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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-17 SB-min SELECT BOARD MEETING Monday, March 17, 2025 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:00p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2025, via a hybrid meeting platform. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato, Ms. Kumar, and Ms. Hai, were present, as well as Mr. Bartha, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve and Sign Proclamation  National Public Health Week To approve and sign a proclamation to recognize National Public Health Week from April 7, 2025, to April 13, 2025. DOCUMENTS: 2025 Public Health Week 2. Accept Select Board Committee Resignation  Lexington Council for the Arts - Ashley Rooney To accept the resignation of Ashley Rooney from the Lexington Council for the Arts effective immediately. DOCUMENTS: 2025.03.10 Ashley Rooney Resignation - Council for Arts 3. Approve Request for Event Signs on Minuteman Bikeway - Estabrook School PTO  Run of the Mill 5k & Jim Banks Kids Fun Run Registration To approve the Estabrook School PTO's placement of two signs on either end of the Lexington Center portion of the Minuteman Bikeway for the purpose of advertising the registration for their upcoming event called Run of the Mill 5k & Jim Banks Kids Fun Run on Sunday, May 18, 2025 starting at 9:30am and to further require that the two signs be removed immediately from the Bikeway following the conclusion of the event. DOCUMENTS: Estabrook Sign 2025 VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Discussion and Potential Vote - Request for Street Lights on Walnut Street Dave Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works, explained that this is a request to install six streetlights on Walnut Street. The lights will be evenly spaced, from Concord Ave to Potter Pond, and Potter Pond to the Town line. This request was vetted through the Traffic Safety Group, the Police Department, and the consultant. Mr. Lucente asked about public outreach to those neighboring these proposed lights. Mr. Pinsonneault stated that the consultant’s spokesperson has been in contact with the community. Once the equipment is ready to install, there will be additional communication with anyone who may be impacted. The LEDs should be very focused and will contain glare shields. Frank Smith, 7 Potter Pond, stated that fixing the safety along Walnut Street is a good idea, but there are several homes that may be impacted by this. He asked that those on Potter Pond who live directly on Walnut Street also be contacted. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to approve the installation of six streetlights along Walnut Street, per the request from the DPW. DOCUMENTS: Memo, Map 2. Discussion - Special Town Meeting 2025-1 Select Board Article Discussion and Positions Mr. Lucente explained that, since the last meeting, there have been ever several meetings of committees, and there is now a proposed amendment which seeks to include Lexington Center into the proposed zoning changes. The amendment would include Lexington Center in the zoning that allows MBTA housing. He read a statement from Mr. Sandeen that he would support passage of the main motion of Article 2 based on the compromise language agreed to by the proponents and the Planning Board. Mr. Sandeen’s statement is that he would support Article 2 regardless of whether the Manz Amendment passes, but that he is a wait on the Manz Amendment itself. Ms. Hai stated that she is a ‘yes’ on the main motion for Article 2. She is also in favor of the Manz Amendment. Mr. Pato stated that he is a ‘wait’ on the proposed amendment but will support the main motion, even if it is amended. Ms. Kumar stated that she is a ‘wait’ as she would like to hear from the community but is leaning towards supporting the amendment. Mr. Lucente stated that he is against the amendment. He has seen projects coming forward that will be built. Increasing the Town’s housing stock by 10%-20% in a short period of time and will create stress on the Town. He believes that vibrancy comes from those who live in Lexington or live elsewhere and visit the Center. Alan Levine, 54 Reed Street and member of the proponent’s team, asked that the Board wait to take positions on this until the proponent’s team makes a report on the floor. The team is unanimously opposed to the amendment. One key point deals with vibrancy. Adding the Center on top of everything else, ignores what is going on in the rest of the Town, and is not a good idea. Jerry Michelson, Center Committee, stated that the Committee voted 6-1 to leave the Center as is. Keeping the MFO as is, and voting in favor of the amendment, is not contrary to Article Two’s intention to slow the pace of development, due to the complexities of what it means to build in Lexington Center. What exists under the MFO is appropriate, at 52’, four stories. There will likely not be development under that. Article 2 Main Motion - Ms. Hai, Mr. Lucente, Mr. Pato and Ms. Kumar were yeses Article 2 Manz Amendment - Ms. Hai was a yes; Mr. Lucente was against; Mr. Pato and Ms. Kumar were waits. DOCUMENTS: Art 2 motion Art 2 amendment., Art 2 PB report. 3. 2025 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Presenters, Discussion and Positions  Proposed 2025 ATM Consent Agenda The Board reviewed its positions on the Articles. Article 10 Mr. Lucente and Ms. Kumar were yeses Article 12 All Board members present were yeses Article 15 All Board members present were yeses Article 16 All Board members present were yeses Article 17 All Board members present were yeses Article 18 All Board members present were yeses Article 19 All Board members present were yeses Article 28 Ms. Hai was a yes Article 30 Ms. Kumar was a yes Ms. Axtell noted that the Appropriation Committee and CEC agreed to add Articles 8 and 29. They are in full support of the proposed Consent Agenda. DOCUMENTS: Art 10 CPC motion, Art 12 municipal capital motion, Art 15 school projects motion, Art 16 facilities capital motion, Art 17 opeb motion, Art 18 rescind prior borrowing motion, Art 19 to/from stabilization funds motion, Proposed Consent agenda 2025, Select Board Working Document - Positions 2025 ATM, Moderator's Proposed Schedule for 2025 ATM ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 4-0 to adjourn at 6:50pm. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary