HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-09-09-FHHR-min.pdf r- Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee Minutes, 9/9/93
Present Gerri Weathers, Chairman; Florence Baturin;
Mary Haskell; Nicole T Herrmann; Marion
Kilson; Bob Pressman; Chris Casey, Acting
Chief of Police; Steve Baran, Fair Housing
Director (recorder)
Absent Jim Brannon; Peter Brown; Leona Martin; Jolley Anne
Weinstock
Minutes of 8/11/93
The Minutes of 8/11/93 were approved
METCO
Leo McSweeney had suggested asking METCO students to become
members of the Fair housing Committee Marion Kilson suggested we
invite METCO parents instead
Sheryl Prescott is to be invited to the next meeting of the Fair
Housing and Human Relations Committee as the appropriate person
to provide clarification as to what is the policy for expelling
students Committee will discuss with Sheryl the idea of having
focus groups with students on human relations
The Committee is sending a letter to the Superintendent of
Schools asking for an update on the outcome of new hiring as
reflected in its racial-ethnic mix
Meeting with Selectmen on expanding scope of Committee
The Selectmen accepted the concept of a Fair Housing and Human
Relations Committee whose members would be appointed for
staggered terms
Gerri assured the Selectmen that under the expanded
responsibilities of the Committee to include human relations
there would be no conflict with the responsibilities of the
Police Department
Selectman Dan Fenn expressed concern about the use of the term
tolerance in the revised wording of the Charge--we should wish
for more than merely tolerating minorities and other protected
classes He also felt the overall goal of the Committee should
be to enrich the community through drawing attention to its
diverse heritage
These concerns were dealt with in a revision of the wording of
the Charge which was sent to the Selectmen through Rick White
Gerri will call Rick White to ask him to send on the revised
L ' charge for adoption by the Selectmen
Fair Housing Minutes, 9/9/93 Page 2
It was noted that the Committee still needed to have a Selectman
appointed as liaison
Lexington Ridge
Shannon Whitelaw, Regional Property Management Manager for
Trowell and Crowe (developer for Lexington Ridge) , will come to
the next meeting of the Fair Housing Committee to discuss rent up
procedures
Met State
The Committee reviewed draft summary of the Working Committee
Findings on Reuse Objectives in "Metropolitan State Hospital
Reuse Findings", revised 8/19/93 There will be a public meeting
by the end of the month to discuss suggestions from the three
task force subcommittees followed by Selectmen's meetings in each
of the three towns
Waltham will get golf course in exchange for Lexington's housing
There will also be wetlands Belmont Task Force has not yet
taken a position Lexington wants open space and housing
In draft revision, the words "special needs and affordable" to
take the place of "elderly" The term "special needs" is to
comprise the elderly, mentally ill, and the physically and
emotionally disturbed
Gerri will contact the Planning Department to obtain data
demonstrating Lexington's need for low and moderate income
housing
The Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee agreed to send a
letter to the Lexington Met State Task Force focusing on
a low and moderate income;
b family units (two and three-bedroom) ;
c special needs and affordable;
d supporting tables should reflect above
Staggered terms
The Committee agreed to staggered terms, one and two year
positions to be determined by lot
L
Fair Housing Minutes, 9/9/93 Page 3
New business
The Committee agreed that funding should be sought to pay for
police department staff diversity training to be obtained through
Boards and Committees budget allocation Gerri Smith will talk
with Rick White
Fair Housing Plan
To be discussed at meeting on Wednesday, October 13th