HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-19 SB-minSELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, May 19, 2025
A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, via a
remote 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
None at this time.
SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS
1. Select Board Member Announcements and Liaison Reports
No additional reports at this time.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
1. Town Manager Weekly Update
No additional updates at this time.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve: Select Board Committee Appointments
Economic Development Advisory Committee –
o Justin Fleming
o Steven Kaufman
o Jingshi Hu
Lexington Center Committee - Jonathan Wheeler Wakelin
Vision for Lexington - Michael Schanbacher, Planning Board Representative
To appoint Justin Fleming and Steven Kaufman to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for a
term set to expire on September 30, 2027 and appoint Jingshi Hu for a term set to expire on September
30, 2026.
To appoint Jonathan Wheeler Wakelin to the Lexington Center Committee for a term set to expire on
September 30, 2025.
To appoint Michael Schanbacher as the Planning Board representative to the Vision for Lexington
Committee for a term set to expire on September 30, 2027.
DOCUMENTS: Economic Development Advisory Committee - Justin Fleming 03.10.25 Redacted,
Economic Development Advisory Committee - Steven Kaufman 03.01.25 Redacted, Economic
Development Advisory Committee - Jingshi Hu 02.24.25 Redacted, Lexington Center Committee -
Jonathan Wheeler Wakelin 02.28.25 Reacted
2. Accept: Select Board Committee Resignation
Economic Development Advisory Committee - Lisa R. Murray
To accept the resignation of Lisa R. Murray from the Economic Development Advisory Committee,
effective May 30, 2025.
DOCUMENTS: 2025.05.05 Lisa R. Murray - Economic Development Advisory, Committee
Redacted
3. Approve: Town Manager Committee Reappointments
Recreation Committee:
o Frederick J. DeAngelis
o Renen Bassik
Council on Aging:
o Sudhir Kumar Jain
o Susan Rockwell
o Julie-Ann Shapiro
To confirm the Town Manager's reappointments of Renen Bassik and Frederick DeAngelis of the
Recreation Committee as well as Sudhir Kumar Jain, Susan Rockwell and Julie-Ann Shapiro of the
Council on Aging. All with terms set to expire May 31, 2028.
4. Approve: Select Board Minutes
To approve and release the following minutes:
April 9, 2025 Select Board
April 14, 2025 Select Board
April 28, 2025 Select Board
DOCUMENTS: DRAFT 04092025 Select Board minutes, DRAFT 04142025 Select Board minutes,
DRAFT 04282025 Select Board minutes
5. Review and Approve: Response to Liquor License Compliance Check Violation
To approve and authorize the Select Board Chair to sign the letters to be sent to Love at First Bite,
informing them of the actions to be taken regarding the liquor license violations found during April 29,
2025 compliance checks conducted by the Lexington Police Department.
DOCUMENTS: 1st offense letter - love at first bite, Alcohol Regulations - Enforcement
6. Approve: One-Day Liquor License - Dana Home Foundation, Lexington Community Center, 39
Marrett Road
2025 Dana Home Foundation Awards Reception
o June 4, 2025
To approve a One-Day Liquor License for the Dana Home Foundation for the purpose of the 2025 Dana
Home Foundation Awards Reception to be held in the Dining Room of the Lexington Community Center,
39 Marrett Road, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
DOCUMENTS: Dana Foundation Event Diagram
7. Approve: One-Day Liquor License - Spectacle Management, Inc., 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Concert Series at Cary Memorial Building:
To approve a One-Day Liquor License for Spectacle Management, Inc. to serve beer and wine in the
lobby of Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, for the purpose of their concert series on
the following date from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm:
o June 22, 2025 - Todd Rundgren
8. Approve: Battle Green Use Request - Town Celebrations Committee
Placement of Flags at Battle Green Plaques & Wreath Laying at Obelisk for Memorial Day
Road Closure for Memorial Day Walk on Massachusetts Avenue
Road Closure for Memorial Day Ceremonies in Depot Square
To approve the request of the Town Celebrations Committee to place small flags at the memorial plaques
around the Battle Green on the morning of Friday, May 23, 2025, to be removed on the morning of
Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
To approve the request of the Town Celebrations Committee to use the Battle Green for the purpose of a
wreath laying ceremony at the obelisk on Monday, May 26, 2025 at approximately 8:15am.
