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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-06-27-LCSR-rpt.pdf LEXINGTON COMMISSION ON SUBURBAN RESPONSIBILITY 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02173 June 27, 1972 Mr Allan F Kenney, Chairman Board of Selectmen Town Offices Lexington, Mass 02173 Dear Mr Kenney By this letter I would like to make a report to the Board of Selectmen concerning the activities of the Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility during its 1971-1972 year, and to offer some recommendations for LCSR' s program during the coming year While the contents of this report have been discussed with the LCSR membership (at our meeting of June 20, 1972) , it is primarily intended as a statement of my own observations and views, and not those of the Commission as a body The one, important exception is that the recommendations to change the make-up of the Commission do reflect votes of the membership, which I herewith report 4F ACTIVITIES JUNE 1971 - 1972 Employment Junior high school construction. This program, as most recently approved at the 1971 A T M , set a minimum goal of five apprenticeship opportunities for minority workers dis- tributed among the. five trades As to three of these -- laborer, bricklayer, and painter -- we consider that the goal was fully met in that an apprenticeship opportunity was made available and filled by a minority worker over a substantial period of time (ten weeks, four months, and at least three months, respectively) In another category -- carpentry -- opportunities were made available and three different individuals were recruited but no one of these stayed on the job for longer than two weeks (The last one couldn't even begin because the major carpentry work had about been completed ) In the last category -- plumb- ing -- we were unable to overcome jurisdictional complications arising because the subcontractor has his home base outside the territory controlled by the relevant local union 1 - 2 - The results outlined above, modest as they certainly are, were not achieved without major efforts by the Commission and the Permanent Building Committee In all categories except painter, some pressure (and in one instance sustained, repeated, and heavy pressure) was required to make the opening available in accordance with the contract In the carpentry category, the burden of recruiting apprentices fell to the Commission Despite the amount of effort required for results which may seem, on any absolute scale, of minor importance, I would strongly recommend inclusion of some similar undertaking in any future, large-scale town projects Results are likely to im- prove over time if general pressure is maintained to improve minority representation in suburban construction work Not the least important aspect of programs such as ours is their contribution to that pressure and its continuity A couple of loose ends remain from this program Despite inquiries to both the employer and the agency which helped us with recruitment, we were unable to ascertain precisely why two carpentry recruits quit shortly after beginning work There is some indication that transportation difficulties were a factor (More on transportation below ) Moreover, we have been unable, despite repeated inquiries, to obtain an expla- nation from the general contractor as to why a minority laborer left the job after many reportedly successful weeks when there was still (so far as appears) plenty of work for him to do This last matter should, I believe, be pursued (though I don't mean to suggest that the explanation, whatever it turns out to be, will reflect discredit on anyone) Other At the suggestion of LCSR members, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce circularized its membership advising of the Commission' s readiness to help locate and recruit minority 1 employees One local employer did approach the Commission and was given assistance Recently we were informed that this firm has made a minority hire in a clerical position We don't know what role, if any, our suggestion and assistance had in this Housing In this field, of course, our major effort has been in the "scatter site" area An LCSR subcommitte did considerable work reviewing program options for scattered, ownership-type, low/moderate cost housing and surveying possibilities for using tax-title land in such a program The subcommittee and the full 1 - 3 - Commission reported to and consulted with the Planning Board and the Housing Authority, with the result that the former agency sponsored one warrant article at the 1972 A T M and the latter supported another Both articles passed, thus securing the Town' s formal endorsement of the program concept they embody -- that is, scattered, single homes with the possi- bility of ownership Since Town Meeting, we have continued our consultation with the Planning Board and the Housing Authority, and have also been in regular contact with the Lexington Interfaith Cooperation. The Authority seems to be moving ahead at a good clip Lt is presently engaged in discussions with the MHFA which, we are advised, have so far elicited a good deal of enthusiasm on both sides We have offered the Authority our assistance, and expect that we will indeed be called on for help Other activities The Commission has also done some general investigation (in the transportation field) and some legislation studies including recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding certain legislation As further developed below, I believe the activities in these areas should be expanded We made substantial publicity efforts early in the year, inviting those who thought we could assist them with programs or problems to contact us There were a few acceptances of this invitation, but not many RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES JUNE 1972 - 1973 Housing Scatter-site program. The Commission' s preeminent obligation at this time is, I believe, to make all contribu- tions within its capabilities to implementation of this pro- gram which the Town has voted, largely at the instance of the Commission and its subcommittee We are aware of the Board of Selectmen' s one-year moratorium on disposition of targeted tax-title lots, which underlines the priority of this program on the Commission' s agenda - 4 - As of this moment, it seems that the Housing Authority has matters well in hand, and that our most effective contributions will be through assisting them as requested My own view, shared I believe by most LCSR members, is that the Town as a whole would best like to have the program carried out, insofar as possible, by the Authority The Lexington Interfaith Corp- oration seems to share this view, though I believe they would be ready to try to implement the program, or part of it, should it turn out for any reason that the Housing Authority cannot do it The LCSR' s task for the summer, then, is to keep abreast of the Housing Authority' s progress, helping as requested The Commission should review the situation carefully at its first meeting in the fall "Density bonus " During the late fall of 1971, the Commission and its housing subcommittee discussed at some length a proposal (in rough draft form) for an amendment to the zoning by-law which would use a cluster-zone or planned- unit development concept to allow a subdivider or builder to place more houses on a given tract than would otherwise be permitted, if some of the units are made available for low/mod- erate cost housing We even had some preliminary discussion with the Planning Board about this Eventually, the Commission decided it would be wise to concentrate for this year on the tax-title lots and the role of the Housing Authority. I believe the "density bonus" proposal should be taken from the table, for renewed discussion, at an early date in the fall Employment There are no major town building projects now nearing the contract stage The Commission should, however, remain in contact with the Minuteman Regional H S concerning their plans 'for "affirmative action" provisions in their construction contract; and it should take care to start discussions with the Permanent Building Committee in regard to the Cary Library addition, in ample time before bidding documents are to be prepared for that project Beyond this, the Commission should of course repeat its suggestions and offers of assistance regarding minority employ- ment to private employers in the Town. In my judgment, though, the LCSR might make its most important long-term contribution towards increasing minority employment in Lexington through the investigative and informational activities discussed below - 5 - Investigative and Informational Activities It seems clear that to work in Lexington, a person must either live here or be able to travel here conveniently Thus the question of employment depends heavily on the questions of housing and/or transportation. More housing in Lexington for persons of low/moderate income (e g , our town employees, elderly, and young families) , and an improved metropolitan transportation system, are both needs which I believe clearly exist wholly apart from any question of increasing employment or altering hiring patterns here I would suggest, further, that housing and transportation are both matters with so many important connections and interdependencies at the regional scale or state level that significant developments are likely not within our grasp acting alone, but rather depend on state-level actions in such areas as metropolitan or regional organization and state-local financial mechanisms This is obvious in the case of transportation I believe it to be no less true, however, in the case of housing Chapter 774 may be an early straw in the wind; a statewide building code seems imminent; talk of a state U D C with zoning-override powers is certain to increase; state legal authorizations to local housing authorities, and state financial support of their activities, are clearly impor- tant; and the entire configuration of state-local finance -- for example , the method for distributing school costs among the state and the several cities and towns -- has, I believe, a most important bearing on citizen attitudes towards low/moderate cost housing For these reasons, I believe that a prime method for the LCSR to carry out its charge from the Selectmen should be to conduct investigations and provide information (and, where appropriate, recommendations) -- to the Board of Selectmen and the Town at large -- on such matters (for example) as the Boston 'Transportation Planning Review, the MBTA budgetary and govern- ance mechanisms, the regional-government legislation proposed by the Department of Community Affairs, the U D C. legislation proposed by the Governor and others, and state-aid reforms proposed to and by the Master Tax Plan Commission I believe such investigative and informational work should be on the Commission' s agenda from very early in its program year -- before town-meeting concerns crowd everything else from view -- and receive a good deal more attention than they did this year - 6 - Let me hasten to add two notes of clarification and caution First, as further indicated below, there are very real limits on what the LCSR can reasonably hope to accomplish in any one year Worthwhile analysis of all the topics listed in the preceding paragraph is far beyond the Commission' s cap- abilities Probably, only one such topic should be selected, at least at the outset Second, I am not suggesting that the LCSR should blindly become an advocate in Lexington for