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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-06-20-MRBC-min.pdf mei; L MINUTES OF THE MIDDLESEX BICENTENNIAL LIAISON COUNCIL JUNE 20, 1972 On Tuesday, June 20, 1972, at 8,00 p. m. in the Old Court Room, in the Town House, Concord, Massachusetts, the following representatives of Middlesex County communities met Mark Kahan - Acton Joseph A. Steele - Arlington Thomas F Turnan - Arlington John C Tranfaulia - Burlington John J Carson - Concord Donald M. Graham - Lexington Katherine White - Lincoln Byron C Gilchrest - Mass D P W William D Nesti - Medford Alice Gradey - Stow Francil M. Lightbody - Watertown Allister F MacDougall - Westford Vera Laska - Weston Mr Donald M. Graham, Chairman, convened the meeting and appointed Mr Nesti Recording Secretary for the evening Mr Graham then suggested that Mr Anthony Desarlina, Mass Area Planning Council, 44 School Street, Boston, Mass , be added to the mailing list; it was so agreed A general discussion followed as to what communities should be invited to join the council. It was agreed that all Middlesex County Communities should be asked Mr Graham said he would see to it that all were notified. Mr Graham then introduced Mr Byron C Gilchrist of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, who informed the group of the Department's activities in planning for the Bicentennial celebrations He noted that no one place or event will comprise the festivities Events will be widespread physically and spread over a two or more year period. Because of this, there will be no way of predicting size of crowds What can and is being done is the taking of an inventory of existing facilities and those expected to be finished by 1975 The inventory includes parking; what the Mass transit system will be like; maximum capacities of facilities, for example how many people a day could see Old North Church, how many hotel rooms will be available; How were problems handled at other expo's; just what will the main attractions be, map all attractions with pertinant information. 2 _ Mr Gilchrist said an optimum number of expected tourists will have to be decided on and planned for The thinking at, the DPW and in the City of Boston is that any federal funds available for the Bicentennial should be used to upgrade existing facilities and provide residual benefits to communities Mr Carson noted that there must be an interaction of planning groups or the head isn't going to know what the hands are doing Mr Graham said that this council's job is liaison only, planning events is each Town's responsibility Mrs White questioned whether the state agencies planning for events will keep the Town's informed Mr Gilchrist said the main state agency dealing with the Bicentennial is the Mass Revolutionary War Bicentennial Commission of which Mr Francis W Sidlauskas is Executive Director This Commission should be the clearing house for information going both from the state to the communities and visa versa Mr Lightbody brought up the subject of bus tours, but this goes beyond the scope of this Council. Mr Tranfaulia brought up the subject of Mass Drivers, road marking and the diffuculty of communication with the State until someone is injured Mr Gilchrist excused himself to attend another meeting, The meeting then turned to a discussion of the organization and procedure plan submitted by Mr John Carson. Mr Carson led a review of this plan and a number of changes were recommended, mostly in the wording of some sections, etc Changes were noted by Mr Carson for inclusion in a Znd draft. Mr Kahan passed out a draft of the definition of scope of the accommodations committee and an interim report of that committee..Both are herein included It was decided that no full council meeting would be held during July and August, but that Messrs Carson, Graham, Kahan and Steele would meet on July 11, 1972 at 8 00 p m in the Arlington Town Hall The meeting was adjourned at 10 30 p m Respectfully submitted, William D Nesti Recording Secretary , Pro-Tem