HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-14-2020-min
2020 Vision Committee
Minutes of October 14, 2011
Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members present: Fernando Quezada, Chuck Benson, Marian Cohen, Dan Krupka, Peter Enrich,
Margaret Coppe, Bhumip Khasnabish, Greg Zurlo, Alan Wrigley, Jane Warren
Public present: Carroll Ann Bottino
Staff: Candy McLaughlin, Michelle Stevens
Action Items:
Arrange Focus Groups with LexFun and Rotary in early November.
Subcommittee develop a survey tool to be distributed to the community in February of 2012.
Meeting Began:
7:45 a.m.
September meeting minutes were approved.
Update on scheduling remaining focus groups
The Committee discussed the previous focus groups and decided to hold future focus groups with LexFun
and Rotary in early November.
Goal renewal and measurement
Fernando said the Committee should review input from the Focus Groups and extract any new goal items
so the list of goals for the proposed community survey will be up to date. Dan volunteered to lead a
subcommittee responsible for developing a survey. The Committee determined it would be ideal to have
the survey distributed by February of 2012. In order to get the survey ready in time, the subcommittee
will have to get the work done between Committee meetings and report back during the regular monthly
meetings. The issue of funding for survey dissemination will be discussed with Town Manager Carl
Valente, who plans to attend the November meeting.
Follow-up on Demographic Change Task Force (DCTF) recommendations
Candy reported that Daphne Politis, who had helped previously in the DCTF, asked what came of the
recommendations and expressed interested in future plans. Peter said tracking the Committee’s
recommendations and having some accountability for the recommendations is important. Margaret said
two things have already come out of the DCTF recommendations: members of CAAL are getting more
involved with the School Committee and there is an increased diversity in school staff. Peter asked about
progress on the Town side with identifying and addressing difficulties in providing services to residents
who have limited proficiency in English. Candy said diversity recruiting for public safety is a struggle.
There is one Mandarin speaking Police Officer; Fire is currently between chiefs and is also undergoing a
staffing study. Dan said it would be helpful at the next meeting to prioritize the DCTF recommendations
and set a timeframe for each.
Report on 9/27 Community Conversation
Candy provided an updated from the Community Conversation. Fernando said he received great feedback
from Candy’s presentation regarding the 2020 Vision Committee and thanked her for presenting.
Committee matters:
• Process Sub-Committee
Fernando suggested reconstituting the Process Subcommittee to help move the Committee’s work
forward between meetings, with the original membership of himself, Chuck, and Peter Enrich plus one
new Committee member.
• Committee membership
Candy said the Committee charge calls for up to 20 members. However, the Town Clerk has
recommended specifying a smaller, fixed number to ensure that the Committee will have a quorum
for each meeting. There was discussion around the nature of the Committee, which is primarily a
process body and does not often have decisions that need to be voted on; however, members agreed
that perhaps 15 would be an appropriate membership number. Fernando noted that will be important
to outreach to attract new Committee members, now that the terms of both Ann and Barry have
ended. Fernando asked Carroll Ann Bottino, who was present as a liaison of the Council on Aging, to
consider joining the 2020 Vision Committee.
• Accountability for recommendations
Fernando said some of the Committee’s previous recommendations have turned into very real actions,
like the EDAC for example. Marian said some have not, such as the Committee’s recommendations on
constructive community discourse. Fernando said it is important to keep in mind that the Committee is
primarily a process body. The suggestion was made that the Committee vote to either accept or reject
future Task Force recommendations. One way to “own” the ones that are approved would be to assign an
issue champion to follow up in 6 months and report back on status.
Future meeting schedule
Future meetings will occur on Fridays at 7:45 a.m.
Meeting Adjourned:
9:00 a.m.
Future meeting schedule:
(all at 7:45 a.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room)
Friday, November 18
Friday December 16
Friday, January 12, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012