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Home My WebLink About2025-02-03 SB-minSELECT BOARD MEETING Monday, February 3, 2025 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:00p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2025, via a hybrid meeting platform. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, Ms. Barry, and Ms. Hai, were present, as well as Mr. Bartha, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. PUBLIC COMMENTS Bob Pressman, 22 Locust Avenue, stated that, on January 10, 2025, the Town sent to the White House an invitation to President Trump for the Town of Lexington 250th Celebration events taking place on April 19, 2025. He expressed that he feels there are many circumstances justifying a decision to not extend an invitation to this particular president. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Sandeen stated that he received a note today from the Hanscom Air Force Base liaison to the Hanscom Area Towns Committee community, stating that a significant number of base personnel currently teleworking will be required to return to in-person work no later than Thursday, February 6, 2025. This in turn will dramatically increase the number of personnel commuting to the Base and will likely result in delays and congestions on Hartwell Avenue during peak commute times. TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update Mr. Bartha did not have anything further to add to the report that was included in the meeting packet. DOCUMENTS: 1-10-25, 1-17-25 CONSENT AGENDA 1.Approve Select Board Minutes To approve and release the following minutes: November 20, 2024, Financial Summit December 16, 2024, Select Board January 6, 2025, Select Board January 13, 2025, Select Board DOCUMENTS: DRAFT 11202024-Financial Summit Minutes, DRAFT 12162024 Select Board Minutes, DRAFT 01062025 Select Board Minutes, DRAFT 01132025 Select Board Minutes 2. Water and Sewer Adjustments Water & Sewer Adjustments per WSAB 12/13/24 To approve the Water & Sewer Adjustments per WSAB 12/13/24 for the total amount of $16,466.77 DOCUMENTS: SB2-3-25WSAdj 3. Approve: One-Day Liquor License – Munroe Center for the Arts Seasonal Suites Community Gathering - February 7, 2025, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm To approve a One-Day Liquor License for the Monroe Center for the Arts, 1403 Massachusetts Avenue, to serve beer and wine from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, February 7, 2025, for their Seasonal Suites Community Gathering. DOCUMENTS: Monroe Event Diagram 4. Approve Bedford/Hartwell Complete Streets Reconstruction Project to Advance to 25% Design To approve advancement of the Bedford/Hartwell Complete Streets Reconstruction Project Concept Design, as presented at the January 27, 2025, Select Board meeting to 25% design. DOCUMENTS: Proposed Concept Presentation Bedford- Hartwell_Complete_Streets_1.27.25_ 5. Approve and Sign Local Initiative Program (LIP) Application for Local Action Units for at 89- 91-93 Bedford Street To approve the Local Initiative Program application (LIP) for the Local Action Units located at 89-91-93 Bedford Street and further to authorize Select Board Chair to sign the LIP application form. DOCUMENTS: LIPApplication for Local Action Units - Bedford Street VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Discussion – Special Town Meeting 2025 – 1 Select Board Article Discussion and Positions Mr. Lucente read a statement regarding this item.Tonight, the Board is convening Special Town Meeting 2025-1 in response to a valid Citizen Petition received on December 23, 2024. Under Massachusetts law, the Select Board is required to call a Special Town Meeting within 45 days. The petition seeks to amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to limit and prohibit construction of multifamily housing in the current Village and Multifamily Overlay Districts by removing some areas from the districts and limiting the number of dwelling units permitted in the remaining areas to 15 dwelling units per acre, and to allow time to further study the impacts of Lexington MBTA Community Zoning. However, because this is a zoning matter, there are additional legal requirements that must be met before Town Meeting can act, including a Planning Board public hearing and report to comply with those requirements. Tonight, at the Special Town Meeting (STM) session, it is intended that only action that will be take will be to adjourning STM to Monday, March 17, 2025. This ensures that the necessary Planning Board process can take place, and that Town Meeting has the information required to make an informed decision. The Board recognizes this issue is of great concern to many in the community and assures the public that the Board is taking these concerns seriously. The developments being proposed under the MBTA Zoning Law present challenges for Lexington, particularly in terms of municipal services, school capacity, and infrastructure. The upcoming discussion in March will be critical in determining how to move forward in a way that balances State requirements with Lexington long-term needs. He encouraged all Town Meeting Members and residents to stay engaged in the process. The Planning Board will be holding its virtual public hearing in accordance with the provisions of MA General Law, Chapter 48 Section five, on Wednesday February 12, 2025, and a second night on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, to consider the proposed amendments. DOCUMENTS: Clean version STM Art 2, Redlined Motion STM Art 2 2. Presentation – 2025 ATM Warrant Article – Prohibition of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition) Marci Cemenska presented an overview of this Citizen Petition. Mr. Sandeen asked what will change if this petition is passed. Ms. Cemenska stated that the Town could then pass a bylaw to specify any prohibitions or restrictions around this item. DOCUMENTS: Art 24 Authorize The Town Of Lexington To Prohibit Or Restrict the application Of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition) motion, Art 24 presentation 3. Discussion and Determination – The Historic Districts Commission Certificate of Appropriateness for the Lex250 Monument The Board discussed the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA) for the 250th Monument and potential next steps. The Board thanked the proponents of the Lexington 250th Monument, and the Historic Districts Commission and everyone who is a stakeholder in this project. Mr. Lucente explained that the 250th Monument was not the result of an affirmative vote by the HDC. Instead, it became effective by default due to the 60-day rule, which states that if the HDC does not issue a formal determination within 60 days of the application being deemed complete, the CofA is automatically approved. The HDC held multiple public hearings, including a special meeting in September, to accommodate the proponents and seek a compromise. However, the application remained incomplete, and the HDC could not reach a formal decision within the 60-day window. The default CofA approval occurred despite the HDC’s efforts to engage with the proponents and address some HDC member concerns about the incompleteness of the application. After some discussions with the proponents, the proponents have now voluntarily decided to return to the HDC for a formal vote. This means that the Select Board does not need to make a determination this evening on the existing CofA. The Board will be kept apprised if there any action that may be needed of the Board. 4. Discussion – Bicycle Advisory Committee Memo Regarding Safety Recommendations on Worthen Road Mr. Bartha explained that the Board received the memo from the Bicycle Advisory Committee raising some well-placed concerns regarding a series of bicycle and car interactions, specifically involving children, in the last couple of months. As a next step, it would be appropriate to ask the Assistant Planning Director to engage with the Bicycle Advisory Committee and to bring this matter to other committees that may want to weigh in and problem solve. Ms. Hai asked for a supplemental analysis regarding the interim steps in this process. DOCUMENTS: 2025.01.27 LBAC Letter to Select Board 5. Discussion - 2025 ATM Select Board Article Presenters, Discussion and Positions The Board took preliminary positions on several of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting articles: Article 10 Appropriate The FY2026 Community Preservation Committee Operating Budget And CPA Projects – Mr. Lucente is a Wait, Mr. Pato, Ms. Hai, and Mr. Sandeen are Yeses Article 22 Select Board To Accept Easements – All Board members taking a position are Yeses Article 23 Dispose Of 116 Vine Street – Mr. Lucente is a Wait, Mr. Pato, Ms. Hai, and Mr. Sandeen are Yeses Article 24 Authorize The Town Of Lexington To Prohibit Or Restrict The Application Of Second- Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition) - All Board members taking a position are Yeses Article 28 Accurate Reporting On The Negative Aspects Of Lithium-Ion Batteries (Citizen Petition) – Mr. Lucente is a Yes, Mr. Pato, Ms. Hai, and Mr. Sandeen are Waits DOCUMENTS: Select Board Working Document - Positions 2025ATM ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary