HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-07-12-LBC-min.pdf LEXINGTON BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Minutes - July 12, 1973
Present at the meeting in the Town Office Building were the chairman,
King Howard, Tony Mancini, Fred James, Alan Adams, Miriam Butts, Carol Murphy,
Becky Nussdorfer and later Linc Cole, Dick Michelson and Warren Butters Betty
Flynn of the Appropriations Committee sent apologies for not attending and the
message that Mr Furash would like to meet with LBC in September Capt James Lima
also attended
There was a discussion and a review of LBC objectives and organization as a
result of Mr O'Connell's memo dated July 9, 1973 and titled "Bicentennial Committee
Reorganization"
Carol Murphy reported that 100 new rooms were to be added to the Sheraton and
6 suites The Sheraton has pledged 75% of its space to LBC for April 19th weekend
1975 Carol is still working on commitments from the other motels in Lexington
Miriam reported that she felt that the good will of the Town and the organiza-
tions in the Town had been demonstrated in her meetings and especially on July 5th
in the Library when representatives of Raytheon, Honeywell, Ginn-Xerox, Lexington
Federal Savings and Lexington Trust came to a 2 00 P.M. meeting to learn what con-
tribution they could make to the celebration - not in dollars but in projects either
to sponsor or to undertake Miriam had specific suggestions to form a starting point
for their ideas She asked that they try to form some ideas for the programs they
wished to proceed on by October fifteenth Present at that meeting were
Mr Joseph Basche - Lexington Federal Savings
Mr Paul Bartel - Lexington Trust
Ar Robert-Mitct.-ll - Gs. ::c..,,h
Mr Frank Masten - Ginn-Xerox
Mr R. Whelen - Honeywell
Mr Walter Palmer - Raytheon
Mr Robert Hilton - Cary Library Director
The State Guidelines for application for funds for Bicentennial projects are
here at last We must submit applications by August 1, 1973' Fred James will spearhead
the applications Linc said that he feels we will be able to get some money if we have
a project to present Fred read the high points from the guidelines $40,000 has been
given to the State to disperse to the towns of Mass LBC is eligible as a local govern-
ment agency but would have to do the project ourselves A non-profit organization is
eligible There must be a specific project applicable to Heritage '76, Horizon '76,
or Festivel '75 It must be of lasting benefit to the community King said that
"Masterworks Chorale" and "They Nobly Dar'd"are possible Fred reported that it is
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possible to ask for 50% of the total cost of the project but that the maximum that any
project can expect is $7,000 The matching funds must be available when the application
is submitted King told the committee that they should be prepared to make a decision by
the meeting of July 26
At 8 15, Mr O'Connell joined the committee to explain his thoughts in regard to
the reorganization memo He emphasized that there are only 351 working days until
April 19, 1975 He urged the committee to audit where it stands as a preliminary to the
meeting with the Board of Selectmen What are the objectives of the 200th anniversary?
Are we heading toward what we set out to do? Mr O'Connell questions whether one of the
objectives is to set a crowd record; questions whether the main focal point is to attract
a huge number of people to view something He wants LBC to examine the tentative list of
events - are they inevitable part of the objectives - have we allowed our objectives to
shift? He feels that the events on Saturday cannot take place - two parades will not work.
He also reminded LBC that in forming LBC it was understood that at some point the organiza-
tion structure would be reevaluated and some changes made The meeting with the Board of
Selectmen is tentatively set for August 6
King felt that Mr 0' Connell's remarks had excellent timing and LBC will reexamine
its objectives The next 12 months are certainly vital The meeting with the B of S will
be an advantage as a preliminary to the meeting in September with the AC Mr O'Connell
said that there had been 18 months as a general planning committee and that it is now time
to go into an implementation phase He understood that a nine member working sub-committee
would be guided by an executive committee to handle policy work and finance Mr O'Connell
said that he had been working with Chief Corr in attempting to identify events He said
that Wayne Torkington should be used as the channel to State agencies
Fred then con :inuea witn the main points of the guidelines The project has to be
approved by Selectmen Linc said he thought we should request approval from the Selectmen
for $7,000
Bob Hanle of Workshop '75 described in detail his plan for a project which he hoped
would qualify for State funds (See memo given out at meeting) He would like to have a
painting commissioned and a competition to select the artist He hoped to see a mural on
the subject "the Spirit of '76 - 91" or the Ideology of the Patriot" The project would
cost at least $80,000 Mr Harris would like to pursue funding for this project LBC
thought it had much merit It would be quite a feat to raise $73,000 by August 1st but
( if he is eager to try, the committee felt it well worth it King said that the project
certainly fits the criteria The question of who would own this mural was raised
Mr Harris will meet again with the committee on July 26
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Executive session at 10 00 P.M LBC voted to make Bob Camp the systems
director and non-voting participant LBC also voted to ask Marilyn Hall to he a
secretarial assistant Becky will contact her in this regard
The meeting was adjourned at 11 15 P.M
Respectfully submitted,
Bec1 Nus:dorfer, -cretaaryU