HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-18-2020-min
Town of Lexington
Lexington 2020 Vision Committee
Minutes of Meeting of October 18, 2013
2020 Vision Committee
A meeting of the was held on Friday, October 18 at 7:45 a.m. in the Parker Room in
the Town Office Building at 1625 Massachusetts Avenue.
Members Present: Fernando Quezada, Bhumip Khasnabish, Dan Krupka, Andrew Dixon, Marian Cohen, Joe
Pato
Others: Candy McLaughlin (staff), Melissa Jones (staff), Rich McDonough (Town Meeting Member/Citizens’
Academy Participant), Laura Lakin (BU student), Carroll Ann Bottino
Members Absent: Peter Enrich, Peter Lee, Jane Warren, Planning Board Liaison Greg Zurlo, School Committee
Liaison Margaret Coppe
Action Items:
Continue to work on revised Committee charge (Joe, Andrew)
Identify next steps on planning a mini-citizens academy (Fernando, Marian)
Circulate report on demographic change for Committee review (Dan)
The meeting was called to order at 7:50 a.m. and acted on the following items:
Approved the minutes from September 20, 2013.
Hear information on Healthy Communities project:
Candy provided an overview of the work being done by
the Health Department with the Healthy Communities project. This grant-funded effort used a survey, focus
groups, and interviews to determine what residents think our community needs to be healthier. Priority areas
were determined, and sub-groups were formed to study each area. The Health Department has applied for the
second round of grant funding, which would be used toward implementation. Marian asked what the overall
goal of the project is, and how the Committee might play a role in it. Candy said that the project identifies the
issues that residents think should be addressed in order to make Lexington a healthier community, and that the
Committee’s “task force” model may be useful for the implementation phase. Marian asked if there were any
particular sub-groups that are in need of assistance; Candy said she would follow up with the project consultant.
Received update on subcommittee on demographic change:
Dan said that the survey results indicate a
perception by many that Asian families come to Lexington to take advantage of the school system and then
leave, but the demographic data shows that this is not true. Joe said that he is conducting a longitudinal study
using Census data, and that the data he has collected so far also shows no indication that families are coming in
and then moving out. Dan noted that the subcommittee’s recommendations regarding more Asian involvement
in the community would decrease this resentment. Candy noted that there is also an economic issue, in that
there is a perception that wealthy people come to Lexington, raise the property values, and make it unaffordable
for the longer tenured residents to live here. Andrew added that Lexington has gone through changes before,
and that we can use those past experiences to successfully navigate change again. The Committee discussed
using data as well as anecdotal evidence. While both are important, we should be careful about what stories we
tell because this is what people will remember. Dan said that he would circulate the next version of the report to
the Committee prior to the November meeting. He hopes to have this wrapped up by the December meeting and
to present to the Board of Selectmen in January.
Provide input to community mapping project:
Laura Lakin, Master of Social Work student at Boston
University, was present to discuss a project she is conducting for her Community Organizing course. The goal
of her paper is to outline the assets, strengths, and resources within the community. She chose Lexington
because she grew up nearby (Lancaster), is in the National Guard at Hanscom, and because she wanted to focus
on a non-urban setting. Fernando asked for her thoughts on how to define “community,” and Laura talked about
how there are many sub-communities that form the whole. She said that in a community like Lexington, there
are larger elements that bind those sub-communities, such as the local government and Town Meeting. She will
also be spending time in coffee shops, laundromats, and other spaces to observe and talk to people. Fernando
suggested that she visit some neighborhood associations.
Discuss revised Committee charge and ideas for recruitment:
Andrew discussed open questions for
consideration, such as the charge’s reference to original documents, the inclusion of specific dates, and criteria
for membership. Joe added that as it is currently written, the charge is uninspiring and lacks guidance.
Fernando said that we could drop the reference to the Committee as “stewards” of the early documents, but that
the goals may be worth keeping to show the Committee’s consistency over time. Candy noted that the goals can
live outside of the document. The group agreed that it is important to keep track of the Committee’s milestones,
and that it should think of ways to communicate those accomplishments.
Identify next step on planning mini-Citizens’ Academy:
This agenda item was tabled until the next meeting.
Meeting Adjourned:
9:02 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Jones, Scribe
Next meeting:
Friday, November 15 in the Parker Meeting Room