Lowell City Councilors Approve Funding for Diversity Audit
By Alana Melanson | Lowell Sun
LOWELL — The City Council on Tuesday approved a transfer of $55,000 from the city manager’s contingency fund to be used for a human resources audit as part of the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“I recognize this is a tough year,” City Manager Eileen Donoghue said. “We don’t know what we need contingency moneys for, but this was something that was prioritized, and something that we feel this is the only way to move forward on this.”
Councilors John Drinkwater and Vesna Nuon made the motion requesting the audit in early June.
The initial request for proposals for a comprehensive audit came back with proposals as high as $160,000. With the city unable to contend with that price during the financial challenges of the pandemic, a modified request for proposals followed, targeting the highest-priority items to start. Donoghue previously said the idea was to do the audit in phases as funding allowed.
Drinkwater said he thought funding the $55,000 for the audit was “a really positive step” and he was glad the council could take the vote Tuesday.
Bobby Tugbiyele, a resident who has been outspoken about the city’s need for such an audit and reforms to its hiring practices for years, was unavailable to participate in the meeting but provided a statement by email.
“Over the course of this year, City Council has been vocal in its resolve to uphold values around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). While that resolve has been questioned and will continue to be when and if appropriate, it is equally important to recognize earnest attempts in moving the needle forward,” Tugbiyele said. “If we can consider budgets as statements of our values, as once was said, then let’s mark this initial investment in an HR audit as a step in the right direction to continually address historical inequities in our city.”
He said he hopes it is an opportunity that encourages further investment, partnership and education around DEI initiatives in the city, and he is optimistic that 2021 will prove to be a year that Lowell “walks the walk” with such measures and serves as a model for other communities around the state.
It is unclear which of the six applicants was selected for the audit. Donoghue said she would provide a more in-depth report for the council in the near future.
