HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-29 SB-min
Select Board Meeting
April 29, 2024
A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2024, in
the Select Board Meeting Room of the Town Office Building. Hybrid participation was offered as well
via the webinar meeting platform. Mr. Pato, Ms. Barry, Mr. Lucente and Ms. Hai, as well as Mr. Malloy,
Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk.
Executive Clerk Kim Katzenback called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. She amended the order of the
agenda to take up the reorganization of the Board as the first order of business.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1. Reorganization of the Board
Ms. Barry nominated Mr. Lucente, and Mr. Sandeen nominated Mr. Pato for consideration as Chair of the
Select Board. There were no other nominations. Ms. Katzenback closed the nominations and asked for a
vote on the nominations.
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 3-2 to name Doug Lucente as
Chair of the Select Board.
Mr. Lucente nominated Ms. Hai as Vice Chair of the Select Board. There were no other nominations. Ms.
Katzenback closed the nominations and asked for a vote on the nomination.
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to name Jill Hai as Vice-
Chair of the Select Board.
DOCUMENTS: Joe Pato - Statement of Candidacy for Select Board Chair
Mr. Lucente took over as Chair for the meeting at 6:39pm.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None at this time.
SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS
1. Select Board Member Concerns and Liaison Reports
Mr. Pato stated that the Lexington School Building Committee met this afternoon to hear the cost
estimates for the massing studies that were presented by the consultants. This presentation will be made to
the general public on Thursday, and it may be beneficial for Board members to attend. The goals is to
reduce the number of options to four by mid-May, with a final model design selected for this fall. The
base repair option, which would not meet the educational program, runs from $290M - $310M. An
addition and renovation option runs from $590M - $670M. A new construction for the educational
program runs from $590M - $620M.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
1. Town Manager Weekly Update
Mr. Malloy stated that the Town will have a new management fellow joining it in August. His name is
Desmond Jeffries from San Francisco. Also, the Lexington Men's National Guard facility will be utilized
as by the State as a transitional location for migrant families. The Health Department and School
Department will be involved in this transition.
DOCUMENTS: Weekly Update 04-26-24
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Select Board Committee Appointments
Design Advisory Committee - Minhaj Kirmani
Design Advisory Committee Associate Member - Danit Netzer
Lexington Human Rights Committee:
o Courtney Apgar
o Rachel Levy
Monuments and Memorials Committee:
o Elizabeth Huttner
o Nicholas Wong
Noise Advisory Committee:
o Sallye Bleiberg
o Barbara Katzenberg
o Benjamin Lees
o Laura Rosen
o Elaine Rudell
Tourism Committee - Pamela Fowler
Town Celebrations Subcommittee:
o Mirela Vaso
o Perla Walling-Sotolong
o Huma Wasim
Town Report Committee - David Lawrence
Tree Committee Non-Voting Members:
o Alicia Morris
o Rachel Summers
Vision for Lexington Committee - Catherine Yan
Zoning Board of Appeals Associate Member - Jennifer Wilson
To appoint the committee members with terms as indicated in list included with the meeting packet
(Select Board Committee Appointments - April 29, 2024).
DOCUMENTS: 2024 Design Advisory Committee Application - M. Kirmani, 2024 Design Advisory
Committee Application - D. Netzer, 2024 Lexington Human Rights Committee Application - C. Apgar,
2024 Lexington Human Rights Committee Application - R. Levy, 2024 Monuments and Memorials
Committee Application - E. Huttner, 2024 Monuments and Memorials Committee Application - N.
Wong, 2024 Noise Advisory Committee Application - S. Bleiberg, 2024 Noise Advisory Committee
Application - B. Katzenberg, 2024 Noise Advisory Committee Application - B. Lees, 2024 Noise
Advisory Committee Application - L. Rosen, 2024 Noise Advisory Committee Application - E. Rudell,
2024 Tourism Committee Application - P. Fowler, 2024 Town Celebrations Subcommittee Application -
M. Vaso, 2024 Town Celebrations Subcommittee Application - P. Walling-Sotolong, 2024 Town
Celebrations Subcommittee Application - H. Wasim, 2024 Town Report Committee Application - D.
Lawrence, 2024 Tree Committee Application - A. Morris, 2024 Tree Committee Application - R.
Summers, 2024 Vision for Lexington Committee Application - C. Yan, 2024 Zoning Board of Appeals
Associates Application - J. Wilson, Select Board Committee Appointments - April 29, 2024
2. Approve and Sign Proclamation – Park and Recreation Month
To approve and sign a proclamation recognizing the month of July as Park and Recreation Month.
DOCUMENTS: 2024 Park and Recreation Month Proclamation
3. Approve Installation of Happy to Chat Bench for Mental Health Awareness Month- Lexington
Community Center, 39 Marrett Road
To approve the placement of a "Happy to Chat" bench at the Community Center.
DOCUMENTS: Memo Request fromRecreation on Happy to Chat Benches, Information on Benches,
LetterfromRotary, Happy to Chat Bench
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent
Agenda.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1. Reorganization of the Board – This item was previously addressed.
2. Discuss Future of Liberty Ride
Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director reviewed the contract with Joseph's which, under the
current contract, ends March 31, 2025. The recommendation is that the Town issue an RFP for a one-year
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contract, which would provide service through the 250 Celebration in 2025 and would terminate March
31, 2026. The Town could then move forward with a hybrid trolley and seek a different method of
providing a driver contract in the future.
Ms. Hai asked about the availability for electric or hybrid trolley options. Ms. Iyer explained that there are
some options for used or new trolleys that total between $270,000-$350,000. This does not include costs
for a driver or maintenance.
