HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-25-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
October 25,2023 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk,the Semiquincentennial Commission
(Lex250)convened in a hybrid meeting in the Parker Room at the Town Office Building and via Zoom
video conference on Wednesday,October 25,2023 at 4:31 pm by Ms.Barry as allowed by legislation
(S.2475)extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Present in person:
Suzie Barry,Select Board Member,Chair
Jillian Tung,Music &Arts Representative,Clerk
Noah Michelson,Community Representative
Barry Cunha,Business Representative
Mona Roy,Community Representative,Vice Chair
Julie O’Leary,Civic Representative
Bebe Fallick,Tourism Committee Representative
Cleve Coats,Community Representative
Tom Colatosti,Community Representative
Ashley Rooney,Community Representative
Present remotely:
Steve Conners,Reenactment Community Representative
Paul O’Shaughnessy,Historical Organization Representative
Mona Roy,Community Representative,Vice Chair
Cerise Jalelian,Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Absent:Jane Hundley,LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head
●The meeting was called to order at 4:31 pm by Ms.Barry.
●Ms.Barry and other committee members provided updates on last week’s testimonies at the State
House and on the 250th regional meeting on 10/20/2023 with Kate Fox,Executive Director,
●1 year countdown
○April 19,2024
○Ms.Barry would like to have a media event (initial media push)that morning and include
an announcement re:Lex 250 events being planned for 2024 -2026
○Suggestions by Ms.Barry and the group for different activities during the day included
the following:
■A scavenger hunt
■An event at Cary Hall or Cary Library
■Ringing the Belfry from 1 pm until 2 pm
■Lexington Bicentennial Band Concert at 7 pm (already confirmed)
■Groundbreaking ceremony for permanent memorial
■Walks (Across Lexington paths)
■Other ideas:Reach out to Christine Dean,Koren Stembridge,community
partners
●Financial update
○Ms.Barry provided an update regarding funding efforts at the state level
○HB 3242:8 people from Lexington testified last week at the State House.Testimonies
were well received.
●Debrief,meeting with Kate Fox,Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and
Tourism
○October 20,2023
○Updates were provided by committee members who attended
●Update on the Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA)
○Jim Malloy and other town managers from Arlington,Lincoln,and Concord all support
the IMA
○Includes provisions for a collaborative website,crisis communication,transportation,and
an event planner
●Road Show updates
○Chamber of Commerce
■Mr.Michelson and Ms.Roy summarized their recent discussions,including 1-yr
countdown,kick off,and Patriots’Day 2025
■Draw visitors-how can we harness that demand
■Make Lexington a place to shop,eat,and stay
○Lions Club
■Ms.Roy and Ms.Jalelian;well received
○Knights of Columbus:Dr.Cunha
○Rotary:in progress
●Working group updates
○Ms.Fallick gave an update on the progress of the permanent memorial;Dr.Cunha will
collaborate on the the project going forward
○Ms.Rooney indicated that Jim Shaw will be running a column every month and is
looking for more stories
○Mr.O’Shaughnessy participated in planning meetings re:Cary Lecture Series and the
Historical Society
○Dr.Tung presented updates on the kick off festival and horse project
●Ms.Barry suggested that the group plan a community meeting sometime in January
●Next meetings
○Wednesday,November 8 at 4:30 pm
○Monday,November 20,4:30 pm
●Minutes approval will be at next meeting
●Meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Jillian Tung