HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-30-VISION2025-minTown of Lexington
Vision for Lexington Committee Meeting
January 30, 2026
Remote Meeting
8:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m.
Minutes
Members Present: Sara del Nido Budish, Marian Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Andrew Dixon, John Giudice,
Bhumip Khasnabish, Vineeta Kumar (Select Board), Tom Lin, Carol Marine, Shannon Murtagh, Michael
Schanbacher, Catherine Yan, Min Zhou.
Absent: Larry Freeman (School Committee),
Guests: Joyce Murphy from the Housing Partnership Board, Anagha
Meeting was called to order: 8:04 AM
The remote meeting script was read by Margaret Coppe.
Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Khasnabish, Aye; Kumar,
Aye; Lin, Aye; Marine, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Schanbacher, Aye. Yan, Aye; Zhou, Aye
Announcements: Abe Fofonah will be leaving his fellowship in the Town Manager's office as of January
30, 2026. A replacement will be announced later.
Minutes:
• The approval of minutes from December 19, 2025, was moved by John Giudice and seconded by
Catherine Yan.
• Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Khasnabish, Aye;
Kumar, Aye; Lin, Aye; Marine, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Schanbacher, Aye. Yan, Abstain; Zhou, Abstain
The vote is unanimous with one abstention.
Meeting Highlights
VFL Website and report on email
No action
Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity
The Town has hired two people to fill split DEI roles, one internal and one external. They will be
introduced at the February 23, 2026 Select Board meeting.
Town Wide Survey
Tom Lin, Sara del Nido Budish, and Min Zhou have put together a presentation for the Select Board and
Town Meeting on the 2026 warrant article requesting $75,000 for the Town Wide Survey.
Sara has put together a summary of the request for the Appropriation Committee and will forward it to
the VFL committee.
Questions:
• Does town have requirements or preference for data collection tool?
• Should the survey be annual?
• Should it be shorter?
• Does Town have Google Microsoft 365? Do we want to use it? (John and Marian prefer Google
forms)
Housing
The committee revisited a proposed study on housing.
Michael Shanbacher reported the following passing the MBTA housing zoning the housing pipeline is
now fill with new projects.
Lexington has the Housing Partnership Board and the Affordable Housing Trust.
The new ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) state law has made it easier for residents to add one.
Carol Marine added that we should be focusing on initiatives, not "scary" number.
She shared two websites that have information on affordable units statewide: my.masshome.org and
the Housing Navigator.
The question is "What role can this committee play?" Maybe in providing information.
Public comment
No public comment
Motion to adjourn: Motion from Carol Marine, Vineeta Kumar seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Budish, Aye; Cohen, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Dixon, Aye; Giudice, Aye; Khasnabish, Aye; Kumar,
Aye; Lin, Aye; Marine, Aye; Murtagh, Aye; Schanbacher, Aye. Yan, Aye; Zhou, Aye
Adjourn: 9:09 AM
Next meeting: February 27, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Remote by Zoom
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