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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-04-2020-min 2020 Vision Committee February 4, 2010 7:45 a.m. Selectmen’s Meeting Room In attendance: Peter Enrich, Dan Krupka, Chuck Benson, Fernando Quezada, Ben Esty, Bebe Fallick, Barry Orenstein, Alan Wrigley, Peter Lee, George Burnell, Candy McLaughlin, Carl Valente, Brianna Olson Meeting Began: 7: 50 a.m. The minutes from the January 14, 2010 meeting were approved. Demographic Change Task Force: Dan Krupka and Ben Esty presented the final report for the Demographic Change Task Force. The methodology for the analysis was to look at demographic data from the national census, the American Community Survey, the Town census, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as forecasts from the Massachusetts Area Planning Council. Using mostly linear extrapolation, the Task Force projected these trends out to the year 2020. The Task Force also met with department heads and the Superintendent of Schools to get their impressions of the changing needs of Lexington residents. The Task Force presented two major findings of their research. First, Lexington has a unique racial composition in comparison to its neighboring and comparable communities. Lexington’s population is approximately 20% Asian, with the majority of that population being Chinese, followed by Indian and Korean. In addition to being a growing minority in the community, Asians are underrepresented on Town boards and committees. Of the nearly 800 board and committee slots, only 20 were known to be Asian. In addition, many members of the Asian community do not speak English as their first language, or do not speak English “very well.” There is an adverse effect of these language barriers, particularly in situations related to emergency response or public health. Peter Lee commented that the Diversity Task Force has been working with the LPS to increase diversity in the teaching staff. He also noted that fostering participation in the Asian community will get easier in future generations. The second major finding of the Task Force is that Lexington has a bimodal age distribution: there are large concentrations of youth and the elderly in the Town. There has been an increase in the elderly population by approximately 1,000 people between 1999 and 2009. This has had, and will continue to have, an effect on the provision of emergency and social services, use of the resources at the Senior Center, and the use of public transportation in Lexington. In addition, housing values and family income are higher in Lexington than in Massachusetts as a whole. Committee members discussed a common assumption that there is a divide between newer and more established residents of Lexington. Research could identify whether there is a factual basis for this and analyze how it interacts with the other demographics examined by the Task Force. The Demographic Change Task Force made a number of recommendations, including the following:  They have collected data that is currently available, and have been able to track several trends. But there is not as much insight into the causes of these trends.  The Town has many opportunities to collect additional data that will be helpful for later analysis; for example, the Town Clerk’s Office could expand the questions asked on the Town’s yearly census. Additionally, incidents that involve one of the “trending” groups can be tracked by Town departments.  There should be follow up with the authors of a profile of Asian Americans in Massachusetts, published by the University of Massachusetts Boston.  The Task Force’s findings should be discussed with real estate agents and teachers to get their input.  There should be discussion about creating a task force charged with increasing representation in Town and School departments, boards and committees.  Focus groups and additional dialogue about the needs of the elderly and Asian communities should occur.  Lexington should assess ways that other communities, both in Massachusetts and across the country, have responded to significant demographic changes and what the outcomes have been.  Further research should be conducted regarding the economic diversity of Lexington. Before the report is released, the Town’s senior managers and the School Superintendent will receive copies for their additional input. Additionally, the 2020 Vision committee will write a preamble/endorsement for the report. The report will be sent to the Selectmen in final form; once the Selectmen have approved the report, it will be released publicly. Meeting Adjourned: 9:00 a.m.