HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-18-LEX250-min Semiquincentennial Commission (Lexington 250 )
Wednesday, January 18, Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex
250) convened via Zoom on January 18 at 4:00, as allowed by legislation (S. 2475) extending the
suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Present: Suzie Barry ( Select Board Member), Steve Conners (Reenactment Community), Barry
Cunha (Local Business Representative), Bebe Fallick ( Tourism Committee Representative),
Cerise Jalelian (Town Celebrations Committee Representative), Mona Roy (Community
Representative), Jillian Tung (Music and Arts Representative), Paul O’Shaughnessy (His torical
Organization Representative), Jane Hundley(LPS Representative), Julie O’Leary (Civic
Representative), Guests: Linda Dixon (Monuments and Memorials, along with Cassidy Xu, Holly
Ding), Hemali Shah( Chief Equity Officer), Sandya Iyer, and Brianne Cassetta(Economic
Development), John Rossi(Commision on Disability)
1. Welcome, call to order, 4:05
2. Minutes approved from November, 4:50
3. Guests:
a. Ms Shah voiced her support to ensure the Lex 250 commission reaches and is
inclusive of all the diverse demographic groups in town, including advertising etc,
b. Ms Dixon along with Cassidy Xu and Molly Ding outlined a comprehensive mapping
app(Lexington Memorial Pathfinder) to be presented soon that can be accessed
either by computer or mobile phone detailing an impressive system that tourists can
access to show them not only where all the significant monuments and plaques are
in town, but also the quickest routes to them via walking, bicycle or car.
c. Mr. Rossi spoke briefly lending his support on any disability issues
4. Updates :
a. Ms Tung and Ms. Roy will present a draft for the road show template next meeting
b. The RFP is still in progress and a meeting is scheduled next week to discuss next
steps
c. The update to the town website is in progress
d. No opposition for the proposed belfry area site from the select board, and other
parties are being consulted to confirm that as the site of the proposed Lex 250
monument
e. The necessary part to enable the Lex 250 video at the Visitors center to be shown
has been received and an attempt to run the video will be done soon
f. The Patriots day stakeholders meeting has been set for Tuesday, Feb.7at 2:00 P.M.
in the Select Board meeting room
g. Future guests: Rick Lofria, the Director of the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention
and Visitors Bureau, and Carol Ward, LHS Society director, have been approached
and scheduled in February
h. An update on the Launching/Recruiting/ Groups will go on the town website
i. State representative Ms. Ciccolo was approached about future funding needed for
the Lex 250 initiative and is planning on presenting a bill to the legislature asking
for funding to be split evenly between Lexington, and Concord
j. The potential for the Thunderbirds as a flyover sometime during Patriots day
weekend 2025 is in the works. The timing is important so as to not interfere with
the reenactment or other sensitive activities
5. Other items:
a. Ms Iyer discussed the possibility of making “rack cards” to be placed in the Visitors
center and other locations to alert tourists of the planned activities surrounding the
250th celebration. This would include merchandise to be sold there and other
locations around town.
b. Ms. Fallik has been researching suggestion boxes to be placed around town which
would seek input for anybody about the proposed monument
6. A poll was taken as to whether to continue meeting via zoom or in person. It was
decided to continue to meet via zoom until March 1 st when a hybrid meeting will take
place in the Parker room, town offices. A proposed change to meeting later in the day
on those Wednesdays seems to be the recommended approach if we go to in person
meetings
7. Next meetings: Feb. 1, Feb. 15 via zoom, March 1st hybrid
8. Meeting adjourned at 5:45
Respectfully submitted,
Barry J Cunha