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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-03-17-LCSR-min.pdfLexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility 17 March 1969 2 trainees and HIIII skilled workers, in order to meet labor shortages, maintain an ample force of workers and trades- men, provide more equal opportunities for minority-group employment in the construction trades, and for other pur- poses; and (ii ) from time to time to submit requests to the contractor to utilize, in specified manner, particular referral agencies and training programs for minority-group employment in the construction trades; and that the Perma- nent Building Committee be and hereby is further authorized ` on behalf of the Town to agree with the contractor that any such specific request be treated as a change in the work pursuant to the provisions of the contract, and (insofer.,as compliance with any such specific request can be shown to occasion additional expense to the contractor ) to pay additional compensation therefor as provided by the con- tract, in a total amount not to exceed $10,000, which sum is hereby appropriated for the purpose, to be raised in the current tax levy Mr: Bernierrpresented the_ draft of a statement from the Commission to the People of Lexington and Their Town Meeting Members After some revision, ,it VAS AGREED that this should .he r , released to the Minute-Man for publication on 20 March, and duplicated for distribution to all Town Meeting Members before ;tai the second session of the Town_ Meetingon Wednesday 19 March It was agreed that Mr Bernier would offer the amendment on behalf r of the Commission. Mr. Harding reported that most -congregations in INTPR- +r '�":1 Lexington really struggled over the proposal and the FAITH experience was felt to have been very beneficial. The HOUSING overwheliing :mal.ority of congregations voted. to join in the undertaking, and the legal stepS are now under way to form a Lexington. 'inter-Faith Housing Corporation. ; I Mr Harding reported that the clergy met with [am), ' +r ! Mrs- Batson, Director 'of `Metro, who "told' it like it 1. - , . n . .', was. She said that Roxbury parents '&nd leaders cit down with their children to discuss white attitudes and rkf V, race; relations and it encumbent upon, white parents to. do the- same with their children in the suburbs The meeting adjourned at about 12 OO midnight i p • a 'wf: TO THE PEOPLE OF LEXINGTON AND THEIR TOWN MEETING MEMBERS The Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility has notified the Board of Selectmen of its intention to submit an amendment to Article 13 of the Annual Town Warrant, to provide for an "affirmative action program" in connectkon with construc- tion of the new junior high school building The Commission is an ad hoc committee whose members are ap- pointed by the Board of Selectmen. It was created because of public shock over the death of Dr Martin Luther King It was charged with co-ordinating civic groups and town boards in positive action to meet the moral crisis all Americans face today This crisis includes education, housing, and employment oppor- tunities for disadvantaged minority groups and impoverished members of our society Because Lexington is known for its high educational stan- dards and municipal excellence and for citizens who care and participate in their government, other communities look to Lexington for leadership The Lexington Commission on Suburban Responsibility therefor proposes the following amendment to Article 13 of the 1969 Annual Town Warrant That the original motion, as stated, be designated paragraph 1 , and that a second paragraph be added 2 That the Permanent Building Committee be and hereby is authorized on behalf of the Town (i ) to initiate and carry on discussions with the contractor concerning employment on the project of minority-group trainees and skilled workers, in order to meet labor shortages , maintain an ample force of workers and tradesmen, provide more equal opportunities for minority-group employment in the construction trades , and for other purposes; and (ii ) from time to time to submit requests to the contractor to utilize, in specified manner, particular referral agencies and training programs for minority-group employment in the construction trades ; and that the Permanent Building Committee be and hereby is further authorized on behalf of the Town to agree with the contractor that any such specific request be treated as a change in the work pursuant to the provisions of the contract, and (insofar as compliance with any such specific request can be shown to occasion additional expense to the contractor) to pay additional compensation therefor as provided by the contract, in a total amount not to exceed $10,000 which sum is hereby appropriated for the purpose, to be raised in the current tax levy 2 One of the comments most frequently heard is that you don' t help a person with handouts People have to learn to help themselves This amendment clearly demonstrates how it can be accomplished The construction trades offer employ- ment opportunities with good wages without the need of exten- sive formal education. Building projects will as a rule in- volve the employment of a number of apprentices, and what we propose is to allow the Permanent Building Committee to try to have Lexington' s new school afford a fair share of these opportunities to minority-group members Since this is a "first" we feel it will provide a model for other cities and towns of the Commonwealth We ask your support of this amendment Respectfully submitted, LEXINGTON COMMISSION on SUBURBAN RESPONSIBILITY