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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-08-LCC-min Town of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of April 8, 2021 beginning at approximately 8:30 am. The meeting was held pursuant to Governor Baker's orders of March 12, and March 15, 2020 and subsequent orders imposing strict limitations on the number of people who may gather in one place. Center Committee members: Richard Brown, Michael Boudett, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson (Vice Chair) Howard Levin, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning,Jerold Michelson, Chair, (arrived about 8:51 am) and Pamela Shadley Liaisons:Jill Hai, Select Board, Frank Smith, Capital Expenditures Committee, Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director, Casey Hagerty, Economic Development Coordinator,Joe Pato, Select Board (informally),Janet Perry, Commission on Disability, Erin Sandler-Rathe, Chamber of Commerce, Dawn McKenna,Tourism Committee, Sandra Shaw, Council on Aging, Upasna Chhabra, Melanie Tanionos Fred got the meeting started in Jerry's absence. We began with the DPW update from Dave Pinsonneault: Spring cleaning is underway in the Center. The holiday lights are down on the south side. Old banners are down and new ones are up. DPW is waiting for more detail on staging the Streetscape Project to determine whether the parklet will go up. DPW is looking at the parking lots behind the restaurants to set up for outdoor dining. Innessa suggested using the parklet for this purpose. DPW is waiting for the final bid package for Grain Mill Alley and plans to get this done during this construction season. As is customary the construction company will take possession of the bricks that are coming out. John Livsey got us up to speed on the Streetscape Project: The notice of award has gone out to IW Harding. A drone video to document current conditions in the center will be taking place shortly in the early morning. Utilities are being marked and test pits are being dug. DPW has worked with the utilities to make sure that there will not be any post-construction utility work. Mike inquired after other pubic contracts done by the contractor and John will provide this information. The contractor intends to work a 7 to 5 pm schedule four days per week. This will speed up the construction, and allow for a three-day break. No utility polls need to be moved. Yay. John urged the business community to sign up for project updates. The Center Committee voted seven to zero to support the four-day work week for the Streetscape Project. Casey gave the Economic Development update: there are already six permits out for outdoor dining and two for outdoor haircutting. Casey, Dave and Sandhya will walk the Center to identify outdoor dining and other business locations. The Visitors Center and Buckman Tavern will be open seven days a week. Tourists are returning. Omar's renovations in the Vine Brook Tavern are coming along. There was some discussion about having artists and pop-up businesses use the vacant spaces in the Center. Landlords are reluctant to do this because of liability issues. Mike noted there's a big difference between an artist's display and customers in a store. The Boston Private Bank is leaving. Sandhya gave us an overview of the Comprehensive Plan. Having evaluated current conditions the plan will be moving to the public comment phase this summer. They committee will be looking to the Center Committee for recommendations are to how to revitalize the Center. Mike suggested making the Center more family and child friendly. This was a concept we were developing with Melisa. There has been pushback from some of the Center businesses on this. Dick noted how people in the parking lots look at the back of buildings and contrasted the businesses surrounding the Michelson's lot face that lot while the businesses in the CVS lot do not. Fred harkened back to Pam Shadley's very excellent design for the CVS lot which included a dedicated "sidewalk" for pedestrians. The Center Committee voted nine to zero to approve the minutes for the February and March, 2021 meetings. Liaison reports: Erin Sandler-Rathe indicated that the Chamber has a permit for summer concerts. Dawn McKenna let us know that the Tourism Committee is applying to the Mass Cultural Council to have the Center designated an Arts Cultural District. Sandra Shaw told us that the Council on Aging was bringing its proposal for senior parking to the Select Board. That's all for April.