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Lexington 2020 Vision Implementation Committee ROLE: To be stewards of the January 2001 Lexington 2020 Vision Status Report and monitor the implementation process. The Implementation Committee will: • ensure that processes exist to facilitate achieving the goals of the report • establish measures and ensure alignment between measures and goals • review and report progress toward goals • continue public outreach to keep the community engaged and to make sure the goals are still the shared goals of the community. APPOINTED by the Selectmen, in consultation with the School Committee and the Planning Board, for 3 -year terms: Fernando Quezada, Chuck Benson, Todd Burger, Helen Cohen, Peter Enrich, Ellie Epp, Sherry Gordon, Tom Harden, Bernard Harleston, Alan Lazarus, Fred Merrill, Tony Siesfeld, Jerome Smith, and Nancy Wilson. HIGHLIGHTS: • Met approximately once a month, and established an Operations Subcommittee that met as needed during the year. • Identified links to 2020 Vision goals in the Warrant to the 2002 Annual Town Meeting. Issues important to the com- munity included: a major program to upgrade condition of the roads (approved by Town Meeting and later approved by the voters for debt exclusion), and a proposed zoning bylaw change to limit "mansionization" (fell short of the necessary 2/3 Town Meeting vote) . The Implementation Committee made it clear that it neither supported nor rejected any of the 2020 - related articles, but strongly endorsed the process by which issues of concern to the community were taken up by various committees and boards. Front L -R: Peter Enrich, Candy McLaughlin, Michael Young, Rear L -R: Fernando Quezada, Sherry Gordon, Jerome Smith, Elaine Sterzin, Ellie Epp, Nancy Wilson. • With the Town and School department staff, examined several of the less tangible goals to see what actions could be encouraged. Several new ideas emerged for follow -up. In relation to the goal to "strengthen and support existing democratic processes for town decision - making," sugges- tions were made for ways to improve civility of public dis- course, and to increase the flow of information between town government and residents. • Began working on developing measures for some of the goals. Staff were asked to inventory actions and plans for accomplishing the various goals in the Status Report. The Committee is finalizing a Progress Report for distribution to the community in January 2003. • Began discussing ways to engage the community in two - way feedback for renewing the vision and goals. 0 0 0 2J 0 cu cp 0 0 Economic Development Office ROLE: To pro- vide assistance to existing and pros- pective business- es and individu- als. The office serves as a liaison between business- Expenditures Payroll Expenses FY02 FY01 $ 57,596 $ 10,661 $ 55,918 $ 8,362 Personnel Full Time 1 1 es and local, state and federal agencies in dealing with matters such as business assistance, financing, technical guidance, land use regulations, and permits. The office is also a point of con- tact for those seeking information about the Town or access to other governmental agencies. The office provides data and services to the community on mat- ters of interest and concern to businesses. It tracks local eco- nomic indicators and labor market statistics, local development plans, land and real estate availability, building regulations, and permits. APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Joe Marino served as Economic Development Officer through FY02 ending in June. During the summer, Mary Jo Bohart was appointed and began work in September. Ms. Bohart comes to Lexington with exten- sive experience in the implementation of economic develop- ment projects and programs and a solid background in grant writing. Her prior position was Economic Development Director for the city of Somerville. An additional staff appoint- continued on next page Page 10 2002 Annual Report, Town of Lexington