HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 Annual ReportTOWN OF LEXINGTON
MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Town of Lexington, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420
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The Town of Lexington marked the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington
with a series of events honoring the enduring legacy of April 19, 1775.TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS ANNUAL REPORT 2025
PATRIOTS' DAY PARADE
APRIL 19, 2025
TOWN GOVERNMENT
MESSAGE OF THE SELECT BOARD
Massachusetts law requires that the Select Board, prior to the annual Town Meeting, issue an Annual
Report for use by the residents of the Town. The 2025 annual Town Report presented here provides,
among other things, financial data relating to the Town for the FY25 (fiscal year 2025) that covers
the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. In addition, the report contains highlights of the
accomplishments of the many departments, boards, committees, and commissions that are responsible
for the governance of Lexington.
This Annual Town Report is just one of several ways by which citizens may be informed of what is
going on in the Town. The Town’s Web site at lexingtonma.gov provides links to many other resources
including the websites for the schools and the Town Meeting Members Association. From our Town
website, you can also find all budget documents as they are generated, and the minutes of all committee
meetings which provides valuable insight into the departments and committees. Meetings of the three
elected boards, Select Board, School Committee, and Planning Board are covered by LexMedia, our
Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) access provider, and broadcast by all three of the Town’s
cable television providers. LexMedia covers other Town meetings and events as well. For more up to the
minute information, residents can register for CodeRED — the Town’s emergency notification system
— for texts, emails, and automated phone calls about closings, detours, or emergencies. Residents can
sign up for Townwide news email, or periodic emails and e-newsletters from specific departments
and boards/committees. Residents can also follow the Town’s Social Media accounts on Facebook
and Twitter.
The Select Board acknowledges the leadership provided by the Town Manager, the outstanding staff,
and the dedicated Town employees who manage the day-to-day operations of the Town and make
Lexington a special place to live, work and visit. Of special note are the countless volunteer hours
provided by the citizens who make up our many boards, committees, and commissions. The Select
Board extends its continued thanks, appreciation, and admiration to the many residents whose work
and civic engagement make it possible for Lexington to be a well-managed Town.
Douglas M. Lucente, Chair
Jill I. Hai, Vice-Chair
Suzanne E. Barry (term exp: March 3, 2025)
Joseph N. Pato
Mark D. Sandeen
Vineeta A. Kumar (term start: March 4, 2025)
CONTENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2025 • TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Special thanks to cover photography by Subhash Roy. Photos of Ken Burns presentation by Lisa Guidetti and the Naturalization Ceremony by Lisa Abitol, both courtesy of the Lexington Observer. Interior Photos taken by Committee Chairs unless otherwise indicated.
Each year, volunteers get the unique opportunity to learn about their Town through their work on this report. We hope those who peruse this report also discover something new and interesting about Lexington. Many thanks to the hardworking team listed here, and the committee members and town staff who contributed to this report.
This report, including narratives, covers the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Unless otherwise noted, financial data reports the total dollars expended in the fiscal
year (FY) that began July 1, 2024, and ended June 30, 2025 (FY25).
TOWN REPORT COMMITTEE
CHAIR: Victoria Sax
COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER EDITORS:
Gloria Amirault, Asiya Karim, Beverly Liu, Susan Myerow, Varsha Ramanathan, Ragan Robertson, Karyn Zhao
PRINTER: Lexington Public Schools Print Center 500 copies printed. PDF version available at records.lexingtonma.gov/weblink.
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Select Board ................................................1
Town Manager ............................................9
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ..........12Sustainability and Resilience ............13Town Clerk/Board of Registrars ...............14
State Primary Election: September 3, 2024 ....................................16
State (Presidential) Election: November 5, 2024 .....................................21
Annual Town Election: March 3, 2025 .....24
Tie Runoffs 2025 .......................................27
Special Town Meeting: November 2024 Abbreviated Minutes .................................28
Special Town Meeting: February 2025 Abbreviated Minutes .................................36
Annual Town Meeting: March 2025 Abbreviated Minutes .................................42
Elected Town Officials ..............................86
Senators and Representatives .................87
Moderator ..................................................88
Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) ................................88
Cary Memorial Library ...............................91
Finance ......................................................94
Assessor ............................................94
Comptroller ........................................95
Treasurer/Collector ...........................95
Fire and Rescue .........................................96
Human Services ........................................98
Senior Services ..................................99
Transportation Services ....................99
Veterans Services ............................100
Youth and Family Services ..............101
Innovation and Technology ....................102
Land Use, Housing and Development ...........................................103
Building and Zoning .........................104Conservation Office and Conservation Commission .............105
Economic Development ..................109
Planning Board ................................110Transportation Safety Group ..........112Regulatory Support ..........................112
Minuteman Regional High School .........113
Police .......................................................114
Public Facilities .......................................118
Public Health Department/ Board of Health .......................................121
Public Works ...........................................123
Engineering Division ........................124
Environmental Services ...................126Highway, Equipment and Drains Division ..................................127
Public Grounds (Parks/ Forestry/Cemetery) .........................128Street Light Maintenance Program .....................130
Water/Sewer Divisions ....................130
Recreation and Community Programs .............................132
Retirement Board ....................................137
School Committee ..................................138
Superintendent of Schools .....................139
Town Counsel ..........................................144
TOWN BOARDS & COMMITTEES
Affordable Housing Trust .......................146
Antony Working Group ............................146
Appropriation Committee .......................147
Bicycle Advisory Committee ..................148
Capital Expenditures Committee ...........149
Cary Lecture Series Committee .............150
Commission on Disability .......................151
Communications Advisory Committee ...............................151
Community Preservation Committee ...............................................152
Council on Aging .....................................153
Design Advisory Committee ...................154
Economic Development Advisory Committee ...............................154
Fence Viewers .........................................155
Fund for Lexington Board .......................155
Greenways Corridor Committee.............156
Hanscom Area Towns Committees (HATS) ................................156
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission .............................157
Historic Districts Commission ...............157
Historical Commission ...........................158
Housing Partnership Board ....................158
Lexington Center Committee .................159
Lexington Council for the Arts ...............160
Lexington Housing Authority ..................161
Lexington Human Rights Committee ....161
Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) ......................................162
Lexington Scholarship and Education Fund Committee ....................163
Monuments and Memorials Committee ...............................................163
Noise Advisory Committee .....................164
Permanent Building Committee .............164
Recreation Committee ............................165
Regional Planning Agencies ...................166
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) ............................167
Sustainable Lexington Committee .........173
Tourism Committee ................................173
Town Celebrations Committee...............174
Town Report Committee ........................175
Transportation Advisory Committee ...............................................175
Tree Committee ......................................176
Trustees of Public Trusts .......................177
Vision for Lexington Committee ............191
Water and Sewer Abatement Board.......191
Youth Commission..................................191
Zoning Board of Appeals ........................192
APPENDIX—FINANCIAL DATA
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations ....................................194
Enterprise Funds .....................................198
Debt Service Summary ...........................198
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances .................................199
Lexington by the Numbers .....................205
Index ........................................................206
1 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Five members, elected by the voters at-large to overlap-
ping 3-year terms: Douglas M. Lucente, Chair, Jill I. Hai,
Vice-Chair, Joseph N. Pato, Suzanne E. Barry, and Mark D.
Sandeen. The Board thanks Suzanne E. Barry for her ten years
of dedicated service to the Town and acknowledges her many
contributions as she concluded her tenure in March 2025.
Voters re-elected Joseph N. Pato and elected Vineeta Kumar
to the Board for her first term at the annual town election in
March 2025. At the Board's annual reorganization following
the Town Meeting in May 2025, Jill I. Hai was appointed
Chair, and Joseph N. Pato was appointed Vice-Chair, with
their terms beginning July 1, 2025.
FY25 was a significant year for the Town of Lexington. It
was a year in which we commemorated our pivotal role in
the founding of our nation while continuing to advance a
forward-looking agenda of strategic investment, community
enhancement, and sound fiscal stewardship.
The Board adopted revisions to the Board and Committee
Code of Conduct, reinforcing expectations for civility and
public participation. The Board also prioritized collaboration
with neighboring municipalities and regional partners, with
the Board working alongside neighboring municipalities to
address state-level proposals on transportation funding and
to respond to potential noise impacts from Hanscom Field
operations.
The Board advanced efforts to improve public amenities to
ensure that Lexington’s shared spaces remain accessible and
welcoming to all. The Board engaged in public discussions on
potential changes to rules governing the historic Battle Green
and ultimately decided to seek additional resident input
before taking action.
Throughout the year, the Select Board maintained its
focus on disciplined, long-term fiscal planning. The Board
held collaborative Finance Summits with the School
Committee, Appropriation Committee, and Capital
Expenditures Committee which provided a forum for align-
ing budget priorities and ensuring the responsible execution
of capital projects.
As in prior years, the Board worked to balance near-term
operational needs with long-term planning. Fiscal discipline,
environmental responsibility, and community vibrancy re-
mained at the forefront. These priorities continue to guide the
Board's goals of maintaining strong fiscal health, delivering
major capital projects on schedule and within budget, and
advancing policies that foster a welcoming, inclusive, and
sustainable community for all.
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT
The Lexington High School (LHS) Building Project represents
one of the most ambitious and significant investments in the
Town’s history. Planning for this project has been ongoing
for years leading to the 2017 LHS Visioning process, the
2019 Lexington Public Schools (LPS) Strategic Plan and the
creation of the Master Planning Advisory Committee during
the 2018-2019 year. In 2022 Lexington was invited into the
Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program
beginning the current process for the project. As required
by the MSBA, the School Building Committee (SBC) was
appointed to oversee and facilitate the project. At the end of
FY25 this project neared completion of the Module 4 of the
MSBA process – Schematic Design for the new construction
option known as “Bloom.”
SELECT BOARD
Start of FY25, Select Board: (L-R) Jill Hai, Joe Pato, Doug Lucente, Suzie Barry, and Mark Sandeen.
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2
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Progress and Milestones:
• Fall 2024
• Completion of Module 3: Feasibility Study – The
School Building Committee evaluated five remaining
design options and selected Bloom, new construc-
tion to be built on the playing fields adjacent to the
existing school building and to renovate and expand
the existing field house. The fields on which the new
structure will be built and will then be rebuilt where
the current school and parking lots are located,
preserving and improving the facilities.
• A citizen’s petition at the fall Special Town Meeting
(Article 8) sought to delay the MSBA process and
request an alternative two-phase approach. The article
failed by a vote of 11 in favor, 157 opposed, and eight
abstaining.
• Winter 2024-25
• MSBA approved Lexington’s Preliminary Design
Program and a Preferred Schematic Report advancing
our project to Module 4 – Schematic Design.
• Spring 2025
• Schematic designs submitted to third-party cost
estimators.
Looking forward, the SBC expects to submit the schematic
design to the MSBA in August 2025 for approval and ad-
vancement to a project funding agreement by the fall.
Financial Planning:
2024 Annual Town Meeting appropriated $10M for design
funds for the project via Article 26. The next major funding
action by Town Meeting is expected to occur at a Special
Town Meeting in November of 2025 followed by a town-wide
debt exclusion vote in December.
The estimated total project cost as submitted in the fall of
2024 is $662 million. This cost will be offset by anticipated
funding from the MSBA estimated at over $100 million, as
well as state and federal clean energy incentives and rebates.
The anticipated town share is approximately $550 million to
be funded by existing capital reserves and annual debt service
both within and excluded from the limits of Proposition 2½.
Estimated costs for the project are being refined as the
design process progresses. In June of 2025 preliminary sche-
matic designs were submitted to third-party cost estimators,
and total projected costs remain below $662 million. The SBC
remains committed to controlling costs and seeking savings
where possible.
Detailed information about the project is publicly avail-
able at lhsproject.lexingtonma.org. The current expected
timeline for the LHS Project is illustrated below. Occupancy
in the new facility is expected for the 2029-2030 academic
year with removal of the old buildings and construction of
the new fields occurring over the following year.
TOWN MANAGER TRANSITION
In March 2024, Town Manager Jim Malloy announced that he
would retire at the conclusion of his contract on September
30, 2024.
The Select Board issued a Request for Quotations (RFQ)
for an executive search firm to run the recruitment for
the next town manager, eventually selecting GovHR as the
executive recruiting firm to lead the search.
The Board also created a Town Manager Search Screening
Committee (TMSSC), comprising a diverse group of residents
to assist the search firm in screening applicants. The com-
mittee included two Select Board (SB) members, a Planning
Board (PB) member, a representative of the business commu-
nity, and five at-large residents, as well as liaisons from each
of the two finance committees.
The members of the TMSSC were: Sarah Bothwell Allen,
Bob Creech (PB), Jill Hai (SB), Heather Hartshorn (business
community), Vineeta Kumar, Charles Lamb (CEC liaison),
Robert Mandeville, Sean Osborne (AC liaison), Janet Perry,
Mark Sandeen (SB), and Helen Yang.
The Select Board appointed Kelly Axtell as Acting Town
Manager from October 1st through November 3, 2024.
On September 4, 2024, the Select Board voted to appoint
Steve Bartha, then serving as Town Manager of Danvers,
as Lexington’s next Town Manager. He began his tenure on
November 4, 2024. Since his arrival mid-year, Mr. Bartha has
helped complete the FY26 budget, advanced planning for the
Lexington's 250th Celebrations, supported the hiring of key
staff, helped union contract negotiations, and worked closely
with departments, employees, unions, committees, and com-
munity groups as he integrates into the Town’s operations.
SELECT BOARD (continued)
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3 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON
On April 19, 1775, the Lexington Battle Green was the site
of the opening chapter of the American Revolution. As
British Regulars advanced toward Concord, local militia
stood in their path. In the brief exchange that followed, eight
Lexington residents were killed, the first to give their lives in
the cause of American independence.
In FY25, the Town joined with residents, partners, and
visitors from across the country and the world to observe the
250th anniversary of this historic day. Planning for the com-
memoration spanned years, involving town departments,
the Lex250 Commission, the Town Celebrations Committee,
community organizations, and volunteers. The anniversary
offered an opportunity to remember the events of 1775 and to
share a broader story that reflects the contributions of people
who were free, indentured, and enslaved to the cause of the
Revolution.
The week of Patriots’ Day formed the centerpiece of the
year, beginning with a Thursday evening Awards Ceremony
recognizing individuals and groups who have made signifi-
cant contributions to the Town. On Saturday, April 19, the
early morning Battle of Lexington reenactment drew large
crowds, followed by the rededication of the Battle Green and
a U.S. Army program featuring the Golden Knights Parachute
Team. That afternoon, the Patriots’ Day Parade featured over
125 marching units, including military bands, fife and drum
corps, and many Lexington civic and cultural organizations.
Other weekend highlights included the Lex250 Patriotic
Picnic in Hastings Park, with a performance by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra, and a lecture and film screening by Ken
Burns offering historical perspective on the Revolution. The
year also welcomed a delegation from Lexington’s sister city,
Antony, France, underscoring the historic ties between our
communities and the international resonance of the ideals
born here.
Legacy projects included the opening of the Lexington
History Museums’ fourth museum in the renovated Lexington
Depot, a new animated Paul Revere’s Ride presentation at the
Visitors Center, and public history installations such as the
“Witness to 1775 Houses” project and the “Riding Through
History” horse statues.
The Select Board extends sincere thanks to the Lexington
Semiquincentennial Commission, the Town Celebrations
Committee, and town staff whose dedication and profession-
alism made this year’s commemorations possible. Their plan-
ning, coordination, and tireless work, alongside hundreds of
community volunteers, ensured the 250th anniversary was
meaningful, inclusive, and worthy of the events it honored.
HOUSING INITIATIVES AND UPDATES
Expanding the diversity of Lexington’s housing stock remains
one of the Board’s highest priorities. Annual Town Meeting
2024 authorized the Select Board to seek proposals to devel-
op 100% affordable housing on the town-owned property
known as Parcel 68-44 located near the intersection of Lowell
Street and North Street. The Select Board issued a Request
for Proposals (RFP) to build 100% affordable housing on this
parcel and received seven proposals from qualified develop-
ment teams. The Town signed a land disposition agreement
with the selected developer to build 40 units of truly afford-
able housing at an average of 60% Area Median Income or
below. The developer has presented the proposed site design
and completed the community engagement process defined
in the RFP.
