Philomath inclusivity committee debates proclamation wording after member says committee failed to act

At a July meeting of the Philomath Inclusivity Committee, a long-serving member identified in the meeting as Zena delivered an emotional statement saying she had faced bias within the committee and could not "rubber stamp" a proclamation without concrete action behind it. Her remarks prompted committee discussion about how the city’s yearly inclusivity proclamation should be worded and whether it should include an annual, actionable checklist.

Zena said the committee’s founding language — which references 2020 and the community response to the murder of George Floyd — risks becoming tokenizing if it is not paired with follow-through. "I can no longer be part of this in any way," Zena said, urging the group to move from words to unified action. Several members acknowledged the history and affirmed the importance of the original call to action, while others agreed Zena’s concern about proclamations without tangible commitments was legitimate.

Committee members debated removing a clause that referenced joining the AARP Age-Friendly Communities network, saying the network’s timelines and requirements could be difficult for the city to commit to. Members generally favored keeping a historical reference that explains why the committee formed in 2020, but discussed rewording the language so it reads as context rather than an open-ended pledge to enroll in an external program.

Several speakers proposed a practical compromise: leave the proclamation’s broad language but attach or adopt a short annual addendum listing specific, time-bound commitments the inclusivity committee would pursue over the following year (for example, targeted outreach, events, or accessibility steps). One member suggested a June-to-June cycle, aligning the proclamation’s public reading with an annual review of the committee’s commitments.

Christopher McMoran, who introduced himself in roll call and who spoke in his role as mayor during the meeting, said he was sorry Zena felt excluded and offered to follow up privately so leadership could better understand the specific incidents she referenced. He said it is difficult for leaders to address concerns without clearer examples but welcomed one-on-one conversation to identify next steps.

The committee noted the city council has already adopted the inclusivity proclamation for the year; members agreed to record the discussion in the meeting minutes and to revisit substantive wording or an annual action attachment in the committee’s next revision cycle (discussed for next spring). No formal vote or amendment to the proclamation was taken at the meeting.

The committee also discussed procedural changes to ensure marginalized voices are heard—including clearer meeting norms, time limits with reasonable exceptions for people who need extra time, and prioritizing input from community members who are outnumbered at the table. Members said staff and volunteer leaders will draft suggested procedural language and return with materials for future meetings.