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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-17-FHHR-min.pdf 1 FAIR HOUSING AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES 5/17/00 Present: Florence Baturin; Jean Hibino;Tom Montanari, Co-Chair Cathy Abbott, Selectman Liaison; Jed Snyder Steve Baran, Fair Housing Director Absent: Margaret Cole, Co-Chair Michelle Ekanem; Beverly Goodridge; Kathryn Davis; 1 4/28/00 Minutes—approved. 2. Minutes of 1/19/99 and 4/28/00 -approved. 3. Next meeting-6/21 4 Kathryn Davis—Steve Baran explained that Kathryn has been absent due to the illness of her husband, Tony 5. Anne Whitney, Director, Lexington Housing Authority* a. State-vouchers (formerly known as Section 8 certificates) are mobile, can be used in any state or anywhere in Mass. rent is based on income; no priority to handicapped; 148 units all for elderly at Vynebrook and Greeley Villages; 13% minority based on U.S. Census; 100 family units. Residents with disabilities reside at Countryside Village. 'Emergency' relates to documented need of victims of fire, natural disaster severe medical, homeless, extreme abuse; eviction (must document that legal process has begun)—all "through no fault of' applicant(what is to be considered 'no fault' is determined by the Housing Authority). b. Federal—60 units at Countryside with local preference the only priority 17 scattered site single family homes, 68 Section eight vouchers. c. New units—none in Lexington in last 10 years; Anne Whitney applied for 25 vouchers this year did not get them. d. Discussion—the Fair Housing Committee has the option of advocating for expanding local preference for METCO families—this is at the discretion of the local board which sets policy implemented by Anne Whitney It was noted that diversity has never been an issue in a local election for housing authority positions. The Committee may want to communicate with the LHA Chair on this issue. 6. Candidates for membership—tabled to June meeting 7 AAUW/Social Justice—Florence Baturin noted that the local AAUW Chapter would like to have the backing of the Fair Housing Committee on a"women to women' dialogue they are planning. 8. Denial of opportunity to vote a. Clerk's account was lacking during Selectmen's meeting of 5/8 pertaining to an African American Lexington resident who had been denied the opportunity to vote when there was confusion about her name appearing on the rolls. b. "It clearly happened"—Cathy Abbott stated there was no doubt on the Town side that the incident had actually taken place, but there had been an agreement in advance that it was not appropriate to discuss both sides in the meeting. c. Denial of voting rights to Michelle Ekanem's daughter—Michelle Ekanem reported that her daughter who is also African-American was not allowed to vote in the last primary this was not brought to the attention of the Town. Her daughter had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to voting for the first time.At the time, Michelle had actually seen her daughter's name of the voting list. d. Other aspects of the incident discussed at the Selectmen's meeting: delay in the response from the Town Manager who seemed uncertain of what he should do and appeared not to want to antagonize the staff; there was no discussion of possibly sanctioning the election official. Michelle commented that the gravity of the incident related to a constitutionally protected right to vote whereas the Town had only been focusing on the racial aspect. Michelle stated that this was an example of"white privilege" at work. e. Action to be taken: lack of a quorum prevented the Fair Housing Committee from taking action. Tom Montanari planned to approach the Chair of the Board of Selectmen individually.