HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-07-LEX250-min Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
February 7, 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, February 7, 2024 at 4:36 pm by Ms. Barry as allowed by
legislation (5.2475) extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open
Meeting Law.
Present in person:
Suzie Barry, Select Board Member, Chair
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative, Clerk
Noah Michelson, Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Present remotely:
Bebe Fallick, Tourism Committee Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Bridger McGraw, Community Representative
Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative
John Rossi, Commission on Disability Liaison
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Tom Colatosti, Community Representative
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Bridger McGaw(arrived at 4:40 pm)
Staff members from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR), including Ben Paulin, VP and John
Guilfoil
Absent:
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
• The meeting was called to order at 4:36 pm by Ms. Barry.
• The RFQ process for our communications firm has been completed. The award went to
JGPR.
• John Guilfoil introduced the team to the committee and provided an overview of their
services, including communications, crisis management, and development of a website.
• The town created a placeholder website until the new one is operational.
• Committee members will be able to work through Google drive to compile items for
publication on the website. In the interim,we will need to go through Ms. Barry in order
to publish content.
• JGPR will interface with social media (FB, IG, Twitter), and will coordinate with the
town's public information officer, Jonas Miller.
• Debrief from 1/30/2024 community meeting
o Feedback has been very positive.
o Mr. Lucente has distributed copies of the facilitator sheets and discussed the need
for evaluating the information presented at the meeting.
o Mr. Lucente has asked that each facilitator type up notes from their table and
return them to him no later than next Tuesday. The goal is to report back to the
Select Board about the ideas presented and the types of activities that community
members are interested in.
• Painted horse project
o Siting
■ Dr. Tung discussed possibilities for siting of the public art project, which
will comprise 4 - 5 horses. Generally, they can be situated throughout
Lexington along Mass Ave, or concentrated in Lexington Center.
■ The group discussed pros and cons of spreading them out vs. clustering
them in Lexington Center.
• Spreading them out will allow the art project to reach areas outside
of the center, but the horses may not be as amenable to interaction
with passersby.
• The installation may bring more visitors to the center if they are
clustered.
• Finding specific sites that are suitable may be more challenging in
the center.
■ The group voted to cluster the grouping of 4 in Lexington Center.
■ Mr. Guilfoil suggested placing them close to electrical outlets so they can
be uplit at night.
■ Ms. Barry pointed out that if funding becomes available for the purchase
of more horses, or if sponsors can be engaged, then additional horses
might be placed away from the town center.
o Names
■ The group discussed possible names for the project, including
"Revolutionary Riders", "Riding Through History", "Riders Through
History", and "Galloping Through History".
■ After much discussion, the committee voted to adopt the name "Riding
Through History".
• Parker's Prelude music program
o Dr. Tung reviewed the timing of the music program and confirmed that the
afternoon would open with the joint performance of the Lexington Bicentennial
Band and Concord Band at 11 am.
o The Community Children's Chorus will close the event with a performance and
sing along beginning at 1:30 pm.
o The schedule allows for 2 other bands to perform. The group discussed
possibilities, including Fife and Drum, Lexington Symphony Brass Quintet, and
the Jamaica Plain Honk Band.
o Ms. Hundley will contact the Honk Band about availability and pricing.
o Ms. Barry checked with Laurie Lucibello about using Lexington High School as a
backup venue in case of inclement weather. LHS will not be available during the
time needed.
o Dr. Tung will ask Jeff Leonard and Angela Carpenter about a possible rain date.
o Mr. Rossi emphasized the importance of suitable disability access.
• Parker's Prelude food opportunities
o The possibility of food trucks at the event was discussed
o Mr. Guilfoil underscored the importance of food at community festivals
o Mr. McGaw pointed out that among the advantages of food trucks include their
mobility, flexibility, and the opportunity to offer items that are not commonly
available
• Next meeting: Wednesday,February 14 at 4:30 pm.
• The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
dilhan Tung