The Mayor's Equity Advisory Council is committed to implementing anti-bias  programs and fostering cultural diversity including elimination of all forms of discrimination based upon race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, gender, sexual orientation/preference, and immigration status.

The Advisory Council shall provide advice to the Mayor which will assist the Mayor and other members of the Borough of Highland Administration in identifying steps which should be administratively implemented to address and eliminate bias issues, recommend training program for Borough employees including members of the Borough of Highland Park Police Department and undertake such other projects and tasks as may be assigned by the Mayor and be guided by the following responsibilities:

• Collect a detailed inventory of anti-bias training programs currently implemented
  by Highland Park for its employees.

• Collect and catalog bias complaints and incidents of bias crimes committed in
  Highland Park.

• Collect and catalog bias complaints against Highland Park employees.
  Research and identify mechanisms for improving public reporting of racial bias
  incidents occurring in Highland Park.

• Use the various data sources listed above to suggest methods of improvement.
  Provide a quarterly report on bias in Highland Park to the

Contact

Co-Chairs: Antoinette Gaboton-Moss (mary.gaboton-moss@ptsem.edu) and Jeff Vardaro (jeff.vardaro@gmail.com)

How can I get involved?

We always encourage new members to join our committee. Please contact us through email.

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes can be viewed on the Borough's website.

Related Material and Links

The Mayor's Equity Advisory Council has discussed bills, under consideration by the NJ Senate and Assembly, that support the formation of CCRBs that would have “the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence, directly related to the inquiry, which subpoenas shall be enforceable in the Superior Court; provided, however, that a civilian review board may not subpoena any information or record that is related to a pending federal, state, or county criminal investigation.” In addition, the bills would appropriate funds towards “Civilian Review Board Training" which would be vital for members of a CCRB. 

These bills can be reviewed and tracked here: Assembly No. A4656 and Senate No. S2963

• Accountability & Transparency in Policing
• Resolution in Support of Senate Bill No. 2656/Assembly Bill No. 5301
• By-Laws For the Civilian Review Board in Newark
• Community Board on Policing in Maplewood
• Mayor’s Equity Advisory Council Inquiries
• Mayor's Equity Advisory Council Bylaws Draft
• NJ Attorney General's Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures Directive, issued August 2020
• Use of Force Reports
• Status Report as of 8/10/21 on NJ Assembly Bill A5864 (on police body cameras)

Committee Members

Antoinette Gaboton-Moss
Jeff Vardaro
Steve Allard
Franklin Moreno
Hayden Hsiung
Kevin Dougherty
Nathalie Levine
Norma Vargas-Greenberg
Carolyn Timmons
Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler
Councilwoman Elsie Foster
Public Information Officer Harry Glazer