HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-07-MMC-min
Monuments & Memorials Committee
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 7, 2023
7:00 p.m.
Parker Room, Town Office Building, and by Zoom
Members Present: Linda Dixon, Chair; Avram Baskin, Bebe Fallick, Chuck French, George
Gamota.
Members Absent: Glen Bassett, Leslie Masson, Charlie Price, Danjun Pu
Guests: Carolyn Nutt, Patricia Karakashian, and Charlene Goddard-Lowe, Massachusetts DAR.
Business:
Linda convened the meeting at 7:15 after initial technical difficulties. She read the Town
notice regarding the conduct of public virtual meetings, and declared that a quorum was
present.
The committee approved the minutes of its meeting of June 1, 2023 by roll call vote.
Massachusetts DAR Proposal
Carolyn Nutt, Regent, Patricia Karakashian, and Charlene Goddard-Lowe of the Massachusetts
DAR informed the Committee that the DAR wishes to install a commemorative plaque in
Lexington as part of Lex250. They are interested in locations on the Battle Green, Buckman
Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House and have attended a preliminary meeting with Lex250.
On August 31, these individuals joined Chair Dixon and DPW Director David Pinsonneault on
the Buckman Tavern grounds to examine possible sites. DAR ruled out a site adjacent to the
proposed marker by the Lexington DAR Chapter, claiming that the quiet location would not
meet the national criteria for locating their marker, which needs to be in a high traffic area. The
group spent considerable time examining a site near the walkway leading to Buckman Tavern.
DAR would like to place a boulder, with marker attached, just to the right of the walkway. This
would provide balance to the existing memorial to Prince Estabrook on the opposite side of the
path. This location also has special meaning as the traditional meeting place for a group of DAR
members and Lexington Minute Men annually on Patriots’ Day as they walk to the Battle Green
for a solemn dedication ceremony.
In discussion, the point was raised, “why do we need two DAR markers?” Carolyn Nutt
explained that the local chapter and the state chapter, representing the national organization,
were two distinct organizations. Avram wondered, if this committee approves a plethora of
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markers, in 50 years’ time at our 300 commemoration, will people look back and disapprove of
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all the markers? Charlene Goddard-Lyle countered with, in 50 years’ time, what if the 300
committee looks back and sees no markers, no evidence of remembrance, from 50 years ago.
What message does that convey?
The group is setting up meetings with the Historic Districts Commission, the Commission on
Disability, and the Tourism Committee to gather the necessary feedback and approvals. They
will return to our committee later.
Introduction of New Parent Mentors for Lexington Heroes Team
Linda introduced James Pan, who will serve as a parent mentor along with Annie Zhang for the
coming year, working with our Lexington Heroes team. Chuck looks forward to attending a
future Saturday class with Wei Ding and the Heroes team after they have settled in. He would
like them to apply their web design expertise to offering suggestions for ways to make our
website more user friendly. Since neither James nor Annie are familiar with the public-facing
map that Judy Baldasaro of Lexington IT Department has created, Linda will request that Judy
offer an orientation/training session in the next two weeks.
Update on Lex250 Proposed Memorial
Bebe Fallick is overseeing the artist selection effort for Lex250. After many weeks of research
and interviews, Lex250 has retained the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to oversee
the artist selection process for the proposed memorial. After conducting research, which will
include gathering community input, MAPC will conduct the Call for Artists in October and
manage the artist selection process during November. Lex250 aims to announce the chosen artist
by year’s end.
Committee Business
Recorder Assignments: Linda reviewed the recorder assignment handout and thanked everyone
for agreeing to serve as recorder for at least one meeting throughout the coming year.
Change of Committee Meeting Time: The sense of the meeting was that we should change our
meeting time to 4:00 p.m. Linda will poll all committee members over the next few days.
Committee vacancies: Charlie Price has retired from the committee and Danjun Pu has moved
out of Lexington and resigned. Linda urged members to recommend potential members who had
an interest in research and writing, which are our greatest need.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Next meeting: October 5, 2023
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dixon, Chair