HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-11-LEX250-min Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
June 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
convened in a hybrid format in the Parker Room at the Town Office Building and via Zoom video
conference on Wednesday June 11 at 4:30 PM by Ms. Barry as allowed by legislation (S.2475)
extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Present in person:
Suzie Barry, Chair
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Bridger McGaw, Community Representative
Noah Michelson, Community Representative
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Jillian Tung, Music &Arts Representative
Steve Cole, Lexington Minutemen
Present remotely:
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Bebe Fallick, Tourism Committee Representative
• The meeting was called to order at 4:30 by Ms. Barry
• Housekeeping
o Last call for reimbursement requests before the end of the fiscal year.
• Continued debrief of April 19th weekend
o Steve Cole, Captain Commanding of the Lexington Minutemen (LMM), shared a
reflection on the events of Patriots' Day Weekend 2025.
■ A reenactment committee chaired by Henry Liu debriefed with Police,
Fire, and the other reenactors involved and found that no safety incidents
occurred during the reenactment.
■ The weekend's events cost the LMM triple the normal amount; the
increased expenses this year were covered by a donation. Busses,
horses, and commissary expenses drove this increase in cost. MOTT and
Mass Cultural Council may be sources to cover future costs.
■ The LMM would consider doing the reenactment again on Saturday for
2026, but supports events returning to Monday after 250th celebrations
close.
■ This past fiscal year, LMM did 29 events free of charge for community
organizations, not inclusive of reenactments and rehearsals.
■ The Battle Road reenactment in Minute Man National Historical Park was
delayed approximately 1.5 hours due to heat, leading to the LMM nearly
missing the parade.
■ Working the Tower Park reenactment into the weekend's schedule for
2026 would be nice, but is not a strong need.
■ Splitting the company to be both at the National Park and in town was not
preferable.
o Fundraising
■ Some gifts came in, both general and for specific purposes, but more
would be preferable for future events of this scale.
• VO250 Update
o The arch has been erected in place, and some hours are beginning to be
submitted.
o The possibility exists for sponsors, with donations "matching" submitted hours
towards a particular fund.
o Coordination is needed with Town Departments for publicizing the initiative via
existing channels.
• Lex250 Charge and Potential Future Work
o The current Commission charge is unclear as to the Commission's role in 2026,
and the Select Board will need to clarify.
o The Commission currently has nothing on the docket except a Riding Through
History event and a VO250 volunteer event.
o Questions remain about planning of future events, including in July 2026, and
whether the Commission has a role in April 2026.
• Report to the Select Board
o A written report needs to be submitted to the Select Board summarizing Patriots'
Day Weekend 2024, including an overview of evetnts, statistics, what went well
and not well, and including suggestions for future years.
o A small group to gather additional data and write a report was identified
consisting of Bridger, Noah, Mona, and Suzie.
• Annual Town Report
o The Commission's portion of the Annual Town Report will need to be written and
submitted. A small group will be organized to complete this task.
• Announcements
o Suzie Barry has submitted her resignation from the commission, effective June
30.
• Next meeting: July 9, 2025 location TBD
• The meeting was adjourned at 5:54 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Noah Michelson