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Human Services Committee Minutes
January 4, 1995
Present. Donna M. Hooper, Chairman; Rosalyn L. Gittleman; Eva S Glick; Eva
Havas; Jeanne S Luongo; Richard Safford; Jolley Anne Weinstock;
Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator; Sheri McCann, Gail
Shattuck and Kristen Burrhus, Central Middlesex Association for
Retarded Citizens (CMARC) ; Nancy Adler, Suzanne Larsen, RePlace
Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens (CMARC) budget
This meeting was held to discuss and agree on recommendations to the Board of
Selectmen for FY 96 human services funding Sheri McCann, Executive Director,
explained that CMARC had shifted its emphasis from a sheltered workshop to
getting jobs for people This year, they had found jobs for six Lexington
residents; seven others were going out on job interviews; and eight were
preparing to do so Kristen Burrhus, a client of CMARC, said that she was
working in the Walgren s stockroom while living in a cooperative house Her
hours had been increased from two hours per day, and she looked forward to
working full time
CMARC is extensively evaluated by "CARE" (received highest award last January)
and QUEST, a new DMR evaluation tool
Funding for CMARC from Lexington has gone down over the past few years while
services have increased Funding would continue to be used for a Contract
Procurement Officer who, in addition to performing other duties, was training
placement staff to market the skills of job applicants
The Human Services Committee voted unanimously to recommend an appropriation
of $11,000, up from $10,457 and suggest that Lexpress be considered as a
potential resource for putting CMARC clients in touch with Lexington jobs,
particularly along Waltham Street
Coordinator Report
Steve Baran introduced an initiative developed by the Fair Housing and Human
Relations Committee, an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen, for the
purpose of enhancing progress toward the Town s goal of diversity He showed
the Committee miniature wooden figures in a variety of shapes It had been
hoped that the Chamber of Commerce and the Fair Housing and Human Relations
Committee might be joint sponsors One of these might represent a kiosk that
would promote values of diversity in Lexington Committee members felt such a
project might be useful were it to be planned in the context of a larger set
of activities aimed at attracting minorities to Lexington
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