HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-29-2020-min (Steering Committee)
Meeting Notes
Steering Committee – October 29, 1999
Members Present:
Todd Burger, Helen Cohen, Robin Digiammarino, Peter Enrich, Alan Lazarus,
Paul Mammola, Peggy Perry, Fernando Quezada
Consultants Present:
Wendy Rundle, Suzanne Orenstein
Staff Present:
Rick White, Candy McLaughlin, Michael Baker
Call to order
Approval of Meeting Minutes from October 15 Meeting
Meeting Handouts
Agenda, Minutes from 10/15, Participant List by Category (draft 1), Working Group Participation
Principles (draft 10/28/99), Working Group Topics and Sample Questions (revised), Letter to
Participants (draft 10/28/99), Draft Guidance for Lexington 20/20 Working Groups (10/28/99),
Steering Committee Subcommittees
E:
STABLISHMENT OF WORKING GROUPS
Review participant database – breakdown by interest and time availability
Michael handed out and described a breakdown of workshop participants into the working
group categories based on their interests as indicated on the surveys or at the Fall Forum. The
committee noted that the material would be helpful for the Stakeholders Subcommittee as it
worked to help organize representation for the working groups.
Discuss participation principles
Fernando explained the participation principles to the committee, indicating that they were a set
of criteria that the Operations Subcommittee developed to help select the members of the
working groups. In clarifying Principle 4, members of the committee suggested that this
principle not be used to exclude those individuals who may lack certain knowledge base but can
offer the voice of reason and common sense.Todd suggested, among other things, that the
Steering Committee leave the responsibility of identifying proper representation and balance of
viewpoints to the working groups. Peter Enrich noted that it would be difficult for the Steering
Committee to ascertain whether or not prospective working group participants met the set of
criteria.
Assignments to Steering Committee -- recruitment tasks and roles
The committee continued a discussion that began at last weeks Operating Subcommittee
meeting by considering how to select Steering Committee liaisons for each of the working
group. Committee members agreed that it would be better to have two members assigned to
each working group, thereby reducing the commitment of any individual. Members were asked
to volunteer for working groups that they could assist. The following represents the current
status of the working group liaison assignments. The names of possible candidates who have
not agreed to the post appear in parentheses:
Fostering a Sense of Community – Peter Enrich, Helen
Managing Growth – Fred, (Heather)
Achieving Educational Excellence – Peggy, Robin
Ensuring Productive Connections between Citizens and Town Gov’t – Margie, (Alan)
Managing Transportation – Todd, vacant
Managing Fiscal Stability – Chuck, vacant
Review letter to current participants
The draft letter to participants was handed out and members of the committee were asked to
take a few minutes to read the letter and react to it. A discussion ensued about how to contact
and invite participants to play a role in the working groups, and whether to assign participants
who have shown a particular interest into that working group, or allow them to self select. On
one hand, several committee members voiced the concern that the data from the survey is 10
months old and for several participants, their situations and interests likely have changed.
Others indicated that participants may be turned off by the committee’s asking for their interest
preference, given that they told them at least once already.…
Discuss draft guidance for working groups
At the end of the meeting, Candy asked the committee to look over the document that was first
handed out at last week’s Operations Subcommittee meeting and respond to her with comments.
O
THER ISSUES
Plan report to Board of Selectmen November 8
In discussing the upcoming report to the Selectmen, members suggested a set of handouts based
on materials that had been developed over the past several months. These materials could the
be adapted to create the press packet that the Public Communications Subcommittee suggested.
Status report on invitations to potential new Steering Committee members
Those Steering Committee and staff members who suggested names of possible new Steering
Committee candidates informed the group of their progress in contacting those individuals.
Fernando said that he is in the process of speaking with Jamie Hoyt, Peter plans to contact
Bernie Harleston, and Rick indicated that Heather Sweeney already told him that she would like
to be a part of the Steering Committee. The committee agreed that all candidates who agreed to
participate would be submitted to the Board of Selectmen during the November 8 report for the
Board’s approval.
Assignments to subcommittees for Phase II work
Committee members received a recently revised handout describing the three subcommittees
and their representation. Paul Mammola was asked to participate on the Stakeholders
Subcommittee, but declined. He later told the committee that he would be glad to participate,
but it was difficult for him to find the time on any day of the week besides Sunday or Monday.
N:
EXT MEETINGS
Operations Subcommittee November 5
Steering Committee November 12
Adjourn