HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-22-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee Minutes
March 22 , 1988
Present Robert Cushman, Co-Chairman; Leonora Feeney; Renee Cochin;
Seymour Mandel; Jan Eustis ; Marion Shepp ; Stephen Baran ,
Human Services Coordinator
Minutes of 3/ 7
The Minutes of 3/ 7 were approved with one addition transportation
remains on the agenda of the Human Services Committee , specifically
coordinating Lexpress with FISH and Share-a-Ride , along with
special needs recreation
Equity Sharing Forum
Bob Cushman reported that a final report had been submitted by
Abt Associates Due to a computer error, the final preferred
option is less attractive than the final option had appeared in
draft form, but basically the investment remained feasible
with a less attractive 13% rate of return causing more emphasis
needing to be put on theinvestment as sound from the point of view
of social motivation Another consequence is to make corporate
involvement appear more necessary While involving a much larger
( number of investors remains a possibility, this option had not
been so thoroughly explored by Abt due to the amount of the bond
issue necessary and the small amount of community interest at this
point in time
This led to a discussion of political feasibility with a sense
in the committee that an important indicator would be the reaction
to the forum It seemed as if equity sharing should stimulate
interest and debate because there were so few alternatives in
affordable housing notably school conversion and the donation
of town land Any donation of town land could not inclade a guarantee
that the land would only go to Lexington residents
It was agreed that there should be an c _fort to attract pertinent
constituencies , e g , the Selectmen , Planning Board, residents
of Emerson Gardens and housing board wh le obtaining Globecoverage
It was further agreed that the Committee should attempt to
bring in as keynote speakers Howard ( "Jim") Brown, Director of
the Joint Center of Housing Studies ( connected with the Joint
Center for Urban Studies) and Amy Anthony , Director of the
Executive Office of Communities and Development Steve will
explore with EOCD representative whether date for forum was open
on Ms Anthony ' s calendar
The date agreed upon was Thursday , May 12 , possibly from 5 30 p m
to 7 p m with Clarke Junior High School or the Estabrooke School
as possible meeting sites Town Meeting members would also be invited
Bob Cushman will discuss with Paul Marshall logistics for a
Human Services Committee , March 22 , 1988, p 2
K,
separate presentation of the study to the Selectmen recognizing
that Abt was committed to coming out for one day only to make
one or more presentations but could not come out on two separate
days and that it was preferable for Abt to make their presentation
at the forum
Replace
There was agreement that RePlace should be viewed as an "alternative"
kind of program, that a contract should not dictate the kinds of
clinical decisions that would be made nor were the objectives
of the Town Manager relating mainstreaming of Replace clients
necessarily desirable Each program should be defined as well
as the unit of service for each program and how many staff are
assigned to each program Qualifications should be shown as well
as the kind of professional supervision available while United Way
reporting requirements with respect to numbers of minorities
among board staff and clients should be used on an annual basis
Special Needs Housing Committee
Marion Shepp said that the Committee for Special Needs Housing
was about to hire a consultant who was prepared to assist them
in writing a proposal which would be sponsored by LexHab It
was possible to apply for the Executive Office of Communities and
Development Housing Innovations Fund Wood Street property
consisting of an eight-bedroom house and adjoining structure
which would lend itself well for staffing was at present available
Enablement Committee
Steve Baran announced that the Enablement Committee which is a
subcommittee of the Human Services Committee will be seeking
to become a separate Selectmen ' s advisory committee after Town
Meeting A statement was being prepared explaining their rationale
Marion Shepp expressed the belief that the Enablement Committee
should be made part of a larger committee concerned with all
kinds of special needs
Respectfully Submitted,
Stephen Baran,
Human Services Coordinator