2018-03-26-ATM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

April 4, 2018 Adjourned Session of the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, cont... MOTION: Resolved, that the Town is committed to making Lexington a truly "Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Community". To this end, be it further resolved that the Town of Lexington hereby announces its support for the Safe Communities Act(SCA, S.1305 & H.3269), currently before our legislature. In support of this resolution Town Meeting requests that the Town take the following actions as soon as practical: 1. Update the Police Policy and Procedures Manual so that it is fully compliant and fully aligned with the SCA. 2. Train all police department employees, with respect to these changes in the Police Policy and Procedures Manual. 3. Inform the community through public communications, municipal signage and other means deemed appropriate, that the town is a Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Community. 4. Provide quarterly reports by the Lexington Police Department to the Board of Selectmen on all contacts in aggregate, and the nature of those contacts, with ICE or other federal immigration authorities. If the Safe Communities Act or a similar Act is passed that requires similar public reporting to the state, this requirement to report locally will be considered unnecessary. 5. Report any subsequent changes to the Police Policy and Procedures Manual related to this resolution in a Public Hearing. 6. Refer to, and consider including to the extent consistent with applicable laws, all of the elements of the Safe Communities Act (S.1305) as submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature on January 20, 2017 that apply to municipalities, when updating the Police Policy and Procedures Manual. 7:36 p.m. Suzanne Barry, Chair, Board of Selectmen, recused herself from discussion and voting due to a potential conflict of interest. 7:36 p.m. Ms. Brodner moved Article 34 and asked the Moderator to recognize Todd Burger, Co- Chair of Lexington People Power. Mr. Burger described the group's work to date, stating that their purpose was to preserve rights of all individuals and address issues of justice and safety. 7:45 p.m. Selectman Joseph Pato spoke in support of the Article and stated that there would be an update to the Police Policy Manual if the Article passed. He stated that Police Chief Mark Corr supported the Article. Mr. Pato reported the support of the Board in a(4-0)vote with one recusal. 7:47 p.m. Residents Lisa Baci, 18 Fair Oaks Terrace and Marci Cemenska, 59 Outlook Drive, spoke in support. 7:54 p.m. Police Chief Corr, responded to questions, stating that he supported the language in the motion. He stated that the Lexington Police Department has no authority to enforce ICE(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainments. He said he believed Lexington's message under Article 34 was an important statement. 8:05 p.m. Rita Goldberg, Pct. 2, spoke in support, urging members to remember the Town's obligation to combat "racism and meanness" and defend those who are "stateless". 8:08 P.M. John Hayward, Pct. 5, voiced opposition to Article 34. 8:17 p.m. David Kanter called the question. Motion Adopted. 8:20 p.m. Following electronic vote tallying, the Moderator declared Article 34 Adopted on a vote o£ Yes No Abstain 153 5 2 ARTICLE 2: REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS AND COMMITTEES MOTION: That the Report of the Community Preservation Committee be received and placed on file. Motion Adopted. 8:20 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa moved that the Report of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) be received and placed on file. Motion Adopted. She updated Town Meeting on Committee finances, expected State Match funding and changes in Committee membership. 8:26 p.m. The Moderator declared the Meeting open on Article 10.