HomeMy WebLinkAbout26.01.12 - Minutes, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
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Diversity & Inclusion Committee Meeting
Meeting Minutes
Commissioners Administrative Building – Room 1301
100 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740
[**Meeting was attended via Zoom link]
Monday, January 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
I. Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.
II. Attending: Terence Ngwa (Chair), Fatima Sakarya, Eric Schwartz, Allenia
Washington, and Tiara Burnett (ex officio, Hagerstown City Council), (quorum
reached)
Absent: Angela Yamashita (Vice Chair), Jeanine Salifou (Secretary), Derek
Harvey (ex officio, Washington County Board of Commissioners), Darrell Evans
(ex officio, WCPS Board of Education)
III. Quorum confirmed. With the addition of a new item to “New Business” regarding
MLK Day and service opportunities, the Agenda was approved. Meeting minutes
for December 2025 were not available for review and were tabled for the next
regular meeting.
IV. Introduction of Guests/Public Comments – Jason McGill of “Eliza’s House”, a
nonprofit in Hagerstown, was invited as a guest to the meeting by Eric Schwartz.
Mr. McGill is interesting in learning more about the Committee; members
individually introduced themselves to him.
IV. Liaison Reports –
● City of Hagerstown – Councilwoman Tiara Burnett discussed a recent
Washington Post article about DHS and ICE being interested in locating an ICE
detention facility in a warehouse in Hagerstown, that is to be discussed during a
City Council meeting on Jan. 13th. Both the Hagerstown City Council and
Washington County Board have expressed lack of knowledge about the federal
government’s interest. Two existing warehouses were discussed as being
inappropriate due to lack of adequate water supply and two others were
unoccupied at present but not ready for occupancy. Per Councilwoman Burnett,
most council members expressed strong negative opinions towards an ICE
detention center being located in Hagerstown. While members of the Committee
also expressed negative opinions on the presence of a detention facility,
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Chairperson Terence Ngwa asked that the Committee listen and gather
information, as much as possible, on how much the local residents are for or
against such a development so that we can report back to the County Board of
Commissioners. The Committee agreed to prepare a statement if the facility were
to move forward quickly.
V. Old Business
● NAACP Black Market update – The NAACP “Black Market” has been
rescheduled for February 28th. Fatima Sakarya and Allenia Washington
re-committed to attend on behalf of the Committee.
● The “Excellence in Diversity” award process outline had been reviewed by
the Committee via Google docs, and a motion to approve the Award, with
its new name “Excellence in Diversity” was made, seconded, and
approved, subject to a change in the “process’ stating that the Award
would be presented each year during a regularly scheduled Washington
County Commissioners’ meeting. The Award issuance and process
guidelines are to be presented to the County Clerk together with the
Minutes.
VI. New Business
● Compliance with Open Meetings Act – Both Fatima and Terence
confirmed they had completed training in the OMA, which was
recommended by the County attorney. The Committee discussed the
November 2025 meeting and the violation of the rules regarding
exemptions to holding a “closed session”.
● The Committee will request the County Clerk’s assistance in searching for
a new member to fill the current vacancy on the D&I Committee, due to
Zsun-nee Matema’s departure. The Committee will also request advice
from the Board of Commissioners over the possibility of having a “youth”
member, from the local High Schools, appointed each year.
● 2025 D&I Committee Report – Fatima has agreed to create an Annual
Report for 2025, for presentation to the County no later than the end of
February 2026.
VII. Adjourn – the Committee adjourned at 8:02 p.m.