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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-09-LCC-min Town of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of May 9t", 2024 held in the Parker Room, Town Office Building, Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Massachusetts beginning about 8:30 am. Members present: Richard Brown, Upasna Chhabra, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Jeffery Lyons, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair) and Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Sandhya Iyer, EDD, Captain Christopher Barry, LPD, David Pinsonneault, DPW, Carol Kowalski, Assistant TM, James Molloy, TM Guests: Mike Harris, Juma Wasim, Denit Netzer, Cat MacDonald, Ting Fang We began with the DPW update from Dave Pinsonneault: the sidewalks have just been pressure washed and this will take place 2x/year. DPW is changing out the electrical outlets —this will be completed by Discovery Day. The not very good drain in Depot Square does not actually go anywhere. The drain is a few feet long and then it ends. Engineering is looking into what can be done. Weekend trash pickup will begin one week before Memorial Day. DPW will soon be changing out the orange barriers in Grain Mill Alley for planters. We need 2 people (one of whom is Fred Johnson) to work with DPW to select a kiosk for the bike node. Plantings in the roundabout (it's not a rotary) will go in last, after the repaving and everything else. The plantings have been heavily vetted. There was a short discussion about Center planters. Pam S. and Pam L. shared their view that the whiskey barrels not come back. (After the meeting it was confirmed that new planters, visually consistent with the Streetscape Project, are at DPW right now awaiting installation.) Jerry noted that there are three broken benches (slats) and asked about the repainting of lines in the Depot lot now that "stacking" the vehicles is no longer necessary and the lot is starting to fill up. DPW is getting quotes on a new flagpole and light adjustments on the Minuteman statue will happen soon. And then we discussed potential locations for the new parklet. The parklet is essentially the same as the old one (which had run its useful life) with room for 3 tables, chairs and bike racks. After various options were thrown out (south or north side, old location, new location, where would it make the most sense.) Pam S. urged the south side of the street as did Pam L. This side has the narrow sidewalk with little or no opportunity for tables and chairs. The Center Committee voted eight to zero to recommend that the Select Board locate the parklet on the south side of Massachusetts Avenue in front of, or as close as possible to Avenue Deli, subject to the approval of the Engineering Department. Captain Barry gave us the police station update. The police station is on schedule and the force will move on June 20th — because that is the day that 911 moves over. There were some rumblings about the funding shortfall for the parking lot solar panels but they did not take the form of an active discussion. Sandhya Iyer gave the EDD update: Tatte is on schedule, Zen has HDC approval, candy store going in old Fancy Flea location, Hipstichers going in the old Signature Stationers location, Beauty and Main going in the old Craft Cleaners location, a new back is coming into the Eastern Bank location, Bulpan, Sanyo and Empow Studio spaces have no takers for now. The Center Committee will be doing the 250th calendar countdown. Three horses are coming to the Center. Jim Molloy discussed MBTA zoning related development in the Center. Santander will be doing a massive interior renovation with minor modifications to the exterior (eliminating the drive through and ATM vestibule.) We took another stab at the Lexington Center Charette recommendations — focusing especially on public/private partnerships. Carol Kowalski discussed BIDS (business improvement districts) Richard talked about the Cambridge fagade improvement program and Fred indicated that there was a similar program in Arlington Heights. Both were matching grant programs. We especially want to work on improving connections. We were happy to learn that DPW has 30K for a kiosk. Sandhya mentioned there are grants available (one with a deadline in 30 days) and we need to decide what exactly it should be. The Historical Society will be installing various exhibits but will still have space to rent for year round programming. Cary Hall and The Venue are also available for rental. We talked about how the Town might lower barriers to have events. Pam L. talked about the I.R.S. code. We have a vacancy with multiple applicants.