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Minutes
Human Services Committee
12/4/91
Present Renee Cochin and Ann Irving, Co-Chairmen Mimi Aarens
Bob Cushman; Eva Glick, Donna Hooper, Dennis Murakami and Rick
Safford ; Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator ( recorder )
The Minutes of 11 /6/91 were approved with the exception that
Judy Zabin and Bill Blout of RePlace should have been included
among those noted as being present
Ann reported that a petty cash fund had been set up in the
Treasurer ' s Office permitting Steve to immediately draw up to
$500 from a cash reserve in an emergency
Renee reported that she and Ann had met with Bob Bowyer,
Director of the Planning Department Bob expressed a desire to
cooperate with the Human Services Committee and suggested Walter
Leutz of the Heller School as a potential resource for analysis
of Census data Among Bob' s reports will be comparisons of
Lexington with adjacent and similar towns
Renee clarified that liaisons will carry information back
and forth to the groups to which they are assigned, attend
meetings, relate issues for Committee decision-making and provide
the support of the Committee Liaison reports follow
Rick agreed to act as ongoing liaison with the Lexington
Citizens for Special Needs Housing (otherwise known as the
Lexington Citizens for Enablement) and the Enablement Committees
( in addition to his liaison with RePlace) The Special Needs
Housing group, after conferring with Renee and Leo McSweeney,
appeared to have accepted an advocacy status whereby they will
work from outside the Town' s official structure but in
cooperation with the Town, particularly with the Human Services
Committee This will allow them greater freedom of action and
avoid a proliferation of committees A steering committee of the
Special Needs Committee will be alert to a wide range of
disability issues
Ann and Rick reported that they were about to visit RePlace
They will inquire about the need to continue to provide Town
funding for child abuse prevention in view of the grant from the
Hancock Church for a sexual ate prevention program They will
be looking forward to what the4 Town can most advantageously
purchase in youth services next year Rick is developing a
schema to demonstrate how RePlace fits in among other youth
services in Lexington
Bob said that he was about to visit CMARC He will look
into the concern of advocates that CMARC offers no local
employment to its Lexington clients
Human Services Committee, 12/4/91 Page 2
Ann had a preliminary conversation with Nancy Barter who is
the sponsor of the Youth Commission Nancy is concerned about
alcoholism abuse among youth Ann will talk with Leo McSweeney
who is Selectmen liaison to the Youth Commission
Eva is planning to attend the next meeting of the Recreation
Committee It was considered premature for her to meet with the
Recreation Director
Donna Hooper had attended the November meeting of the
Council on Aging Its Board had expressed concern about one of
the panels on the Human Services Fund brochure which listed the
Council on Aging among Town-funded human services They felt
that this might be interpreted to the effect that the Human
Services Fund provided funding to the Council on Aging After
discussion, it was agreed to replace the panel with a different
entry, perhaps vignettes of types of help provided to recipients
and their comments
Bob explained the concept of equity housing which grew out
of the LERC (Lexington Ecumenical Relocation Council ) experience
with providing housing to Cambodians at 20 Forest Street (across
from Christian Science Church)
The 450 Lowell Street Trust consisted of an investment of
between $3, 000 - $4, 000 each from 25 different individual
community investors who purchased transferable shares permitting
rental of a house to a Cambodian family of eight which had a Sec
8 subsidy ($30, 000 mortgage at 8%)
The LY Trust provides second mortgages for Cambodian
families Six families have been assisted so far The Trust is
going out of business as the Cambodians have already paid off
their mortgages
The concept provides a possible vehicle for housing for
disabled persons who are unable to get housing certificates while
their families may wish to invest Chuck Howard would provide
staffing
Rick said that some potential subscribers had expressed an
interest in investing in a house presently available at the
corner of Forest and Muzzey Streets A Letter to the Editor may
assist in finding more subscribers
Human Services Committee 12/4/91 Page 3
Dennis agreed to take on the responsibility of investigating
the feasibility of a Human Services Committee/Board of Selectmen-
sponsored forum on the Americans with Disabilities Act some time
in the spring The Annual Report will include mention of the Act
and its implications Dennis also will review materials--the
Act, regs, summary--to explore potential obligations of
municipalities
Mimi suggested that the Committee consider whether it
essentially wanted to give information or do sensitivity-raising
about what it is like to be disabled
Mimi agreed to act as liaison to a new AIDS Committee formed
by the School Department The Committee is prepared to implement
the health education recommendations of a committee which had
earlier been convened by the Board of Health to make
recommendations about AIDS
Leo McSweeney will explore possibilities for the printing
and distribution of the Human Services brochure The Lommittee
members discussed limited fundraising through the Minute-man and
through further distribution of the brochure with activity to
this end particularly focused around Valentine' s Day, February
14
Renee is exploring with the Dana Home how their gift of
$ 1 , 500 to the Human Services Fund should be allocated between
endowment and direct relief