HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-31-VISION2025-min Town of Lexington
Vision for Lexington Committee Meeting
May 31, 2024
Remote Meeting
7:45 a.m. —9:00 a.m.
Minutes
Members Present: Margaret Coppe, Marian Cohen, Andrew Dixon, John Giudice, Jill Hai, Dan
Joyner, Bhumip Khashnabish, Kathleen Lenihan, Shannon Murtagh, Bob Peters
Absent: Sara del Nido Bush, Carol Marine, Ambilu Silvistri, Catherine Wang, Min Zhao
Staff: Jonas Miller, Director of Communications, Town of Lexington
Guests: Mark Manasas
The meeting was called to order: 7:55 am
The Remote Meeting Script was read by Margaret Coppe
Roll Call Vote: Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Hai, Aye, Joyner, Aye;
Khasnabish, Aye;Lenihan, Aye; Murtagh, Aye, Peters, Aye.
Minutes:
• The approval of minutes from April 26, 2024, was moved by Bob Peters and seconded by
John Giudice.
• Roll Call Vote: Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Hai, Aye,
Joyner, Aye; Khashnabish, Aye; Lenihan, Aye; Murtagh, Aye, Peters, Aye.
The vote was unanimous.
It was agreed to sign up to change the 250'h Countdown Calendar. Will get dates and get back to
the committee.
June 12
Meeting Highlights:
VFL Website Report on Emails
Dan Joyner sent request for update to Bethany. Jonas informed us that she is no longer with the
town and the correct contact is Julia Flood.
Question about tracking hits. Jonas reported the number of hits since January 2024. Also asked
about use of AI; internal testing being done.
Daniel reported that someone was trying to enter the Zoom meeting but was unable. He will
follow up.
Jill Hai left the meeting at 8:15 am.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
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Jonas Miller, Director of Communications, Town of Lexington introduced himself and told the
committee about his background and what his general duties with the Town are.
Discussion followed on the seven recommendations made by the ECiL subcommittee.
I. Town should develop a communication plan.
A draft plan has been produced that focuses on external communication, not much on
internal communications.
2. Implement a shared communication plan between the Town and the Schools.
This has and continues to be a problem. A new program, Parent Square, has 10,000
subscribers. Knowing how to sign up has been a problem for those without students in the
schools. Reaching out to populations who do not regularly use electronic communication
platforms remains problematic.
3. Implement actions to increase enrollment on electronic communications platforms
maintained by the Town
Enrollment in the Town Face Book page is 2,800; in X is 3,000 (though use of this
program is declining), Constant Contact is 4,108, and Town News is 3,933.
A suggestion was made to reach out o Real Estate agents for distribution information on
these channels to new residents. Jonas said to look at the City of Woburn video
welcoming new residents.
4. Identify and incorporate non-internet communications platforms.
Only one at this date is SAGE, senior citizen news magazine.
5. Improve search function of Town website
No change
6. Update system for residents to report things such as potholes, street lights out, missed
trash pickups
In August See Click Fix will be launched. It will connect with the DPW.
7. Enable a method for Town Committees to respond to emails from residents.
Still a problem.
Question about availability of meeting recordings. No one is sure where they reside and how to
access them. At this point only Town Meeting recordings are available through the Town
website. Suggestion was mad to contact Lex Media.
Update on Subcommittee on Voter Participation in Lexington
Marian Cohen reported from the subcommittee. It is continuing its work and plans to have a draft
report in the fall.
Future study on housing
Due to time constraint will be placed on June meeting. There is a need to define what the
committee should focus on and collaborate with other committees who are also exploring this
topic. Suggestion made to use DEI.
A working group to bring ideas to next meeting is composed of Andrew Dixon, John Giudice,
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Shannon Murtagh and Bob Peters.
Motion to adjourn:
Roll Call Vote:
Roll Call Vote: Coppe, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Joyner, Aye;
Khashnabish, Aye; Lenihan, Aye: Murtagh, Aye, Peters, Aye.
Adjourn: 8:58 am
Next Meeting: June 28, 2024, 7:45am by Zoom
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