HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-28-LEX250-min Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
February 28, 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 28, 2024 at 4:36 pm by Ms. Barry as allowed
by legislation (S.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
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Noah Michelson, Community Representative
Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Tom Colatosti, Community Representative
Present remotely:
Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative, Clerk
Bebe Fallick, Tourism Committee Representative
Bridger McGraw, Community Representative
John Rossi, Commission on Disability Liaison
Staff members from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR)
Absent:
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative
• The meeting was called to order at 4:36 pm by Ms. Barry.
• Acclaimed film producer Ken Burns will be in Lexington on the afternoon of Thursday,
4/17/2025 to provide a screening of a film that presents a non-traditional version of the
American Revolution. The audience will include a total of 400 students, including 100
from each of the 4 communities, and 400 adults. The specifics of the event and invitation
list are still being decided. A similar screening will take place in COncord that evening.
• National Daughters of the American Revolution.
o Ms. Barry spoke with representatives yesterday about their 2025 visit.
o They will not be coming during the weekend of 4/12 as originally planned, but
rather will be in Lexington on Wednesday, 4/16 to unveil a marker on the grounds
of the Scottish Rite Museum. They will be present during Patriots' Day weekend
for wreath laying.
• The RFP for an event planner was publicized.
0 3 responses have been received so far. The IMA team will be making
recommendations about which firm to engage.
o The scope of activities and deliverables for the event planner is still being defined.
• Transportation
o Ms. Barry and other Lex 250 members participated on a call yesterday to discuss
transportation. Concord will be using 25 - 30 school buses to move people from
parking lots to events.
o As of now, Lexington does not have budget items for transportation.
• Next Wednesday, Town Meeting Members are having an ice cream social.
o Mr. Lucente and Ms. Barry will be on hand to talk about the 2 articles being
presented at Town Meeting related to a funding request for $500K and for an
invitation to the royal family to visit.
• Minutes
o Dr. Tung is stepping down as clerk.
o Ms. Barry indicated the need for another volunteer to assume the clerk position.
• Countdown calendar
o Mr. Lucente emphasized the need for volunteers to help coordinate scheduling of
different groups to flip calendar dates.
o The group discussed possible parameters for including groups to participate. Ms.
Barry will seek the advice of Town Counsel.
• 4/19 event
o Logistics and possibilities for a speaker for the press conference were discussed.
o Ms. Barry to arrange a planning meeting next week to include Dr. Tung and
others from the events working group, a rep from JGPR, Mr. Lucente, and Ms.
Roy.
o Ms. Roy will coordinate recruitment of community volunteers with Ms. O'Leary.
o Dr. Tung will ask Jeff Leonard if he would like a representative from the LBB to
be present as well.
• Motion: Mr. Lucente made a proposal to allocate $5000 from Lex 250 funds for the April
19 event. The motion was seconded by several members and passed unanimously.
• Motion: Mr. Lucente made a proposal to allocate $5000 from Lex 250 funds to organize
and plan the Parker's Prelude event. The motion was seconded by several members and
passed unanimously.
• Ms. Hundley provided a summary of a meeting that several Lex 250 committee members
attended with David Rose, director of Voices on the Green, to explore how their group
might adapt programming to include Lex 250 - related themes. Voices on the Green will
seek funding from the Community Endowment of Lexington. Mr. Rose asked that Lex
250 members collaborate on possible themes and possibly help recruit volunteers.
o Motion: Ms. Barry proposed that the Lex 250 Committee support Voices on the
Green in a non-financial manner. The motion was seconded by Ms. Rooney and
passed unanimously.
• Ms. Barry provided an update regarding the incident control meeting in Concord last
week. Lexington Staff and Select Board members attended.
• Next meeting: Wednesday, March 13 at 4:30 pm.
• The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
dilhan Tung