Rights panel OKs $800 for Dec. 10 event

Human Rights Commission · Meeting of October 26, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Human Rights Commission voted 5-0 to approve an $800 budget for its Human Rights Day event on December 10 at Hosmer Elementary School. Chair Sarah Zohan and Vice Chair Mel Poindexter presided over a meeting that also weighed assigning commissioners as liaisons across eight priority areas, including housing, immigrant rights and disability rights. Watertown Police Captain Unsworth reported no incidents tied to the Safe Communities Act, saying "I haven't seen anything triggered, at least in our community now." Member Lisa LaPlante flagged open-meeting-law concerns about incorporating the commission's community needs assessment into the Human Rights Day program.

Staff liaison Jenna said the commission closed last fiscal year with only about $100 unspent and must submit its next budget request in November. Zohan and Poindexter also announced plans to step down as chair and vice chair before the commission's next meeting.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Student Liaison Introductions
• Liaison Reports: Watertown Police Department
• Liaison Reports: Watertown Public Schools
• Approval of Minutes
• Working Group One: Human Rights Day Planning and Budget
• Action Plan Progress Report
• Working Group Two: Community Liaison Roles and Priority Areas
• Immigrant Rights Committee Update
• Chair and Vice Chair Transition
• Budget Season and Subcommittee Scheduling
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,181 words

Source: the Human Rights Commission meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.