Mr. Pato suggested an RFI for the one-year extension operation, while preparing that no viable
respondents are received. Mr. Malloy agreed with this idea and suggested also putting out an RFP for the
Town’s own trolley, and for a driver/maintenance.
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There was discussion regarding procuring additional trolleys for the 250 Celebration.
Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, stated that she would advocate for using ARPA funds to move this
item forward.
DOCUMENTS: Memorandum from Sandhya Iyer
3. Review American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Requests for First Quarter of 2024
The Board reviewed the ARPA requests for the first quarter of 2024. Mr. Malloy explained that of the
requests, the only one not being recommended is the $40,000 request for food gift cards. This
recommendation is based on the current balance of $35,405 in a previously approved food gift card
program the Board approved in 2022/2023. A second item, the mental health clinician, is being
recommended for two years of funding, as opposed to the three years requested. This is due to the timing
of when all ARPA funds have to be under contract and fully expended (three years would extend into
2027). If the Board approves the remaining items, this will leave a balance of $524,831 with two quarters
remaining to approve the remainder of the funds. During the next quarter, there will be additional reviews
to close out any prior approvals that are completed with remaining funds to return to the available
balance.
The requests this quarter are to:
Install free wifi in the Town Center, Center Fields and at Lincoln Field - cost: $188,765
Implement SeeClickFix on the Town's website to enable a two-way communication tool for
residents - cost: $9,778
Purchase Virtual Reality Headsets for Town staff training (Red Cross) - cost: $4,851
To install a seasonal event tent at the Community Center - cost: $9,750
To fund a mental health clinician for two years - cost: $160,000
To fund DEI training - cost: $2,000
The Board discussed removing certain items from the list in order to potentially fund the trolley project.
Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, stated that the process for obtaining a trolley could be approximately
eight months and cost approximately $370,000 for the trolley alone. There will need to be additional
funding in the Revolving Fund in order to then fund the staffing of the trolley. Utilizing $500,000 in
ARPA funds will give maximum flexibility for this project to move forward.
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the follow ARPA
requests: Install free WiFi in the Town Center, Center Fields and at Lincoln Field for $188,765;
implement SeeClickFix on the Town's website to enable a two-way communication tool for residents for
$9,778; purchase Virtual Reality Headsets for Town staff training for $4,851; install a seasonal event tent
at the Community Center for $9,750; fund a mental health clinician for two years for $160,000; and fund
DEI training for $2,000.
DOCUMENTS: ARPA Spreadsheet and backup documents
4. Discuss Community Charrette on Lexington Center Revitalization Report
The Board discussed the report regarding the Charette on Lexington Center.
DOCUMENTS: Presentation (Feb. 2024) Mullins & Kotval, Full Report
5. Discuss Trees at Emery Park
Mr. Malloy explained that there was previous discussion during the Center Charrette process that Emery
Park be used as a community gathering space. Two large trees were removed in 2023 in Emery Park and
there is a plan to replace these with two additional trees. Town staff is seeking input from the Board on
whether the trees should be replaced in Emery Park or in a different public space. The Center Committee
voted 10-0 to support replacing the trees in Emery Park.
Nancy Sofen, Tree Committee, the two recently removed trees created balanced views of the Depot and
activities in the park. The Center Charette report does not express any concern that large shade trees in
Emory Park would prohibit or interfere with the suggestion to add hardscape renderings. Mature shade
trees are essential if the grassy areas and path of the park are to be habitable in the summer. Emery Park
cannot be a successful public gathering space if its center is exposed to full sun. Planting trees elsewhere
in Town is not really a choice, as trees are not a zero-sum game. If trees are needed elsewhere, they
should be planted in addition to planting large shade trees in Emery Park. She urged the Town to plant
large native shade trees to replace the elms as soon as possible and as close to the stumps as possible.
While the DPW has chosen Kentucky coffeetree for the replacements, this was not done in consultation
with the Tree Committee. The Tree Committee would prefer that something more iconic to New England
be planted in such a prominent location.
There was agreement on the Board that the trees should be replaced in Emery Park and a suggestion that
Staff work with the Tree Committee regarding the proposed species.
DOCUMENTS: December 2021 Street View Emery Park, October 2017 Street View Emery Park, July
2015 Street View Emery Park, Emery Park View 4-24-24, Center Committee Email
6. Discuss Options for Facilitated Community Listening Session for Lexington Human Rights
Committee
Dana Bickelman, Director of Human Services, and Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer, presented their
memo regarding developing a community dialogue event to discuss the recent Human Rights Committee
(HRC) concerns. This proposal includes members of the HRC, Staff, a member of the Select Board, and a
facilitator for the community discussion.
The Board gave feedback and suggestions regarding the event.
DOCUMENTS: Memo on Facilitated Community Listening Session
7. Discuss Town Manager Search Screening Committee Appointment Process and Criteria
Ms. Hai explained that there are six spots to be allocated on the Search Screening Committee, one for a
business representative and five for residents, representing "a diversity of lived experience, relevant
expertise and community involvement." In order to ensure that the selections reflect that diversity, and
that there is an equal opportunity for all applicants to be fairly considered, it is recommended that the
Board list the top criteria/experiences which should be reflected in the Committee as a whole, and against
which applicants would be evaluated. Three dozen applications have been received from across the
community to this point.
The Board discussed a list of potential criteria/experiences and follow-up questions for all applicants.
ADJOURN
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at
7:01 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Select Board will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024 at
6:00pm via hybrid participation.
A true record; Attest:
Kristan Patenaude
Recording Secretary