be destroyed or moved to the state archives unless the records conservation
20:20
board which is overseen by the secretary of the Commonwealth gives permission the letter States a tracking
20:28
system is used to monitor when records are moved who takes them and where they
20:34
are kept the final request of the Commission in this letter was to provide a list of
20:40
records that may be stored at facilities or government offices still in
20:47
operation letter states that both dmh and DDS maintain detailed lists of
20:53
records and have access to records still in their possession including those
20:59
stored in the state archives and that concludes the summary of the letter
21:30
thank you we would like to open up a discussion about the e o HS respond to
21:37
the letter of the
21:47
inquiry since the last meeting of the commission was one news articles have
21:54
been PL published that we want everyone to know about the article is from
22:00
warburn and the and that report ongoing vandalism of
22:06
the fernal property and and the discovery of the Nazi skin
22:13
head graph griffi we want to to share the article
22:20
with the commission and see what people
22:26
thought are there any things that commission want to discuss about this
22:41
article Matt has his hand Alex hi this is Alex green
22:48
um I'll uh I'll go first I guess on on both of these items obviously the skin
22:55
head graffiti is very disturbing um at the fold schol and um you know the the I
23:02
was struck that the city of Walt's response the police response said that this was not did not use the word hate
23:08
crime for this um they refused to call it hate and um that they're proud of
23:13
having arrested 50 people when there's been documented thousands and thousands of break-ins there so it's it's sort of
23:20
um and I guess that goes to maybe the way that things are framed and written I'm I'm disappointed in the letter um
23:28
that we've received from the secretary um because I think it's
23:33
talking around things and I think we need to get specific about things um which is the whole reason that this commission exists but um you know some
23:41
things that just stand out to me where they're examples of where we could get more specific um the letter sounds like
23:47
it's just the fernal but um as we've said repeatedly and I I do want to be clear also that these things are often
23:53
said repeatedly and have been brought forward repeatedly um many of those records that
23:59
were left at the fold were in boxes labeled from other state institutions so
24:04
to say that there were none found at other institutions doesn't really vibrate
24:10
because in actuality those other institutions documents were then sent to fold and left open to the public and
24:16
that's where we need an inventory and an accounting that gets specific about what this is um if a tracking system is used
24:24
I would love to know at our very first meeting last year our dmh representative
24:30
to the board who is the head of inpatient facilities said openly in the
24:35
meeting that tons of documents were left in buildings that were no longer being
24:40
used by dmh and the staff regularly talked about how they did not know what
24:47
they were supposed to do with them and how to handle them so if things are tracked I would like to know what has
24:52
changed between last May's meeting and now specifically that tracks where those
24:59
documents were and where they've gone to because if that tracking system is in place according to the letter then we
25:05
should know that um if we don't know that rif through this letter and in
25:11
general that are born out of being non unspecific and and what it all led me to
25:17
believe is if they're really on a 20year retention schedule and taking these things to the records commission uh the
25:24
oversight board I I would love to see that stopped for some time until we have a handle on on what is going on like no
25:31
no request should be granted from dmh or DDS to destroy records right now until
25:37
we know what those records are because I feel like this is not taking this seriously um that will come up later
25:44
with another matter that's that's that's in front of us but I I I I'm I'm at a
25:50
low E on this one so sorry to talk for so long but I I found this an incredibly um whitewashed take on this
25:58
relative to the severity of the issue and I'll remind my colleagues on the commission that this is being investigated by the Civil Rights
26:05
division of the federal office of Health and Human Services this is a very serious matter and I did not take I did
26:11
not think that this letter should have taken 90 days or 60 days or whatever to produce given how little it told
26:22
me Victor yes thank you I just want to make sure that uh nobody else is has their
26:30
hand raised first because they wanted to uh respond to the letter of inquiry um
26:37
from the secretary uh so I don't want to use anybody else's uh uh speaking opportunity for that is anybody else's
26:44
hand up no okay thank you okay um this just
26:51
kind of dug Tales a little bit on this topic uh but I'm not going to comment on
26:57
this topic uh directly but um as we know uh this this
27:05
this subject uh came to light um from U
27:10
um people on campus who uh went on campus and took pictures um of the uh
27:18
the the documents and I just wanted to um bring
27:23
to light that uh you know fernal as we know is a a closed facility that is uh
27:30
under the opes now the city of walam but um with
27:38
u DDS still having 23 area offices for
27:44
Regions and two uh operating facilities and Hogan and
27:50
Danvers in Ram Developmental Center we would just want to uh bring to
27:57
a light that you know if anybody goes on these campuses or these
28:04
offices to take pictures or anything like that um particularly you know those
28:11
that are active meaning that you know individuals living there people working there uh that is that is
28:18
trespassing um you DDS has an not has obligation to protect the individuals
28:26
and staff who work there so uh you know we asked that if uh anybody
28:33
receives anything where um it's clear that they had trespassed onto
28:39
particularly an anactive um facility or office that you can just let me know
28:46
that would be highly appreciative because of um you know there's uh videos
28:52
or pictures being circulated from an active facility that means that you know
28:58
we had individuals close by and um we need to make sure that our individuals
29:04
are protected so uh you know we ask that people do that um and um you know like
29:10
anybody else who trespasses onto our properties uh operated by
29:16
DDS you know health and safety of our individuals and staff um are foremost
29:22
and we would have to take un necessary action including uh up to including notifying the local authorities so uh
29:30
