HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-21-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Dawn McKenna, Chair (781) 862 -0500 ext 84585
Minutes
Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.
Parker Room, Town Office Building
Minutes of the meeting of
January 21, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.
Parker Room
Members Present: Kerry Brandin, Margaret Coppe, Trisha Kennealy, Dawn McKenna, Wim Nijenberg, Leeying
Wu
Staff Present: Maureen Rynn, Melisa Tintocalis, Masha Traber, Megan Zammuto
Absent: Bebe Fallick, Marsha Baker
Guests Present: Fred Johnson, Richard Pagett
1. Center Streetscape /Traffic lights Battle Road Corridor Formal Position
The committee discussed the possibility of taking a formal position on the Center Streetscape /Traffic
lights Battle Road Corridor projects. The committee discussed both projects and decided not to take
a formal position as a committee.
2. Visitors Center
At the most recent Board of Selectmen's meeting, Town Manager Carl Valente recommended that
the Visitors Center project be deferred. Some selectmen expressed interest in moving the project
forward, and others expressed concerns about the cost of the project. Melisa Tintocalis and Maureen
Rynn discussed the successful transition of the visitor center under the management of the town.
Trisha Kennealy made the following motion: The Tourism Committee will advocate that the Visitors
Center project should be included in the FY17 capital budget with the recommendation that we value
engineer the project to significantly reduce the cost. Upon motion duly made and seconded by Wim
Nijenberg, it was voted unanimously.
3. Tourism Committee Operations
Megan Zammuto provided a staff update where she discussed her involvement in management of the
Liberty Ride and Tourism Committee finances. She has been working on updating the Lexington
business database, and has completed the job description for the Tour Services Facilitator position.
Dawn McKenna updated the committee on conversations that she and Kerry Brandin have been
having with Melisa Tintocalis and Carol Kowalski about the work plan for the Economic
Development Coordinator position. Going forward, Megan Zammuto will be taking minutes of
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
Tourism Committee meetings. Storage for Tourism Committee files and items have been moved to
the locked cage in the basement of the visitor's center.
4. Liberty Ride /Battle Green Operations
The tourism committee discussed the possibility of increasing non Diamond charter tours from $250
to $260 per charter. Staff explained that this increase would help offset the cost of the wage increase
for charter guides that was recommended at a previous meeting, and approved by the Town
Manager. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, it was voted unanimously to increase charter tour
prices to $260 for all groups with the exception of Diamond Tours which will remain at the
contracted price $210. This will take effect immediately for tours book going forward. Tours that
have already been scheduled for 2016 will not be asked to pay the increased fee. The committee
discussed changes to the liberty ride brochure, including clarifying directions, eliminating the "free
re- boarding" text and how to best convey parking locations in the brochure.
5. Events
Dawn McKenna discussed the upcoming Voyage en Francophonie which will be held on Saturday
March 12' at Cary Hall. The committee also discussed Revolutionary Revelry. The Economic
Development Coordinator will not be working on Revolutionary Revelry this year. Dawn expressed
her concern that since the Town Manager had used the $12,000 of funding for this event, that it was
the expectation that the Coordinator would manage this project. The committee discussed scheduled
events, and the need for a committee member to help coordinate the events in order to continue with
Revolutionary Revelry and tourism events in general.
6. Joint Tourism Training
The committee asked Megan Zammuto to contact the Historical Society to determine their interest in
participating in this training. The date is tentatively scheduled for March 31st
7. Marketing, brochure and website
The committee discussed the upcoming AAA tradeshow. Committee members discussed potential
giveaway items. The committee hopes to distribute the Patriots Day activities calendar at the trade
show.
Adjourned at approximately 5:40 pm
Respectfully submitted, Megan J. Zammuto
Approved, February 11, 2016
Documents available at the meeting:
1. Tourism Committee Upcoming Meetings
2. Town of Lexington — Capital Projects Recommended for Deferral
3. 1.18.16 Memorandum "Work Plan Update for Tourism Transition re: Revolutionary Revelry
& Hours
4. 1.18.16 Memorandum "Work Plan for Tourism Transition"
5. Tour Services Facilitator job description
6. Revolutionary Revelry Draft Calendar