The proposed design significantly exceeds the RFP re-
quirements in many ways, including providing housing that
is well-integrated with the neighborhood, with a community
meeting area, a common space walking area, thoughtfully
designed landscaping, and almost an acre of protected wood-
land area. These homes will be all-electric, solar-powered,
and built to Passive House standards. The Select Board has
sent a letter to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable
Communities in support of the developer’s Project Eligibility
Letter application to pursue a Comprehensive Permit under
the MGL Chapter 40B process. The Comprehensive Permit
process is expected to start in the fall of 2025.
Home Rule Petitions: Lexington 2020 Special Town Meeting
approved Article 6 to submit a home rule petition requesting
legislative authority to establish a surcharge on residential de-
velopment for the purpose of funding affordable housing. The
legislature took no action on that home rule petition during
this or the previous legislative session. For that reason, that
Article 6 home rule petition failed and can only be reconsid-
ered by the legislature after another vote of Lexington Town
Meeting.
Lexington 2021 Annual Town Meeting approved Article
36 to submit a home rule petition requesting legislative
authority to establish a surcharge on specific commercial
development activities for the purpose of funding affordable
housing. The legislature approved that home rule petition
by passing H.2740 “An Act to establish a surcharge on spe-
cific commercial development activities for the purpose of
funding the creation of community housing.” The Governor
signed the bill on January 8, 2025.
The Select Board authorized town staff to commission a
study funded under Article 36, to assess commercial develop-
ment and housing inventory trends before recommending an
appropriate range of linkage fee rates.
SELECT BOARD (continued)
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4
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SELECT BOARD (continued)
Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB): In
September 2024, the Massachusetts State Legislature ap-
proved the Select Board’s Home Rule Petition to amend
LexHAB’s enabling legislation and charter, to allow LexHAB
to become an independent non-profit entity. As a 501(c)(3)
organization, LexHAB will now be able to use a combina-
tion of state, federal, and private funding sources to acquire
or develop affordable housing. This will enhance LexHAB’s
ability to create affordable housing more efficiently and cost
effectively. Soon after the reorganization, LexHAB received a
donation of a property that LexHAB will convert to an afford-
able home for Lexington residents in perpetuity.
The Lexington Affordable Housing Trust also provided a
$1.1 million grant to LexHAB for the purchase of a single-fam-
ily home, with the condition of creating two affordable units
for residents at or below 60% of Area Median Income.
Zoning Initiatives: Annual Town Meeting 2023 created sev-
eral MBTA village overlay districts with inclusionary hous-
ing requirements. The Planning Board has approved nine
multi-family housing projects that are proposed to produce
1,086 units of multi-family housing, including 160 units of
inclusionary housing for residents at or below the 80% Area
Median Income.
Annual Town Meeting 2023 also approved Special
Residential Development (SRD) zoning. Construction has
started on the first SRD project, which will create ten units of
housing, including one unit of inclusionary housing.
Economic Development and Community Vitality
During FY25, the Select Board maintained its commitment
to fostering economic growth and commercial development
within the Town, with a particular focus on revitalizing the
downtown area. Strong partnerships with local business
associations, individual businesses, and advisory com-
mittees—such as the Economic Development Advisory
Committee and the Lexington Center Committee—played a
central role. The Select Board’s liaisons also participated in
Quarterly Roundtable discussions hosted by the Economic
Development Department.
These are some highlights from FY25.
Lex250 and Tourism: From July 2024 through June 2025,
the Visitors Center welcomed 112,000 guests—an impressive
increase from the 87,000 visitors in the prior fiscal year. This
growth was driven by the successful Lex250 celebration,
which attracted tens of thousands to commemorate the his-
torical battle of Lexington.
Collaborations with organizations such as National
Geographic, BBC, WCVB, and NYT promoted the 250th
anniversary, reaching tens of millions globally. The Tour
Lexington website (tourlexington.us), launched in January
2024, surpassed 120,000 users and recorded over 350,000 page
views. These outreach efforts led to a 28% rise in foot traffic,
a 53% increase in merchandise revenue, and an 85% surge in
online tour booking revenue compared to FY24. The Visitors
Center worked closely with Lex250 (Semiquincentennial
Commission) to offer new branded merchandise. The
Lexington Visitors Center also expanded its Step-On Guided
Charter Tour program through networking and connecting
with new tour operators at events such as the American Bus
Association Conference, International Pow Wow Conference,
and Discover New England Summit. Bookings nearly doubled
from 54 in FY24 to 102 in FY25. Lexington was recognized as
a top destination by the American Bus Association, receiving
the “Best of the Best” award.
Local Economic Policy Enhancements: During 2024 Annual
Town Meeting, Town Meeting passed several policy measures
designed to ease permitting requirements, modernize lan-
guage, and allow for new businesses to thrive in Lexington.
ATM 2024, the Town of Lexington passed Article 49
which changed the Zoning Bylaw to support new uses from
breweries and wineries. This was accomplished by adding
new definitions for craft beverage establishments and permit-
ting additional uses to all commercial districts in Lexington.
By modernizing definitions for eating and drinking establish-
ments, more businesses are able to come into Town. With the
passage of Article 47, Town Meeting amended the Zoning
Bylaw to allow businesses to have an additional sign on their
structure, streamlined permitting process for signage, and
removed restrictions on event signage.
On June 24, 2024, the Select Board updated their Alcohol
Beverage License Regulations, broadening eligibility to
include event spaces and craft beverage establishments
alongside traditional restaurants. Locations such as Pinot’s
Palette, The Venue, Galaray House, and local breweries are
now eligible to serve alcohol as part of their operations with
an approved wine & malt liquor license.
Town Meeting also passed Article 39, a Home Rule
Petition to adjust the number of on-premise wine and malt
licenses. State Representative Michelle Ciccolo sponsored
House Bill HD.3893, which was filed on February 25, 2025,
and is awaiting further action.
East Lexington Revitalization: Since 2020, the revital-
ization of East Lexington’s business districts has been a
priority. Efforts in FY25 focused on connecting businesses
to the Minuteman Bikeway via upgrades, landscaping,
and wayfinding signs—key recommendations from the
2021 Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Rapid Recovery
Plan. Funding from a Regional Economic Development
Organization Grant enabled wayfinding sign installation at
Bow Street, to help travelers find their way to restaurants,
coffee shops, and businesses.
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5 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Additional beautification projects, including new mu-
rals funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA),
were implemented; artists Melissa Pandina and Gabriella
Sepulveda created large-scale murals now displayed at several
Massachusetts Avenue locations - 55 Massachusetts Avenue
(Berman’s Wine and Spirits), 131 Massachusetts Avenue
(Busa Wine and Spirits), and 135-145 Massachusetts Avenue
(Battle Road Bikes). These three vibrant, large-scale murals
illustrating pivotal moments from Lexington’s past brighten
the Minuteman Bikeway, and attract the attention of passers-
by. Ongoing efforts include landscaping and bench installa-
tion to enhance the area’s appeal.
The Lexington Center Committee partnered with
Lexington History Museums to commission a mural on the
Depot Building’s pillars, completed in August 2025.
These projects not only contribute towards revitalizing
East Lexington but also set a framework for similar initiatives
elsewhere, like Lexington center.
Center Business District Revitalization: A charrette was or-
ganized in FY24, following which the Economic Development
Advisory Committee and Lexington Center Committee pre-
sented to the Select Board, a set of recommendations based
on Lexington Center: The Journey Forward. The first two
recommendations are being addressed as described in this
report; the remaining two still need planning.
1) Focus on ways to create more welcoming and inviting
entryways from key access points (parking lots, bike path,
Visitors Center).
2) Evaluate options for supporting Lexington Center
programming.
3) Convene a forum of relevant municipal bodies and com-
mittees to ensure alignment around application of new
bylaws – The Select Board has not initiated this yet but
plans to in FY26.
4) Prioritize decision(s) regarding use of town-owned land
in Lexington Center.
Lexington welcomed several new businesses into the
Center Business District over the past year, including new
cafes, establishing Lexington Center as a prime breakfast
destination. Major vacancies in the center have been filled,
with Revival Café and Tatte. Additional changes include can-
dy store Liberty Sweets which replaced Fancy Flea, knitting
shop Knit Tuck and Purl, and the buildout and opening of
Post 1917 at 27 Waltham Street. Post 1917 replaced the for-
mer Bulpan restaurant, which closed in 2020. New ownership
has taken over 1800 Massachusetts Avenue (former Signature
Stationers store) and renewed interest in renovating the space
into a more appealing area for businesses.
The Lexington Center Committee, EDAC, and the
Tourism Committee have been working on the planning and
implementation of wayfinding signage at critical access points
in FY26, including a solar-powered event calendar kiosk in
Grain Mill Alley.
Commercial Development: Despite ongoing challenges
in the Life Science sector, Lexington achieved significant
milestones in commercial development. Braskem established
a $20 million, 35,000-square-foot Renewable Innovation
Center on Maguire Road, which began operations in 2024.
This new facility strengthens Braskem’s work in biotechnol-
ogy, catalysis, and process engineering. The company’s ac-
complishments were celebrated at the 2025 MassEcon Impact
Awards. In addition, commercial entities in Lexington pulled
permits totaling over $112.7 million for new construction
projects, supported by key town departments including
Building, Conservation, Fire, Planning, Sustainability, and
Health. Notable developments included 17 Hartwell Avenue,
93 Bedford Street, and 32–36 Edgewood Road.
Community Vibrancy and Cultural Events: Lexington
fostered a vibrant community spirit through a wide array of
cultural events last year, many of which received vital support
from the Economic Development Office. Working with the
Cultural Council, the office distributed $15,000 in Cultural
District Investment Grants to eight local arts and cultural
groups, enabling valuable programming for the Town. Major
events included the Bikeway Block Party, LexLux Illumination
Night, the Lexington History Museum’s Reenactment of Paul
Revere’s Ride, and the Chamber of Commerce Concert Series,
among others.
The Economic Development Office also leveraged ARPA
funds, to support the Lexington Retailer Association’s
Discovery Day by reducing and waiving application fees for
local businesses, thus boosting participation. Similar funding
aided LexLux Illumination Night, with resources allocated
for projectors, tables, and a heating station. Additional equip-
ment such as tables, canopy tents, and other items were pur-
chased, making them available for use at future community
and municipal events.
The Select Board remains committed to continuously im-
proving economic and community vitality through various
programs- providing access to a diverse mix of businesses,
develop and vitalize new economic hubs, increasing commer-
cial revenue and utilization of town resources to create com-
munity vibrancy. Through multifaceted initiatives, Lexington
is striving for a future that is economically robust, inclusive
and sustainable.
SELECT BOARD (continued)
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6
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)
As we approach the conclusion of the American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA) funding period, we are pleased to present an
update on the allocation and utilization of ARPA funds in our
community.
The Town of Lexington was allocated a total of $9,903,381
in ARPA funds, aimed at addressing the impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic and fostering recovery across critical
sectors. It was important for the Select Board to deploy these
resources in a manner that maximizes benefits for our com-
munity, adhering to the guiding principles of transparency,
equity, and strategic impact.
As of June 30, 2025, the Select Board has approved
spending the full allocation of $9,903,381. Of that amount
$8,271,202 has been spent, and the remaining $1,632,179 is
encumbered and under contract.
Funds have been allocated to the following broad areas,
amounting to 78 individual projects of varying sizes, many of
which are complete and others in-progress.
• Economic Stimulus and Resiliency: The largest portion,
approximately 36% of the funds or $3,572,672 was
earmarked to support our local economy, including
bolstering the cultural sector, aiding small businesses,
enhancing community events, updating digital platforms,
improving public spaces, center access, and fostering
bikeway mobility and engagement.
• Public Health, Safety and Pandemic Response: With
24% of the funding or $2,382,104, this area focused
on bolstering the Town's Health Department, including
testing and vaccination programs, public safety equip-
ment, mental health measures and training in response
to the pandemic.
• Housing: 15% of the funds or $1,502,735 were allocated
to address housing needs, ensuring support for those
affected by the pandemic in securing stable housing.
• General Government Services: 23% of the funds or
$2,245,871 have been utilized for general services such
as enhancing the Food Waste Program, investment in
hybrid technology and IT improvements, election equip-
ment, acquiring a new electric vehicle for the Health
Department, formulating an ADA Town Building Self
Evaluation and improving recreation facilities.
• Food Insecurity: A smaller, yet crucial 2% of the funds
or $200,000 addressed food insecurity, ensuring that
residents affected by the pandemic have access to
necessary resources.
Some of the significant projects that have been completed
in FY25 are Water Wagon purchase for community events,
MBTA Zoning Study, installation of hybrid tech in the library
living room, purchase of new radios and hoses for the Fire
Department, decarbonization of affordable housing, Wi-Fi
installation in the Town Center, and the full execution of the
food insecurity program.
Some of the projects that are in-progress and will com-
plete soon are the lead and copper water system improve-
ments, recreation outdoor shelters and bottle fillers, the ADA
building study, hybrid meeting technology in town buildings,
East Lexington bikeway landscaping, store front and store
back improvement projects, and Grain Mill Alley wayfin-
ding signs. In addition, ARPA will continue to support the
food waste composting program and mental health services
through the end of the ARPA program in December 2026.
The Board has voted that any remaining or surplus funds
after completion of all earmarked projects will be applied
towards expanding the Town’s food waste collection program.
Project/Initiative Count Allocated Spent til date Encumbered
Economic Stimulus & Resiliency 18 36% $2,782,386.02 $790,286.08
Public Health & Safety 29 24% $2,056,029.85 $326,073.90
Housing 6 15% $1,502,734.65
General Government Services 21 16% $1,175,930.55 $356,092.13
Hybrid Tech Improvements 3 7% $554,121.31 $159,726.51
Food Insecurity 1 2% $200,000.00
Total 78 100% $8,271,202.38 $1,632,178.62
The Participatory Budgeting (PB) process implemented
in the previous year, which actively engaged our residents in
the decision-making process, led to identification of impact-
ful community projects. Given the stipulation for all ARPA
funds to be committed by December 31, 2024, the PB process
has been discontinued. While not all suggestions could be
implemented, we extend our gratitude to all residents who
participated in this process, contributing valuable insights
and demonstrating the strength of our community's collec-
tive engagement.
In this final phase of ARPA fund utilization, the Select
Board is dedicated to successfully completing all projects
funded by ARPA.
SELECT BOARD (continued)
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7 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
The Board continues to address the issues of maintaining
and improving our municipal and school building infra-
structure. The following section includes the current status
of Lexington’s building projects. The Lexington High School
building project is covered in the Lexington High School
section of this report.
Lexington Police Station
The Lexington Police Department moved into the new Police
Station facility in June 2024. The Police Station building
was constructed in compliance with the Town’s Integrated
Building Design and Construction Policy and is solar ready
in furtherance of the Town’s net zero renewable energy policy
goals. The building includes all of the infrastructure necessary
to support onsite solar energy generation and energy storage
systems and to enable high speed electric vehicle charging for
the Police Department’s electric vehicle fleet while reducing
the building’s electricity charges. Construction of the footings
for the canopy has been completed.
The solar energy canopy design went through an extensive
public process to secure approval of a design that is appro-
priate for the neighborhood and meets the requirements of
the Historic Districts Commission. Solar canopy and energy
storage system construction is expected to be completed by
the end of 2025.
Old Reservoir Bath House Renovation
Originally approved by Town Meeting in 2019, the bids for
this project came in over-budget multiple times, due to a se-
ries of factors including the COVID pandemic and resulting
supply chain shortages.
The renovation includes repairs to the plumbing system,
installation of new fixtures, electrical upgrades, replacement
of the existing roof, and reconfiguration of the main entrance.
It also addresses accessibility issues within the bathhouse,
walkway, and surrounding site, including the installation of
ADA-accessible parking spaces located in close proximity to
the Old Reservoir. The project was completed and open to the
public in June 2025.
173 Bedford Street
2024 Town Meeting appropriated $6 million for the reno-
vation of 173 Bedford Street to provide swing space for the
School Administration’s Central Office staff, the Cary Library
renovation, and potentially the Town Office building renova-
tion, over the next 10 to 15 years. The scope of the renovation
includes adding an elevator, adding a fire suppression sprin-
kler system, converting to an all-electric HVAC system while
expanding the HVAC system to provide heating and cooling
on the second floor, plus some interior fit out work.
The project began in April 2025 and Central Administration
Staff is expected to move into the space in January 2026.
Pine Meadows Clubhouse Renovation
The clubhouse, constructed prior to the Town’s purchase of
the Pine Meadows property in 1988, has not undergone any
significant renovation in the past 30 years. $2,575,000 was
appropriated in FY25 for the costs associated with renovation
of the clubhouse including installing a solar energy system at
the Pine Meadows Golf Club.
