2014-02-BOS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selectmen’s Meeting - February 3, 2014 Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to approve and sign a Proclamation recognizing February 21, 2014 as International Mother Language Day in the Town of Lexington. 2020 Vision Committee Report on Demographic Change Mr. Krupka, Chair of the Demographic Change Subcommittee of the 2020 Vision Committee, reported on the group’s recent study on the dramatic change in racial composition and substantial modification of the age profile that Lexington has been experiencing. The Subcommittee concluded an 18-month long study examining ways to foster greater participation of Asian residents in town and school committees in an effort to increase diversity, understanding and inclusion. They also investigated what barriers to civic participation exist and proposed a list of recommendations for the Town and its Asian organizations to help overcome the barriers. Mr. Krupka gave a presentation that included: background on Lexington’s Asian residents, the Subcommittee’s view on the importance of civic participation, barriers identified from 34 interviews of Asian residents, barriers that can be addressed and how to lower the barriers, recommendations for the Selectmen and other officials, recommendations for Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) and Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL), other recommendations for the Town and recommendations for Parent Teacher Association/Parent Teacher Organization (PTA/PTO) Leaders. The recommendations for the Selectmen and other Officials who appoint committee members include: continuing to promote inclusion of Asian residents, strengthening communications with CAAL and IAL and modifying management of committees. The recommendations for CAAL and IAL include: encouraging participation in Town and school affairs and strengthening communications with Town and PTA/PTO Leaders. Other recommendations are: include representatives of the CAAL and IAL boards at the monthly coordination meetings with Police, Fire, Health and Human Services Departments, 2020 Vision Committee will monitor and report on demographic trends and civic participation of Asian residents and investigate experiences of other US communities with percentages of Asian residents larger than Lexington’s and with similar demographics, and ask the Town Clerk to add racial origin and country of origin to the annual census. Ms. Mauger recognized that CAAL plans a candidate’s night each year but IAL has not done one yet. Mr. Krupka would like to include that in recommendations to the IAL. Mr. Krupka suggests that one or two Selectmen be the liaison or contact person to these organizations. Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted 4-0 to accept the report of the 2020 Vision Subcommittee on Demographic Change and review the recommendations for potential action. FY2015 Budget Discussion Mr. Valente asked the Selectmen to consider the following capital projects: