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Home My WebLink About2024-01-10-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) January 10,2024 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,January 10,2024 at 4:30 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,Co-Chair Doug Lucente,Select Board Member,Co-Chair Jillian Tung,Music &Arts Representative,Clerk Noah Michelson,Community Representative Mona Roy,Community Representative,Vice Chair Cleve Coats,Community Representative Tom Colatosti,Community Representative Ashley Rooney,Community Representative Mona Roy,Community Representative,Vice Chair Steve Conners,Reenactment Community Representative Jane Hundley,LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head Julie O’Leary,Civic Representative Cerise Jalelian,Town Celebrations Committee Representative Present remotely: Cerise Jalelian,Town Celebrations Committee Representative Paul O’Shaughnessy,Historical Organization Representative Bebe Fallick,Tourism Committee Representative Barry Cunha,Business Representative John Rossi,Commission on Disability Liaison Guests: Dan Marshall,Lexington Historical Society (in person) Marian Cohen,Lexington Historical Society (remotely) ●The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm by Ms.Barry ●Doug Lucente posed 2 questions for committee members to respond to: ○Why did you join the Lex 250 Committee? ○What does “good”look like when you reflect back on the celebrations? ■Committee members responded with a variety of answers,including (partial list): ●Helping the business community feel a sense of economic stimulus ●Pride in planning the celebration ●Wanting visitors to feel and know about historic events through the reenactment ●Wanting kids to know what we are celebrating and why ●Wanting to see Lexington relaunched as a destination ●Interest in Lexington’s rich history ●Wanting to promote our history ●Wanting to encourage patriotism ●Desire to use business expertise and serve the community ●Desire to provide a safe celebration for all involved ●Fascination with logistics ●Wanting to bring people together through music,arts,and community events ●Strong responsibility to retell the Battle of Lexington and allow visitors to experience what it was like ●Show how the Battle of Lexington is relevant today ●Desire to make everyone feel included ●Desire to see Lexington relaunched a must-do destination for history buffs and patriotic Americans alike ●Desire to celebrate the history of Lexington including impact of the first shot and related events inside and outside of Lexington from then to present times showcasing diversity of Lexington with activities and programming that are open,inclusive and memorable so that all those connected to Lexington feel included no matter what the extent of their participation in the celebration ●Budgetary considerations ○ARPA funding needs to be contracted by 12/31/2024 ○Need to work out if events during 2025 can be included ○Michele Ciccolo cautioned to not spend the additional $150K of state funding yet ○We continue to have issues with getting funding from state ○Town Meeting article:asking for $500K;has to do with how much of the ARPA money we can actually use ○$150 supplemental budget needs to needs to be encumbered by end of June semi-solid ○IMA:RFP to hire a professional firm to include event planning,transportation, crisis communication ●Countdown clock ○Doug presented proposal for countdown calendar ○The structure would be installed in front of the Town Office Building ○Design of the calendar was discussed,including architecture,size of ramp,artistic elements ○The group discussed the pros and cons of including different languages and the date of Patriots’Day ○A motion to approve the design concept with removal of languages and addition of the date April 19.2025 passed 14:1. ●Community Meeting Tuesday, ○1/30/2024,7 -8:30 pm,Community Center dining room ○Small group discussions:10 committee members are needed to facilitate discussions ○Volunteers will be needed to help set up and break down ○A small group will be assembled to help plan the meeting ●Next meeting:Wednesday,January 24 at 4:30 pm ●Ms.Barry proposed that the meeting be adjourned at 6:20 pm.The motion was seconded by several members and approved unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Jillian Tung