2023-06-01-MMC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Monuments & Memorials Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, June 1, 2023 7:00 p.m. Parker Room, Town Office Building, and by Zoom Members Present: Linda Dixon, Chair; Avram Baskin, Chuck French, George Gamota, Leslie Masson, Charlie Price. Members Absent: Glen Bassett, Bebe Fallick, Danjun Pu Guests: Cindy Woolworth and Marjunette DeMagistris, Lexington DAR; Joyce Nelson, Temple Isaiah. Business:  Linda convened the meeting at 7:10 after enough members had arrived to constitute a quorum. 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 May 4, 2023 by roll call vote. Proposed DAR Plaque Cindy Woolworth and Marjunette DeMagistris of the Lexington DAR presented an update on their plan to plant a new “Liberty Tree” and relocate a revised plaque near Buckman Tavern as part of the Lex250 celebrations. A new American Elm has been planted in the rear of Buckman Tavern. Funding is in place to create a new bronze plaque with the wording, “This American Elm, planted by Lexington Chapter NSDAR, Commemorating the Semiquincentennial of the Battle of Lexington 1775-2025”. The original plaque was attached to a granite pedestal and all parties expressed concern about a height issue. DAR agreed to seek input from the Commission on Disability and from DPW on this matter. Proposed Memorial to Anonymous Enslaved Persons Joyce Nelson, Chair of the Reparations and Equity Committee of Temple Isaiah, described her committee’s initial efforts to create a memorial in the Old Burying Ground to the enslaved men thth and women who lived and died anonymously in Lexington in the 17 and 18 century. Her committee is obtaining input and support from other religious denominations and town organizations such as the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington. Before proceeding more formally, they are seeking the M&M Committee’s input and guidance. A thorough discussion ensued, during which Leslie Masson noted that wealthy slave owners often buried their slaves on their own property, so it might be more helpful to focus the proposal on the lack of identification of the slaves vs. not receiving a proper burial. The sense of the committee was to encourage the Reparations and Equity Committee to continue with their work and check in with progress reports periodically.