you know this is that's is not directed towards a letter of inquiry but it kind of like presents an opportunity just to
29:36
make sure that it's it's there and uh you know I just wanted to be able to U
29:41
share this and U happy to discuss this offline um with folks um just in the
29:49
interest of time that's all I have to say on this uh thanks again for the opportunity
29:58
hello this is Reggie Callin I agree everything with Alex green has
30:12
said the next item on the agenda is a report from s sorry to interrupt um
30:19
Evelyn this is Jennifer again uh Jay has his hand up uh good afternoon I just
30:25
want to acknowledge the comments that were made and say I agree I'm I'm Jay
30:31
tomman I'm from the Department of Mental Health I uh have been participating in
30:36
the um larger meetings that the commission has and I just want to say we can always do things better in terms of
30:43
Records um it it it is a little troubling to hear Alex the example that
30:48
you gave in terms of redaction and people not understanding um what they're
30:54
receiving and why they're receiving it in the format that they're getting so that is definitely something uh you know
31:01
we could definitely do better on and I mean this this this is a process where we welcome uh you know input and feedback
31:09
hopefully what comes out of this is recommendations I think that's part of what this group is charge with you know
31:15
as an agency as agencies um you know we would welcome input on how we could do
31:21
things better or more more efficiently um and then in terms of just records I will say for the Department of Mental
31:29
Health um most of the facilities that have closed most of the buildings have
31:34
been demolished except at Medfield as Emily um mentioned as she described uh
31:40
the letter from the secretary that is one area where um we cannot say for for
31:47
certain because we were unable to um when we surveyed building safely get into those buildings but for the most
31:54
part former um Department mental health operated facilities those buildings um
32:02
that have closed have been demolished and that's why um we we we know we also
32:08
you know we have surveyed on many different times um buildings when they were there um to try to get at that and
32:17
um yes we do we do um know um uh where
32:23
our records are um and I think to speak to speak to why I mean we're an agency
32:29
of 4,000 employees um there's a lot of confusion out there about different
32:34
things um uh it's not an excuse It's not to make but in terms of
32:40
communication um you know sometimes um you know we don't all know as the policy
32:46
director of the Department of Mental Health I can assure you I don't know everything about the department I'm learning every day even on these issues
32:53
I'm learning from this group and I'm learning from from from folks in the department M finding the right people
32:59
who have the institutional knowledge and who have the experience and and that's what I hope as someone who can help um
33:08
as a liaison to this commission can help we can help identify who those people
33:13
are and who can where we can access and and and and and find information so I I
33:19
I think we can always do a better job I'm not saying that everything we do with the Department is 100% perfect but
33:25
um you know we we we do try I and we were here to collaborate and work uh
33:31
with the commission Bill hon sure thank you um
33:41
this is my first meeting so I'm bit new to the issue though I have read the many
33:46
news accounts on the records at fernal um Jay said something that kind of
33:54
answered the point I was going to raise but it's still out there kind of to me
34:00
Alex raised some very serious concern still being outstanding and was just
34:08
wondering uh if this body might take further steps if there was not full
34:13
satisfaction with the letter that secretary Walsh took because it sounds
34:19
like there are issues still out there maybe you know Jay suggested the
34:24
commission could make recommendations I just wondered if there's any plan to further pursue the matter because
34:31
there's been some concern with the response letter I didn't I have not seen
34:36
the original letter sent to secretary Walsh that would be helpful too so I could understand things better thank
34:44
you Emily thank you Bill we certainly make
34:50
sure you get that letter the letter had two areas that I think I want to make sure the commission um recognized as an
34:58
opportunity to consider one the agencies did offer to work with the commission to
35:04
improve transparency and in other areas so I think the commission Commissioners could consider where they would like to
35:11
work with the agencies and in what Manner secondly if there is not full
35:17
satisfaction with the response the work of the commission I think has the opportunity to try to verify or validate
35:25
that the responses that you received are accurate and complete so you can also
35:30
identify areas of further work this with or without Cedar support where you would
35:35
like to do some Fair validation work uh to gather your own facts so just put
35:42
those two areas out there for consideration for
35:55
Commissioners Alex to that end what if we were to have the
36:01
work groups over the before the next meeting consider each their own responses to to how they'd like to move
36:07
forward with this and put something forward to the chairs as a for consideration as a unified kind of way
36:14
to respond to this at the next meeting so we could put something forward that's clear and organized uh the work doesn't
36:20
just fall to the chairs it falls into the specialization of each work group could identify each area get it to
36:26
something really really short clear and then consider that uh for for a vote
36:31
either for a letter or for future action for the next next meeting that
36:37
I does that sound reasonable to folks I could put that forward as a motion I we could just agree to do it um I don't
36:47
know I agree Alex um you this is Mary Manan mcau from
36:53
mod and um can everyone hear me okay I'm joining via phone today
36:58
yes okay great um I I just want to make couple of comments going back a little
37:04
bit I agree that it's extremely disturbing that skin heads um mocking up
37:11
the the buildings it's it's that that piece I don't know what else to say about that but it's and and secondly of
37:20
um the the it's interesting response as far as the letter and I would that some
37:28
of what's on some of what's in the letter is kind of the the rules at hand
37:33
um the way things should go the way things should be and and I think what
37:41
what we've seen and and what's been um shown and uncovered and um it's part of why this
37:48
commission exists and has had the commission exist is that you know things
37:53
