Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


ARTICLE 17
Warrant Article Title:
VOTE/ ESTABLISHMENT OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ADVISORY BOARD, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE STUDY COMMITTEE
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to form a Committee to study the creation of a Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board, Commission, or Committee with the ability to make recommendations to the Select Board and reports to Town Meeting regarding youth and young adult involvement in governance and youth and young adult input on all issues facing the town; or take any action related thereto. 
Requested by:
(Inserted by the Select Board) 
Report Excerpt:
The Select Board recommends positive action on the establishment of a committee of Town Meeting to explore the options for creation of an “Arlington Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board” or similar entity. The primary goal of such a Board would be proactively garnering youth perspectives on a wide array of Town policies, practices and issues, and to foster engagement that flows from including Arlington Youth in our government. It is the expectation of the Select Board that the proposed study committee would evaluate the scope and parameters for operation of similar boards in other communities; determine whether or not such a body would be effective and useful in Arlington; and make recommendations at a future Town Meeting for the creation of such an advisory board or other actions as dictated by their collective findings.
Vote Language:

That Town Meeting hereby establishes a “Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board Study Committee” to be structured, organized, and charged as follows:

 

Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board Study Committee

 

I. Committee Membership and Organization

 

A. The Committee shall consist of the following eleven (11) members:

 

• Four (4) Arlington students appointed by the Town Moderator, two (2) of whom shall be currently enrolled Arlington Public Schools students; and two (2) of whom shall be Arlington residents presently enrolled in any middle school or high school;

 

• One (1) member of the Select Board, or their designee;

 

• One (1) member of the School Committee, or their designee;

 

• One (1) member of the Library Board of Trustees as determined by such commission;

 

• The Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or their designee from the Health and Human Services Department,

 

• One (1) member of the Board of Youth Services; as determined by such Board;

 

• One (1) member of the Park & Recreation Commission; as determined by such commission; and

 

• One (1) member of Envision Arlington Standing Committee or their designee; as determined by such committee.

 

B. Quorum

 

A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum, and decisions shall be based on the vote of a simple majority of those committee members present and voting.

 

C. Organization and First Meeting

 

The initial meeting of the Study Committee shall be convened by the designee of the Select Board, and the first order of business shall be the self-organization of the study committee through the election of one or more chairs, whose responsibility shall be to convene and preside over all future meetings, as well as a clerk, whose duties shall include the proper posting of meeting agendas and minutes. The Study Committee shall designate any other officers as it sees fit.

 

II. Committee Charge & Reporting

 

A. The Study Committee shall study the need, value, and options for the creation and operation of a permanent board or committee aimed towards fostering youth and young adult involvement in governance and youth and young adult input on all issues facing the town.

 

B. The Study Committee shall be encouraged to examine and compare models for obtaining youth and young adult input and feedback as well as the overall structures and functions of a Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board or similar entity.

 

C. The Study Committee shall report its recommendations to the 2022 Annual Town Meeting

 

III. Dissolution

 

The study committee will be dissolved concurrent with the dissolution of the 2022 Annual Town Meeting, unless there is a vote of Town Meeting to effectuate an earlier dissolution or other amendment.

 

(5 – 0)

Additional Materials:

Select Board Report