HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-04-LHRC-min Lexington Human Rights Committee
Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2014
Present: Linda Vine, Albert Zabm, Emily Levine, Fuang-Ymg Huang, and Sean Osborne
Meeting at Parker Room—Town Hall, was called to order at 8 10AM
Welcome guest, Phyllis Stnmlmg, who has applied to be a HRC member
Human Service Dept. report on homeless families in Lexington
Currently there are 31 homeless families live at Quality Inn in Lexington with 12
children attending Lexington schools and 18 non-school aged children. The number is
down from 31 families from prior year Lexington school dept. had hired a half-time
social worker to support these families which include kids on METCO program
Community United organizes play groups twice a month as well as field tnps for
the families Lift Up Lexington, an interfaith group drop off food, toiletry to the families
Since most of them do not have transportations, they also coordinate with local churches
on community meals And, they organized a Valentine party for the families
Ways to help the families solve transportation issue including expend Lexpress
routs, offer Lexconnect taxi vouchers and Charlie cards The committee wonders how
the cross walk (or lack of it) at Hartwell Ave impacts the families at Quality Inn, with
the town's plan to expend Hartwell Ave, it will be a good time to add cross walk at the
location for the families' safety and other pedestnan. Various Lexington departments
including health, fire and police are also working together to better serve the families
The HRC committee will work with the Human Service Dept. on poverty on local and
regional base
Human Service Dept. will distributes HRC's brochures on Lexington's Discovery Day on
Sat., May 24, 2014
There were a few anti-Semitic incidents in neighboring Bedford. Some Bedford residents
speculating it may be the result of high turnover of residents at Hanscom air base that the
base personnel came from all parts of the country with different backgrounds
The committee decided to meet quarterly except when there's an incident that needs
immediate attentions
The next committee meetings time and location are to be determined.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9 00 am.