The Cambridge City Council last Monday passed an amendment establishing a commission on the status of women, despite some councilors' misgivings regarding the procedure for selecting members for the commission.
The commission will serve as an advocate for women's interests in discussions of issues such as day care, equal employment and wife abuse, depending upon the specific interests of the new commissioners. Information, referral and assistance to women seeking help from government agencies, as well as prodding enforcement of equal opportunity, are all included in the commission's charter.
Jobs are the biggest issue, and the commission will set up a job bank listing Cambridge jobs in the private and affirmative action officer for the city, said yesterday.
Rabouin, a member of the ad hoc committee that pressed for the commission, said although the ad hoc committee evolved from a group working for the Massachusetts Equal Rights Amendment, she hoped the commissioner would represent a better socio-economic cross-section of Cambridge women.
Councilor Saundra M. Graham said last night she intends to introduce an amendment to clarify the selection of candidates.
The amendment now stipulates that the city manager will make the initial appointments, with the commission submitting recommendations for subsequent appointments. City Councilor Barbara Ackerman said yesterday City Manager James L. Sullivan will advertise to recruit members.
Mary Conlon, administrative assistant to the dean of Law and a member of the ad hoc committee, said yesterday women councilors had been concerned that the committee would want to place its own members on the commission, but that she believes such fears are groundless.
Councilor Walter J. Sullivan said yesterday that he had offered the only dissenting vote in the council because he felt the selection clause violated city charter rules.
Read more in News
V.P. Candidate Accuses Exec Board of PolitickingRecommended Articles
-
City's Disarmament Pamphlet LaudedBeginning the task of sifting through the fallout from their nationally publicized call for nuclear disarmament, the Cambridge City Council
-
Seven City Councilors Attended Washington Meeting Last WeekSeven members of the Cambridge City Council spent last weekend in Washington, D.C. lobbying for city concerns and exchanging ideas
-
City Council Postpones--Action As Officials Head to JapanThe Cambridge City Council last night had more items on the tables than on the floor. Reluctant to address any
-
City Council May Grant Top Official 5-Year TermThe Cambridge City Council last night moved closer to virtually guaranteeing the city's top official, who currently serves at the
-
City Officials Ask Santa For Peace, Funds, Less TaxIt's Christmas time in the city, as the song says, and public officials are joining good boys and girls everywhere
-
City Clerk Offers Proposal to Raise Council's SalariesThe Cambridge city clerk last night introduced a proposal to award city councilors their second pay raise in the last