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Home My WebLink About2024-04-10-LEX250-min Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) April 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,April 10, 2024, at 4:33 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 Cleve Coats, Community Representative Barry Cunha, Business Representative Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative Doug Lucente, Select Board Member Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair Jillian Tung, Music &Arts Representative Present remotely: Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative Bebe Fallick, Tourism Committee Representative Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative Bridger McGraw, Community Representative Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk John Rossi, Commission on Disability Liaison Staff members from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR) Danny Watt (guest) Absent Ashley Rooney, Community Representative Tom Colatosti, Community Representative 1. Annual Town Meeting-250th Articles Update a.Article Lex 250 Invitation List • Select Board decided to postpone Article to gather more community feedback. • A community meeting will be held on June 12th at 7:00 pm, location TBD, to solicit feedback on invites. b. Discussion on Article 24 on $500K likely April 24th, please attend if possible. 2. Monument Update • No update, announcement will come in due course. 3. Riding thru History Horse Project Update by Ms. Tung • Curator Lori Bogdon and Ms. Tung discussed installation, providing sketches so artists have a template. • There will be a presentation with more details on May 2 at 6 pm. • Possible sites: o Post Office o Mass Ave on Town owned property o Visitors Center (small paved patio entrance) • Depot(Lex Historical Soc) • May need to tweak sites with DPW feedback. • Lexington Historical Society asked for monetary benefit as they are hosting, Post- celebration horses will be auctioned off—perhaps proceeds from that horse sale. • Mr. Cunha and Mr. O'Shaughnessy recused from discussion due to affiliation with Lexington Historical Society. • Mr. Lucente expressed appreciation for the work done so far and the potential sites but noted concern on fairness of treating Lexington Historical Society differently. • Mr. Connors agreed and asked what will be done with Lex250's money. • Ms. Tung wants to revisit that when discussing the disposition of horses. • Town Counsel will be consulted on the same. • Ms. Tung noted earlier board approved $28,000 and suggested adding in a mosaic tiled horse which would be more expensive but artist is from Cows on Parade exhibit proposing $2200 instead of$1500 for that horse, noting that a similar horse brought in $16K at auction. • Mr. Cunha concerned about mosaic horse not fitting. • Ms. Tung noted HDC did not want to opine on the artwork aspect. • Ms. Tung also noted Munroe Center and LexArt both want horses Munroe wants a paint by numbers horse; both challenged by budget. • Lexington Retailers Association also want ?? • Ms. Tung suggested that we purchased the horse forms for them, let the jury panel have input in designs. • It would cost an additional $2785 but would add community engagement. • Funding would come from ARPA funding Need to be fully expended by the end of the year. • Several members asked why these horses are not partially sponsored. • Several members asked about the budget and how they were supposed to vote on items without understanding what money we have and what money is left. • Ms. Tung indicated that there has been no sponsorship engagement. • Ms. Tung indicated that DPW would rather get all 6 done all at once. • Ms. Tung proposing that LexArt and Munroe keep their horses. • Motion by Suzie Barry to adjust the budget for horses from $28K to $32K, Dr. Tung seconded. • All voted in favor. Apologies for the cutoff. Continuing from where we left off: 4. Pop the Tent Events • Need to show up at these events to spread word about Lex250. • Mr. Michelson indicated that he would circulate instructions and a sign-up sheet for events. • Discovery Day, Saturday, May 25, 2024 • Ms. Barry noted the importance of staffing this event. • Need help from 8:30-4:30; will get free table, need to staff it. 5. Website Update • Working to get in as much as possible. • Will update more on Friday. • Close to launching, still getting feedback. 6. April 19, 2024, One Year to Go Event • Community event. • Jonas (Lexington PIO) created an event page for RSVP. • Getting more chairs from DPW. • Minutemen left and right. • Various dignitaries expected. • Ms. Jalelian noted that Scouts should be part of the ceremony. • Looking at doing a printed program. • A major part is the unveiling of the countdown calendar. • Mr. Connors has seen it and noted "looking great, very large, working with Eric on final design and execution". • Ms. Roy and Ms. Hundley managing Calendar Keeper invites sent out. • Discussion on how to make the letter clearer on what is being asked since no one has seen it yet. Ms. Barry suggested comparing it to the Green monster. 7. July 13, 2024, Parker's Prelude Event • Ms. Hundley in charge of food, looking info food trucks. • Ms. Tung -- all set with musical program. • Draft schedule -- 11 am-1 music, remarks and ceremony; 45 mins of honk band doing sing-along — so program 11-2. • Ms. Jalelian asked if Minuteman will be a part of it and Ms. Tung answered not sure. 8. Community Meeting Information–no update 9. JGPR Update –no additional updates 10. Anthem Update • Ashley from Anthem attended IMA meeting and multitown meeting. 11. Economic Development Update • They are at a conference. • Mr. McGaw updated on Concord multitown meeting noted historical update. • On the transportation side —National Park is in a pause mode, waiting for us to get past the marathon. • Town of Lexington—parking lot count done by done; is working with Ms. Jalelian and how to expand opportunities to view parade, reenactment. • Finance and fundraising group is meeting tomorrow afternoon and Ms. Barry noted Danny Watt has agreed to work with us on fundraising. 12. State 250 Commission Update from Ms. Barry • Rep Ciccollo working hard for us • MOTT—Sen Kennedy of Lowell noted that Lexington and Concord need the money; MOTT will be doing mini grants; but destination development grant geared towards 250 programming; July decision on funding. • Battle Road towns may do presentations to • Also to increase visibility Ms. Barry gave soundbites to WBUR. • Also connected with Monica Tibbets Sec of MA DOT. • Ms. Barry noted the next collaborative meeting in Lexington, expanding invite list to folks from Boston; Paul Revere's house on June 6th 6:30. • Need more information on grant programs. • Ms. Jalelian noted that Reenactment often has high-level visible guests and Lex250 members need to engage and come to events and pancake breakfast. • Mr. Connors noted that at Bedford Pole Capping Bedford Minuteman interested in engaging and suggesting inviting them to June 6th meeting; Mr. Barry agrees. • Mr. O'Shaughnessy will also be interviewed by WBUR on the British side. • He is also working with Helen Liu on a Cary Lecture Series? Interview with Robert Gross which will be a webinar on April 24 evening. • Ms. Barry attended a program on History of the Green Sam Doran (historian) 13. Motion to Adjourn by Ms. Jalelian and seconded by Mr.Cunha all in favor -- 5:39 pm.