HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-28-VISION2025-minTown of Lexington
Vision for Lexington Committee Meeting
March 28, 2025
Remote Meeting
7:45 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.
Minutes
Members Present: Sara del Nido Budish, Marian Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Andrew Dixon, Larry Freeman
(School Committee), John Giudice, Jill Hai (Select Board), Daniel Joyner, Bhumip Khasnabish, Shannon
Murtagh, Catherine Yan, Min Zhou
Absent: Carol Marine
Meeting was called to order: 7:50
The remote meeting script was read by Margaret Coppe
Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Freeman, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Hai, Aye;
Joyner, Aye; Khasnabish, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Yan, Aye; Zhou Aye.
Minutes:
• The approval of minutes from February 28, 2025, was moved by Bhumip Khasnabish. and
seconded by John Giudice.
• Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Freeman, Abstain; Giudice,
Aye; Hai, Aye; Joyner, Abstain; Khasnabish, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Yan, Aye; Zhou Aye. The vote is
unanimous with two abstentions.
Meeting Highlights
Committee Membershi
Theresa Furguson, Tom Lin, and Subha Sainathan are visiting as applicants. Sara del Nido Bush and
Catherine Yan worked together on the nominating committee to ensure a diverse pool of applicants.
Margaret Coppe led a discussion of the criteria for membership and gave an overview on the work of
Vision for Lexington. Members shared their background with the Town. Applicants introduced
themselves.
VFL Website and report on emails
The Vision for Lexington received notification regarding a new policy from the Town of Lexington
regarding public postings. Jill Hai clarified that this change is related to legal notices, not committee
posting. The committee discussed the importance of the town website being recorded on the Internet
Archive for long-term historical record.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity
Jill Hai reviewed the Town position related to DEI. The Town will be able to concentrate more efforts
toward hiring after Town Meeting and Lex250. The Town Manager had meetings with senior staff and
targeted groups within the community. The Town is working to complete the draft job description.
Update from Subcommittee on Participation in Local Elections
The first draft is complete. The subcommittee is finalizing its recommendation. They are deciding where
and how to present, including which charts will be best to convey the correct message. The
subcommittee is thinking of how to get more people to run to office. It can recommend physical
changes or educational/philosophical changes. There was discussion on two upcoming Town Meeting
articles that could impact voter participation in local elections.
Public comment
No public comment
Motion to adjourn: Motion from Marian Cohen. Catherine Yan seconded the motion
Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Freeman, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Hai, Aye; Joyner, Aye;
Khasnabish, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Yan, Aye; Zhou Aye.
Adjourn: 8:51
Next meeting: April 25, 2025 7:45 AM
Remote by Zoom