aren't always done like they should be right um you know for the state for 35
37:58
years and and for the most part I'm always going to you know kind of support
38:05
um a lot of my colleagues through the years have been great employees um but you know that doesn't mean that you know
38:11
everything that the Commonwealth has condoned or done has always been good we know clearly that there's been many many
38:18
problems and in these institutions there were there was illegal activity and and
38:25
um you know just very unfair treatment and it goes on and on and you know we're
38:30
trying to uncover that in a way as we've discussed to uncover to disclose it to
38:36
identify um the things that would that that were done that shouldn't have been done to to give um you know to give
38:46
pride and recognition to the individuals that weren't completely respected as humans in many ways and and getting back
38:54
to the letter as far as what we're discussing the transparency is I agree that the letter is you know
39:00
there's a lot of generalizations and how things should be but I like the idea of bringing back the letter to the
39:07
subcommittees and maybe taking particular sections and saying um yes
39:13
this you know this may be the rule and how it should go but you know we've seen
39:19
from this or that action that that's not always happening or um you know we we
39:26
want to help and we want to make changes right and and so if we can go back with
39:33
suggestions ideas recommendations and within that there's
39:39
all there's also questions on different sections of the letter that that we're
39:44
questioning so you know that that's how I'd want to proceed
40:04
does that make sense yes does anyone have um their hand
40:17
raised sorry this will be the last time I talk on this why why don't we leave it at this
40:24
then I I um I will make a motion that I make a motion that we uh take the
40:31
letter into the subcommittees for consideration and recommendations for next steps uh to the chairs before the
40:38
next meeting I'd second the
40:45
motion this is
40:53
Mary we're going to um continue the I'm sorry to interrupt would we do a
41:00
vote at this point I'm just looking at the notes for uh capturing is this something that we should be voting
41:11
on I believe so with a motion on the floor
41:19
okay eing do you want to do the roll call again yes I can
41:37
sorry um
41:49
Alise Alise hi no no questions sorry about
41:56
that
42:06
Pate Benson yes sister
42:13
Linda uh yes I agree very good suggestion
42:20
Reggie Reggie yes an
42:39
Alex yes Bill
42:44
yes Reena yes Andrew
42:54
present Mary yes
43:05
vper Brenda you guys vote
43:11
Yes okay yeah okay thank you
43:17
Conor yes Matt
43:38
um and myself yes
43:48
[Music]
44:08
Evelyn I think everybody agreed um uh four yeses and one um uh person
44:17
absent okay move
44:24
on the next item on the agenda is a report from the work groups we have
44:30
three work groups one on records and record request
44:36
process one on burials and burials location and one on focusing focused on
44:44
framework for remembrance the groups need add the
44:50
groups need additional members please consider joining a work group if you
44:57
would like to participate in any of the work groups please email Cedar support
45:06
email address and Cedar's team will share the dates and the
45:12
next schedule work groups
45:20
meetings and now we and we would now like to invite each work group to share
45:27
reports on their work they have done so
45:36
far Alex hey folks reporting out from the
45:43
records and Records access committee and I'll just Echo what Evelyn's saying um we desperately need folks in the work
45:48
groups um especially these coming months we're going to get near a report we're going to really have to drill into it
45:54
we're going to want to be offering suggestions obviously these meetings are large and we have a lot to uh get
46:00
through so if you can join in on those subcommittee meetings you don't have to join them all but joining one subcommittee and being there is an
46:06
awesome thing and super helpful in the records committee we met uh recently um
46:11
handful of things we're going through right now um uh just an update on legislative activity there's a bill in
46:18
the Senate and in the house uh that will open records up after 75 years uh at the
46:24
Massachusetts archives it was originally put for forward by the secretary of the Commonwealth which oversees the archives
46:30
so it is supported by them to bring us in line with other states because we lock off records in an unusual way in
46:37
this state right now um uh the legislative session formal session ends the end of the month um bills
46:44
technically have to pass by then um though they can pass in What's called the informal session before the end of
46:50
the year as long as nobody objects um it's a little tricky the bill has gotten farther than it ever has before um it
46:57
seems to have a lot of supporters now that folks know what it does um but that's no guarantee and so we will
47:02
continue to watch and see I think always anyone in the state would be foolish to say that they are certain a bill is
47:08
going to pass it's more likely that it may not pass just because very few bills pass in any year um but we are watching
47:14
and uh hopeful that it it might move its way through um you've heard a little about records requests from family
47:20
members to the state some of those are going through on the DDS side DDS is providing records and Outreach uh I know
47:28
of a handful of folks so far who've gotten records um and as you heard me describe I think it's a somewhat uneven
47:33
process but we are at least talking that through um with DDS um uh and I think
47:40
trying to work on it in good faith um couple other things and then I will absolutely take uh take some questions
47:45
and comments um Foxboro state hospital um Cedar and and the records committee
47:50
are working with dmh to explore the possibility of actually recreating one of the lists of people buried at
47:57
foxboro's State Hospital uh Cemetery um there doesn't there's not a list anymore
48:03
but it's possible to recreate one um so they're discussing ways to retrieve that information and if records can kind of
48:09
tell us then to disclose the names of those people which would be a really really nice thing so um early in that
48:16
hard to know but um going through those steps which is nice um uh and um uh um
48:25
the the letter of inquiry As We Know um we kind of discussed where what next steps on that will be um so happy to
48:30
take any questions um I see sister Linda's hand um yes yes I I was
48:36
wondering uh what what is the bill number for that legislation I I always
48:42
um look things up afterwards and I know the bill number is very helpful sure um
48:49
it's a terrific question it um let me make sure that I actually give you the right the right number um so hang on one