whatever the reformist, or consolidationist, or "liberal" position happens to be on a topic chosen for investigation The special concerns of LCSR under its charge should, of course, reflect themselves in the choice of topics for study A topic should be chosen because it seems to have important relationships to such matters as the range of housing choices or employment opportunities in Lexington But thereafter, study and information should as far as possible proceed in a detached and analytical manner (though I would certainly hope the Commission would take a position at the completion of its process) The questions pursued should be such as In what ways does this issue, or problem, and the proposed means of dealing with it, bear on the interests of Lexington and various people or groups in Lexington? Which effects are favorable? Which unfavorable? What about effects on non-Lexington interests which ought to concern us? What additional information is required to esti- mate size or direction of possible effects? How can such information be acquired? What, if anything, should Town citizens or bodies be urged to do about the situation? (seek information? seek participation in the decision process? support a proposal? oppose a proposal?) LCSR PROCEDURES AND MEMBERSHIP There are a few steps which should certainly be taken to enhance the Commission' s visibility and the involvement of non- members with its work These include an expanded mailing list for LCSR minutes and meeting agendas, to include non-members (including alumni) who could be expected to take an interest in the Commission' s work; and special invitations to meetings for groups and individuals who could be expected to have an interest in particular agenda items These steps may or may not be effective, but they are virtually costless and, therefore , worth trying - 7 - At its June 20 meeting, a majority of the Commission voted to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that it appoint one or two members at large, in the event this seemed desir- able either to reappoint past members who are of particular value to the work of the Commission at any given time, or to appoint people who have a special and relevant capability who are not then eligible as members of the Commission' s constit- uent organizations I shall try here to indicate reasons pro and con this proposal A body such as LCSR gains a special strength from the fact that its membership is composed of other official and civic bodies in the Town. This system both ensures that good and relevant information -- and civic wisdom -- will regularly be pumped into LCSR deliberations, and provides reliable channels of communication between LCSR and those whom it may seek to influence or assist, and those from whom it would like help or information Yet this membership system also displays the defects of its virtues LCSR members, almost by definition, tend to be busy people with other, prior civic involvements Especially for those representing other official town bodies, it may be unreasonable to expect that they will devote major time to LCSR work outside of regular meetings (Even the scheduling of regular meetings can become a problem ) Thus, at-large members might provide additional man/woman-power which could well be used It should be noted also that once or twice this past year I have had inquiries from citizens wishing to serve on LCSR and wanting to know how one gets appointed On the other hand, the LCSR is already a rather large body (and we are unanimously recommending a net increase of one member in the proposals below) Many of the organizations represented -- other than the Town boards -- are such that a person' s membership in them by no means implies such a large prior commitment that little time or energy is left for LCSR Indeed, it might make more sense for the Board of Selectmen to urge such organizations to nominate for LCSR membership persons who are not greatly burdened by other commitments, rather than resort to at-large memberships Finally, it is not completely clear that persons with special experience or capabilities must be made LCSR members in order that the Commission may benefit from their contributions Non-members have in the past served willingly and energetically on LCSR subcommittees Q - O The Commission has unanimously voted to recommend that the PTSA representation be dropped from the Commission The reason is simply that the PTSA, as an organization, seems to have no special tie to or concern with LCSR affairs (This is not, of course, to be taken as reflecting in any way on the individuals who have represented PTSA ) The Commission has voted unanimously to recommend the addition of one non-school town employee who is a resident, and one teacher who need not (but may) be a resident -- both to be selected from among persons who express an interest and volunteer to serve The reason for this recommendation is that we often find ourselves talking about town employees and their concerns in considering the Town' s needs It seems appropriate to have at least one person who has the combined perspective of an employee and an established resident At the same time, to have one member with a non-resident perspective might be beneficial The Commission is especially concerned that no teacher or town employee be burdened by service on the Commission who does not actually wish to serve Finally, on the advice of one of our high school repre- sentatives, we suggest that new members from the high school be chosen only from among students who express a specific interest in light of information about LCSR activities which the Commission should provide This completes my report I am pleased to have been able to serve as LCSR chairman during the past year Respectfully submitted, frusdakgmA____ Frank I Michelman