HomeMy WebLinkAboutLHRC - Lexington Human Rights Committee - Revised Charge October 2011 (Original 2008)exington uman Rights Committee
Article L Name
The Committee shall be named the Lexington Human Rights Committee (LHRC).
Article II. Mission
Promote Lexington's vision of a community that has as core values freedom from
b igotry, hatred, intolerance, disrespect, and destructive conflict among its citizens,,
Build a stronger, more unified Town that respects and recognizes both our diversity and
our commonalities.
Confront statements and actions that conflict with the core values expressed above.
Foster respectful, civil, public discourse and debate.
Article III. Function of the Committee
The LHRC shall carry out its mission, related to the core values expressed above,
through:
• Public advocacy
• Sponsoring educational programs
• Helping other organizations and Town departments address conflict through
consultation and mediation with the parties involved
• Reporting civil rights violations to appropriate government agencies
• Assisting in planning responses to groups, internal or external to the Town, which
advocate actions antithetical to the core values expressed in Article II
The LHRC focus shall be matters that directly affect Lexington rather than matters that
are primarily of statewide, national, or international concern. As a committee it shall
avoid partisan politics or legislative lobbying or litigation.
It may work with like committees of other localities and with organizations with which it
shares a common purpose, and should use any available materials, advice, or assistance
from other organizations, that may be helpful in accomplishing its mission.
It shall meet at least six times a year. Among other items on the agenda shall be a review
of human-rights -related incidents in the Town since the last meeting, regardless of
whether the LHRC was involved in responding to the incident.
Article IV. Membership
Section 4.01 Membership
The membership shall consist of a maximum of nine members.
Section 4.02 Appointment of Members
The Board of Selectmen and Town Manager shall share in the appointment of members
with the Board of Selectmen appointing at least half the members. At a minimum, LHRC
membership should include a member of the School Committee or an executive level
member of the School administration, a member of the Lexington Police Department, and
a member of the Town Senior Staff.
There shall be a liaison from the Board of Selectmen and one from the School Committee
if no LHRC member is a member of that committee.
Section 4.03 Reporting
The LHRC shall report to the Board of Selectmen.
Section 4.04 Sub - Committees
The LHRC may appoint sub - committees of one or more persons from time to time to
work on a specific problem, issue, or project. Members of the LHRC may also serve as
sub - committee members although it is expected that most members will come from
outside the LHRC. Each sub - committee will have a member of the LHRC assigned as a
point of contact.
Section 4.05 Tenure
The members shall hold office for three years from the date of their selection. However,
the first appointees' terms shall be staggered, so that as near as may be possible, one third
of the members shall be appointed for three years, one third for two years and one third
shall be appointed for one year. The Board of Selectmen and Town Manager may
reappoint any member to additional terms,, Any decision of the Board of Selectmen to
reduce the number of members of the LHRC shall not affect the term of any sitting
member.
Section 4.06 Removal of Members
Members maybe removed, by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen for failure to
attend at least one half of regularly scheduled meetings of the LHRC.
Members maybe removed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Selectmen for any reason
it deems appropriate.
Section 4.07 Advisory Council
The LHRC shall form anon- voting advisory council reflecting the diversity of Lexington
in order to tap the wealth of experience
in the various organizations and groups in the
Town. The Advisory Council shall assist and advise the LHRC in carrying out its duties.
Advisory Council members shall serve two -year terms which shall be staggered at the
start with half appointed for one -year terms and half for two -year terms.
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Article V. Officers
Section 5.01 Election of Officers
The LHRC shall elect its officers in September of each year.
Section 5.02 Officers
There shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Clerk. The Chair shall preside over the
meetings and shall exercise the powers and have the responsibilities customarily
possessed by the Chairs of Town committees. The Vice -Chair shall have the powers and
responsibilities of the Chair when the Chair is absent or otherwise unable to perform
her /his duties. The Clerk shall have the responsibility of keeping minutes and other
records of the LHRC and shall have the responsibility of having notices of meetings
posted as required by the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and any applicable Town by-
laws.
Article VL Funding &Access to Legal Advice
Section 6.01 Funding
It is expected that, at least initially, programs suggested by the LHRC will be funded
either by grants or donations rather than from the tax levy. The LHRC is not barred,
however, from seeking funding from the Town should the scope of its operations w
The current funding mechanism is to segregate donations and grants for a specific
purpose via a Selectmen's Gift Account. This mechanism is being reviewed.
Section 6.02 Access to Legal Advice
Reasonable access to Town legal counsel,
be provided.
with the permission of the Town Manager, will
Ref. - Charge adopted by the Board of Selectmen on April 30, 2008.
Board of Selectmen voted to designate as Special Municipal ) on April 30, 2008.
Selectmen voted to change membership from 7 -11 to 9 members on October 17, 2011.
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