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W 3 Tourism Committee
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Dawn McKenna, Chair (781) 862-0500 ext 84585
Minutes
Thursday, October 5,2017 at 4:30—6:00 pm
Dawes Room (Second Floor Town Office Building)
Members Present:Marsha Baker,Margaret Coppe,Bebe Fallick,Jon Himmel,Dawn McKenna
Staff Present:Megan Zammuto
Guests Present:Erica Dumont,Executive Director,Lexington Historical Society
Center Committee Liaison:Fred Johnson
Members Absent:Kerry Brandin,Trisha Kennealy,Wim Nijenberg,Leeying Wu
1) Welcome and discussion with newly appointed Historical Society Executive Director
The Tourism Committee welcomed Erica Dumont, the new Executive Director of the Lexington Historical Society. Erica
discussed her background and the committee members introduced themselves.
2) Committee Appointments
Chair, Dawn McKenna, gave the committee an update regarding the reappointments of committee members. Two
members have not yet submitted their appointment paperwork.
3) Future Meetings—prior to Town Meeting October 16`h and October 18`h
Committee members discussed the dates and times of future Tourism Committee Meetings. Going forward, the committee
will meet approximately once a month. The committee discussed adding an additional meeting in February to prepare for
Town Meeting.
4) Minutes
The committee decided to wait until the next meeting to review the August 30"'meeting minutes.
5) Visitors Center including matters to come before Special Town Meeting
The committee discussed the Visitors Center project in relation to the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The Board of
Selectmen voted 4-1 to support the $150,000 design development funds for the Visitors Center project. The committee
discussed the possibility of asking the Board of Selectmen to support an additional$200,000 that would cover
construction documents for the project. Dawn discussed aproposed funding strategy to contribute to project funding.
A motion was made to pursue asking the Board of Selectmen and/or the Capitol Expenditures Committee to support an
additional$200,000 for the Visitors Center project. If the Board of Selectmen and Capitol Expenditures do not support
the additional funds, the Tourism Committee will support the$150,000 at Special Town Meeting. The motion was
seconded and approved unanimously.
A motion was made to support the general strategy to work to reduce the principle amount and also annually contribute
to the principle payment for the Visitors Center project. Specific methods are in development. The motion was seconded
and approved unanimously.
6) Updates from Town Staff
• The Tourism Newsletter has seen an increased opening in recent months.
• Town staff has been managing a new events page on the tourism website that allows for all visitors to see events
into the future.
• The Economic Development Office submitted a Program Improvement Request for a marketing strategy.
• Lexington Center map is complete—copies were distributed to committee members.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE•LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
• The Minuteman Bike Share will launch with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 27"'at 9:00 a.m.by the
Visitors Center
7) Other unforeseen items that must be addressed prior to next meeting
Documents Available:Draft Future Meeting List,Draft Minutes,August 301n Meeting,VC Architectural Rendering,VC First Floor
Plan,Memorandum RE:Visitors Center Funding Options,Visitors Center Funding Source Summary,VC Project Cost spreadsheet,
Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue,Hotel Tax History,Meals Tax History,Visitor Map of Lexington
Adjourned at approximately 6:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,Megan J.Zammuto
Approved,November 2,2017