Fitchburg advisory committee refines equity‑tool draft, agrees to draft racial‑equity framing

The Community Equity Advisory Committee met April 22 and spent the bulk of its meeting reviewing and editing a proposed equity tool and rubric intended to guide city staff and partners in assessing racial and social equity in plans and proposals. Chair Chris opened the meeting, the committee approved the March 25 minutes, and members worked through wording, scoring, and implementation guidance for the toolkit.

Committee members praised the document as a strong starting point but asked for clearer user guidance and consistent language across categories. Jessica circulated a color‑coded draft that adds numeric scoring and a short checklist; members said a visible cover sheet or glossary should explain key terms such as “equity,” “well‑being,” and “community engagement.” Several members…