This project also includes renovation of the main con-
course area, the restrooms, plumbing, windows, and roof. This
project will not only restore the clubhouse to a modern and
functional facility, but will also bring it into ADA-compliance,
making it welcoming and accessible for all. Construction be-
gan in April 2025 and is expected to be complete in the Fall
of 2025.
Bedford Street and Hartwell Avenue Complete Streets Design
Traffic issues in the Hartwell Avenue corridor are one of the
key concerns cited by residents and business owners. 2019
Special Town Meeting appropriated $1.5 million for the 25%
design of the Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue/Wood Street
Corridor. The Town formed a 25% design working group in
November 2020, and hired an engineering and planning firm,
VHB, in January 2021 to develop 25% design level plans for
complete streets reconstruction that addresses safety, traffic
flow and pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and alternative modes of
transportation.
Based on input from the Select Board, the consultant
revised the build out and traffic analysis to include future de-
velopment and expanded the study limits to include the I-95
interchange. In September 2024, the Select Board reviewed
the conceptual design and authorized town staff and the
consultant to proceed with numerous public outreach and
information sessions to finalize the design. In January 2025,
the Select Board approved the preferred design based on
feedback received during public information sessions.
On June 23, 2025, the Town of Lexington was selected to
receive an award of $1.65 million for the study and design of
safety improvements at the I-95 and Route 4/225 interchange.
The interchange is integral to the success of the Bedford Street
and Hartwell Avenue Complete Streets project.
Unfortunately, the Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) Board did not incorporate Lexington’s Bedford
& Hartwell Complete Streets project in the FY26-30
SELECT BOARD (continued)
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8
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SELECT BOARD (continued)
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The MPO
board voted 11 (in favor) and 10 (opposed) to not include
new projects that are not yet at 25% design approved. The
MPO’s decision is based on current TIP project delays and
cost increases. Town staff were encouraged by the MPO Chair
to submit a TIP Amendment in the fall or winter after 25%
design approval is issued by MassDOT to be reconsidered for
inclusion on the TIP. Staff and VHB (the project consultant)
expect the 25% design to be submitted to MassDOT by the
fall of 2025.
Pump Station Upgrade Project
The Department of Public Works (DPW) celebrated the com-
pletion of the wastewater pump station at the corner of North
Street and Adams Street during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in
November 2024. The completion of this project represents the
end of a 12-year effort to ensure the long-term sustainabili-
ty of the Town's network of wastewater pump stations. The
project was led by the DPW Engineering Division with coor-
dination from the DPW Water/Sewer Division. These pump
stations are critical to the control of wastewater throughout
the Town. The following pump stations were upgraded over
the last twelve years listed by project start date.
• 2012: Concord Avenue
• 2012: Potter Pond
• 2014: Brigham Road
• 2015: Main Pump Station
• 2015: Worthen Road
• 2019: Constitution Drive
• 2019: Marshall Road
• 2021: Hayden Avenue
• 2023: North Street
Zero Waste Reduction and Management
Waste management costs continue to rise across
Massachusetts, creating pressure on municipal budgets,
including Lexington’s. The Select Board’s goal is to establish
a waste collection system that addresses rising costs and
advances the Town’s environmental objectives.
Reducing trash by reducing the total amount of waste
generated by residents is ideal. In 2023, Lexington produced
8,014 tons of trash and 3,450 tons of recycling through the
curbside programs. Of the trash, 1,843 tons could have
been recycled, and 3,045 tons could have been composted.
Diverting compostable trash to the Town’s curbside com-
posting program would preserve valuable organic waste and
reduce costs associated with trash collection and disposal.
Currently about 3,500 households, a little more than a quarter
of all, participate in the Town’s no-fee curbside composting.
Adopting automated trash collection would also reduce the
rate of increase in trash collection costs.
Many communities in Massachusetts have adopted some
form of metering or fees associated with trash disposal. On
average, these 155 communities generate 29% less trash per
household when compared to communities that have no lim-
its on trash disposal. At the Select Board’s request, the Waste
Reduction Task Force surveyed town residents and 74% of
the 1,500 respondents indicated they supported automated
collection and 54% supported some form of fee for excess
trash disposal.
Over the next year, the Select Board intends to explore
options to contain waste disposal costs including:
• Adopt regulations and fees on bulky item disposal.
• Consider fees for excess trash generation.
• Consider standardization of trash carts and adoption of
automated collection.
• Strongly encourage composting of organics, food, and
yard waste.
End of FY25, Select Board: (L-R) Mark Sandeen, Joe Pato, Doug Lucente, Jill Hai, and Vineeta Kumar.
9 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 14 14
Part Time 2 2
ROLE: As the Chief Executive Officer of the Town, estab-
lished under the Select Board-Town Manager Act, the Town
Manager administers the policies and procedures of the Select
Board, enforces bylaws and actions passed by Town Meeting,
proposes the operating and capital budgets, and manages the
daily operations of all town departments. The Town Manager’s
Office also includes the Human Resources Office.
APPOINTED by the Select Board, Steve Bartha has served as
the Town Manger since November 2024.
Form of Government
The current structure of Lexington’s Town government fea-
tures a representative Town Meeting, a five-member Select
Board, and a Town Manager. This structure dates back to 1968
when the Town shifted from having a Board of Selectmen and
an Executive Secretary. This change meant a major realign-
ment of responsibilities that impacted appointment methods,
supervision of administrative functions, and purchasing
control. In 2019, the Town of Lexington submitted a home
rule petition to the Massachusetts State Legislature to change
the term Selectmen to the current, more inclusive title of
Select Board. The petition was approved and signed by the
Governor.
Budget
The FY26 budget process continued the collaborative effort
among the Select Board, School Committee, Appropriation
and Capital Expenditures Committees, and municipal staff.
Three budget summit sessions resulted in a consensus on a
balanced budget for Town Meeting consideration that ad-
dressed many pressing needs. The FY26 General Fund Budget
totals $312,251,035 an increase of $18,675,645 or 6.4% over
the adopted FY25 budget. To support capital projects, the
Select Board recommended, and Town Meeting adopted, the
creation of a Capital Stabilization Fund. This reserve fund had
a balance of $42,670,750.77 as of June 30, 2025. Table 1 shows
the amounts voted into and out of that fund since FY22. The
amounts appropriated for Exempt Debt Service Tax Relief and
Other School and Municipal Capital Projects help to alleviate
the residential tax burden.
TOWN MANAGER
FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26
Beginning Balance $20,674,058 $21,730,961 $27,330,886 $32,769,537 $42,670,751
Amount into Capital Projects Stabilization Fund $3,787,974 $5,517,826 $4,432,518 $8,399,172 $6,563,050
Revised Balance $24,462,032 $27,584,070 $31,763,404 $32,053,580 $39,332,587
Exempt Debt Service Tax Relief $(2,800,000) $(800,000) $(500,000) -- --
Interest Income $68,929 $882,099 $1,506,133 $1,502,042 TBD
Closing Balance $21,730,961 $27,330,886 $32,769,537 $42,670,751 TBD
TABLE 1: Activity of Capital Stabilization Fund (FY22-FY26)
Chart 1: FY26 General Fund Approved Budget
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10
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Fiscal Year Certified FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24
Amount Certified $16,384,329 $17,119,159 $17,032,132 $24,096,825
Fiscal Year Appropriated FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26
In Support of Operating Budget $700,000 --- --- ---
Cash Capital $10,052,983 $12,529,438 $12,919,681 $15,792,946
Capital Stabilization Fund $3,085,296 --- --- ---
Set-Aside for Unanticipated Current FY Needs $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000
Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)2 $1,179,721 $1,739,721 $1,997,451 $2,079,375
Pension Fund $400,000 $400,000 $400,000 $400,000
Warrant Articles $20,570 --- $515,000 $24,000
Total Appropriated Free Cash $15,638,570 $16,119,159 $17,032,132 $19,506,173
Unallocated $745,759 $1,000,000 $955,166 $2,700,158
TABLE 2: Uses of Free Cash (FY21-FY24)
1 The OPEB funding above does not reflect appropriations of $750,000 in FY22 and FY23, $240,000 in FY24, and $32,270 in FY25 from the tax
levy. In addition, the Water & Sewer Enterprise funds contributed $5,765 in FY22, FY23 and FY24, and $3,654 in FY25 and FY26.
TOWN MANAGER (continued)
Free Cash as of July 1, 2024, was certified at $24,096,825
which was appropriated for purposes that include supporting
the FY26 capital budget and deposits into reserve funds such
as the Capital Stabilization Fund and OPEB. Table 2 shows the
4-year history of the certification and uses of free cash.
As of FY24, the Health Claims Trust Fund is depleted and all
future OPEB contributions will come from Free Cash. The bal-
ance as of July 1, 2025, in the OPEB Trust Fund is $38,671,491.
Communications
• The Town continued to expand and optimize external
communication with the Lexington community to create
clear and reliable communications, which is essential
to building partnership between community members,
elected officials, and town staff for the betterment of
the community as a whole. The Town Manager's Office
continues to receive ample feedback from residents
appreciative of the increased outreach and engagement
by the office.
• Digital communication has continued to be an area
where the Town has seen its most engagement and
growth the past few years. In FY25 the Town’s website,
LexingtonMA.gov, received 2 million views, a 3.4%
increase from the prior period. Additionally, 468,000
unique viewers engaged with the website, which was a
1.7% increase from the prior fiscal year.
• The Town’s weekly e-newsletter, Link to Lexington, gained
over 1,200 subscribers from last fiscal year, bringing the
total subscribers to 5,412, a 29% increase from FY24.
Across all of the Town Manager's digital publications there
are 25,616 unique subscribers, which is an 11% increase
from last fiscal year.
• The Town continued to expand its reach through social
media by launching a Town of Lexington Instagram page
in December 2024. From the first post on December 2,
the page has gained 584 followers and has seen over
1,400 content interactions. The Town Manager's Office
looks forward to continuing to engage with the commu-
nity in this new space!
• The Town of Lexington, MA Facebook page continued
to see increased growth and reach within the Lexington
community. During this past fiscal year, the Town was
able to reach 84,792 unique users, a 6.7% increase from
the prior period, and saw a 46.3% increase in page visits
as well as a 75.1% increase in content interactions.
(continued on next page)
11 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
• The Town continues to prepare to meet the new digital
accessibility standards that will go into effect in April
2027 by exploring accessibility tools which enhance the
experience of users and ensure information being shared
by the Town is accessible to all. The Town Manager's
Office looks forward to continuing to meet the communi-
ty members where they are when it comes to engagement
and communications and hopes to build on previous
successes in continuing to provide high-quality services
to the community!
Human Resources
The Human Resources Department spent time in FY25
bargaining with the Town's unions. The Town currently has
settled agreements with the Local 1703 Building Custodians,
and the AFSCME Local 1703 Public Works, through FY27;
the Lexington Police Association, the Cary Memorial Library
Staff Association and the AFSCME Public Safety Dispatchers
through FY26; and the SEIU Local 888 School Crossing
Guards, the Lexington Municipal Employees Association,
the Lexington Municipal Management Association, the IAFF
Local 1491 Firefighters, and the Police Superiors Association
through FY25.
Other accomplishments of the Human Resources
Department in FY25 include:
• Coordinated the Town's annual open enrollment. During
that process, over 560 changes were made to active and
retired employees' health, dental, vision and life insurance
coverage in addition to over 25 pay period changes for
current school employees.
• Completed recruitments and onboarding for
approximately 155 position vacancies throughout the
Town. Completed benefits enrollment for approximately
158 new school department employees as well as benefits
off-boarding for approximately 133 school department
resignations.
• Oversaw promotional assessment center process for
lieutenant and captain positions for the Fire Department.
Coordinated RFP process for Police Department’s
promotional assessment center.
• Coordinated RFP process for a classification and
compensation study of all LMEA, LMMA and TNON
positions. Held introductory sessions for all members
and acted as main point of contact and coordinator for
employees and vendor.
Organizational Initiatives
The Town’s Senior Management Team (SMT) maintains
the organization’s collaborative culture to keep municipal
programs and services functioning effectively. Organizational
goals are established on an annual basis. Accomplishments
and project updates include:
• Continuing long-term planning for physical devel-
opment, including the interrelated areas of land use,
transportation, economic development, housing, open
space and recreation, natural resources, historic resourc-
es, and public facilities.
• Expanding public communication to develop a compre-
hensive and coordinated plan for communicating with
and engaging the community.
• Promoting a culture of shared technology applications
and practices, governed by sound organizational policies
and procedures and oriented toward meeting both
specific and general needs.
• Evaluating new revenue sources to support the budget,
particularly the capital budget.
• Identifying best practices and safety protocols in coor-
dination with building teams to recognize the specific
physical needs of each building and office, and developing
consistent, regular, and ongoing training for staff.
• Aligning protocols and communication policy as a
collaborative effort to address mental health needs with
municipal and school staff. This goal has been part of
an ongoing conversation to improve and expand mental
health services in Lexington.
• Providing regular training and coaching opportunities
for employees, and continuing to develop young profes-
sionals, including middle managers, to prepare for greater
responsibility.
• Continuing to create and expand new opportunities for
property owners to attract future tenants and employees
to ensure the viability of Hartwell Ave commercial district
and to encourage commercial development that could
help ease the residential tax burden.
• Developing new financial guidelines to plan for specific,
large capital projects that enable the Town to consistently
stabilize the tax levy.
TOWN MANAGER (continued)
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12
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN MANAGER (continued)
• Advancing capital projects that include significant invest-
ment in green infrastructure and sustainable building
design to further support the Town’s 25-year goal to
reduce fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions from the
Town’s residential, commercial, and municipal buildings.
• Promoting a culture that celebrates diversity, equity, and
inclusion through active and intentional engagement
with the community, and by reviewing all town policies
and procedures, including hiring processes and board
and committee membership and appointments, to ensure
there are no hidden, exclusive, or unfair practices.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
ROLE: The Chief Equity Officer strives to integrate Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into every facet of the Town’s
operation. The division aims to diversify the applicant pool
for town jobs by promoting an inclusive workforce comprised
of a myriad of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Regular work includes encouraging departments to craft and
implement policies and programs that embody equity and
equality; collaborating with town boards and committees
to ensure equal access to necessary information and initia-
tives; and fostering a greater sense of belonging within the
community through direct engagement with residents and
community groups.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Bolstered Community Engagement
• Completed DEI Strategic Plan
• Increased Internal DEI Training Opportunities
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan
The Town finalized a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic
Plan. This plan builds off last year’s internal equity audit
which identifies ways the Town can improve its efforts in
furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion amongst town staff.
The Town’s Senior Management Team worked in collabora-
tion with Tangible Development, an outside consulting firm
specializing in improving workplace culture by integrating
DEI initiatives. Together we created 12 goals in the four focus
areas of Employee Training and Professional Development,
Communications, Celebrations and Appreciation, and
Harness (Local and Diverse) Talent. You can read the Strategic
Plan on the Town’s website.
Resolution Framework
The Town continued to advance the goals outlined in
the Resolution Framework by supporting initiatives that
solidify the Town as a model for diversity and sustainabil-
ity. The Resolution Framework details efforts to address
climate change, systematic racism, and other issues critical
to maintaining Lexington as a forward-thinking, inclu-
sive, and environmentally friendly community. You can
read the Resolution Framework on the Town’s website:
Lexingtonma.gov/ResolutionFramework.
Community Engagement
The Town continued to host opportunities for members of the
community to enjoy coffee and conversation with Lexington
Police Chief, Michael McLean, and other members of the
Police Department. Residents were able to ask questions
about policies and procedures, community safety, the new
police station, and the role law enforcement can play in other
programs and services in Town. More of these events are
already being planned to further strengthen the relationship
between the Police Department and the community they serve.
Internal Staff Training Opportunities
The Town offered numerous training opportunities to staff
focused on strengthening the diversity and inclusivity of
our workforce, so we can continue to lead by example. These
training opportunities included:
• Cultural Humility
• Creating a foundation for employees to better
understand and apply the principles of diversity,
equity, and inclusion into their workflow by using
their own life experiences to form new emotional and
professional connections with their coworkers.
• Dismantling Racism in Our Town
• This seven-week course is offered and operated by
Lexington residents. It’s designed to strengthen the
personal and collective awareness of anti-Black racism
and its consequences, undo the legacies of racism and
white supremacy in our community, and repair the
damage done by these biases.
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13 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
ROLE: The Sustainability and Resilience Officer strives to
reduce municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions,
create cleaner indoor and outdoor environments, and ensure
all residents and business owners have the tools to be resilient
to a changing climate. Regular work includes: developing pol-
icies and programs designed to enhance the sustainability and
resilience of town services; monitoring the implementation
and impacts of said policies and programs; and recommend-
ing improvements or additions to existing town services to
best suit the environmentally centric goals of the community.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Maggie Peard,
Sustainability and Resilience Officer
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Climate Leaders Certification: In May 2025, Lexington
was among the first 19 cities and towns to be certified as
a Climate Leader Community. This certification not only
underscores the Town’s commitment to climate action,
but also gives the Town access to over $1 million in grant
funding over the next three years to advance municipal
decarbonization.
• Municipal Building Decarbonization Roadmap:
The Town completed a roadmap that charts a path to
decarbonizing our municipal buildings by 2050.
• Community First Partnership: The Town joined the
Community First Partnership. This program, which is
run by the administrators of Mass Save, provides resourc-
es to communities to improve access to Mass Save energy
efficiency and electrification offerings, including enabling
the Town to hire a part time Energy Advocate.
• Waste Reduction: The Waste Reduction Task Force
continued to increase the uptake of curbside composting
and explore additional avenues to reduce waste. The
Town secured funding to install a dishwasher at
Harrington Elementary School to transition to reusable
dishware.
• Networked Geothermal Feasibility Study: The Town
completed an initial feasibility study for a networked
geothermal system—which uses a shared thermal loop
to heat and cool buildings close to each other, in a highly
efficient way, by taking advantage of stable underground
temperatures.
• Resilient Lexington Dashboard: The Town launched an
online dashboard to track progress on goals and metrics
defined in the Resilient Lexington Climate Action and
Resilience Plan.
• Building Energy Use Disclosure: In its third year, the
Building Energy Use Disclosure program saw an 85%
compliance rate of large building owners reporting their
energy and water use to the Town for the purposes of
increasing energy use transparency.
• The HeatSmart Program: The HeatSmart Program
continues to help Lexington residents transition to heat
pumps and install solar. Since the program’s inception
in 2023, the program’s volunteer Energy Advisors have
provided guidance to over 300 residents.
TOWN MANAGER (continued)
14
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN CLERK/BOARD OF REGISTRARS
Population 31,001 32,952 33,104 33,009 30,772
Vital Statistics
Births 150 149 144 160 217
Marriages 94 76 93 79 45
Deaths 315 330 312 255 288
Licenses
Dog 2,417 2,651 2,544 2,551 2,475
Raffle 15 15 12 12 3
Business Certificates (DBA) 235 198 224 202 234
Flammable 37 35 33 37 28
STATISTICS 7/1/24-6/30/25 7/1/23-6/30/24 7/1/22-6/30/23 7/1/21-6/30/22 7/1/20-6/30/21
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 3 3
Part Time 3 3
Temp Part Time 1 1
Senior Worker 1 1
TOWN CLERK: Appointed by the Town Manager: Mary de
Alderete (Town Clerk). Town Clerk Staff: Dianne Sperber
(Assistant Town Clerk), Lisa Maguire (Administrative
Assistant), Kelley Cutone-Clair and Gina Carme (Municipal
Clerks), Alethea Yates (Archivist/Records Manager), Anne
Kadlec (Temporary Assistance), Susan Rockwell (Senior
Worker).
ROLE: To act as the Town’s chief elections officer, recording
officer, registrar of vital statistics, public records officer
and licensing officer, and to maintain records of adopted
municipal codes, bylaws, oaths of office, resignations, and
appointments. The town clerk’s office responds to inquiries
from the public and serves as a central information point for
the Town.
BOARD OF REGISTRARS: Appointed for a 3-year term
by the Select Board: Gordon Jones, Chair (Democrat, exp.
2026); Judith Moore (Democrat, exp. 2028), Mark R. Vitunic
(Republican, exp. 2027); and Town Clerk, Mary de Alderete.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Town Clerk's Office
• Oversaw the completion of the 2025 Annual Town
Census which updated Lexington’s population counts.
• Worked with the Community Preservation Committee
to bring an Article to Town Meeting which appropriated
$20,000 of Community Preservation Act funds for
conservation and preservation of Lexington’s historic
documents.
• Published the Annual List of Residents with confirmed
voter registration counts.
• Compiled annual supplement for Code of Lexington, up-
dating bylaw changes adopted at various Town Meetings
and Select Board Meetings.
• Processed and retained all appointment notifications for
town employees and Board and Committee members.
• Collaborated with the Chief Equity Officer to update
the Board and Committee handbook for more inclusive
language and scope.
• Ensured State Laws regarding Ethics/Open Meeting/
Public Records were in compliance.
• Updated the Ethics database and training in conjunction
with the new software provided by the state.
• Fulfilled Public Records Requests through the integrated
online Portal.
(continued on next page)
15 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN CLERK/BOARD OF REGISTRARS (continued)
• Increased use of document retention repository for
administrative use and public access.
• Continued to migrate Town’s historic documents to
public repository.
• The Archivist created a special historical exhibit for the
Cary Library showcasing the 250th anniversary of the
Town (pictures enclosed)
• Collaborated with the Archivist to deliver an overview of
the Clerk’s Office for the “Civic Academy.”
• Town maps and plans were labeled and cataloged for
archival storage.
• Partnered with the Communications Director to further
enhance our message output to residents.
• Worked with School Administration to hold the annual
“dog tag” election in the elementary schools with 969
Students participating and the “acorn” shape being
chosen as the winner.
• Effected a “Dog of the Week” with assistance from the
IT Department to bring attention to licensing dogs in
the Town.
• Developed a presentation to the Select Board to showcase
poll consolidation within the Cary Memorial Building.
• Successfully implemented new poll consolidation in the
Cary Memorial Building.
Elections:
• Successfully navigated September State Primary,
November State (Presidential) Election, and the Annual
Town Election (March 3, 2025). The Town Clerk's Office
is exceptionally proud of the poll workers and staff for
creating such a welcoming and efficient environment for
voters during such a busy election cycle!
• Oversaw Early Voting sessions for the State Primary and
State Elections.
• State Primary Election, September 3, 2024. 23,370
registered voters, 22% turnout.
• State Election, November 5, 2024. 23,721 registered
voters, 78% turnout.
• Annual Town Election, March 3, 2025. 23,081 registered
voters, 27% turnout.
• Registrars forwarded recommendations to the Select
Board for annual Election Officer appointment and
212 Election Officers were appointed.
Town Meetings
• Special Town Meeting 2024-1 convened on November 13,
2024, held via virtual Town Meeting platform and person
in Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building.
• Special Town Meeting 2025-1 convened on February
3, 2025, held via virtual Town Meeting platform and
in-person in Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building.
• Annual Town Meeting 2025 convened on March 24, 2025,
held via virtual Town Meeting platform and in-person in
Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building.
(L-R) Gina Carme, Kelley Cutone-Clair, Alethea Yates, Susan Rockwell, Mary de Alderete, Lisa Maguire, Anne Kadlec, and Dianne Sperber.
16
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the legal voters of the
Town of Lexington met in their respective voting places in
said Town of Lexington on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at
7:00 a.m.
The following facilities were designated as the voting
places for the various precincts: Precinct One, School
Administration Building; Precinct Two, Bowman School;
Precinct Three, Lexington Community Center; Precinct Four,
Cary Memorial Building; Precinct Five, School Administration
Building; Precinct Six, Cary Memorial Building; Precinct
Seven, Lexington Community Center; Precinct Eight, Samuel
Hadley Public Services Building; Precinct Nine, Lexington
Community Center.
The Election Officers of the various precincts were
assigned for duty at the Precincts. The Election Officers were
assigned for duty as follows:
PRECINCT 1: Warden: Cristina Burwell [D]; Clerk: Michael
Sperber [U]; Inspectors: Susan England Perullo [D], Sonya
Hagopian [U], David McClave [U], Louise Nolan [U], Pamela
Peifer [D], Rita Pandey [D], Pamela Peifer [D], Dennis van
Oossanen [U].
PRECINCT 2: Warden: Rebecca Fagan Gorospe [U]; Clerk:
Anne Fiedler [D]; Inspectors: Lawrence Berkowitz [D], Susan
Boer [D], Arline Burns [U], Ellen Cohn [D], Ian Edmonston
[D], Richard Eurich [U], Jonna Manes [U], Lucille Parker
[U], Stephen Perkins [U], Jyoti Rao [D], Shirley Skye [D].
PRECINCT 3: Warden: Duncan Todd [U]; Clerk: Anita
Chanoux [U]; Inspectors: Andrew Bennet [U], Sarah
Carolthers [U], Janice Chung [U], Atom Eynon [D],
Alexander Nedzel [U], Greta Peterson [U], Julie Tobin [U].
PRECINCT 4: Warden: Linda Dixon [U]; Clerk: June Baer
[U]; Inspectors: Natalie Cohen [U], Richard Comings [D],
Carole Goldstein [D], Kathleen Head [U], Kathleen Jick [D],
Charles O’Brien [Jr. Poll Worker], Dennis Shedd [D], Ruth
Thomas [D], Michael Spence [U], Ruth Thomas [D].
PRECINCT 5: Warden: Irene Dondley [D]; Clerk: Anne
Kadlec [U] and Adam Isbitsky [U], Inspectors: Laurel
Carpenter [D], David DesRoches [U], Donnalee Farris [U],
Patricia Grasso [D], Edward Lidman [U], Nancy Olt [D],
Maureen Rynn [U].
PRECINCT 6: Warden: Ann Webster [U]; Clerk: Janet Woit
[D]; Inspectors: Brian Awbrey [R], Carla Fortmann [U],
Barbara Katzenberg [D], Grace Murphy [D], Loyde Romero
[D], E. Ashley Rooney [U], Michael Spence [U].
PRECINCT 7: Warden: Mabel Amar [D]; Clerk: Daniel
Friedlander [D]; Inspectors: Mary Burnell [U], Patricia Costello
[U], Elizabeth Garland [D], Bruce Jackan [U], Margaret
Muckenhoupt [D], Guy Paquette [U], James Skerry [U].
PRECINCT 8: Warden: Julie Sibert [U]; Clerk: Rita Clark
[R]; Inspectors: Susan Alyn [U], Robert Enders [D], Lorain
Marquis [U], Donald McIntosh [D], Sean McIntosh [D],
Emily McPhillips [D], A. Constance Parrish [U], Margaret
Quinn [D], Christin Worcester [D].
PRECINCT 9: Warden: Shirley Ament-Bergey [D]; Clerk:
Michael Fenollosa [D]; Inspectors: Constance Cooper [D],
Maria Frohman [U], Charmaine King [U], Lee Minardi [D],
Kavita Ravi [D], Thomas Shiple [U], Joan Small [U], Ann
Strong [D].
The Election Officers were sworn to the faithful performance
of their duties. The polls were declared open in each precinct at
seven o’clock A.M. and remained open until eight o’clock P.M.,
at which time, after due notice, the polls were declared closed.
(continued on next page)
The total number of registered voters in each precinct eligible to vote in the September 3, 2024 State Primary were as follows:
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
Total Registered Voters 2,435 2,723 2,236 2,660 2,632 2,725 2,596 2,636 2,727 23,370
Total Votes 523 690 539 622 539 540 573 521 596 5,143
Democratic 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4,513
Republican 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
Libertarian Party 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
Total Votes/ Registered Voters 21% 25% 24% 23% 20% 20% 22% 20% 22% 22%
17 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Recap sheets were delivered to the Town Clerk at the Town Office Building. 22% of the registered voters cast their vote. The
Town Clerk canvassed the results:
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 (continued)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
TOTAL REG VOTERS 2435 2723 2236 2660 2632 2725 2596 2636 2727 23370
TOTAL VOTES 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4513
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL VOTERS) 19% 23% 22% 21% 17% 17% 20% 17% 19% 19%
TOTAL REGISTERED DEMOCRATS 813 969 742 922 795 787 765 802 846 7441
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL PARTY) 56% 65% 67% 59% 57% 60% 66% 54% 61% 61%
SENATOR IN CONGRESS
ELIZABETH ANN WARREN 431 576 451 504 427 440 490 402 506 4227
BLANKS 21 47 43 38 23 23 16 30 7 248
ALL OTHERS 6 5 0 6 6 8 1 3 3 38
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4513
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS (FIFTH DISTRICT)
KATHERINE M. CLARK 430 578 453 507 435 445 486 407 504 4245
BLANKS 24 45 40 38 19 23 21 28 12 250
ALL OTHERS 4 5 1 3 2 3 0 0 0 18
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4513
COUNCILLOR (THIRD DISTRICT)
MARILYN M. PETTITO DEVANEY 177 226 132 186 171 168 217 153 190 1620
MARA DOLAN 231 338 326 313 245 261 251 248 285 2498
BLANKS 48 64 36 49 40 42 39 33 41 392
ALL OTHERS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4513
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
CINDY F. FRIEDMAN 414 554 483 410 426 469 2756
BLANKS 42 71 62 45 44 36 300
ALL OTHERS 2 3 3 1 1 2 12
TOTALS 458 628 548 456 471 507 3068
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (THIRD MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
MICHAEL J. BARRETT 416 389 486 1291
BLANKS 77 45 30 152
ALL OTHERS 1 1 0 2
TOTALS 494 435 516
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (FIFTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
MICHELLE CICCOLO 414 570 416 494 414 463 389 486 3646
BLANKS 42 54 77 54 41 38 45 30 381
ALL OTHERS 2 4 1 0 1 6 1 0 15
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 507 435 516 4042
(continued on next page)
18
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 (continued)
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (TWENTY-FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
KENNETH I. GORDON 407 407
BLANKS 59 59
ALL OTHERS 5 5
TOTALS 471 471
CLERK OF COURTS (MIDDLESEX COUNTY)
MICHAEL A. SULLIVAN 377 521 376 441 386 391 442 355 453 3742
BLANKS 79 106 118 106 69 79 65 80 63 765
ALL OTHERS 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 6
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516
REGISTER OF DEEDS (MIDDLESEX SOUTHERN DISTRICT)
MARIA C. CURTATONE 376 528 375 444 397 397 445 364 453 3779
BLANKS 80 99 119 104 58 73 62 71 62 728
ALL OTHERS 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 6
TOTALS 458 628 494 548 456 471 507 435 516 4513
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
REPUBLICAN PARTY
TOTAL REG VOTERS 2435 2723 2236 2660 2632 2725 2596 2636 2727 23370
TOTAL VOTES 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL VOTERS) 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3%
TOTAL REGISTERED REPUBLICAN 114 120 104 112 162 164 121 123 124 1144
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL PARTY) 56% 49% 42% 66% 50% 41% 53% 68% 60% 54%
SENATOR IN CONGRESS
ROBERT J. ANTONELLIS 15 15 13 27 29 18 23 24 18 182
IAN CAIN 4 9 4 6 6 12 2 13 9 65
JOHN DEATON 42 33 26 40 44 33 37 46 45 346
BLANKS 3 1 1 0 1 3 2 1 3 15
ALL OTHERS 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 5
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS (FIFTH DISTRICT)
BLANKS 59 59 43 64 77 63 58 77 69 569
ALL OTHERS 5 0 1 10 4 5 6 7 6 44
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
COUNCILLOR (THIRD DISTRICT)
BLANKS 28 58 43 66 77 66 60 79 70 547
ALL OTHERS 36 1 1 8 4 2 4 5 5 66
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
(continued on next page)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
19 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 28 59 66 77 66 59 355
ALL OTHERS 36 0 8 4 2 5 55
TOTALS 64 59 74 81 68 64 410
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (THIRD MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 44 78 71 193
ALL OTHERS 0 6 4 10
TOTALS 44 84 75 203
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (FIFTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 59 59 43 68 78 59 79 71 516
ALL OTHERS 5 0 1 6 3 5 5 4 29
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 64 84 75 613
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (TWENTY-FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 66 66
ALL OTHERS 2 2
TOTALS 68 68
CLERK OF COURTS (MIDDLESEX COUNTY)
BLANKS 58 58 44 68 78 66 60 80 71 583
ALL OTHERS 6 1 0 6 3 2 4 4 4 30
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
REGISTER OF DEEDS (MIDDLESEX SOUTHERN DISTRICT)
BLANKS 59 59 43 67 78 65 59 78 71 579
ALL OTHERS 5 0 1 7 3 3 5 6 4 34
TOTALS 64 59 44 74 81 68 64 84 75 613
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
TOTAL REG VOTERS 2435 2723 2236 2660 2632 2725 2596 2636 2727 23370
TOTAL VOTES 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL VOTERS) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
TOTAL REGISTERED LIBERTARIAN PARTY 1 3 0 8 4 3 5 2 5 31
PERCENT (TOTAL VOTES/TOTAL PARTY) 100% 100% 0% 0% 50% 33% 40% 100% 100% 55%
SENATOR IN CONGRESS
BLANKS 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 7
ALL OTHERS 1 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 3 10
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 (continued)
(continued on next page)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
20
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS (FIFTH DISTRICT)
BLANKS 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 9
ALL OTHERS 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 3 8
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
COUNCILLOR (THIRD DISTRICT)
BLANKS 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 2 3 10
ALL OTHERS 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 7
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 0 3 0 0 1 1 5
ALL OTHERS 1 0 0 2 0 1 4
TOTALS 1 3 0 2 1 2 9
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (THIRD MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 0 2 3 5
ALL OTHERS 1 0 2 3
TOTALS 1 2 5 8
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (FIFTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 3 9
ALL OTHERS 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 7
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 2 2 5 16
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT (TWENTY-FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT)
BLANKS 1 1
ALL OTHERS 0 0
TOTALS 1
CLERK OF COURTS (MIDDLESEX COUNTY)
BLANKS 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 10
ALL OTHERS 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 7
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
REGISTER OF DEEDS (SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY)
BLANKS 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 9
ALL OTHERS 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 3 8
TOTALS 1 3 1 0 2 1 2 2 5 17
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 (continued)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
21 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
STATE (PRESIDENTIAL) ELECTION: NOVEMBER 5, 2024
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the legal voters of the
Town of Lexington met in their respective voting places in
said Town of Lexington on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at
7:00 a.m.
