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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-16-2020-min2020 Vision Committee Meeting Friday, January 16, 2009 7:45 - 9:00 a.m. in Selectmen's Meeting Room In attendance: Ann Redmon, Peter Enrich, George Burnell, Chuck Benson, Mollie Garberg, Carl Valente, Candy McLaughlin The minutes from the December 18 meeting were approved. Presentation to TMMA Executive Committee: Edith Sandy scheduled time at the beginning of the TMMA Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 21 for 2020 Vision. Fernando and Ann will bring forward two ideas for making Town Meeting more transparent to the community. Peter suggested describing the concept first, and then providing information on these two possible ways to address it (described below). The reality is that most citizens don't know much about Town Meeting, who their precinct members are, how they vote, and how to contact them. This lack of knowledge creates barriers for citizens to become involved in Town issues, and addressing the problem would increase community participation. Mollie mentioned that Edie was concerned that 2020 not take too long, because the main subject of discussion will be the State's Group Insurance Commission health plan. Ann volunteered to call Edie and reassure her that 2020 would take less than 15 minutes and was not asking for any decisions. 1. The January, 2005 Task Force report on Forging Constructive Community Discourse supported the idea of Town Meeting representative -led precinct meetings to increase dissemination of information. At the time, the TMMA Communications Group had been discussing this idea as a way to improve communication with the public. The Task Force suggested that 2020 Vision could help publicize these meetings. These meetings were not implemented, and most pre -Town Meeting information sessions are focused around candidates and /or are held by neighborhood associations that cross precinct lines. Meetings in precincts, with all Town Meeting representatives encouraged to come and talk with residents, would provide greater visibility for the issues being discussed and provide points of entry for people wishing to become involved. 2. Some of the newer Town Meeting members have raised the issue about recording and publicizing voting records; they feel that more information would be helpful for the community. When the editor of the Minuteman newspaper checked into the issue a year or so ago, the only information available on individual Town Meeting representatives was attendance records. Mollie provided a copy of the report of Brookline's committee on voting technology. There was consensus that 2020 Vision should recommend that Lexington's Town Meeting investigate this issue. There was some discussion as to whether this is the right time to bring it up at TMMA, since preparations for the Annual Town Meeting will begin very soon. It was concluded that by planting the seed now, more people will be aware of the concept and there will be a sense of what the issues and problems are likely to come up. Demographic Change Task Force: Carl reviewed the status of the Task Force's work. School Superintendent Paul Ash attended the most recent meeting to talk about school data, and commented that this past year the kindergarten projections were too low. The Task Force plans two more information - gathering meetings, one in March with the DPW and Recreation Directors, and the last with Planning. Then the group will begin the report phase, probably finishing by the end of 2009. They have been discussing the potential need for additional data collection, and how and where to consolidate and maintain the data. Committee Membership. George Burnell suggested names for potential committee membership: Scott Wilson, Barry Orenstein, Alan Wrigley, Bob Peters, Bob or Mary McNamara, and Deb Strod. The group received these names favorably, and agreed that George would broach the subject with them. Then Peter or Ann would follow up with the people they know. There are enough vacant seats on the committee, but it could be difficult to integrate many new members all at once. If everyone accepts it was agreed that the appointments be made in two groups roughly six months apart. Future Meetings. Fridays, January 16, 2009 February 13 March 13 April 10 May 15 June 12 The meeting was adjourned at 8:55.