HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-02-23-FHC-res.pdf FAIR HOUSING RESOLUTION
WHEREAS,
The Town Meeting of Lexington has always been committed to
equality of opportunity and wishes again to declare its commitment
to this fundamental principle of justice
The Town Meeting of Lexington believes that diversity of
population is desirable for all residents because diversity helps
us all to learn tolerance, appreciate other perspectives , and broaden
the outlook of our children, better preparing them to live in a diverse
and pluralistic country
The Town Meeting is concerned that more members of racial and
ethnic minorities do not live in Lexington and wishes to encourage
more members of racial and ethnic minority groups to remain in and
move to Lexington
The Town Meeting also wishes to enable more people of moderate
means to remain in and move to town The Town Meeting finds the great-
est obstacle to members of minority groups and persons of moderate
means is the high cost of housing and lack o£ employment opportunities
In order to encourage a greater diversity of population the
Town Meeting requests each Town Board and Official;
To weigh, in deciding any action or arriving at any decision,
whether such action or decision will have any impact in encouraging or
discouraging such diversity;
To avoid any action or decision which may tend to affect adversely
a greater racial, ethnic and economic diversity of population in the Town;
To adopt, implement, and publicize effective approaches to the
selection of tenants or purchasers of all housing administered by or
made available by the town or any of its boards, agencies or authorities
so as to achieve a greater measure of minority representation in such
programs;
To encourage the expansion of employment opportunities;
To study and recommend to the Town Meeting land use practices
which will encourage the development of reasonably priced housing;
To redouble their efforts to implement the housing policy adopted
by Town Meeting of 1978
The Lexington Housing Authority is requested to actively and
aggressively encourage minorities to apply for housing The Lexington
Housing Authority is requested to include in its program to enlarge
the number of minority persons in its applicant pool conspicuous and
effective advertising in newspapers which have significant circulation
in the minority communities and on the radio stations which reach the
minority communities The Lexington Housing Authority is requested to
continue to choose tenants from its pool of applicants solely on the
basis of need;
The Board of Selectmen is encouraged to coordinate the efforts
of other Town Boards , agencies and officials in carrying out this
resolution and shall report to the Annual Town Meeting on progress in
achieving fair housing objectives
Margery M. Battin
James F Crain
February 23, 1981