The following facilities were designated as the voting
places for the various precincts: Precinct One, School
Administration Building; Precinct Two, Bowman School;
Precinct Three, Lexington Community Center; Precinct Four,
Cary Memorial Building; Precinct Five, School Administration
Building; Precinct Six, Cary Memorial Building; Precinct
Seven, Lexington Community Center; Precinct Eight, Samuel
Hadley Public Services Building; Precinct Nine, Lexington
Community Center.
The Election Officers of the various precincts were as-
signed for duty at the Precincts. The Election Officers were
assigned for duty as follows:
PRECINCT 1: Warden: Cristina Burwell [D]; Clerk: Susan
Rockwell [U]; Inspectors: Pamela Peifer [D], Susan England
Perullo [D], Elaine Ghiloni [U], Joanne Izbicki [U], Louise
Nolan [U], Katherine Parks [D], Alison Stevens [U], Ann
Strong [D], Carolyn Morrison [U], Sandra Parks [U].
PRECINCT 2: Warden: Rebecca Fagan Gorospe [U]; Clerk:
Anne Fiedler [D]; Inspectors: Brian Cutler [D], Ravi Kavita
[D], Richard Roher [U], Lawrence Berkowitz [D], Susan
Boer [D], Ellen Cohn [D], A. Constance Parrish [U], Stephen
Perkins [U], Jyoti Rao [D], Margaret Tracy [D], Laurel
Carpenter [D], Richard Eurich [U].
PRECINCT 3: Warden: Duncan Todd [U]; Clerk: Anita
Chanoux [U]; Inspectors: Michael Sperber [U], Jonna Manes
[U], Sarah Carothers [U], Janice Chung [U], Pranav George
[U], Sonya Hagopian [U], Greta Peterson [U], Erica Rabins
[U], David DesRoches [U], Sarah Quezasa [D].
PRECINCT 4: Warden: Linda Dixon [U]; Clerk: June Baer
[U]; Inspectors: Richard Comings [D], Carole Goldstein [D],
Kathleen Head [U], Evangeline Puopolo [U], Gisela Purdy
[U], Barbara Rommelfanger [U], Emmy Suhl [D], Theresa
Carilli [U], Robert McDonald [R], Nidhi Inamdar [U],
Sebastian Fairbairn (Jr. Inspector).
PRECINCT 5: Warden: Irene Dondley [D]; Clerk: Adam
Isbitsky [U]; Inspectors: Donnalee Farris [U], Lisa Diamant
[D], Barbara Katzenberg [D], Edward Lidman [U], Howard
Silver [D], Ruth Thomas [D], Kevin Chua [U], Greig
Greenwald [D], Joel Marcus [U], Joyce Murphy [D], Katherine
Chua (Jr Inspector).
PRECINCT 6: Warden: Ann Webster [U]; Clerk: Janet
Woit [D]; Inspectors: Carla Fortmann [U], Jane Halverson
[U], Magdalena Himmel [U], Grace Murphy [D], E. Ashley
Rooney [U], Ethel Salonen [D], Leslie Masson [D], Guy
Paquette [U], Deepika Sawhey [D], Julie Tobin [U].
PRECINCT 7: Warden: Mabel Amar [D]; Clerk: Daniel
Friedlander [D]; Inspectors: Mary Burnell [U], Elizabeth
Garland [D], Elizabeth Golovchenko [U], James Skerry [U],
Ian Edmonston [D], Vasiliki Tsakraklides [U].
PRECINCT 8: Warden: Julie Sibert [U]; Clerk: Rita Clark
[R]; Inspectors: Christin Worcester [D], Susan Alyn [U],
Patricia Jao [U], Lorain Marquis [U], Donald McIntosh [D],
Sean McIntosh [D], Margaret Quinn [D], Kristin Simon [D].
PRECINCT 9: Warden: Shirley Ament-Bergey [D]; Co-
Clerks: Arjun Sarathy [U] and Michael Fenollosa [D];
Inspectors: Constance Cooper [D], Marilyn Fenollosa [D],
Elizabeth Friedlander [D], Debra Heaton [U], Susan McLeish
[U], Lee Minardi [D], Thomas Shiple [U], Michael Spence
[U], Margaret Aranow [D], Victoria Blier [D], Katelyn Richer
[U].
The Election Officers were sworn to the faithful performance
of their duties. The polls were declared open in each precinct at
seven o’clock A.M. and remained open until eight o’clock P.M.,
at which time, after due notice, the polls were declared closed.
(continued on next page)
The total number of registered voters in each precinct eligible to vote in the November 5, 2024 State Election were as follows:
Recap sheets were delivered to the Town Clerk at the Town Office Building. 78% of the registered voters cast their vote.
The Town Clerk canvassed the results:
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
Total Reg Voters 2,486 2,761 2,282 2,671 2,697 2,750 2,632 2,657 2,785 23,721
Total Votes 1,946 2,258 1,746 2,092 2,079 2,189 2,074 2,019 2,200 18,603
Percent (Total Votes/Total Voters) 78% 82% 77% 78% 77% 80% 79% 76% 79% 78%
22
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
AYYADURAI AND ELLIS (INDEPENDENT) 9 8 11 6 10 8 10 4 8 74
DE LA CRUZ AND GARCIA (SOCIALISM & LIBERATION) 9 6 6 7 6 7 6 2 5 54
HARRIS AND WALZ (DEMOCRATIC) 1469 1825 1394 1647 1497 1686 1545 1569 1730 14362
OLIVER AND TER MAAT (LIBERTARIAN) 16 17 12 22 18 21 9 10 11 136
STEIN AND CABALLERO-ROCA (GREEN RAINBOW PARTY) 40 41 30 33 53 23 30 32 27 309
TRUMP AND VANCE (REPUBLICAN) 361 305 268 331 452 387 438 364 373 3279
ALL OTHERS 11 20 8 17 14 20 16 12 17 135
BLANKS 31 36 17 29 29 37 20 26 29 254
SENATOR IN CONGRESS
ELIZABETH ANN WARREN (DEMOCRATIC) 1425 1753 1352 1557 1440 1564 1472 1482 1645 13690
JOHN DEATON (REPUBLICAN) 468 434 345 467 574 545 541 473 486 4333
ALL OTHERS 1 4 1 2 5 9 0 1 5 28
BLANK 52 67 48 66 60 71 61 63 64 552
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS - FIFTH DISTRICT
KATHERINE M. CLARK (DEMOCRATIC) 1525 1842 1430 1679 1597 1714 1610 1605 1756 14758
ALL OTHERS 20 32 10 15 22 30 22 21 20 192
BLANK 401 384 306 398 460 445 442 393 424 3653
COUNCILLOR - THIRD DISTRICT
MARA DOLAN (DEMOCRATIC) 1442 1722 1348 1560 1531 1597 1553 1522 1681 13956
ALL OTHERS 15 24 2 9 11 17 16 12 11 117
BLANK 489 512 396 523 537 575 505 485 508 4530
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT - FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
CINDY F. FRIEDMAN (DEMOCRATIC) 1454 1738 1583 1545 1625 1562 9507
ALL OTHERS 19 30 13 12 16 14 104
BLANK 473 490 496 522 548 498 3027
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT - THIRD MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MICHAEL J. BARRETT (DEMOCRATIC) 1375 1579 1711 4665
ALL OTHERS 5 13 11 29
BLANK 366 427 478 1271
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT - FIFTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MICHELLE CICCOLO (DEMOCRATIC) 1480 1756 1372 1632 1576 1580 1576 1745 12717
ALL OTHERS 19 27 8 7 17 18 13 18 127
BLANKS 447 475 366 453 486 476 430 437 3570
STATE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 5, 2024 (continued)
(continued on next page)
23 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT - TWENTY-FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
KENNETH I. GORDON 1597 1597
ALL OTHERS 15 15
BLANKS 577 577
CLERK OF COURTS - MIDDLESEX COUNTY
MICHAEL A. SULLIVAN (DEMOCRATIC) 1434 1695 1310 1514 1524 1566 1532 1508 1660 13743
ALL OTHERS 11 21 3 8 11 15 17 11 9 106
BLANKS 501 542 433 570 544 608 525 500 531 4754
REGISTER OF DEEDS - MIDDLESEX SOUTHERN DISTRICT
MARIA C. CURTATONE (DEMOCRATIC) 1320 1581 1175 1387 1346 1433 1364 1338 1510 12454
WILLIAM "BILLY" TAURO (INDEPENDENT) 319 328 266 346 369 399 402 338 381 3148
ALL OTHERS 6 5 2 5 4 0 4 4 3 33
BLANKS 301 344 303 354 360 357 304 339 306 2968
QUESTION 1 - STATE AUDITOR'S AUTHORITY TO AUDIT THE LEGISLATURE
YES 1253 1477 1180 1416 1384 1424 1376 1326 1501 12337
NO 522 598 415 524 535 578 562 524 537 4795
BLANKS 171 183 151 152 160 187 136 169 162 1471
QUESTION 2 - ELIMINATION OF MASS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (MCAS) AS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
YES 867 904 650 805 778 801 816 804 793 7218
NO 1014 1281 1023 1225 1243 1309 1197 1141 1337 10770
BLANKS 65 73 73 62 58 79 61 74 70 615
QUESTION 3 - UNIONIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK DRIVERS
YES 1105 1235 968 1101 1052 1079 1049 1075 1164 9828
NO 722 883 640 880 893 963 905 816 901 7603
BLANKS 119 140 138 111 134 147 120 128 135 1172
QUESTION 4 - LIMITED LEGALIZATION & REGULATION OF CERTAIN NATURAL PSYCHEDELIC SUBSTANCES
YES 662 776 478 667 592 689 618 713 717 5912
NO 1208 1386 1163 1324 1384 1383 1363 1190 1385 11786
BLANKS 76 96 105 101 103 117 93 116 98 905
QUESTION 5 - MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED WORKERS
YES 934 1133 933 1040 990 1012 989 969 1097 9097
NO 922 1012 704 943 989 1063 986 928 1008 8555
BLANKS 90 113 109 109 100 114 99 122 95 951
STATE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 5, 2024 (continued)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
24
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION: MARCH 3, 2025
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the legal voters of the
Town of Lexington met in their respective voting places in
said Town of Lexington on Tuesday, March 3, 2025 at 7:00
a.m.
The following facilities were designated as the voting
places for the various precincts: Precinct One, Cary Memorial
Building; Precinct Two, Cary Memorial Building; Precinct
Three, Lexington Community Center; Precinct Four, Cary
Memorial Building; Precinct Five, Cary Memorial Building;
Precinct Six, Cary Memorial Building; Precinct Seven, Cary
Memorial Building; Precinct Eight, Samuel Hadley Public
Services Building; Precinct Nine, Lexington Community
Center.
The Election Officers of the various precincts were
assigned for duty at the Precincts. The Election Officers were
assigned for duty as follows:
PRECINCT 1: Warden: Susan Rockwell [U]; Clerk: Adam
Isbitsky [U]; Inspectors: Ellen Cameron [D], Richard Eurich
[U], Elaine Ghiloni [U], Joanne Izbicki [U], Louise Nolan
[U], Carol Snell [U].
PRECINCT 2: Warden: Rebecca Fagan Gorospe [U]; Co-
Clerks: Anne Fiedler [D], Brian Cutler [D]; Inspectors: Kavita
Ravi [D], Lawrence Berkowtiz [D], Lisa Diamant [D], Seri
Latiff [U], Margaret Muckenhoupt [D], Stephen Perkins [U],
Shirley Skye [D].
PRECINCT 3: Warden: Anita Chanoux [U]; Co-Clerks:
Susan McLeish [U] and A. Constance Parrish [U; Inspectors:
Janice Chung [U], Carla Fortmann [U], Alexander Nedzel
[U], Sandra Parks [U], Greta Peterson [U], Sarah Quezasa
[D].
PRECINCT 4: Warden: Linda Dixon [U]; Clerk: Evangeline
Puopolo [U]; Inspectors: Richard Comings [D], Felice
Gardner [D], Kathleen Jick [D], Dennis Shedd [D], Emmy
Suhl [D], Ruth Thomas [D].
PRECINCT 5: Warden: Christina Burwell [D]; Clerk: Janet
Woit [D]; Inspectors: Victoria Blier [D], Elaine Doran [U],
Jonna Manes [U], Joel Marcus [U], Sandra Shaw [D], Alison
Stevens [U].
PRECINCT 6: Warden: Ann Webster [U]; Co-Clerks: Leslie
Masson [D] and E. Ashley Rooney [U]; Inspectors: Carole
Goldstein [D], Jane Halverson [U], Magdalena Himmel [U],
Grace Murphy [D], Ethel Salonen [D], Deepika Sawhey [D].
PRECINCT 7: Warden: Mabel Amar [D]; Clerk: Pamela
Peifer [D]; Inspectors: Mary Burnell [U], Suzanne Caton [D],
Elizabeth Golovchenko [U], Bruce Jackan [U], James Skerry
[U], Michael Spence [U].
PRECINCT 8: Warden: Julie Sibert [U]; Clerk: Rita Clark
[R]; Inspectors: Susan Alyn [U], Robert Enders [D], Lorain
Marquis [U], Sean McIntosh [D], Donald McIntosh [D],
Margaret Quinn [D], Kristin Simon [D], Christin Worcester
[D].
PRECINCT 9: Warden: Shirley Ament-Bergey [D]; Clerk:
Michael Fenollosa [D]; Inspectors: Margaret Aranow [D],
Kevin Chua [U], Constance Cooper [D], Marilyn Fenollosa
[D], Debra Heaton [U], Lee Minardi [D].
CARY HALL INFO DESK: Michael Sperber [U] and Anne
Kadlec [U].
The Election Officers were sworn to the faithful performance
of their duties. The polls were declared open in each precinct at
seven o’clock A.M. and remained open until eight o’clock P.M.,
at which time, after due notice, the polls were declared closed.
(continued on next page)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
TOTAL VOTERS 2,411 2,696 2,197 2,205 2,601 2,628 2,564 2,577 2,718 23,081
Total Votes 561 752 487 806 637 757 685 685 711 6,151
Percent 23% 28% 22% 31% 24% 28% 29% 27% 26% 27%
The total number of registered voters in each precinct eligible to vote in the March 3, 2025, Annual Town Election were as follows:
Recap sheets were delivered to the Town Clerk at the Town Office Building. 27% of the registered voters cast their vote.
