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Home My WebLink About2025-04-02 SB-min SELECT BOARD MEETING Wednesday, April 2, 2025 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, via a hybrid meeting platform. Mr. Lucente, Chair; Mr. Pato, Ms. Hai; Mr. Sandeen and Ms. Kumar were present, as well as Mr. Bartha, Town Manager; Ms. Axtell, Deputy Town Manager; and Ms. Katzenback, Executive Clerk. PUBLIC COMMENTS Melinda Walker, 14 Larchmont Lane and member of the Community Preservation Committee and Lexington Housing Authority, stated that, in 2009, the Town of Lexington made a commitment to build affordable housing at 116 Vine Street on about 5% of the 14.2 acres. It is now 16 years later; 1,000s of dollars of CPA funds have been allocated for this endeavor, and the good hearted LexHAB volunteers have spent countless hours meeting with community groups, town boards, and committees. These efforts were for a very simple objective: to build decent and affordable housing for individuals and families Since 2009 the housing crisis in Massachusetts has gotten much worse. Unfortunately, housing production has not kept up with demand, and this puts the greatest pressure on those individuals and families with the least financial resources. Currently over 3,000 applicants on the wait list for State public housing listed Lexington as their preferred place to live. She is affiliated with the Community Development Corporation that serves many communities in Metro West. A new development in Metro West, recently had 788 applications for 40 units. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Concerns and Liaison Reports nd Ms. Kumar stated that April 2 marks International Autism Acceptance Day and April is recognized as Autism Acceptance and Awareness Month. This time is dedicated to fostering understanding, advocating for inclusion, and celebrating the strengths and contributions of autistic individuals. She appreciates living in a Town that embraces diversity in all its forms, and one that values and supports people of all abilities, and identities. True inclusion means not just awareness, but active acceptance, ensuring that autistic individuals have the opportunities, resources, and respect they deserve. She encouraged everyone to take this month as an opportunity to listen, learn, and advocate for meaningful inclusion. DOCUMENTS: 03262025_Select_Board_Announcements_and_Liaison_Reports TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update Nothing additional at this time. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve: One-Day Liquor License - Craft Food Hall, Hastings Park  Patriots Day Picnic in Hastings Park - Monday, April 21, 2025 To approve a One-Day Liquor License for Craft Food Halls – Revolution Hall to serve beer and wine at the Patriots’ Day Picnic at Hastings Park on April 21, 2025, from 11:00am - 3:00pm. DOCUMENTS: Picnic in Hastings Park Event Map 2. Approve: One-Day Liquor Licenses - LABBB Collaborative, 0 Meriam Street/Depot Parking Lot  (2) Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Saturday, May 17, 2025 & Sunday, May 18, 2025 To approve two One-Day Liquor Licenses for LABBB Collaborative to serve beer and cider at the municipal parking lot behind the Depot Building, 0 Meriam Street, for the purpose of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival on the following dates:  Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm  Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm DOCUMENTS: Lex BBQ Map 3. Approve: Entertainment License - LABBB Collaborative  Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Saturday, May 17, 2025 & Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 0 Meriam Street/Depot Parking Lot To approve an Entertainment License for LABBB Collaborative for the purpose of providing live musical performances for patrons of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival to take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 12:00pm - 6:00pm & Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 12:00pm - 4:00pm at 0 Meriam Street/Depot Parking Lot. 4. Approve: Sunday Entertainment License - LABBB Collaborative  Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 0 Meriam Street/Depot Parking Lot To approve a License for Public Entertainment on Sunday for LABBB Collaborative for the purpose of providing live musical performances for patrons of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival to take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the municipal parking lot behind the Depot Building, 0 Meriam Street from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. 