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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-19-LCC-minTown of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of May 19th, 2022 at 8:30 am in Estabrook Hall in the basement of the Cary Hall Building, Lexington, Massachusetts Center Committee members present: Eric Ballard, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Jeffery Lyon, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (chair), Pamela Shadley, Jon Wakelin Liaisons present: Michael Boudett, CEC, Sandra Shaw, COA, Casey Hagerty, EDC, John Livsey, Chief Engineer, DPW, Mike McLean, Captain, LPD, Christopher Barry, LPD, Dave Pinsonneault, Director, DPW, Sonya Antonyan, Chamber of Commerce We began with the DPW update from Dave Pinsonneault and John Livsey: Funding for the parking lots survey becomes available on July 1. The survey covers all lots. Most likely we will be doing the Michelson’s lot and another lot. The timing is not determined. The lots will get done after the Battle Green section of the Streetscape, which comes after the Center Streetscape. ARPA funding and Safe Streets funding will drive the projects. The bike node will get done as a change order to the Harding Center Streetscape Project. Harding is already familiar with the materials. This is in the review stage now. We anticipate completion during this construction season. Bike node will include benches, bike racks, repair station and solar charging station. DPW has reengaged the designer for the bikeway kiosks. Weekend trash pickup begins on Memorial Day and continues to Veterans Day with Sunday morning pickups. Jerry Michelson suggested an earlier start to weekend trash pickup. Perhaps this could be in the 2024 budget. Jeff Lyon noted that tenants need to do more on policing their own trash. New light poles are going in! They need brackets for hanging banners. So no banners until new brackets come in. There was some discussion of technical aspects of light poles and tragicomic history as to why the current poles do not include brackets. John Livsey explained that the mudslab was going down and the bricklayers will start next Monday and will stay until the job is complete. Spring plantings are in, trees are being tagged and very excellent caliper trees (located in New Jersey) will be planted in the fall. John also described the silva cells in detail and how they will support the trees. The next 4 to 6 weeks will see the most active construction. The trees on the Michelson’s side will be enhanced with organics added to the structured soil. Incoming selected trees were chosen for their hardiness under urban conditions. New tree grates are going in on the Michelson’s side, broken tree grates will be replaced. Pam Shadley alerted us that the scourge of Japanese Knotweed has come to the Edison Way daylily plantings. There is no escaping Japanese Knotweed. Chief Mike McLean introduced Chris Barry as the Captain of LPD operations. No change is anticipated in the Center Parking pass program for the time being. Passes are just for the Depot Lot. Replacement of meters in the lots in progressing and street meters will be replaced when the Streetscape work is completed. Discovery Day is Saturday May 28th! Mike Boudett inquired about LPD staffing – the PD is no longer a civil service PD and there will be a test in August. Casey Hagerty gave us the EDD update: we have ARPA funding for pop-ups at 15 Depot Square. We have 17 applications from small businesses and 3 non-profits. All of the ARPA money has been distributed to 28 small businesses and 5 non- profits. The Liberty Ride starts back up on June 17th. Jerry told us that there will be about 100 vendors at Discovery Day. Mass Ave will be blocked off. It would be helpful to identify and publicize by-right signage. This will be discussed at the next meeting. Charles Horning will be our liaison for the MBTA Communities Act. The Center Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes for the January, February and April, 2022 meetings. Only members present at those meetings approved those minutes. Jeff suggested that we discuss how to permit dumpsters in the Center next month.