The Town Clerk canvassed the results:
25 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION: MARCH 3, 2025 (continued)
PCT 1 PCT 2 PCT 3 PCT 4 PCT 5 PCT 6 PCT 7 PCT 8 PCT 9 TOTAL
SELECT BOARD (Vote for Not more than TWO for THREE Years)
JOSEPH N. PATO 328 489 326 439 344 427 345 344 378 3420
VINEETA AJAY KUMAR 308 460 336 398 304 401 373 338 391 3309
DAWN E. MCKENNA 237 266 133 368 317 334 377 362 309 2703
PATRICK R. MEHR 143 163 108 228 184 208 224 211 208 1677
ALL OTHERS 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 10
BLANK VOTES 103 126 71 179 125 142 187 115 135 1183
TOTALS 1122 1504 974 1612 1274 1514 1510 1370 1422 12302
MODERATOR (Vote for NOT more than ONE for ONE Year)
DEBORAH J. BROWN 394 503 374 538 455 489 535 474 535 4297
ALL OTHERS 4 0 0 6 2 3 4 6 3 28
BLANK VOTES 163 249 113 262 180 265 216 205 173 1826
TOTALS 561 752 487 806 637 757 755 685 711 6151
SCHOOL COMMITTEE (Vote for NOT more than TWO for THREE Years)
LARRY DEON FREEMAN, JR. 350 498 334 463 364 406 383 380 394 3572
EILEEN S. JAY 344 490 354 501 369 458 399 407 452 3774
LANA PANASYUK 180 222 125 285 250 316 328 261 273 2240
OLGA PACHMAJEROVA GUTTAG 11 8 0 24 17 3 6 17 4 90
SARAH ENGLAND CARTER 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5
ALL OTHERS 7 2 1 0 3 2 5 8 2 30
BLANK VOTES 229 282 160 339 269 329 389 297 297 2591
TOTALS 1122 1504 974 1612 1274 1514 1510 1370 1422 12302
SCHOOL COMMITTEE (Vote for NOT more than ONE for TWO Years) to fill unexpired term
SARAH ENGLAND CARTER 365 499 351 456 370 467 467 400 456 3831
OLGA PACHMAJEROVA GUTTAG 24 17 19 19 39 22 25 33 39 237
LANA PANASYUK 1 2 0 0 1 2 1 0 3 10
ALL OTHERS 4 2 2 24 3 5 4 9 1 54
BLANK VOTES 167 232 115 307 224 261 258 243 212 2019
TOTALS 561 752 487 806 637 757 755 685 711 6151
PLANNING BOARD (Vote for NOT more than ONE for THREE Years)
TINA M. MCBRIDE 296 393 169 439 334 436 553 452 321 3393
THOMAS R. SHIPLE 222 321 290 312 260 282 160 202 346 2395
ALL OTHERS 0 0 0 4 0 1 3 2 3 13
BLANK VOTES 43 38 28 51 43 38 39 29 41 350
TOTALS 561 752 487 806 637 757 755 685 711 6151
LEXINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (Vote for NOT more than One for FIVE Years)
RICHARD F. PERRY 333 435 288 475 379 429 430 385 461 3615
ALL OTHERS 2 0 0 4 5 5 10 7 5 38
BLANK VOTES 226 317 199 327 253 323 315 293 245 2498
TOTALS 561 752 487 806 637 757 755 685 711 6151
(continued on next page)
26
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION: MARCH 3, 2025 (continued)
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 1 (Vote for NOT more than EIGHT) (Seven for Three Years, One for Two Years) TOTAL
LARRY DEON FREEMAN, JR. 337
ERIC JAY MICHELSON 337
CRISTINA ANN BURWELL 307
SARAH ENGLAND CARTER 302
VALERIE GALE OVERTON 272
LOIS ANEGLO 250
CHARLES JAMES 234
KATHERINE REYNOLDS 205
JAMES L. AVERY 116
WILLIAM A. CARLSON 115
ALISHA RAEL BLOOM 3
STEPHANIE HAYES HSU 2
CONNOR LEN BOUWENS 1
JAMES CARRICO 1
RUTH L. LIU 1
MICHAEL NEGATU MOLLA 1
DAVID GRAHAM WININGER 1
ALL OTHERS 0
BLANK VOTES 2003
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 2 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
JOSEPH N. PATO 441
MATTHEW COHEN 402
RITA B. GOLDBERG 383
MATTHEW P. DAGGETT 374
BETSEY WEISS 321
RICKI DONNA PAPPO 315
AJAY T. JOSEPH 301
SEAN D. OSBORNE 292
EMILIE RINARD WEBSTER 263
HUAYU XIONG 149
ANN K. BOBO 1
NICHOLAS DAVIS HART 1
LIAM ANDREW HEFFERMAN 1
HAIPING XIA 1
ALL OTHERS 3
BLANK VOTES 2016
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 3 (Vote for NOT more than NINE) (Seven for Three Years, One for Two Years, One for One Year) TOTAL
JEANNE K. KRIEGER 323
SALLYE F. BLEIBERG 290
FRANKLIN E. SMITH 275
COURTNEY MCCOLLUM APGAR 273
GLENN PARKER 273
SUDHIR K. JAIN 269
PRASHANT SINGH 256
JAMES BRITTON BALDWIN 252
HUA WANG 242
PATRICK R. MEHR 156
BINDU J. VYAS 131
MARK V. TERZIAN 2
NORMAN PAUL COHEN 1
ALICE M. PIERCE 1
ALL OTHERS 0
BLANK VOTES 1639
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 4 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
GERALD PAUL 392
PETER SHAPIRO 378
WENDY K. MANZ 368
CAROL R. SACERDOTE 349
SANDRA J. SHAW 313
KATHRYN A. ROY 309
NYLES NATHAN BARNERT (TIE) 304
LINDA BOARDMAN LIU (TIE) 304
LAWRENCE CHAN 222
DENIS KEFALLINOS 4
PAOLA CHRISTINA KEFALLINOS 3
PAMELA KERRI COHEN 3
ELAINE M. HYLEK 2
DANIT NETZER 2
CHARLES JARED DIXON 1
STEVEN DANIEL EPPINGER 1
BEVERLY KELLEY 1
PETER CHRISTOPHER KELLEY 1
NICHOLAS C. ORF 1
ALL OTHERS 18
BLANK VOTES 2666
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 5 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
JOHN ZHIQIANG ZHAO 389
MARILYN MOORE FENOLLOSA 376
M. MASHA TRABER 348
ANDREW FRIEDLICH 338
MONICA KARIN DAVIS 329
MELANIE ALBERTA THOMPSON 307
JEROLD SCOTT MICHELSON 287
CATHERINE YAN 278
LANA PANASYUK 255
EDWARD A. GANSHIRT 1
SIRARPI HEGHINIAN-WALZER 1
MICHELLE EDWARDS JARVIS 1
ELIZABETH S. WARREN 1
ALL OTHERS 8
BLANK VOTES 1540
(continued on next page)
27 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION: MARCH 3, 2025 (continued)
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 6 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
SARA GURLEY BOTHWELL ALLEN 473
DAWN E. MCKENNA 442
SARAH JASMIN WOLFSON 404
JEREMY LEVITAN 384
DEBORAH COHEN STROD 383
ERAN COHEN STROD 382
MARGARET L. COUNTS-KLEBE 360
OLGA PUCHMAJEROVA GUTTAG 295
FREDERIC STEVEN JOHNSON 208
LANCE P. BRADLEY 144
ANAVA BLANDER 1
JEFFREY O. CLAYMAN 1
JEANNE BROWN DESANTO 1
THEODORE DICKENSON 1
JENNIFER S. KENNEDY 1
JAMES EDWARD LENHART 1
JENNIFER PLANSKY MCKINLEY 1
ELAINE TUNG 1
ALL OTHERS 0
BLANK VOTES 1816
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 7 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
MONAMI D. ROY 456
KATHARINE BLAUER 433
SANDRA HACKMAN 413
ROBERT KEVIN CREECH 408
ARCHAN BASU 394
LETITIA J. HOM 314
VIKAS KINGER 313
CHRISTIAN L. BOUTWELL 289
VIDA FIGUERAS BATERINA HOM 271
MICHAEL DAVID BARG 1
GABRIELLE ISABELLA JESSIC GODDARD 1
TINA MCBRIDE 1
LEONARD JOSEPH MORSE-FORTIER 1
ERIK WILLIAM WILKER 1
KATHERINE ELIZABETH WILKER 1
NANCY CHIU WILKER 1
ALL OTHERS 11
BLANK VOTES 1975
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 8 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
BETTY J. GAU 502
ALAN MAYER LEVINE 500
SUDHIR RANJAN 409
LISA A. NEWTON 387
ALAN V. SEFERIAN 347
PEGGY ENDERS 330
ALIX O'BRIEN FOX 327
MARGARET E. COPPE 303
VICTORIA C. BUCKLEY 243
SHUBHRA CHANDRA 2
CHERYL A. KING 2
THOMAS F. KING 2
MATTHEW MAZUR PAULSON 2
TERESA LEAH WRIGHT 1
ALL OTHERS 2
BLANK VOTES 1436
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS: PRECINCT 9 (Vote for NOT more than SEVEN) (Seven for Three Years) TOTAL
VINEETA AJAY KUMAR 476
DIANA J. DONOVAN 391
RODNEY ELIAS COLE 378
SCOTT FOSTER BURSON 351
THOMAS OSGOOD FENN 349
VICTORIA LAWRENCE BLIER 348
ELIZABETH RUTH METTETAL 331
FOSTER JOSEPH JACKSON 295
UMESH D. DHEKANE 2
MARK ROBERT VITUNIC 2
IRENA FAYNGOLD 1
MARIE-CHRISTINA HARITON VITUNIC 1
ZACHARY EARLY RHODES 1
JOSEPH J. SCHIRRIPA 1
ALL OTHERS 2
BLANK VOTES 2048
A vote by ballot of the Town Meeting Members in Precinct 4
was held on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., at the Cary
Memorial Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, to resolve a
tie for the 7th seats of elected Town Meeting Members, Nyles
Nathan Barnert and Linda Boardman Liu, both having re-
ceived 304 votes in the March 3, 2025 Annual Election.
A quorum of at least 11 Precinct members was present.
Precinct Chair, Charles Lamb conducted the vote for the three-
year seat by secret ballot and reported the results in writing to the
Town Clerk, Mary de Alderete. The Chair declared the results:
Nyles Nathan Barnert – 14 votes. Linda Boardman Liu – 7 votes.
Mr. Barnert will serve the three-year term, expiring in 2028.
TIE RUNOFFS 2025
28
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 ABBREVIATED MINUTES
November 13, 2024: Special Town Meeting-1
The 2024-1 Special Town Meeting, held in the Margery
Milne Battin Hall in the Cary Memorial Building, 1605
Massachusetts Avenue, and via means of remote participation
was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by the Moderator, Deborah
Brown. A quorum in excess of 100 members was present
(171). The Moderator noted that two Members had entered
Points of Order in the Portal, but upon checking in with
them, they did not need assistance.
Town Clerk, Mary de Alderete, read the Warrant for the
Special Town Meeting 2024-1 until waived. The Town Clerk
read the Constable’s Return of Service.
7:32 p.m. The Moderator gave a warm welcome to all Members. She also welcomed members of the public and the new Town Manager, Steve Bartha. She then gave a brief overview of how to use the tablet and explained Zoom procedures and protocols to those participating remotely and for members of the public who wished to speak.
7:35 p.m. The Moderator opened to Portal to take at-
tendance and noted that a quorum (171) had
been reached. She then gave a brief overview of
parliamentary procedure and expectations for
throughout the Meeting.
7:36 p.m. Mark Anderson raised a Point of Order but with-
drew it as a mistake.
7:41 p.m. Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, moved that the
Town Meeting Members approve the use of the
electronic technology during the Special Town
Meeting - 1. The Moderator noted that she would
treat this as a voice vote, and asked if there were
any objections to using the tablets. As there were
none, the motion carries unanimously.
A Member raised a Point of Order and stated that there was
the wrong location listed on their tablet. The Moderator ex-
plained how to reset that on the tablet.
7:41 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 1.
ARTICLE 1: REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
b. Report of the Superintendent of Schools
MOTION: Ms. Jay moves that the reports of the
Superintendent of Schools be received and placed
on file. As there were no objections the motion carries unanimously.
c. Reports of the Appropriation Committee
MOTION: Mr. Parker moves that the report of the
Appropriation Committee be received and placed
on file. As there were no objections the motion
carries unanimously.
d. Reports of the Capital Expenditures Committee
MOTION: Mr. Lamb moves that the report of the Capital
Expenditures Committee be received and placed
on file. As there were no objections the motion
carries unanimously.
f. Reports of the School Building Committee
MOTION: Ms. Lenihan moves that the report of the School
Building Committee be received and placed on
file. As there were no objections the motion car-
ries unanimously.
Dr. Hackett presented a School Building Project Update from
Dr. Hackett including a building project timeline. She not-
ed that the debt exclusion vote was projected to take place
between November or December of 2025. Dr. Hackett also
stated that the current building was 75-years old, not energy
efficient, had inadequate labs, and was overcrowded.
g. Report of the Select Board
MOTION: Mr. Lucente moves that the report of the Select
Board be received and placed on file. As there were
no objections the motion carries unanimously.
7:57 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting on the
Consent Agenda and noted that each Article had
the unanimous support of the Select Board as
well as any other pertinent Boards/Committees.
Mr. Lucente moved to take up the Consent
Agenda, which encompassed Articles 2 and 6.
As there were no objections the motion carries
unanimously.
ARTICLE 2: APPROPRIATE FOR PRIOR YEARS’ UNPAID BILLS
MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 6: ESTABLISH AND CONTINUE DEPARTMENTAL REVOLVING FUNDS
MOTION: That the Town redesignate the Lab Animal
Permit Applications/Inspections revolving fund as the Lab
Inspections Revolving Fund, and that Section 110-1 of the
Code of Lexington be amended by revising the following row
to the table in that section as shown below:
(continued on next page)
29 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Revolving Authorized Departmental Use of Fund Fund Representative Receipts or Board to Spend
Lab Animal Health Lab Animal Expense for Permit Director Permit Consulting Applications/ application services to Inspections fees perform inspections before granting permit and for animal of life science and research labs.
As there were no questions, the Moderator opened voting in
the Portal.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
CONSENT AGENDA – ARTICLES 2 AND 6
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
172 0 2
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
8:08 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 3.
ARTICLE 3: ESTABLISH, AMEND, DISSOLVE AND APPROPRIATE TO AND FROM SPECIFIED STABILIZATION FUNDS
MOTION: Mr. Sandeen moves that a) That $4,362,799 be
appropriated into the Capital Stabilization Fund, and that to
meet this appropriation $4,362,799 be raised in the tax levy.
Mr. Sandeen stated the Select Board was unanimous in sup-
port of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures Committee
was unanimous in its support of the Article and that it was an
integral part of the LHS tax mitigation plan.
Ms. Verma stated that Appropriations Committee had voted
unanimously in favor of the Article.
Ms. Jay said that the School Committee was unanimous in
support of the Article.
8:09 p.m. As there were no questions, the moderator
opened the Article for voting.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 3: ESTABLISH, AMEND, DISSOLVE AND
APPRPROPRIATE TO AND FROM SPECIFIED
STABILIZATION FUNDS
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
168 0 3
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
8:11 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 4.
ARTICLE 4: AMEND FY2025 OPERATING, ENTERPRISE AND CPA BUDGETS
MOTION: Mr. Pato moves that
(a) That the following adjustment be made to the following
line items for the FY2025 Operating budget as approved
under Article 4 of the 2024 Annual Town Meeting:
Line Program From To
3300 Department $7,884,124 $7,954,124
8210 Town $414,962 $534,962
8400 Finance $510,260 $535,260
$8,809,346 $9,024,346
(b) That the following adjustment be made to the following
line item for the FY2025 budget to operate the Water
Division of the Department of Public Works as approved
under Article 5(a) of the 2024 Annual Town Meeting:
Program From To
Debt $1,386,157 $1,368,116
MWRA $10,277,096 $8,432,204
(c) That the following adjustment be made to the follow-
ing line item for the FY2025 budget to operate the
Wastewater Division of the Department of Public Works
as approved under Article 5(b) of the 2024 Annual Town
Meeting:
Program From To
Debt Service $1,592,858 $1,569,746
MWRA Wastewater Assessment $10,284,483 $9,153,352
Mr. Pato said that the Select Board was unanimous in support
of the Article.
Mr. Bartenstein stated that the Appropriations Committee
unanimously recommended approval of the Article.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
30
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
8:12 p.m. As there were no questions, the moderator
opened the Article for voting.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 4: AMEND FY2025 OPERATING, ENTERPRISE AND CPA BUDGETS
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
168 0 1
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
ARTICLE 5: APPROPRIATE FOR AUTHORIZED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
MOTION: Ms. Hai moves that the Town appropriate
$1,240,000 for the purchase and installation of solar cano-
pies, energy storage batteries and related infrastructure and
systems to be located at the site of the new Police Station at
1575 Massachusetts Avenue, including the adjacent park and
parking lots, to supplement the appropriation of $3,400,000
approved under Article 16i of the 2023 Annual Town Meeting,
and all other incidental costs related thereto; and to take
by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire any fee,
easement or other interest in land necessary therefore; and to
meet this appropriation that the Treasurer, with the approval
of the Select Board, be authorized to borrow $1,240,000 un-
der M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7(1), or any other enabling
authority.
