SWAMPSCOTT– Three consulting firms proposed their implantation strategies of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the hope of being chosen on Wednesday night during Swampscott’s Select Board meeting.
In 2023, Swampscott published a request for a proposal to hire a DEI consulting firm with the goals of “improving operations, hiring and personnel management, and outreach,” Director of Planning and Land Use S. Peter Kane said.
Seven parties responded with interest, and the search was soon narrowed to three finalists by a selection committee.
According to the American Psychological Association, DEI is defined as a conceptual framework that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially populations who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, or disability.
The firms, HCH Enterprises, ReadySet, and Roads Consulting Group were given an equally limited amount of time to present their unique strategies to the Board.
HCH started with a presentation led by DEI Consultant Dr. Maritsa Barros and Senior Project Manager Nicole Paliotti. They highlighted other local municipalities they are working with, including Salem, Malden, and Westwood. The presentation emphasized that HCH aims to be collaborative with the town rather than “policing” the town leadership. The company’s proposed timeline for a 12 to 16-month project featured three phases: initial assessment, consultation on course of action, and contextual implementation.
“This is a growing and developing discipline,” Barros said. “I have to just be frank in saying that sometimes we are building the plane as we’re flying it.”
Barros said that while she does not have direct experience with implementing her concepts with worker unions, she does have an interest in working with the union workers of Swampscott.
ReadySet presented second, represented by Head of Executive and Leadership Engagement Meghna Majmudar and Senior Consultant and Facilitator Viveka Kymal. Similar to HCH, the pair proposed a three-part plan to the Board that would take place over approximately 12 months. The three pillars of the plan were titled, context assessment, strategic planning and advisory support, and embedding new behaviors.
Majmudar referenced the town’s request for a proposal, which mentioned its desire to potentially establish a DEI leader position or a team of individuals. She used this as an example of something that the town may or may not be ready for based on the results of the firm’s assessment.
“We kind of have a unique way to get to know a community and then turn that into a strategic roadmap that is very straightforward to implement,” Majmudar said. “We have had clients who are the first DEI leader, and then they’re not resourced appropriately or other people don’t know how to work with them.”
CEO of Roads Consulting Group, Dr. Jose Perez, introduced his company to the Board. In its seven-year existence, Roads has established local DEI partnerships with local cities such as Lynn, Chelsea, and Revere.
Roads team member, Stefanie Smith, described a process that includes a thorough review of all town personnel, along with identifying other municipalities of similar size that have incorporated DEI in some capacity.
“The strategic plan will definitely include integration of an appointed DEI person into the internal process,” Smith said. “We will also set the stage for said person by doing some of the groundwork alongside (Swampscott’s) elected officials.”
Roads tasked the Board with defining equity themselves in six words. Racial Equity and Facilitation Specialist Marcus Moore said the point of the exercise was to demonstrate that equity can not be defined in a few words.
“What we want to lay out is that the definition of equity is a standard,” Moore said. “The particular application of it is very customized.”
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald clarified that the proposal does not include the school district.
“I do think it’s an important piece to explore down the road, because we really are all one community,” Board member Danielle Leonard said about including the district.
Fitzgerald expressed overall agreement with Leonard, adding that it could be cost-effective to the town to include the district. According to Kane, the school department has conducted its own DEI assessment.
Board member MaryEllen Fletcher moved to postpone the vote to hire one of the three candidates, citing a desire to have more time to review the information and give the public an opportunity to comment. Chair David Grishman said a decision will be scheduled at the Board’s next meeting. Director of Finance and Administration Amy Sarro informed the board that a contract has to be signed within four weeks or the funds will not be eligible for use.
