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61-437 Selectmen's Meeting - November 22, 1999 Boston Edison Grant of Location - 135 Woburn Street Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to approve the petition of the Boston Edison Company to lay and maintain underground conduits and manholes, with the wires and cables to be placed therein, under the surface of Woburn Street: Install conduit southerly, approximately 105 feet east of Utica Street, a distance of about 12 feet. Request to Use Battle Green Mrs. Eddison joined the meeting during this discussion. Mr. Enrich reported that the Board had a series of requests from David Kaufman to place structures on the Battle Green.Mr. Enrich proposed to take them up in the order in which they would be placed on the Green. Mr. Kaufman has requested permission to erect a 4' by 8' white plywood sign with inscription on the Lexington Battle Green for a three-week period during the time the Crèche is placed there. The inscription would read "The adjoining Crèche is a privately owned, religious structure placed on the Battle Green by The Ecumenical Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Masons which is independent of the K. of C. and the Masons, but is composed of members of those orders. It does not represent an "establishment of religion" by the Town of Lexington. It is placed here in spite of the objections of Lexington citizens of many different faiths, who believe that private, sectarian, religious displays are inappropriate on public lands. Citizens for the Protection of the Battle Green" Mr. Enrich indicated that the Ecumenical Committee as part of their permit is required to place a sign on the Crèche showing ownership of the display. The Ecumenical Committee has presented their plans to place two visible signs on the front and back of the Crèche that will read "A private Christmas Crèche sponsored by The Ecumenical Committee of the Knights of Columbus, Council #94; The Simon W. Robinson, Masonic Lodge, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA" The Board discussed several points: the request is far different as it is for a sign and not a structure, there is a clear distinction between the Crèche and signage; the sign being requested would come under the Town's Zoning By-laws; there will be further dialogue after this Christmas season encompassing a wider range of citizen input; different interpretations of the constitution; concern that the proposed sign is an effort to characterize a structure placed on the Battle Green by another group and appears to be adversarial, and the desire of the Board to have the request withdrawn. Mr. Enrich encouraged the Board not to vote for the proposal. In the absence of a motion on the request for the sign, the Chairman announced that the Board has turned the request down. Mr. Enrich pointed out that on the other two requests the Board would need more specific information as to the design, size and appearance of the structures and since these requests are for the month of April and October 2000, there is ample time for them to