Ms. Hai, stated that the Select Board unanimously supported
passage of the Article, with one member requesting that the
Select Board work with staff to implement a policy regarding
solar panel placement on municipal buildings, parking lots,
and grounds.
Mr. Lamb noted that the Capital Expenditures Committee
unanimously recommended approval of Article.
Mr. Levine stated that the Appropriation Committee, by a
vote of 7-2 recommended approval of the Article.
8:16 PM Ms. McKenna, Pct. 6, asked for clarification
on the Motion and why it mentioned eminent
domain, and whether any was planned. Mina
Makarious, Town Counsel, noted that the ver-
biage was commonly included for capital projects
in case there was the need to acquire an easement
or in this case, conduits, or other property rights
and there was no separate appropriation to pay
for eminent domain damages, that would have
to come back to Town Meeting. Michael Cronin,
Director of Public Facilities stated that there
were no plans to take any properties by eminent
domain. Ms. McKenna noted that it had been
noted that the HDC had approved the design,
but that staff had recently returned to the HDC
to request some changes in that design, and won-
dered whether the pricing reflects the one that
HDC had approved. She noted that the process
of compromise to come up with a plan worked
with neighbors and had issues with changing it
after the fact. Mr. Cronin stated that the design
that had been shown was the original, approved
design with COFA certificate. He noted that the
work that they had done with the engineering
firms and designers was to reduce some of the
bulk, not change the design and that it was in
front of the HDC. He said that they believed that
this was a less expensive option, rather than the
price shown. Ms. McKenna stated that she would
support the Article, but urged Town Meeting
Members to pay attention to the design.
8:20 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Article and
noted that it required a 2/3 vote.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 5: APPROPRIATE FOR AUTHORIZED
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
163 7 2
MOTION CARRIES WITH MORE THAN
NECESSARY 2/3RDS
8:23 p.m. The Moderator opened the meeting on Article 7.
ARTICLE 7: APPROPRIATE FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGN FUNDS- HARRINGTON ATHLETIC FIELDS
MOTION: Mr. Boutwell moves that the Town appropriate
$100,000 for the purpose of design, engineering,
and architectural services for new Harrington
Athletic fields to be located at 146 Maple St., and
all incidental costs related thereto; and that to
meet this appropriation $100,000 be appropriat-
ed from the tax levy. Change to new MOTION!!
11/12/2024
Mr. Boutwell, Rec Com Vice-Chair presented information on
the Article.
Mr. Boutwell stated that the Recreation Committee had voted
unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the Motion.
(continued on next page)
31 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
Ms. Barry stated that the Select Board had 4 members in fa-
vor, and one member, Mr. Sandeen, awaiting Town Meeting
discussion.
Mr. Lamb said that the Capital Expenditure Committee was
unanimously in favor of the Article, and that there had been
some discussion regarding keeping the old building on the
site. He noted that to keep it there would be inefficient as
the building was 46,000 sq. ft. and they did not need that
much space and to bring it to a workable condition for HVAC
and infrastructure would require $20 million. The alternative
might be to put an elementary school on the site, which would
require an additional 60,000 sq. ft. with 36 classrooms and an
approximate cost of $60 million. That would be comparable
with building new.
Mr. Osborne said that the Appropriations Committee was
unanimously in favor of the Article.
Ms. Jay said that the School Committee was unanimously in
support of Article 7. She then read a prepared statement.
This Article is a funding request for the design, engineering
and architectural services for constructing new Harrington
athletic fields at 146 Maple Street. The primary impetus
for moving the LPS central administration out of the old
Harrington building is to address a significant shortage of
recreational fields identified in the Recreation Committee’s
2021-22 comprehensive study. A dire need for more field
access will be exacerbated during the high school building
project, so a plan to proactively bring new fields online is vital
for reducing playing time disruptions for student athletes as
well family and community members served by the Recreation
Department. Over the long term, adding fields to the inven-
tory will help address the Recreation Department’s identified
2,000+ hours of unmet need. The School Committee under-
stands the need to provide additional recreational facilities in
our Town to enhance the health, well-being, and enjoyment of
all members of our community. Continued long term use of the
LPS central administration building would require upgrades
estimated to cost about $20 million. Investing money for these
improvements is not a sound strategy. Moving the Central
Office to a smaller facility avoids these costs and makes ways
for the construction of desired athletic fields. Potential admin-
istrative moves and shift in land use has sparked a renewed
interest in the land ownership at 146 Maple Street. The site
map submitted to the MSBA for the 2005 new Harrington
building and Town’s own GIS maps indicate that the Central
Administration site and Harrington School are part of the
same parcel under School Department oversight. While this
issue is still under legal review, our preliminary research in-
dicates that the land would remain in the School Committee’s
possession. Nevertheless, the School Committee is in full
support of constructing the proposed new fields that will serve
not only our students, but will become a community resource
that can provide ongoing recreational opportunities that will
benefit residents of all ages. The School Committee is in unan-
imous support of Article 7.
8:30 p.m. Steve Kaufman, Pct. 5, noted that the Motion
didn’t refer to whether or not the old building
was taken down and asked if that limited that
discussion, or whether it was just an evaluation
of the fields. Mr. Boutwell, Recreation Committee
Chair, noted that the Motion in no way requests
demolition, but simply regarding the design
process for fields that could go on the site. Mr.
Kaufman asked if the building was not taken
down, whether an adequate number of fields
could still be created. Mr. Boutwell said they
would not. Mr. Kaufman asked what type of loss
not taking down the building would create. Mr.
Boutwell noted it would be 2 full size soccer fields
or a single large space that could be converted to
smaller fields.
8:34 p.m. Jeanne Krieger, Pct. 3, spoke in favor of the
Motion and noted a preference towards natural
fields.
8:38 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, Noted that the Harrington
property sits between two very busy roads, poor
pedestrian facilities, and residents had asked for
traffic calming on the roads and a reconfigura-
tion of the intersection and that now they were
being asked to fund athletic fields, that while a
nice amenity, everyone would have to drive to as
there were no safe alternatives to get there and
said that he could not support this until there was
a commitment to improving pedestrian and bike
safety as well as transit access.
8:40 p.m. Lana Panasyuk, 28 Saddle Club Road, asked that
Town Meeting members vote “no” on the Article
and stated that when enrollment was uncertain,
the building needed to be kept available.
8:41 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
8:55 p.m. Marsha Baker, Pct. 7, moved the question.
ARTICLE 7:TERMINATE DEBATE
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
108 54 12
MOTION CARRIES
(continued on next page)
32
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
8:57 p.m. As Mr. Boutwell declined further comments, the
Moderator opened the Article for voting.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 7: APPROPRIATE FOR SCHEMATIC DESIGN
FUNDS- HARRINGTON ATHLETIC FIELDS
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
119 46 4
MOTION CARRIES
8:59 p.m. The Moderator opened the meeting on Article 8.
ARTICLE 8: DELAY MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY (MSBA)
FILING RESOLUTION (Citizen Petition)
MOTION:
Brian Kelley moved that the Town adopt the following
resolution:
WHEREAS: Lexington was one of the first communities to
adopt the state’s mandatory multi- family rezoning and
WHEREAS: Lexington rezoned 4 times the required acreage
and
WHEREAS: Lexington is undertaking a major project to
renew its high school and
WHEREAS: It is impossible to know the impact the new
multifamily rezoning will have on future school enrollment
THEREFORE: Be it resolved that the Select Board, in part-
nership with the School Committee and our State Legislators,
request MSBA to fund Lexington’s High School Project in two
phases. The first phase to address existing overcrowding and
the second, in two to five years, when the enrollment from the
new rezoning will be better understood.
Peter Kelley presented information on the Article and then
offered a clarification that some signatories received on the
Petition might not agree with the Plan, but felt it was an im-
portant discussion topic to bring to Town Meeting.
Mr. Pato stated that there were 4 Members of the Select
Board opposed to the resolution and were concerned that it
would place MSBA funding at risk. The Select Board had
voted to oppose the Motion 0-4, with Mr. Lucente awaiting
discussion.
Ms. Lenihan stated that that School Building Committee had
voted on November 12 for the “Bloom” design plan as their
preferred option. She also noted since August of 2022, there
had been 160 public meetings, including SBC meetings, fo-
cus groups, community forums, and stake holder meetings
and that the meetings had informed their design process from
19 options to 1 (Bloom).
Ms. Sawhney stated that Ms. Jay of the School Committee
had recused herself as an abutter to the High School. She
further noted that the remaining 4 members of the School
Committee were unanimously opposed to the Motion and
that a delay would not solve current space issues.
Mr. Lamb noted that while the Capital Expenditures
Committee had concerns about future enrollment, but felt
reviewed and discussed by the School Building Committee
in future projections. Mr. Lamb listed items that were not
currently being addressed such as overcrowding, ADA re-
quirements, and others that would be affected by waiting,
including loss of MSBA funding. The Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously recommended disapproval of the
Article.
Mr. Parker stated that the written report of the Appropriations
Committee supported many of points made by the Capital
Expenditure Committee. The Appropriation Committee
strongly recommends against approval of the Article with a
vote of 8-0 with 1 abstention.
Mr. Schanbacher, Planning Board Chair, stated that on
October 23, the Planning Board had decided against taking
a position on the Article as they were not allowed to take
“enrollment” into their considerations. He further noted that
the Board wanted to point out that in the Motion there was
an assumption that after 2-5 years school enrollment, as a
result of the new zoning, would be better understood. While
the Board had seen a number of applications as a result of
both the SRD and MBTA articles passage, they had no de-
finitive way to predict how many more would be received
and this would not change in the proposed timeframe. The
applications going through the Planning Board at this time
likely would not be occupied for many years as each project
required the creation of construction documents, permitting,
site work, and leasing, which did not happen all at once.
9:23 p.m. Mark Andersen, Pct. 9, stated that it was import-
ant to remember that it will be difficult to fund the
high school, and whether they chose a phased or
non-phased approach, enrollment would impact
the entire school system including demographics
and traffic. Mr. Andersen asked if the Article was
consistent with a non-binding resolution. Mr.
Makarious, Town Counsel, affirmed that it was
non-binding.
(continued on next page)
33 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
9:35 p.m. Albert Zabin, Pct. 1, stated he would be voting
“no” on the Article and that the most important
task of municipalities was quality education. He
also said that deferring the project would be ex-
pensive and wouldn’t be less expensive down the
road.
9:38 p.m. Sara Carter, 5 Spencer St., shared a statement on
behalf of LexFun, LexSEPTA, as well as Bowman
PTO, Bridge PTA, Estabrook PTO, Fisk PTO,
Harrington PTA, Hastings PTO, Clark PTO,
Diamond PTO, and LHS PTO.
We support the plan put forward by the School
Building Committee to address the problems that
currently exist at the high school. Our current
high school does not meet the educational needs of
our students, from failing to have adequate space
to hold classes, security concerns, to our failing
infrastructure, we need to address these issues.
The plan set forth yesterday by the School Building
Committee will work to build a new school on the
fields. This plan will address these issues in four
years, cost the Town the least amount of money,
and be the least disruptive option. The Article 8
plan would raise many problems. The estimation
by the Capital Expenditures Committee showed
that this plan could cost over $1 billion or 2 ½
times for the plan approved by the School Building
Committee and could take over a decade to com-
plete, or 3 times as long. No student who is current
enrolled in Lexington Public School would see the
final building if we follow Article 8 and they would
still have to suffer through educational deficits of
the current structure. Additionally, we would lose
out on MSBA reimbursement, which is estimated
to be about $100 million. We need to ensure that
we are making the right choices for our community.
As leaders in our schools, we represent thousands
of families with current and future LHS students.
We implore you to vote no on this Article.
9:40 p.m. Alan Seferian, 10 Augustus Rd., stated that he had
read a Report regarding the estimated cost of the
high school construction and that the total debt
expense with principal and interest were in the
vicinity of $1 billion, which was a massive debt
for the tax payers. Mr. Seferian asked Members to
vote “yes” on the Article.
9:42 p.m. Lauren Black, Pct. 8, asked if the phased ap-
proach, specifically phase 1, would address
significant concerns regarding current layout of
LHS, particularly the cafeteria space and ADA
concerns for children with disabilities and lack of
space for special education programs. Mr. Kelley
explained his plan regarding phase one of his plan
over existing language building, offering 172,000
sq. ft. to be broken down in many ways to address
some of the issues. Mr. Black noted that he was
opposed to the Article as waiting seemed to cost
the Town more and that a school built around
accessibility was important.
9:48 p.m. Thomas Shiple, Pct. 9, spoke against the Article.
9:50 p.m. Jonas Miller spoke on behalf of Mark Allen, 68
Colony Rd, who noted that he was opposed to
any delays to the high school project and asked
Members to vote against the Article.
9:51 p.m. Sarela Bliman-Cohen, 17 Day Road, stated that
the cost of the Bloom design could add $2,000
per year to tax bills for the next 30 years without
considering other projects in the pipeline and
many residents wouldn’t be able to afford the
increased amounts. She stated that the Town
needed a functional school not an architectural
marvel.
9:54 p.m. Sara Bothwell Allen, Pct. 6, asked that examples
of community outreach over the past two years
could be characterized and how community
input has influenced the process. Ms. Lenihan,
noted that the School Building Committee
had held visioning workshops, 8 community
forums, focus groups on education planning,
site safety and sustainability, as well as exterior
and interior design meetings, all of which had
been open to the public. She further noted that
over the summer the SBC had sent out a letter
of engagement to stakeholder groups including
the Select Board, Appropriations Committee,
Capital Expenditures Committee, Recreation
Committee, Sustainable Lexington, and others
offering opportunities to meet with the groups.
She noted that the feedback was useful in hearing
that the fields were incredibly important to all in
Town. This informed them in rotating the current
“Bloom” plan to allow some fields to stay where
they are. They had started with 19 massing op-
tions, then 5, then 6, as comments were received
regarding possible renovation options.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
34
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
9:56 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:10 p.m. Harry Forsdick, Pct. 7, called the question.
ARTICLE 8: TERMINATE DEBATE
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
123 34 15
MOTION CARRIES
10:12 p.m. Mr. Kelley offered final comments and stated
that he was glad that the conversation had come
before Town Meeting for discussion.
10:14 p.m. The Moderator opened the Article for voting.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 8: DELAY MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL
BUILDING AUTHORITY (MSBA)
FILING RESOLUTION (Citizen Petition)
Fails by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
11 157 8
MOTION FAILS
10:16 p.m. A Member raised a Point of Order to explain yes
or no in voting. The Moderator explained that a
yes vote would support the Article and a no vote
was voting against it.
10:16 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
9 and noted that there was an updated Motion as
of that day.
ARTICLE 9: RESOLUTION-DESIGN PROCESS OF CREMATORY AT WESTVIEW CEMETERY (Citizen Petition)
MOTION: Mr. Ahuja moves that the Town is urged to re-
search, study, and present a plan to the Select Board for the
potential construction of a crematory addition to the existing
Westview Cemetery building to address the unmet end-of-
life cremation needs of communities in our town.
10:17 p.m. Mr. Lucente raised a Point of Order to request
that the new Motion be placed on screen. The
Moderator asked that the redline version be
shown Mr. Ahuja explained the reason for the
change was due to incorporation of feedback
from the Finance Committees and Select Board.
Sanjay Padaki presented information on the
Article.
Mr. Lucente noted that the Select Board had 3
Members in favor, with 2 (Barry/Hai), being
supportive of the creation of a study committee,
but felt that the language in the Motion implied
the presumption of a Plan of construction rath-
er than a Report of construction feasibility. He
further stated that at their earlier meeting that
evening, the Select Board had agreed they would
stand up a new study committee, although not
officially voted yet.
Mr. Michelson, stated that 2 Members of the
Appropriations Committee had presented the
Article, but that they were not required to recuse
themselves from deliberation or voting according
to both the Moderator and Town Counsel. The
Appropriations Committee had voted 9-0 in fa-
vor of the Article.