48:56
second in the house is is
49:02
h333 and in the Senate the bill is S1
49:08
965 I will say that when you read the house version it was revised recently by
49:15
the committee um and they know that that revision is not where it needs to end up
49:20
being so you will see some difference between the Senate version which is just one line that's the original version of
49:26
the bill um and that's kind of what a lot of the supporters and folks have been after um
49:32
the house version they tried something but I think there was some misunder understanding so they're just working through the language on it try to move
49:37
it back toward what it was before okay thank you thank
49:46
you if there are no other questions I will kick it back to the
49:52
chair back to you Evelyn welcome could you please give an update on the
49:59
burials and burials location work group absolutely this is Kate Benson um
50:05
the burials and burial locations group also met recently um we've compiled a
50:10
list of as many known burial locations as we can find 26 cemeteries and all
50:17
have been identified across the state some of those cemeteries are on the grounds of former
50:24
institutions um but some burials took placed in the city or town cemeteries in
50:29
plots that were purchased by the state currently the status of each
50:35
Cemetery needs to be evaluated um there's a wide variation in relation to
50:40
the care and maintenance of these cemeteries and also a wide variation regarding whether or not the graves are
50:47
marked in several cemeteries uh Andor institutions are rumored to have
50:53
unmarked Graves on the grounds we've as a group have requested assistance from
50:58
the mass State archaeologist's office to collect guidance on what steps to take
51:04
if a possible unmarked grave is suspected at any of the sites of former
51:10
institutions um Jen is there a next
51:15
slide yeah there's a a couple more I wasna say I was like I think I have way more to say
51:21
um the in the last meeting we shared that we created a gap analysis in order
51:26
to evaluate the status of the cemeteries and some of the things that the Gap
51:31
analysis will evaluate in each Cemetery um is the condition of the cemetery is
51:37
there signage that tells you a cemetery is even there um and what cemetery it is
51:43
is there evidence of ongoing maintenance like mowing weed whacking plantings um
51:49
maintenance of stones is there any kind of security whether it be a gate or um
51:55
security Patrols is there evidence of trash being left behind vandalism being
52:01
committed um we're also evaluating the barrial locations are there grave markers and what do those grave markers
52:08
look like is there a memorial some of the cemeteries have a main stone with the list of everyone's names on them or
52:15
some other type of Memorial and is there a possibility of unmarked graves in that
52:21
cemetery and also the records are records available that contain um the
52:26
necessary information the person's name what section of the cemetery they're in what their plot number is is there a way
52:32
to locate who's buried
52:39
where um as an example we chose the Northampton State Hospital Cemetery this is what a gap analysis could look like
52:45
for Northampton um the burial ground was used from 1858 to 1921 and Records
52:51
mention it as the hospital Cemetery or Hillside Cemetery um it is an inactive
52:56
it's currently managed by Smith vocational agricultural school um the land is owned by the city of Northampton
53:03
under permanent agricultural use restriction um dmh staff research in
53:08
1997 found 181 confirmed burials using hospital records and City registers and
53:15
another 413 burials were unclear but possibly on the hospital grounds after
53:21
1921 some patients who weren't claimed by family were sent to medical schools under state laws um the hospital closed
53:29
in 1993 and the cemetery area called Cemetery Hill is now used by Smith vocational for farming instruction and
53:36
it's protected for agricultural use and has no grave markers the exact location
53:42
and number of burials are unknown so Northampton obviously is kind of the worst case scenario example but this is
53:49
what a gap analysis could look like um once it's completed for each Cemetery
53:59
um so some of the things that we would like all members of the commission to consider when it comes to the burials
54:07
piece is um how does the commission want to complete the Gap analysis for each
54:12
Cemetery we have some options for how that can get finished um how does the commission want to explore the
54:18
likelihood and possible locations at unmarked Graves there are some current
54:24
questions about how that's be approached because there have been um some other
54:30
individuals who have approached possible unmarked Graves and cemetery
54:36
locations um and of course just open discussion so um the first question how
54:42
we want to complete the Gap analysis does anyone want to weigh in on that it's kind of a big
54:50
question I don't know if anyone has thoughts this might be something people want to spend more time thinking about
54:56
before jumping jumping on the bandwagon on this
55:04
one Alex yes to your point yes more time
55:09
time to think yeah this is a really big question and it's it's one that just the
55:15
action alone of considering this Gap analysis is going to take some time what do you recommend on that do you
55:21
recommend kind of taking that up in the subcommittee because that's a lot so I I feel like it deserves its own maybe okay
55:28
and I think this is also another good place to encourage other Commissioners to join the Committees um this is going
55:36
to be a lot of um a lot of leg work so having more members on the burial
55:43
committee would be wonderful to be able to um open these discussions up to how
55:48
we want to handle this this activity so I'll just put that plug out there again
55:54
um and the second question Also may take some some more some further thought of
56:01
how we want to approach the likelihood and possible locations of unmarked Graves um Alex has found in his research
56:09
that there are um outliers in a number of the cemeteries I know that for us in
56:15
belter town we are unsure whether or not our fence line is correct so there's a possibility that we may have some
56:22
unmarked and unconsidered individuals um there are also some quote unquote lost cemeteries um for us to
56:31
consider so that's a pretty pretty big category as
56:37
well does anyone have any general questions
56:42
thoughts yes this is hi Kate this is Mary MIM how are you I actually have a
56:50
question about um in in some ways both of them but the the first one as far as
56:57
the Gap analysis I'm wondering if it's that you want some assistance in what
57:04
