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T 0 W M G 0 V Ilk':IIR ' IIIA Ilk':III' T BOARD OF SELECTMEN (continued) • The Hosmer House(formerly known as the White House), Civil SePvIce located at 1557 Massachusetts Avenue, is under consider- Since the early 1900's, the Lexington Police Department ation for relocation or renovation since the Hosmer House's has been in the state Civil Service system. This Civil Service current location would interfere with the expected location program often restricted the Town's ability to hire the best of the new Lexington Police Station. applicants for positions. This made it difficult to fill Police • Lexington High School:With severe overcrowding,outdat- Department openings, resulting in vacancies and higher ed building systems,and spaces that do not adequately sup- overtime costs. 2019 Annual Town Meeting approved with- port the academic program, Lexington High School is in drawal from Civil Service for all ranks including the Police need of replacement or renovation and expansion. To that Chief;this prospectively allows more control over personnel end, the Superintendent, with the support of the School choices,policies,requirements,and procedures for hiring and Committee and Board of Selectmen,submitted a Statement promoting officers. of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority Sustainability Initiative s (MSBA) on March 17,2019,requesting state support for a future high school building project. In August 2018, the Selectmen adopted the Getting to Net Zero Emissions Plan with the goal of transitioning all of Community Engagement Lexington's residential, commercial and municipal building Communication to and from the Board is an ongoing to 100% renewable energy over the next 25 years. The goal priority. All Board members maintain office hours to meet of the plan is to improve Lexington's quality of life, health, with residents about issues or concerns they may have. For resilience,and sustainability. the fifth year in a row, the Board participated in the annual Lexington renewed the Community Choice electricity Discovery Day event as part of its community outreach. The program in January 2019,providing 100%renewable electric- Town hired its first Public Information Officer to help serve as ity to more than10,000 Lexington electricity customers at a the Town's spokesperson and to reach the diverse population savings of over$3M since the program's inception. of Lexington in an easily accessible format, promoting and With the increased popularity of electric vehicles in highlighting Town services, initiatives and events to inform Lexington, Selectmen authorized the installation of ten ad- and educate the community-at-large about our municipal ditional electric vehicle charging stations in the Lexington government. center parking lots under the terms of the Eversource Electric Vehicle charger installation program. A state grant covers Mental Health 80% the cost of the installation of the charging station; the The Board of Selectmen and the School Committee con- Town covers the remaining costs. tinued to collaborate on the topic of mental health services in Lexington. In September, the Town selected the William James Interface Referral Services as a free and confidential service available to all Lexington residents and students in Lexington schools.The service maintains a mental health and wellness referral helpline. Board of Selectmen: (left to right)Front Row:Jill Hai;Joe Pato; Suzie Barry,Chair, � �ioi.. ��, i� �"� �/ ��iimmP'f �'" � �� V 'il � 71 Kim Katzenback, Executive Clerk; Doug Lucente,Vice Chair; Mark Sandeen. i Back ROW:Stacey Prizio, Department t Jim Mallo � Y� Assistant; Town Kell Manager, j// Y Axtell,Assistant Town �........ .. :.. .:..:....,,,:;,.,;., Manager. TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2019 ANNUAL REPORT F5 I