HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-09-2020ECON-min.pdf 2020 Vision Committee Meeting
Friday,May 9,2008 at 7:45 am.
Selectmen's Meeting Room
In attendance: Fernando Quezada(Chair), Chuck Benson, George Burnell, Peter Enrich,
Marian Cohen, Mollie Garberg, Ann Redmon, Carl Valente, Candy McLaughlin
The minutes from the April 8 meeting were approved.
Economic Development Task Force
Mollie reported that there was some confusion in Town Meeting about whether the EDTF was an
advisory group; in fact their charge is to provide independent research and analysis. The report
of the Cecil Group (consultant) is due to be completed by May 21. The EDTF has scheduled a
meeting on May 30 to review this report and begin preparing its own final report.
Committee members discussed the importance of continuing to move forward on these very
complex issues. It was noted that momentum exists, as indicated by the close vote in Town
Meeting. Carl said that Larry Smith's analytical work will be useful to the Planning Board in its
deliberations. The Selectmen have invited the Planning Board to a meeting on May 27 to
finalize the charge for a permanent economic development board they will appoint in June.
George noted that these issues are hugely complex and require coordination with other groups
such as the Traffic Mitigation Group.
There was consensus on the urgency of these discussions, and the 2020 Committee authorized
the EDTF to release information as expeditiously as possible. Fernando noted that 2020 Vision
has a role to frame issues and engage public attention in considering long run tradeoffs for
present actions. Peter added that it is also appropriate for 2020 to push for action on critical,
time-sensitive issues. A public meeting of stakeholders in July for presentation and discussion of
the EDTF's final report was suggested. Mollie will check with Greg to see if the Planning Board
would be interested in participating. The Committee will consider this idea further at its next
meeting in June.
Demographic Change Task Force
Candy reported that Yukari Scott from the scoping group is interested in continuing on with the
Task Force. Mollie said she will circle back to Superintendent Paul Ash and ask if he can
suggest anyone; Fernando will follow up with Tom Diaz. Marian commented that the work will
be largely data-driven, so the Task Force will need people who know how to analyze data. Peter
said he will contact Jim Purvis, and also put out a networking request on the TMMA listserv.
Chuck will check if Tufts' College of Citizenship has any interns, and Marian will check at MIT.
The Task Force charge was finalized. Since the schedule has been pushed back from original
plans, and the Task Force's work will not be completed until next spring, 2020 Vision will not
hold a public meeting this fall.
Other
The Selectmen have asked for suggested discussion topics to address at their annual goal setting
meeting planned for July. Fernando said he will touch base with Margaret and Greg as liaisons
from their respective boards, and requested that all committee members put thought into this.
The Selectmen's deadline for input is late June.
The next Committee meeting will be Tuesday, June 3 at 7:45 am in the Selectmen's Meeting
Room. At this point the only summer meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 11, but if needed a
meeting could be held on a Friday in August.