HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-09-2020-min
2020 Vision Committee
Minutes of June 9, 2011
Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Members present: Fernando Quezada, Bhumip Khasnabish, Chuck Benson, Jane Warren, Marian Cohen,
Margaret Coppe, Peter Enrich
Staff: Candy McLaughlin
Action Items:
Marian, Dan, and Chuck plan to meet with staff from Somerville to find out more about how
they collect and use data.
Candy will identify the communities that Lexington contacted at the beginning of the 2020
Vision process and see if it would be worthwhile talking to them again now.
Committee members will check back with organizations about arranging focus groups:
Rotary (Alan), Chamber (Janice), LexFun (Ann), TMMA Executive Committee (Barry), and
LHS PTSA (Margaret)
Meeting Began:
7:45 a.m.
May meeting minutes were approved.
Focus Groups:
Information on CAAL focus group was reported. Also, Bhumip shared information about a
meeting of IAL members with the Lexington Minuteman which resulted in a published article.
Discussion then occurred about how many additional focus groups to conduct. Questions were
raised about whether we learn something new from each group, whether issues rather than goals
should be the subject of discussion, and whether the results from a 1-1/2 hour discussion are
significant. Plans are to go ahead with a GWAC focus group on June 29, and then follow up on
existing invitations to other groups.
Process for moving forward after focus groups:
There seems to be some uncertainty about where the committee should go next. The suggestion
was made to check back with other communities who have been doing strategic planning to find
out lessons learned so we can continue to improve the process in Lexington. It was decided that a
couple of committee members should visit with people in several other communities, and then
we could organize a round table discussion in the fall.
Discussion continued about the role of the 2020 Vision process. How do we find out what
people are satisfied or frustrated about, what works/doesn’t work in Lexington? Does 2020
Vision clarify community sentiment and then transmit this information to elected leaders?
Where do community values come into play? How do we identify priorities and encourage action
to bring them about?
Input to BOS Goal Setting:
2020 Vision has done some groundwork on two major issues but there is not a clear path
forward: climate change and demographic change. The Committee would like the Selectmen to
discuss what policies and decisions are needed on these issues. The Committee also wants to
remind them that 2020 Vision is a resource for looking at big, long-term issues that don’t require
the Board’s immediate attention.
Miscellaneous:
Fernando attended a recent training session for board and committee chairs that reinforced
Open Meeting Law requirements.
Margaret announced that the School Department will launch a new, improved website in
September.
She also reported the Schools are following up on 1,800 schoolchildren who were not
reported on the Town Census.
Meeting Adjourned:
9:05 a.m.
Future meeting schedule:
(all at 7:45 a.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room)
Thursday, June 9
Friday, July 15
Thursday, August 11
Friday, September 6