HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-07-MMC-min
Monuments & Memorials Committee, Lexington, MA
Minutes of Meeting
March 7, 2024
By Zoom Teleconference
Members Present: Linda Dixon, Chair; Avram Baskin, Glen Bassett, George Gamota, Leslie
Masson.
Members not present: Bebe Fallick, prospective members Liz Huttner and Nick Wong.
Guests: Dave Pinsonneault, DPW; Karen Tyler, Veterans Services; James Pan, Parent Mentor;
Bill Poole and Regina Sutton, volunteer workers
Business
Chair Linda opened the meeting at 4:03 and declared that a quorum was present. She introduced
guests Bill Poole and Regina Sutton, who have volunteered to take on monument writing
assignments.
The minutes of the meeting of February 1, 2024 were approved on a roll call vote.
Plan for Completing Work on the Database
James Pan displayed the database, in spreadsheet form, of all monuments identified so
far. The Heroes Team has used the Chat GPT app to gather all available information on
each monument, particularly the newer ones that lack any data. They coded Chat GPT to
write text using third grade-level language.
Each committee member will receive up to five assigned monuments. Their job is to do
some research and then produce finished text to accompany the photograph of each
assigned monument. Linda and James cautioned that the Chat CPT text must be verified,
as it is not guaranteed to be accurate.
We need to establish a maximum word count for the text submissions.
Karen Tyler offered to participate. As she has access to the DD214 forms of some of our
World War II veterans, she can add valuable information to their profiles. She will work
with George. Linda will send her the scrapbook of WWII fallen service members.
Linda and Nick will prepare assignments over the next couple of weeks.
Creation of Maintenance Fund for future Monuments/Memorials.
Leslie and Linda met with DPW Director Dave Pinsonneault to discuss a universal
maintenance fund for monuments. Dave is planning to bring on a consultant in FY26 to
study our existing monuments and develop a maintenance and repair plan. He’ll make the
capital budget request at Town Meeting in October ($25-50,000) and hopefully will
secure Town Meeting funding approval in March of 2025. He’ll hire the consultant in
July 2025. An ongoing maintenance account fund will be set up, from which Dave will
periodically draw funds.
George felt that every proposed monument should be prepared to donate a certain amount
to the Town Monument Fund, and all agreed. The Memorial Bench program works this
way. A formula would need to be established for the donation amount for each proposal.
Dave will ask the consultant for advice.
Regina Sutton asked whether our committee could raise funds for this purpose. Dave said
no, but a group of citizens could. We would put any money raised into a gift account.
Glen asked whether the generic Fund for Lexington might be used for an occasional
monument repair. Dave will check this out with the Town Manager.
The Lexington Times reserves space for the DPW in each issue. Dave Pinsonneault
suggested that he could offer this space to the M&M Committee to promote some
relevant work.
Lex250 update
The four finalists for the Lex250 Monument will present their design concepts in a public
meeting on Wednesday, March 13. The winning design will be announced a few weeks later.
Status Reports
Mass DAR Proposal for Lex250 Plaque: Mass DAR has received permission to install their
plaque on the grounds of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library. Since this is private
property, DAR will not have to secure Select Board permission or meet with the Monuments and
Memorials Committee. They will need approval from the Historic Districts Commission, as the
plaque will be in an HDC district.
IT Support during Judy Baldasaro’s absence: Linda wrote to Judy’s supervisor, Tim Goncalves,
seeking any information about Judy’s return or temporary support during Judy’s absence. There
is no information about Judy/s return date and there are no plans to provide temporary support.
Tim suggested we ask Jonas Miller for assistance.
Feedback on committee policy statement: This will need to be postponed to a future meeting, as
there has been no response from Suzie Barry.
Feedback on proposed committee logo: will cover at next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Next meeting: April 4, 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dixon, Chair