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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-09-LCC-min Town of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Center Committee Members present: Richard Brown, Michael Boudett, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Howard Levin, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Doug Lucente (SB), Frank Smith (CEC), Janet Perry (Commission on Disability), Sandra Shaw (COA), Sandhya Iyer (EDD), Casey Hagerty (EDC), Dawn McKenna (Tourism), Dave Pinsonneault (DPW) Additional Guests: John Livsey (Town Engineer), Michael McLean, Acting Chief of Police, Upasna Chhabra The meeting of September 9, 2021, beginning at about 8:30 am was held pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021. This Act includes an extension, until April 1, 2022, of the remote meeting provisions of Governor Baker's March 12, 2020, Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law. We began with the DPW update from Dave Pinsonneault: Tree trimming is ongoing in the downtown area, all holiday lights are down for the Streetscape Project, sidewalk is being washed 1x a week to take care of the bird droppings, and a second trash receptacle is being installed near Peet's. Jerry discussed DPW preparations for ReDiscovery Day, Saturday, October Stn. bittersweet in the planting bed on Edison Way and cutting back the weeds in the Depot Lot for better visibility. Streetscape Update from John Livsey: drainage has been installed throughout the Center and noted the startling amount of underground utility infrastructure that keeps appearing, including utility infrastructure unknown to the utilties. They are prepping for new sidewalks There's a gas regulator station under the sidewalk from Grant St to Edison Way and that sidewalk has been successfully prepped. Work on prepping the Emery Park sidewalk has begun. Work will take place on Fridays when there is a Monday holiday. It's tricky to get the color of concrete right. Work will take place at night to redo a sanitary line in order to avoid a business shutdown. DPW has blanket approval for nighttime work. They will also need (or have?) a waiver in place for nighttime work. Jerry discussed membership and appointments: Both Pams, Jerry, Richard Brown, and Peter Siy have terms expiring. Howard is moving permanently to Vermont. So there will be one or more vacancies. Jerry urged us to bring a friend and suggestions for membership to the next meeting. Howard commented on the progress made in the Center over the last two decades. The Center is brighter, more business friendly and more accessible. We wished Howard well and thanked him for service on the committee. Innessa told us that Artwalk will take place October 6-10 with a reception on October 8th. Casey gave the Economic Development update: Sanyo is not coming back, Maxima (a pop-p store in December 2019) is moving into the Revolve space. Doug noted that the SB granted a liquor license to an entity coming into the old Haircuttery space. The Visitor Center will be hosting a ribbon cutting. Jerry noted that we have new businesses coming into nine open spaces which is good news. Mike noted that the GMA bike node is going in, which is good, but it's unfortunate that the larger project for the entire alley is not going forward. Dave noted that the Town does not have the right of way next to the buildings. Mike asked if funds were left over for design work and Dave will check this out. Could those funds be used for the bike node? We will pursue this notion and perhaps work on this area could be folded into the parking lot capital project. Sandra Shaw mentioned that the Senior Parking Pilot Program would begin in October and stickers would be used to identify vehicles. She noted the various benefits to using stickers. Pam Lyons said a few words about seeking a bus shelter for Depot Square. Dawn McKenna asked that Pam meet with the Tourism Committee and talk to the Field and Garden Club and consider the impact on tourism and events. The Center Committee voted Six to Zero to approved the minutes of July 8th, 2021. Doug noted that a Special Town Meeting is anticipated on or about November 8th. We were all urged to take a look at the Planning Board articles. Jerry concluded with alerting us to the Beer Garden that will be a part of the ReDiscovery Day festivities. He noted that we need two new members for the committee.