HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-18-LEX2020-min.pdf 2020 Vision Committee
Minutes of November 18, 2011
Selectmen's Meeting Room
Members present Fernando Quezada,Chuck Benson,Marian Cohen,Dan Krupka.Jane Warren, Greg
Zurlo George Burnell. Alan Wrigley
Public present.Andrew Dixon
Staff Carl Valente, Candle McLaughlin, Michelle Stevens
Action Items.
• Pursue a focus group with the Rotary Club.
• Develop a process for reviewing the data from the focus groups.
• Community survey subcommittee(Marian and Dan)to meet with Carl regarding the
community survey
• Subcommittee will also prepare a draft of the survey for the Committee's review
Meeting Began. 7 45 a.m.
The Committee approved minutes from October 2011 meeting.
Finalize Focus Groups
Fernando said Margaret was not able to attend the meeting but she did send her notes from the LexFun
focus group Alan said he had followed up with the Rotary Club,and Candy said she was hoping to hear
back from them soon. Candy has compiled the responses from the focus groups to date and reported the
results to the Committee. Marian said she was disappointed that the results haven t identified any new
issues. She also expressed a desire to know more about what people s thoughts are behind their responses.
Fernando said the exercise is very worthwhile and Candy commented that some priorities have shifted.
Discuss Goal Renewal and Measurement
The Committee discussed a possible community survey Dan said the subcommittee looked at comparable
communities.but most do not have a visioning process. He said the subcommittee is interested in
following a process similar to one found in Mecklenberg County in North Carolina. He said the county
started with a vision and then the county commissioners made it concrete Dan said the Committee
needed the same support out of the Board of Selectmen. Marian expressed frustration about lack of
Committee followup and suggested more direction from the Selectmen might be useful. George said the
Board of Selectmen relies on the Committee for long-range planning perspective. Chuck said the
Committee has made many recommendations and some, such as the Citizens Academy,have stuck.He
said goals shifting are a positive thing. Marian said she is interested in finding out if priorities are shifting
because the issues identified previously have been addressed,or if it's because times are changing.
Fernando said the Committee is taking the right steps towards a long-range plan with the survey Dan said
the Committee has two options 1)comprehensive town wide survey with representative sample or 2)the
Committee could construct a representative sample and then hold interviews to get more information.He
said the subcommittee has many details to iron out.including deciding between a paper or internet survey
and finalizing the content.
Hear Reports on Citistat in Massachusetts
Carl said he met with Chuck and Dan,who are interested in performance management systems such as
Citistat. He reported on a meeting of Massachusetts communities using this type of data-driven system.
He said that,although Lexington does not have a formal performance management system, Lexington
does address performance management issues Boards.Committees and Staff address complaints and
make recommendations on how the services can be improved. Carl said using a survey to discover these
types of issues in Lexington has merit,but we need to go beyond_lust a survey Dan said the survey needs
to identify short and long-range issues Alan said it is difficult because vision and long-range planning are
moving targets that shift over time
Future meeting schedule
Future Committee meetings will occur on Fridays at 7 45 a.m. Candy said a photographer will be at the
December meeting to take a picture for the Annual Report.
Chuck Benson is moving to New Hampshire,and Fernando thanked him for his work on the Committee
Meeting Adjourned. 9.00 a.m.
Future meeting schedule: (all at 7 45 a.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room)
• Fnday December 16
• Friday January 12,2012
• Friday February 10 2012
• Friday March 9 2012
• Friday April 6, 2012
• Friday May 4 2012
• Friday June 8 2012
Lexi.igton,Massachusetts 2/9/12 6 31 PM
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2020 Vision Committee
Focus Group Discussions
2010/ 11
Background
In fall of 2010, roughly ten years after a vision statement and set of coals were developed,
the Lexington 2020 Vision Committee wanted to check back with the
community They sought to confirm or revise the goals, and to identify issues where there is
agreement or difference of opinion
The Committee planned a series of small focus groups to engage residents in discussing what
issues they see as important for Lexington both now and in the future. The Committee
contacted a number of organizations in town and asked each to assemble a small but diverse
group of 6-10 people to discuss several open-ended questions.
Focus Group Questions
1. What do you value about Lexington?
2. What would you like to see different?
3. What specific goals do you think the Town should accomplish over the next 10-15
years?
Groups Sponsoring Focus Group Discussions
• Graduates of Lexington's 2009 Citizens' Academy
• Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL)
• Lexington Interfaith Clergy
• Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL)
• Global Warming Action Coalition (GWAC)
• Lexington Chamber of Commerce
• LexFun (formerly Lexington Preschool PTA)
• Lexington Rotary Club
Focus Group Input
• Prioritization of Original Goals
• Things Liked and Would Like Different about Lexington
http.//lexingtonma.gov/committees/2020focusgroups.cfm Page 1 of 1