Camden approves civic values resolution

Wed, 08/16/2017 - 12:45pm

    CAMDEN — Joining several other Midcoast communities, Camden voted Aug. 15 to endorse a municipal resolution that had originally been inspired by San Francisco’s affirmation committing to values of inclusivity, respect, and dignity. 

    “This value statement aligns beautifully with action steps that already happening on the municipal level and can inform projects going into the future,” said one of the resolution’s drafters, Francis Wheeler-Berta, at the Aug. 15 Camden Select Board meeting, held in the Washington Street Conference Room. “We are all on the same page.”

    The resolution had first been presented to the Camden Select Board June 20. While the board did not reject it, members urged the drafters to invite other town committees and boards, as well as citizens, to weigh in on the language.

    The resolution was subsequently posted at the town’s website, with invitations for amending language; however, what was presented Aug. 15 remained as was originally submitted.

    The Camden initiative arose amongst a group of residents, who then gathered signatures from more than 30 business owners and 300 Camden citizens, who attached their names to the Camden Statement of Civic Values. 

     Wheeler-Berta reported that the drafters had met with a few committee members, and she said Aug. 15, the town was in a good position to adopt the resolution.

    She reported that skeptics had articulated, “we are already doing this,” and why was instituting a resolution necessary?

    All to which she replied: “If we are already doing it why not say it aloud?”

    She said the resolution is a guidepost for “any number of different avenues in our community.”

    Select board member Marc Ratner motioned to endorse the resolution, saying it was, “particularly important, given what has happened in world last week.”

    The board voted unanimously to approve the following statement of civic values for Camden:

    Whereas Camden is a home to and destination for people from all over the world and a community whose economy and wellbeing depends on mutual respect and the health of our environment.

    Camden is therefore resolved to respect the dignity of all people, promote civil discourse, and honor diversity in all forms, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, ability, class, sexuality, and gender identification/expression. We will work to make our community a place where people feel safe in their homes, on the streets, in our schools, and within the community at large.

    Camden is therefore further resolved to protect the environment, foster renewable resources, diminish reliance on fossil fuels, reduce waste, promote local farms and fisheries, and preserve the beauty of our region and the health of the population through local action.

    Since the first of the year, two other Midcoast towns, Rockland and Appleton, signed resolutions similar in scope, and others have been considering their own:

    Appleton resolves to respect dignity of all people, promote civil discourse, honor diversity

    Rockland passes Healthy Community Resolve; Mayor Clayton explains his dissenting vote

    Belfast group urged to refine city tolerance resolve

     

    Related story

    Camden consider codifying civic values