To approve the Town Celebrations Committee request for road closures on Massachusetts Avenue and
Depot Square as described in the event details, to all but emergency traffic, for the Memorial Walk and
the Memorial Day Ceremony taking place at Emery Park on Monday, May 26, 2025 from 9:30am to
12:00pm, subject to coordination with the Lexington Police Department, Fire Department, Department of
Public Works, and Town Manager’s Office.
DOCUMENTS: Memorial Day Event Details
9. Amend: Battle Green Use Request - Air Force Retirement Ceremony
Amend Air Force Retirement Ceremony Battle Green Request to include a rehearsal date -
Monday, June 16, 2025.
To amend the previously approved Battle Green Use Request for the Air Force Retirement Ceremony to
include use of the Battle Green on Monday, June 16, 2025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm for the purpose of
conducting a rehearsal.
10. Approve: Town Meeting Article Submission Timeline Policy
To approve the Town Meeting Article Submission Timeline Policy as presented.
DOCUMENTS: Town Meeting Article Submission Timeline Policy, Town Meeting Article Submission
Timeline Policy - redlined
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted by roll call 5-0 to approve the
Consent Agenda.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1. Update: Lexington Center Mural Projects
Jay Abdella, Senior Economic Development Coordinator, provided an update regarding the progress of
the Lexington Center Mural and Area Activation Project. The presentation included information on costs,
public outreach, process, and alignment with the Center Retail Strategy Report.
There was discussion regarding site management during the installation process. Plastic barriers will be
placed and the traffic lane closest to the pillars will be closed during the painting.
There was no public comment at this time.
DOCUMENTS: Lexington Center Mural Project Select Board Update, Lexington History Museum
Letter of Support
2. Discussion and Vote: Completion of the Transition for LEXHAB from a Town Committee to an
Independent, Nonprofit Housing Corporation
Mr. Lucente explained that LexHAB was originally established in 1983 as a Town-affiliated housing
board under a special act of the Legislature. For nearly four decades, the Board appointed its members
and maintained general oversight. In 2022, Town Meeting voted to support LexHAB’s reorganization as
an independent nonprofit to improve operational flexibility, especially regarding procurement and
development processes. This transition was codified by the Massachusetts Legislature in Chapter 192 of
the Acts of 2024, signed into law in September 2024.
Under the new legislation:
LexHAB now operates independently from the Town.
The Select Board no longer appoints its members, but confirms appointments made by the
LexHAB board.
Oversight is limited to confirming directors, reviewing annual reports, approving any PILOT
agreements, and monitoring the use of any Town-appropriated funds.
LexHAB’s transformation is now complete, and it no longer functions as a committee within the Town’s
organizational structure. The Board discussed formally dissolving the original Town-appointed LexHAB
committee from the Town of Lexington’s list of standing boards and committees, in recognition of its
legal reconstitution as an independent nonprofit entity.
Bob Pressman, 22 Locust Ave, asked about a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding this
transition, which could be used to address what happens to the properties. Mr. Bartha stated that he would
seek additional details on this item.
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted by roll call 5-0 to dissolve the
town-appointed Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) as a committee of the Town of
Lexington, effective immediately, consistent with Chapter 192 of the Acts of 2024.
3. Discussion: Select Board Report for FY2025 Annual Town Report
Mr. Lucente stated that, as the Town’s fiscal year FY2025 is drawing to a close, the Board is being asked
to begin preparations for the Select Board submission for the FY25 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025) Annual
Town Report. The final report will be due for submission to the Town Report Coordinator by September
15, 2025.
The Board suggested other topics to consider such as the Town Manager transition; the closing out of
ARPA and status of projects in process; municipal infrastructure projects to include topics like 173
Bedford St, ChiRP at the Library, bike/ped plans, sidewalks and Hartwell; traffic safety in general; High
School building project, economic development and community vitality, housing initiatives, zero waste
reduction and management; and the 250th celebration.
DOCUMENTS: FY 2024 Annual Town Report - Select Board report, Select Board Report to 2025 ATM
ADJOURN
VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted by roll call 5-0 to adjourn at
7:19pm.
A true record; Attest:
Kristan Patenaude
Recording Secretary