factors or variables to list as far as the gaps if it's going to be more things
57:10
than what you talked about earlier in future in cemeteries like as far as
57:16
doing the Gap analysis or is it that you're looking for how to complete this body of work
57:24
which is quite immense because I think it was
57:29
26 um cemeteries altoe that we know of or was it kind of
57:36
both um so Jen has already assembled the Gap analysis itself um so we have a
57:42
template to work from I think it's how we're going to approach the body of work in general as you said because it's a
57:49
lot of cemeteries um some of the cemeteries are exceptionally large we think about tuxbury with 8,500 people
57:56
and we're not even there's also the matter of which of those were mm's house burials which were
58:04
State Hospital burials we also have some cemeteries that are now serving a dual
58:10
purpose between previous dmh burials and then they shipped it to Doc burials so I
58:16
think um how we're going to complete this Gap analysis is what we're what
58:22
we're approaching now is what this could look like how we get it done
58:28
um yes that that is going to take some thought some thought in many interns
58:33
maybe yes definitely um bill I saw your hand up but Emily do you want to jump in
58:39
first thank you Kate I just wanted to clarify what Cedar has done to date so
58:44
we've we've taken what's available in kind of paper documents and online documents and other things and try to
58:51
populate this Gap analysis or fill it in as best we can but there is another set
58:58
of work to confirm that information and probably some field-based work so it
59:03
could be that the commission considers you know requesting a budget and a set of recommendations about what
59:10
to do next and requests additional assistance filling in the Gap analysis
59:17
is beyond the financial resources that the commission has allocated to it for
59:23
this particular period and the timeline so just wanted to let you know it's not that the Gap analysis is blank but it
59:30
has more work needed and and that's kind of where we're we're sitting with its current state in case that's helpful for
59:38
Commissioners to understand yes yeah um Mary asked a question I had
59:47
and when she was talking and Kate and now especially Emily on the resources
59:53
answered a further question I had there aren't the full needed resources because
59:59
as Kate presented it it looks super intense with work still ahead but all
1:00:04
important thank you absolutely are there any other questions
1:00:11
regarding the burials piece Andrew uh yes uh thank you Andrew
1:00:17
Lal dppc so I guess um to Circle back to Emily's point so would that be something
1:00:23
that we'd want to maybe consider for our final report for the year is an assessment of basically what we'll need
1:00:28
for resources moving forward and um yeah yes okay absolutely
1:00:38
okay okay if there are no other questions about the burials piece I will turn it back over to
1:00:46
Evelyn thank you everyone Reggie could you give an update of the framework for
1:00:53
Rememberance work group please
1:01:16
I would agree with Alex everything Alex said and everything and uh we just need
1:01:22
to come together and figure out you know who who's doing what to make sure that
1:01:28
people ask for something you're entitled to get it instead of you know instead of
1:01:34
digging ourselves in a hole that we can't get out
1:01:40
of regie I will always agree with your agreement with me because it feels good it's nice to hear your voice we need a
1:01:48
what do we need we need an update from you on the framework for remembrance
1:01:54
committee the um Willowbrook which I I I missed um and to have missed do you have
1:02:00
do you have an update on what the what that what your work been to yeah Will Brook um me and
1:02:10
Jen and uh some of us talked about that they talked about the museum they had
1:02:15
there in Willowbrook which is in New York and everything Jim sure I can um provide uh the
1:02:24
commission some details this is Jen Fugal stad from Cedar um the
1:02:29
presentation that Reggie referenced um was done by the steering committee of um
1:02:36
the Willowbrook mile that was back in June um we did record um the
1:02:42
presentation um so if members would like to see that I I thought I believe I sent it out um so we we spoke uh we listened
1:02:52
for about an hour about how the Willowbrook mile um was created um and
1:02:58
some of the takeaways that we learned at that uh meeting was uh first off the
1:03:05
Willowbrook mile is dedicated to only one institution um which is the
1:03:10
Willowbrook State School on Staten Island in New York we also learned that the
1:03:18
Willowbrook mile took several years to complete it included Gathering input
1:03:23
from stakeholders securing support from their legislature um which included funding as
1:03:31
well as securing property um the Willowbrook steering
1:03:36
committee also had to do some fundraising um so they have a um ongoing
1:03:41
fundraising um project to continue to enhance the
1:03:47
memorial they also had to um develop a design for the memorial that had
1:03:53
multiple components um including a walking trail a
1:03:58
museum um a number of Memorial plaques along the way um and they're continuing
1:04:06
to enhance their me Memorial by making it accessible for people who are
1:04:11
visually impaired as well um so I was
1:04:16
wondering um if there was anyone who attended the presentation or watch the recording that wanted to share your
1:04:23
thoughts
1:04:39
hi Will Jen hi this is Kate Benson um I really appreciated the presentation
1:04:44
about the Willow Brook mile because I think it gives us some great ideas of where to start here in Massachusetts
1:04:51
especially when um I think it was Diane right Jen was her name um when Diane
1:04:57
discussed how they got legislators involved they were able to fund raise
1:05:04
they did get State money um and I think those are are places that we've had
1:05:10
trouble starting at here in Massachusetts and I think after hearing how Diana approached it um she had some
1:05:19
really great ideas that I think we can employ here we have a lot of State
1:05:26
legislative folks who are now really very aware of what we're doing they're
1:05:32
very aware of disability history um it's a recent thing but I think we've got a
1:05:37
lot of um a lot of attention and a lot of a lot of heat right now that we can
1:05:43
capitalize on um and I think projects like the will Brook mile are things that
1:05:49
we can kind of interpret into the institutions that we had here in Massachusetts it's kind of it's close to
1:05:55
what some of what we're doing in belch toown which was really cool to hear um because we're going to have interpretive trails and a museum and things like that
1:06:02
so that was reaffirming that um you know others others have been able to do it so
1:06:09
um I really appreciated and enjoyed that
1:06:22
presentation any other um feedback or issues points that folks would like to
1:06:33
raise well um what I will um let folks know is uh we are um setting up a time
1:06:41
to talk with the people who created the California Memorial project um which has
1:06:46
been going on for the past 20 years in the state of California um and their
1:06:52
framework for remembrance is really covers their whole state and includes
1:06:58
all the institutions and hospitals um for people with disabilities in that state so we're um
1:07:06
setting up time to talk with them to learn more about how they took a Statewide approach to their framework
1:07:11
for remembrance
1:07:25
thank you everyone next we would like to ask Cedar to lead a discussion regarding the history of institution in
1:07:33
Massachusetts and the related scope of work for the
1:07:41
commission thanks Evelyn this is Jennifer from Cedar I'm going to spend a few minutes um talking about the history
1:07:48
of institutions in Massachusetts because we're hoping to um EST establish kind of
1:07:56
the scope in which we're going to um focus our research so I wanted to take
1:08:02
just a few minutes of your time to talk through um the history uh next slide
1:08:08
please I also wanted to mention um before we get started there there are
1:08:13
some words used um in this presentation that are offensive um these are words
1:08:21
that were used over time in the history um um uh that were used to label people
1:08:29
um and we're using those to show the full history of the institutions in the
1:08:35
state so I wanted to just give that word of warning next slide um in order to talk
1:08:42
about the history of institutions in Massachusetts we have to start by talking about how Massachusetts took
1:08:49
care of their poor um poor people were typically people who could not take care
1:08:54
of themselves and um support themselves financially um often that would be
1:09:00
somebody who was elderly um or somebody who has a a physical disability um
1:09:06
somebody who may have been blind or deaf as well as people who have um intellectual or developmental
1:09:12
disabilities or mental illness um in the colonial times when Massachusetts was still a colony you
1:09:20
could get and you couldn't take care of yourself um the community around you would come and come together to help you
1:09:27
could stay with your neighbor um or people may come to your home and give you assistance and it could be longterm
1:09:34
or shortterm um but by the 19 uh by the
1:09:40
1700s um the care of the poor became known as what we call custodial care
1:09:46
meaning that the towns would pay families to look after the poor people
1:09:51
in their Town um and towns also started building what they call um alms houses um
1:09:59
sometimes referred to as poor houses and that's where people could live and receive help but you had to be a
1:10:07
resident of the town we move forward in in Massachusetts
1:10:13
history and we see that institutionalization became kind of a formal structure it was really the
1:10:20
institutionalization of the poor um so in the 18 50s there were a lot of
1:10:26
immigrants coming to the US and the AL houses were they couldn't help everyone
1:10:32
um who was sick or poor so the the state government built alms houses in
1:10:38
Bridgewater mson and tberry because more and more people needed help
1:10:44
um when people went to an alm's house they may have been sorted into groups
1:10:50
like sick or drunk or insane or healthy or
1:10:55
disabled um and some people stayed in the Alms House for the rest of their lives um at an Alms House you were
1:11:03
expected to learn skills like weaving and farming and Woodworking and that you had to help pay for your food and your
1:11:11
care um and at that same time many people who lived there also had a mental
1:11:17
illness or disability there were not separate places for people to go to um
1:11:24
but alm's houses did start to create separate spaces within the Alms House um
1:11:29
for people who they called insane to keep them apart from
1:11:34
others um and over time people with disabilities became a very large part of
1:11:40
the Alms House population um and when they got too crowded people with disabilities were sent to the
1:11:47
prisons um and the prisons were overcrowded and life there was very hard
1:11:53
for the children and adults who were were sick and elderly or disabled next slide
1:12:02
please so in the mid 1800s um people like dorotha dicks LED
1:12:10
movements to improve the conditions for the mentally ill and disabled what she saw um she saw were people warehoused in
1:12:18
alm's houses and prisons and that led to the creation of State asylums to care
1:12:24
for those with a mental illness and the first Asylum was opened in
1:12:30
Worster um the state also wanted to make some changes for the poor children who
1:12:35
lived in the state um so um a state Primary School Reform schools and
1:12:42
training schools were created to help poor children become educated and learn skills that would help them become what
1:12:50
they say were productive members of society and lift them out of poverty
1:12:56
um children who committed minor crimes like skipping school or being
1:13:02
disobedient could be sent to um a training school or a reform school um sometimes it was the court or
1:13:10
it was their family or local officials who decided where a child should go um
1:13:15
but the goal was that this was short term the once a child learned the skills for a job and how to stay out of trouble
1:13:23
they would return home or live with a local family um and also at the same time the
1:13:31
US was going into an industrial revolution so factories needed workers
1:13:36
and schools started offering kind of this vocational education to prepare children for
1:13:42
jobs but um one of the challenges the schools faced were children that had
1:13:49
disabilities these children often struggled to find and keep jobs or live
1:13:54
independently and the schools were saying that these children um took up space and other kids
1:14:02
needed to enter the school so they the schools started to create some separate
1:14:07
housing on their campuses for children with disabilities um with that happening um
1:14:15
the state wanted to improve uh education for childrens with
1:14:20
disabilities and they formed some commissions that eventually led to the creation
1:14:25
of specialized institutions like the Perkins School for the Blind and the fold school next slide
1:14:35
please so in the late 1800s early n
1:14:40
1900s you we saw a lot of Institutions being built um in Massachusetts about 15
1:14:47
depending on how you count um uh institutions for the insane and the feeble-minded were built across the
1:14:54
state um IQ tests also became more widely used
1:15:00
though you know it's not the same way that we would use an IQ test now
1:15:06
especially how it was administered or interpreted um and these tests often
1:15:11
determine where individuals would be placed sometimes the state used IQ test to decide if someone should be committed
1:15:17
to an institution um also at the same time Eugenics was becoming more popular and
1:15:25
Eugenics um promoted the idea that healthy or quote unquote Superior people
1:15:31
should reproduce while those who were considered inferior like those with
1:15:37
disabilities or people who didn't fit societal Norms should not um so the
1:15:44
eugenicists believed that society would benefit by removing people they considered unfit through segregation and
1:15:51
social exclusion next slide please
1:15:56
and then finally defective delinquents um in the early 1900s the
1:16:03
state conducted a study on what they saw was a rise of crime and the presence of
1:16:09
individuals labeled mentally ill or mentally deficient that's the language of the time um you know they also
1:16:16
included epileptics or quote unquote degenerates and as a result they created
1:16:22
a new category called defective delinquent um and these were individuals considered
1:16:28
mentally deficient criminals and the legislature authorize the segregation of these individuals by
1:16:35
establishing Departments of defective delinquents and this allowed for their permanent removal from society and
1:16:42
placement into custodial care for the rest of their lives um and superintendent of US
1:16:49
prisons asylums for the insane and schools for the feeble-minded had authority to actually
1:16:56
transfer people to the Department of defective delinquents um if they thought
1:17:02
that that person was not suitable for their um institution next
1:17:10
slide so on this slide is the listing of the formal specialized
1:17:16
Massachusetts Massachusetts state institutions so we have our dmh facilities Boston State Danver State
1:17:23
Foxboro state Garder Grafton Medfield met State
1:17:29
Northampton Taunton West BR and Wier a lot of of um facilities there and then
1:17:35
we have the DDS facilities belard toown de fernal glavin Hogan mson Templeton
1:17:42
and rentham next slide
1:17:47
um so basically kind of the summary is people with mental illnesses and
1:17:52
developmental disabilities were included in different parts of institutional settings in Massachusetts over time and
1:17:59
separate institutions for people with these conditions were created starting around late 1800s early
1:18:07
1900s so for example institutions that served
1:18:13
many people with mental illness and Def excuse me developmental disabilities before institution separate institutions
1:18:20
were created included the Alms House Primary reform and training schools as
1:18:26
well as the defective delinquent class I know we're very close on time here what
1:18:31
we wanted to do is have a discussion about what should be included in the work of the special commission so I want
1:18:38
to open it up to anybody who had thoughts or comments
1:18:59
hi this is Kate um I know we talked about this in our smaller group the other day and um Alex had to hop off so
1:19:05
he asked me to be his voice is oh no that Alex is still there never mind U but I'm still gonna talk for him because
1:19:11
I can um I know we talked briefly about the primary reform and training school
1:19:18
piece um and how we can kind of bring those under our umbrella or not um we
1:19:26
talked a little bit um and this is for everyone else on the commission we talked a bit about how how broad our
1:19:31
scope already is you saw the list of all of those institutions it's it's pretty lengthy um but there is really heavy
1:19:39
evidence that people with disabilities were housed first in those reform and
1:19:46
training schools and the primary schools like mson um and then a lot of times those individuals with disabilities and
1:19:53
with mental illness were passed back and forth um so it's a really tough question
1:20:00
to ask of how how wide do we open our arms and how broad do we go but because
1:20:06
we did have a question about some of those lost cemeteries some of those lost cemeteries are on grounds of Reform
1:20:14
schools that then became um asylums that then later became something else we've
1:20:19
had a lot of Institutions that have changed hands and changed names and purposes um so I think it's really
1:20:25
important to think about how we include some of those institutions in our world
1:20:32
um especially you know after Jen's summary of looking at how those
1:20:38
institutions all worked together came together served a lot of the same people
1:20:43
over time um so I guess it's just a question of how big of a bite can we
1:20:51
take um
1:20:56
uh thanks Kate bill um I I don't know if
1:21:01
the commission has the ability to dig deeply on all of them but I found the
1:21:07
history extraordinarily useful and I'll speak as somebody who's older than most
1:21:12
of you on this Chanel and I drove and I can remember as a kid grown up near
1:21:19
Worcester going by the all Worcester State hospital or we used to drive down Route 9 to go to a Red Sox game or
1:21:26
something like that and you'd look off to the left going down Route n and see the reform school as it was told to me
1:21:33
in westbo and you anywhere in the state and
1:21:40
even just hearing that starts to bring back a a memory and a mystery and there's a whole generation of people
1:21:47
like me who went by those and never really understood because it was the classic put them away in these
1:21:54
frightening list looking places your parents would say if you're not good you could go there or something like that
1:22:01
you know and at minimum I found that just that little presentation at the end
1:22:08
on the list of them and what they were and how it all ties into segregating and
1:22:15
punishing people for no good reason as extraordinarily critical background
1:22:21
that's in a memory for a whole set of people my age who don't even know what disability rights is I
1:22:32
imagine Andrew uh yes hi Andrew Leal and I know
1:22:38
we're up against time and I'm sure this is sort of a uh an idea that the working group already had but I mean I I'm
1:22:45
guessing maybe the best way to focus it would be to start you know with the primary history sort of the most recent
1:22:52
facilities because obviously that's the most targeted to our work and then sort of work our way backwards from there
1:22:57
this is obviously going to be a multi-year effort and you know start with sort of where the focuses and let's
1:23:03
see how far along we get and how much we get for resources and then maybe we can work
1:23:10
backwards thank you Linda yes um I'm part of another group that's looking
1:23:17
into like reparations and the what you just put
1:23:23
forth for us it almost seems there needs to be some form of reparations for for
1:23:31
as as uh people said people were segregated and and really treated in a
1:23:39
very subhuman way you know and and basically their their rights were
1:23:45
violated that's how it's coming across so it's a question that I raise um what
1:23:52
that you know looking at the the current situation now where those institutions
1:23:58
are what what is the question of
1:24:03
reparations is is that something um that is needed and I don't know what form
1:24:11
that would take but um it it just raises to mind definitely I think there has to
1:24:17
be some public apology saying you know this is what happened
1:24:24
um truly uh disrespectful to the innate human dignity of of all and and what
1:24:32
does it mean to to move forward from this and even with these current places
1:24:39
like what what what is going on there now you know so like it just raises
1:24:46
those questions for me that's that's all I'm saying yeah thank you Linda
1:24:55
Alex I have to jump in a second but I I just um uh first of all again thank you
1:25:02
I know we said this the other day but I'll say it to high heaven this s stuff is so overwhelmingly large it is
1:25:08
together in such a clear and powerful and compelling way is is really really
1:25:14
really important to see um I I just wanted to Sister Linda when you just
1:25:20
said what you were you were saying I I I just wanted to let you know and Air irm that when we were writing the
1:25:27
legislation and the Coalition of folks was pushing this through what you just said was the type of stuff that was
1:25:34
discussed around the component on memorialization and Remembrance and where do we go in the future and it was
1:25:42
said at the time and especially Senator Barrett who was kind of pushing this a lot through said he wanted us to think
1:25:49
expansively and radically and widely and in a Forward Thinking way way about what
1:25:55
it means to not do these things at their worst again to people what does it mean
1:26:00
to go forward as a society so I would just I really what you're saying the way you said it just resonates a lot with me
1:26:07
and I would really encourage you to join in on the the memorialization work group that Reggie's been doing a lot with and
1:26:14
some of the other folks and really put these ideas forward be because I think they get to the heart and soul of of a
1:26:21
lot of what what motivated a lot of us to get involved D in this in the first place oh well I thank you for that
1:26:27
invitation and you know I I I will do that and and I do it because I'm part of
1:26:35
this other group that's looking just for the city of Boston that issued a a
1:26:41
public apology for the for its role in the transatlantic slave trade let me
1:26:48
tell you and that public apology was um
1:26:55
incredible and it might be a model of how we need to proceed so um I and and
1:27:03
there's conversations going on right now right now there's conversations going on
1:27:10
on this whole theme of of uh reparations that are just one of the most powerful
1:27:18
uh yeah very powerful so I I can imagine if you do the same
1:27:24
you know on on on this issue of um it it
1:27:30
has ramification so all right I I will do that I excellent right on and you
1:27:36
have a good starting place in the 1990s the residents of the fernal school who it was revealed and and R them I
1:27:44
believe who had been tested with radioactive material they were promised an apology they never got and I just
1:27:51
spoke maybe a month ago with one of the last surviving wow State boys who were
1:27:57
tested on and that was the first thing that he said I never got my apology from the state so I think there's there's
1:28:03
space in there to move and think so sorry I know we're over time and I but thank you so much yeah yeah you're
1:28:09
welcome yeah wow
1:28:15
okay um hi this is Mary I I wanted to add one thing if I don't know if people
1:28:21
all need to jump off or um no I won't expand on it but I I really
1:28:27
think this all of this in information is just so expansive it's huge and Jennifer
1:28:35
thank you very much for the the history um lesson which I think was really
1:28:41
helpful and thinking back to our very first meeting we discussed how there's
1:28:47
so many types of Institutions that have you know that have been in the Commonwealth of
1:28:54
Massachusetts and that we need to keep our Focus because we just cannot do it
1:29:00
all within this one commission even over several years and should should focus
1:29:06
more on the institutions I like the idea going from the now and then going back
1:29:13
but focus on the ones that were specifically for people with mental health issues and folks with
1:29:18
intellectual developmental disabilities even though we know that there were people that incarcerated that
1:29:25
a large percentage of disabilities and and there was a lot of mix in all of these institutions going back I think
1:29:32
that should be the focus for now which is which is huge enough and then
1:29:37
starting from the institutions that were more recently closed during this Century
1:29:44
going back from now back to 2000 and then going back from there to the 90s and so forth and just sticking with the
1:29:51
ones that were more um of recent years 50 years or so um more for ID in mental
1:29:59
health IND people with mental health
1:30:05
issues thank you Mary thank you
1:30:12
everyone um I think to our final minutes we want
1:30:18
to remind everyone that we have scheduled a next full commission meeting
1:30:24
on for Thursday September 12th at 2:30 does that work for
1:30:38
everyone yep [Music]
1:30:43
yeah if members have any questions before then you should feel free to
1:30:49
contact us if there's no items to discuss we can
1:30:56
vote to adjourn please unmute yourself for the
1:31:03
roll call vote do we have a
1:31:08
motion toj I make a motion to
1:31:16
adjourn second I stay in touch with me and
1:31:21
Mary yes thank you I have a question don't we have to vote for something or we already
1:31:29
did Evelyn we need to vote but I can um as you requested I can read the
1:31:34
names okay this is Jennifer okay
1:31:42
Elise Kate yes sister
1:31:47
Linda uh yes and I thank all of folks who put this agenda together and the
1:31:54
reports that you gave I learned so much thank you thank you sister Linda
1:32:02
Reggie yes
1:32:08
Ann Alex uh Bill yes and I have to jump to
1:32:16
another meeting thanks everybody who was informative
1:32:21
exponentially thank you Ron yes and I have to jump off too thank you
1:32:29
Andrew yes and same I will see you guys in a few a few months yes uh
1:32:36
Mary yes Vesper
1:32:44
Brenda Connor yes and I have to go the building is
1:32:50
closing uh Matt he's absent and
1:32:55
Evelyn yes I think you can adjourn the
1:33:03
meeting thank you everyone meeting adjourned