5. Approve: Entertainment License - Friends of Lexington High School Wrestling Corp  LexGiving 5k Race: Friday, November 28, 2025 at Lincoln Field. To approve an Entertainment License for The Friends of Lexington High School Wrestling Corp to host a LexGiving 5k race for charity on Friday, November 28, 2025 from 6:00am- 1:00pm with a live DJ in Lincoln Field, 52 Lincoln Street. DOCUMENTS: LexGiving 5k Event Map 6. Approve: Battle Green Use Request - United States Army Promotion Ceremony  Saturday, May 17, 2025 To approve the request of Matthew Milikowsky to use the Lexington Battle Green near the Minute Man statue for a United States Army Promotion Ceremony on May 17, 2025, from 11:00am - 12:00pm. 7. Approve: Discovery Day Street Fair 2025 Request - Lexington Retailers Association  Saturday, May 24, 2025  Location + Road Closures: o Massachusetts Avenue o Depot Square o Muzzey Street  Temporary Sign on Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue  Free Parking at Central Business District Parking Meters and Depot Lot To approve restricting vehicular access in the following areas for the 2025 Discovery Day Street Fair to be held on Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 6:00am to 5:00pm:  Massachusetts Avenue, from Waltham Street to Meriam Street (both sides); and Depot Square; and  Muzzey Street, from Massachusetts Avenue to the first private driveway; and  Massachusetts Avenue, north-side sidewalk, from Edison Way to Waltham Street. To approve permission to erect a temporary sign on the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway behind 1775 Massachusetts Avenue during the event for publicity purposes. To approve free parking at the Central Business District parking meters, and not charge for parking in the Depot Lot on Discovery Day. *and all approvals and locations are subject to modifications as may be required by Department of Public Works, Public Safety, Public Health, Engineering and/or Town Manager up to the time of the event. DOCUMENTS: Discovery Day Request Letter 2025 8. Approve Select Board Minutes To approve and release the following minutes:  February 14, 2025 Select Board  February 24, 2025 Select Board DOCUMENTS: DRAFT Select Board 02142025 minutes, DRAFT Select Board 02242025 minutes VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Application: Battle Green Use Request - Drone Use on April 5, 2025 Mr. Lucente explained that NBC 10 News respectfully requests permission to fly a drone over the Battle Green during the Saturday, April 5, 2025 dress rehearsal of the Lexington Minute Men's reenactment of the Battle of Lexington, with a rain date of April 6, 2025. NBC 10 plans to have an NBC photographer and a spotter on location that day to capture aerial images of the rehearsal. Both the pilot and the spotter are Part 107 certified. NBC 10 will have the necessary FAA permissions in place before the event. They will also follow all weather advisories and cancel the flight if the weather does not meet flight requirements. In accordance with the Battle Green Use Regulation, flying a drone over the Battle Green is an impermissible activity. As this is a unique request, different from those previously approved in the past by the Town Manager/designated staff, Select Board review this request. Police and Fire have reviewed this request and do not have any objections. Police stated that the drones cannot be flown over public ways. As such, the drone cannot be flown over Bedford Street to the Battle Green or over Harrington Road. NBC 10 has confirmed the drone will only be flown over the Battle Green itself. th Ms. Hai stated that this should be tied to the unique nature of the 250 celebration itself. Also, channel 10 is the Town’s designated media partner. Nate Isenor, NBC 10 Boston Assistant News Director, explained that the pilot will set up the drone on the edge of the Battle Green, in a 4 s.f. designated landing area. The drone takes off and lands vertically. The pilot and the spotter make sure that the drone never flies over a reenactor, for safety reasons. As the drone moves across the Green, it will be adjusted in compliance with flight regulations at all times. The intention is to allow for unique images to promote and cover the event. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve NBC 10 News' request to fly a drone over the Lexington Battle Green on the Saturday, April 5, 2025 dress rehearsal of the Lexington Minute Men's reenactment of the Battle of Lexington, from approximately 2:00 - 4:00pm, with a rain date April 6, 2025, of pending NBC 10 having supplied a copy of the required FAA authorization prior to the event. DOCUMENTS: Request Letter to fly Drone over Battle Green, Batlle Green Use Regulations 2. 2025 Annual Town Meeting - Select Board Article Presenters, Discussion and Positions The Board discussed Article 34. Ms. Hai and Mr. Pato changed their positions on the Article to ‘yeses.’ Ms. Kumar changed her position on Article 23 to a yes. DOCUMENTS: Select Board Working Document - Positions 2025 ATM, Art 34 motion, Art 34 slides ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn at 6:59pm. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary