Human Relations Commission — Boone, NC
Date: 2025-09-22

Town of Boone
 Human Relations Commission
 6:00 PM, September 17, 2025
 Planning and Inspections Conference Room


 1. Call to Order

 2. Moment of Silence

 3. Tentative Agenda Adoption

 4. Announcement of HRC Vacancies

 5. Public Comment

 6. Approval of Minutes

 7. Work Session

 8. Adjournment




Town of Boone Human Relations September 17, 2025
 Commission
 1

Town of Boone Human Relation Commission Meeting: September 17, 2025
 Members Present: Todd Carter, Kirstin Morgan, Drew Finley, Sean Morris, Alex Castillo,
 Tori Rodriguez
• Meeting began at 6:06pm
 o All members present in person except for Trevor Moody, Joanne Pullati, Dalton
 George, and Jack Yordy, all of whom were absent
 o Alex Castillo was present as a non-voting member as he has not been sworn in yet

• Moment of silence observed

• Tentative agenda adopted
 o Kirstin Morgan motioned to adopt
 o Sean Morris seconded
 o Vote: approve 5, against 0, abstentions 0

• HRC vacancies announcement by Todd Carter
 o Alex Castillo welcomed as newest member of the commission, introductions of all
 present members
 o 2 vacancies remain

• Opened for public comment at 6:15
 o Closed at 6:15 as no members of the public present

• Approval of July 16, 2025 minutes
 o Move to approve minutes by Drew Finley
 o Seconded by Tori Rodriguez
 o Vote: approve 5, against 0, abstentions 0

• Online complaint form and HRC webpage
 o Need to set a timeline for Drew Finley to get together with Nicole Harmon to solidify
 what HRC wants regarding complaint form and HRC webpage
  Start with complain form and then Tori Rodriguez can present examples of
 how whole webpage will look
 o Drew Finley will meet with Nicole Harmon to get form as approved by HRC and
 Town Council on the website and then Town will publicize
  Complaints will go to Nicole Harmon, who will send to Chair of Commission
 Todd Carter who will add it to next HRC agenda
 o Kirstin Morgan asked if we would have to identify the person who made the
 complaint during a public HRC meeting, as that could discourage people from
 reporting
  Sean Morris expressed the concern that we would be lacking propriety and not
 modeling open government if we do not share the name of the person making
 the complaint since to speak at a Town Council or Commission meeting you
 have to give your name and where you live
  Kirstin Morgan agreed with the above concern, but also stated that people
 may be discouraged from reporting if they fear retaliation
  Todd Carter said he is not sure what the rules are and when we get the first
 complaint we will have to ask the town attorney and reach out to the state for
 guidance
 • He added that it could be assigned to 2 members of the HRC to
 investigate before the meeting and talk with the person making the
 complaint
  Drew Finley asked if we could add something to the form that says the
 person’s name will only be used to contact them
 • Todd Carter says that will be part of our education piece once the form
 goes up and pulled up Durham’s website as an example where they
 separate fair housing and all other non-discrimination ordinance issues
 • Durham did require name, address, and phone number, but had no
 details on how that information would be used
 o Tori Rodriguez shared her draft for the HRC website
  Provides a lot more information including Commission powers and by-laws
  Also proposed having links to information on past and future events
 • Or if links to linked sites aren’t an option, then have details on the
 page
  Information about fair housing and the non-discrimination ordinance
  Link to complaint forms (see below about use of two links to organize
 complaints)
 o The discussion returned to Durham’s two different forms
  Todd Carter highlighted the advantage of potentially having two portals to the
 same form to divide up complaints into fair housing and then equal
 employment opportunity and public accommodations
  All commission members agreed that adding examples of complaints would
 be an excellent idea
 o Final consensus was that Tori Rodriguez and Drew Finley would meet with Nicole
 Harmon together to get everything moving on the complaint form and website

• Disability Pride Event – report by Sean Morris
 o Sean Morris- “it happened”
 o Goal was 50 participants and 33 came through, so a bit short
  Also considered should have done music instead of PBS documentaries in
 background
 o Did form a good relationship with Watauga Opportunities and they will bring more
 people next year to the event
  WO want to partner with HRC during the holidays for a fundraiser
 o Leftover supplies are all opened and non-returnable – cups, plates, art supplies
  Budget was $940 and spent $711.86, so $228.14 returned to town budget
 o Sean Morris felt the excitement level was high and people enjoyed the event
  Todd Carter and Tori Rodriguez echoed the success of the event
  Mom and son drove from Winsto-Salem because this event was the only one
 for Disability Pride Month they could find even remotely close
 o Spirit Ride – nonprofit wants to be involved next year
  They have connections to kids with disabilities and their families
 o Consensus to make sure all future HRC events have pictures taken as there were not
 any taken of this event

• Learn How Local Government Works event update
 o Planning got delayed, but looking at last full weekend of October (25th) or second
 weekend of November (8th)
  1-4pm
 o HRC email vote – details to Todd Carter and he sends to commission for vote
 o Need to get budget request to Town Council by Oct. 3 for space, supplies, and food
  Approve at Town Council Meeting on Oct. 8

• Work Session
 o Tori Rodriguez brought up partnering with App Theater for Aids Visibility Month
 which Trevor Moody had brought up last month
  It is October, so Kirstin Morgan pointed out would need to get with App
 Theater ASAP about getting on their calendar
  Todd Carter stated that it costs $600 to sponsor a film there
 o Todd Carter brought up the potential elimination of the Human Relations
 Commission in NC due to federal changes
  April 2026 Civil Rights and Fair Housing Summit – Mr. Troy sent an email
 about it, so Todd Carter will find out what is going on
  None of us were able to be on the call about the potential elimination of the
 department
 o State HRC provided dates for some events coming up – Sean Morris shared
  Signing of Hate Crimes Law Oct. 28
 • Tori Rodriguez and Sean Morris will work on this proclamation
  Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Oct.
 • Kirstin Morgan will create proclamation for Town to pass
  Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15-Oct. 15
 • Todd Carter brought up a proclamation and it was passed by Town
 Council
  Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Oct.
 • Oct. 23 is wear purple day for DV awareness
 • Alex Castillo will work on proclamation since Oasis usually does one
  Indigenous Americans Heritage Month – Nov.
 • Todd Carter is happy to bring forth a proclamation for this
 o Next Town Council meeting is Oct. 15, so any proclamations would be read into the
 record on the 27th
  Send to Todd Carter to look over before officially submitting

• Meeting adjourned at 7:pm
 o Kirstin Morgan motioned to adjourn
 o Sean Morris seconded
 o Vote to adjourn unanimous