HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-09-13-FHHR-chg.pdf Charge
Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee
Adopted by the Board of Selectmen, 9/13/93
The Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee serves as an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen.
Its overriding purpose is to achieve community enrichment as contributed by citizens with different backgrounds
and heritages.
The Committee seeks to promote diversity within Town housing. The Committee's fair housing agenda calls
for the identification and monitoring of those factors which may impact fair housing in Lexington. It seeks to
prevent discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, individuals with
disabilities, age, religion, welfare status, children, marital status, gender or sexual preference.
Fair housing responsibilities include:
• Recommending fair housing plans and programs.
• Sponsoring fair housing education for the Town.
• Advising as to how fair housing programs meet the goals and objectives of the Massachusetts
Fair Housing Guidelines.
• Keeping abreast of initiatives and activities of housing groups in Lexington and surrounding
towns.
• Monitoring the Town's progress in fair housing.
The Committee's human relations agenda calls for the fair and equitable treatment of all citizens irrespective of
group membership. Unfair acts that may require redress include: the use of racial, religious or ethnic epithets
or derogatory remarks; hostile application of rules, regulations and laws based on a persons's membership in a
particular group; restriction of freedom and threats to safety
Responsibilities in human relations include:
• Promoting an acceptance and respect for diversity
• Encouraging different backgrounds and heritages in all departments within the Town.
• Encouraging human rights education in the schools.
• Sponsoring human relations education for the Town.
• Supporting a prompt and appropriate response on the part of the Town to hate crimes.
• Being a resource to residents and visitors who experience difficulty
• Keeping abreast of initiatives and activities of human relations groups in Lexington and
surrounding towns.
The Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee shall be composed of no more than II members whose two-
year terms are staggered; to be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen on September 30 of each year.