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Committee explores language-access and interpretation options for Bangor meetings and agendas
Summary
Using a Chapel Hill, N.C., agenda as an example, the advisory committee discussed ways to add language-access information and interpretation assistance to Bangor’s meeting materials and how to partner with local organizations and institutions to provide translation or remote interpretation.
Committee members reviewed a model City Council agenda from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that lists interpretation resources and step-by-step participation guidance in multiple languages and discussed options to make Bangor’s agendas and meeting participation more accessible.
Chair Katie Bridal described the Chapel Hill example and said it included practical details such as parking, transit instructions and Zoom participation steps in multiple languages. Bridal said the Chapel Hill materials include “if you are coming, this is where you park, and let's say you get into the building. If you are going on Zoom, this is how you open up your Zoom, make sure your sound is on, and this is what it's gonna look like for you,” and suggested similar content could be added to Bangor materials.
Staff told the committee the city has an in-house print shop and can produce translated materials if provided with copy about a week ahead. Committee members suggested investigating technology options used by hospitals and other local institutions, such as hospital iPad translation services and third-party telephone/remote interpretation vendors. They also suggested outreach to partners including Northern Light Health and the Maine Multicultural Center to identify resources and volunteers.
No formal recommendation was adopted at the meeting. Committee members asked staff to research available services, costs and partner organizations and return with options at the June meeting.