10:30 p.m. Avram Baskin, Pct. 2, asked a question regarding
a slide showing that burials could cost 100K, and
the percentage of burials that fell into this catego-
ry. Mr. Ahuja noted that these were just a range
across the country, with no specific data available.
10:31 p.m. Bridger McGaw, Pct. 6, noted that the numbers
had changed since data had been gathered in a
prior study and urged Members to vote in sup-
port of the Article, but asked that data regarding
long-term operational costs be studied as well.
10:33 p.m. Nyles Barnert, Pct. 4, stated that as the Town
provided cemetery interment and that cremation
was not a cemetery operation. He asked Members
to vote no on the Motion.
10:36 p.m. Jyoti Puri, 90 Grant St. stated that she was a so-
ciologist and had studied South Asian customary
burial rites and that providing services such as a
crematory would align with the Town’s goals of
inclusivity.
10:40 p.m. Robert Avallone, Pct. 8, asked whether the Town
something that will be a cost to the Town or
would fees cover expenses. Mr. Ahuja noted that
this was the specific purpose of the study.
10:41 p.m. Valerie Overton, Pct. 1, noted that she was in sup-
port of the Motion because as a community they
had voted in prior Meetings to study implications
of how business was done in Lexington in terms
of equity and inclusion.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
35 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
10:42 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, moved the question.
ARTICLE 9: TERMINATE DEBATE
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
116 33 11
MOTION CARRIES
10:44 p.m. Mr. Ahuja offered final comments on the Article
and noted that the question had to be viewed in
the lens towards equity for all residents.
10:44 p.m. The Moderator opened the Article for voting.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
ARTICLE 9: RESOLUTION-DESIGN PROCESS OF
CREMATORY AT WESTVIEW
CEMETERY (Citizen Petition)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
143 12 4
MOTION CARRIES
Dissolution of STM 2024-1
10:48 p.m. Mr. Lucente asked for Suzie Barry to be recog-
nized. Suzie Barry, Select Board Member, moved
to dissolve Special Town Meeting 2024-1 and
noted that this was her last Town Meeting as a
Select Board member, having served for the last
ten years.
Motion Adopted by majority voice vote.
A true copy.
Attest:
Mary de Alderete, Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: NOVEMBER 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
36
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
February 3, 2025: Special Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the 2025-1 Special Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., held in the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue, and by means of remote participation.
Town Clerk, Mary de Alderete, read the Warrant for the
Special Town Meeting until waived. The Town Clerk read
the Constable’s Return of Service.
Moderator Deborah Brown welcomed all participants and gave an overview of the voting portal and parliamentary procedures. She asked that the Members attending remotely register their attendance. 39 in person. A quorum in excess of 100 members was present (176).
7:33 p.m. Doug Lucente, Select Board Chair, offered a state-
ment on behalf of the Select Board.
Madam Moderator, tonight, we are convening
Special Town Meeting 2025-1 in response to a
valid citizen petition received on December 23,
2024. Under Massachusetts law, the Select Board
is required to call a Special Town Meeting within
45 days, which brings us here this evening. The
petition before us seeks to amend Section 7.5 of the
Zoning Bylaw to limit or prohibit construction of
multi-family housing in the current Village and
Multi-Family Overlay districts by removing some
areas from the districts and limiting the number
of dwelling units permitted in the remaining areas
to 15 dwelling units per acre and to allow time for
further study of the impacts of Lexington’s MBTA
Communities zoning. However, because this is a
zoning matter, additional legal requirements must
be met before Town Meeting can act, including
a Planning Board public hearing and report. To
comply with those requirements, tonight, we will
take no action other than adjourning this meeting
to Monday, March 17, 2025. This ensures the nec-
essary Planning Board process can take place and
that Town Meeting has the information required to
make an informed decision. We recognize that this
issue is of great concern to many in the community,
and we want to assure you that the Select Board
is taking these concerns seriously. The develop-
ments being proposed under the MBTA zoning law
present challenges for Lexington— particularly in
terms of municipal services, school capacity, and
infrastructure. The upcoming discussion in March
will be critical in determining how we move for-
ward in a way that balances state requirements
with Lexington’s long-term needs. We encourage
all Town Meeting Members and residents to stay
engaged in the process. The Planning Board will
hold its virtual public hearing in accordance
with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 40A §5
on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, and a second
night on Wednesday, February 26, to consider the
proposed amendments, and we urge you to provide
input there as well. Thank you all for your time
tonight.
The Moderator opened the Portal to take atten-
dance and noted that a quorum had been reached.
7:36 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Friedlich, raised a Point of Personal Privilege
to ask for a moment after adjournment to speak
about a particular Member. He then recognized
Janet Perry for her 40 years of service.
Doug Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to
Adjourn the Special Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, March 17, 2025, such meeting
to be held at the Margery Milne Battin Hall,
Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts
Avenue and by means of remote participation.
The Moderator declared that the Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote and the Meeting adjourned.
March 17, 2025: Adjourned Session of the 2025-1 Special Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the second session of 2025-
1 Special Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 17, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the
Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and
by means of remote participation, a quorum in excess of 100
members was present (144).
The Moderator noted how members of the public could par-
ticipate in the Meeting and gave general instructions on tablet
use and reminders for those using the remote portal. The
Moderator then gave an overview of parliamentary procedure
for the evening and asked Members to login and register their
attendance.
7:37 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to approve
the use of remote and hybrid technology. Mr.
Lucente, Select Board Chair, moved the use of
remote and hybrid technology. As there were no
objections the motion carries unanimously.
(continued on next page
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025 ABBREVIATED MINUTES
37 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
7:38 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 1.
c. Reports of the Appropriation Committee
MOTION: Mr. Parker moves that the reports of the
Appropriation Committee be received and placed
on file. As there were no objections the motion
carries unanimously.
g. Reports of the Planning Board
MOTION: Mr. Schanbacher moves that the reports of the
Planning Board be received and placed on file.
As there were no objections the motion carries
unanimously.
7:39 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting on Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: AMEND SECTION 7.5 OF THE ZONING BYLAW TO REDUCE MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT CAPACITY (Citizen Petition)
MOTION
Ms. Sacerdote moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135
of the Code of the Town of Lexington, and Zoning Map be
amended as follows, where struck through text is to be re-
moved and underlined text is to be added, and further that
non-substantive changes to the numbering of this bylaw be
permitted to comply with the numbering format of the Code
of the Town of Lexington:
A. Amend §135-2.2.5 to add a new row:
VLO Village Legacy Overlay
B. Amend the Zoning Map to delete the following areas
shown on maps on file with the Town Clerk from the VO
District:
1. Bedford Street/Bike Path, except move the following
properties from the VO District to the VLO District:
a. Map 71 Lot 33 located at 231 Bedford Street
2. Bedford Street/Reed Street, except move the following
properties from the VO District to the VLO District:
a. Map 64 Lots 72 and 73A located at 185, 187-189
Bedford Street
3. Concord Avenue/Waltham Street, except move the
following properties from the VO District to the VLO
District:
a. Map 10 Lots 58A and 59A located at 5-7 Piper Road
b. Map 9 Lot 11B and Map 10 Lots 31A, 31B, and 31C
located at 331 Concord Avenue
C. Amend the Zoning Map to delete the following areas
shown on maps on file with the Town Clerk from the
MFO District:
1. Bedford Street North
2. Lexington Center
D. Amend the Zoning Map to delete the following areas
shown on maps on file with the Town Clerk from the
VHO District:
1.Hartwell Avenue/Westview Street except for the
following properties:
a. Map 84 Lot 80A located at 17 Hartwell Avenue
b. Map 84 lot 81 located at 7 Hartwell Avenue
2. Maguire Road
3,. Hartwell Avenue/Wood Street
E. Amend the Zoning Map to remove the following proper-
ties from the VO District:
1. Map 57 Lot 79 at 60 Bedford Street
2. Map 57 Lot 14F at 32 Bedford Street
3. Map 57 Lot 14A at 46 Bedford Street
F. Amend the Zoning Map to move the following properties
from the VO District to the VLO District:
1. Map 64 Lot 161 located at 89-93 Bedford Street
2. Map 57 Lot 133A, 134, and 135 located at 3-5 Militia
Drive
3. Map 13 Lots 372, 373, 374, 375 located at 217-219, 229,
233, & 241 Massachusetts Avenue
G. Amend §135-7.5.1 as follows:
7.5.1 Purpose. The purposes of the Village Overlay (VO,
MFO, and VHO) Districts are:
H. Amend §135-7.5.4.4 as follows:
4. Developments in the VO or VLO district may contain
nonresidential uses on the street floor and basement
to the extent permitted in either the CRS or CB zoning
district, except that:
I. Amend §135-7.5.5.9 as follows:
9. In the VLO District or the VHO District, the site
coverage is not restricted. In other districts, the total
site coverage of buildings and area of required residen-
tial vehicle parking spaces not within buildings shall
not exceed 28% of the lot area of the development.
(continued on next page)
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025–ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
38
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
J. Amend §135-7.5.5.10 as follows:
10. Except as noted below, the maximum height in feet of
buildings is:
District MFO VLO VO VHO
Height in Feet 52 40 (a) 40 (b) 70 (c)
Height in stories 3 3 NR
a. VLO Height Bonus. In the VO VLO District, when the
underlying zoning district is a Commercial District,
the maximum height is 60 feet when at least 30% of
the gross floor area of the street floor level or buildings’
footprint, whichever is greater, of the entire develop-
ment is occupied by commercial principal uses, not
including associated parking, shown in Table 1
§3.4 Permitted Uses and Development Standards as
permitted in the underlying district in the following
categories:
i. Commercial Office Uses
ii. Personal, Business, or General Services Uses
iii. Sales or Rental of Goods and Equipment
iv. Eating and Drinking
v. Commercial, Recreational, Amusements,
Entertainment,
b.VO Height Bonus. In the VO District, when the
underlying district is a Residential District, the
maximum height is 52 50 feet and 4 stories when at
least 30% 33% of the gross floor area of the street floor
level or buildings’ footprint, whichever is greater, of
the entire development is occupied by non-residential
nonresidential principal uses pursuant to §7.5.4.4
and no more than the greater of 20% or 20 feet of the
street floor frontage on a public way is dedicated to
residential uses.
c. VHO Height Bonus. In the VHO District where
at least 50% of the total net floor area on the lot is occu-
pied by nonresidential principal uses permitted in the
underlying district, the maximum height is 115 feet.
K. Replace §135-7.5.5.11 as follows:
11. The number of stories is not restricted.
Number of dwelling units. In the VO District, the
number of dwelling units shall not exceed the lot area
of the development in acres multiplied by either 25
(for developments entitled to a height bonus under
§7.5.5.10.b) or 20 (for developments not entitled to
a height bonus under §7.5.5.10.b), rounded to the
nearest whole number, or 6 dwelling units, whichever
is greater.
12. Floor Area. In the VO District, the total net floor area
of all dwelling units shall not exceed the lot area of the
development multiplied by 0.48 or 6,250 SF, whichever
is greater.
L. Amend §135-7.5.9.1 as follows:
1. Transition areas, as specified under §5.3.4 (Transition
Areas), are required only along the boundary of the
Village Overlay Districts (VO, MFO, & VHO) and
shall have a depth of five (5) feet.
M. Amend §135-2.2.5 to remove the MFO row.
N. Remove §135-7.5.4.3.
O. The map changes and amendments above shall not apply
to any development projects for which an application for
site plan review under §135-7.5.3 or special permit under
§135-5.1 was filed with the Planning Board and Town
Clerk before March 1, 2025, but shall apply to any major
modification thereof.
7:40 p.m. Ms. Sacerdote presented information on the
Article.
7:49 p.m. Mr. Schanbacher, Chair of the Planning Board,
stated the 5-0 recommendation of the Planning
Board for the Article. He noted that the Public
Hearing regarding Article 2 had taken place on
February 12th and then continued to February
26th, with both meetings permitted public com-
ments and input from a working group towards a
compromise motion.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, noted the unan-
imous recommendation of the Select Board for
the Article.
Mr. Parker stated the unanimous recommen-
dation of the Appropriation Committee for the
Article.
Ms. Manz stated the Housing Partnership Board
had voted 6-0-3 for recommendation of the
Article.
(continued on next page)
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025–ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
39 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Mr. Michelson said that at their March 12th meet-
ing, the Lexington Center Committee had voted
6-1 to maintain the multi-family overlay district.
Ms. Tung, Chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, stated that
the Affordable Housing Trust had voted 5-0 in
favor of the revised Motion, but noted that more,
inclusionary, affordable housing was needed.
8:04 p.m. Pam Hoffman, Pct. 7, took a moment to thank the
proponents and members of the Planning Board
for their hard work and time on the Article. She
asked Members to vote “yes” on the Article in
order to meet their housing goals
8:06 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, questioned a statement about
the Town managing growth and asked what the
assumption was based on. Mr. Levine noted that
as a proponent, and member of the Appropriate
Committee, the Appropriation Committee had
done an analysis to try and estimate what the
impacts might be under the MBTA zoning and
estimated a few different things, but with data
from the school department which tabulated
the current number of school children living in
apartments and condos and tried to estimate the
number future students and then estimated asso-
ciated costs. Mr. Luker asked what had made them
assume that they couldn’t handle the growth. Mr.
Levine noted that they didn’t have information
on what the timing would be, completion dates,
etc. and that it was hard to make forecasted pro-
jections and if the students arrived too quickly,
they would not been prepared. The Moderator
took a moment to retest the microphones as
Mr. Levine had not been heard over Zoom. All
systems checked ok. Ms. McKenna noted that fire
department and police departments, during bud-
get meetings, had also noted concerns regarding
staffing. Mr. Luker asked Mr. Bartha when the in-
frastructure and services costs consultant survey
would arrive and whether it would look different.
Mr. Bartha noted that it would be available at the
next Select Board meeting, where it would be
shown for the first time.
8:15 p.m. Jeanne Canale, Pct. 9, and President of the South
Lexington Civic Association, noted that the
South Lexington Civic Association had voted to
recommend approval of the Article.
8:16 p.m. Donna Hooper, 14 Lois Lane, spoke in support of
the Article and noted that she viewed it as pru-
dent planning.
8:17 p.m. Laura Swain, Pct. 2, noted there had been some
recent projects at 16 Clarke St., 20 Muzzey St.,
1834-1840 Mass. Ave., 7-9 Muzzey St., and 11-
13 Muzzey St., and wanted to know how many
units were proposed per project. Abby McCabe.
Planning Director, noted that those applications
had been submitted as zoning freeze plans as sub-
division applications, and they hadn’t yet spoken
about them yet as they did not have proposed
numbers and the applicants had 8 years to file
a proposal. She noted that as of the date of this
meeting, they had 11 subdivisions submitted for
zoning freezes. Ms. McKenna said that Ms. Mead
had run models on 16 Clarke and it had a 55-unit
capacity and the other addresses were part of
one project with 37-unit capacity. She noted that
this might not be the number built, but was the
capacity.
8:20 p.m. Janet Moran, 19 Bedford St., noted she had been
lived in Town for over 75 years, and was shocked
to see a 6-story build on Militia Drive. She stated
that it was important and necessary that shade
trees and green spaces were considered and
urged Town Meeting Members to vote “yes” on
the Article.
8:23 p.m. Lauren Deems Black, Pct. 8, asked whether fire,
police, or public works could discuss the capacity
for public services. Mr. Bartha noted that Fire
and Police Chiefs were requesting staffing prior
to the MTCA projects coming and there had
been a study done regarding staffing support, and
Fire and Police had worked with the consultant
regarding it. He noted that the report would come
out in the following week. Mr. Deems Black asked
if there had also been a comprehensive study on
traffic Mr. Bartha stated that there hadn’t been at
this time.
8:27 p.m. Wendy Manz, Pct. 4, noted that she wished to
make an amendment and explained the reason-
ings behind it. The Moderator explained how
the amendment would work and noted that de-
bate would be limited to 30 minutes unless the
Meeting voted to extend it, and that all comments
would be limited to 3 minutes each.
8:28 p.m. Mr. Kaufman raised a Point of Order that the
Motion had not been moved. The Moderator
thanked him and asked Ms. Manz to move the
Motion.
(continued on next page)
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025–ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
40
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
8:28 p.m. Ms. Manz moves to amend the main motion under Article 2 as follows and presented infor-
mation on the amendment:
Remove part C.2.
1. In part I replace the text of §135-7.5.5.9 as follows:
9. In the VO District, the total site coverage of buildings
and area of required residential vehicle parking spaces
not within buildings shall not exceed 28% of the lot
area of the development.
In other districts, the site coverage is not restricted.
2. In part J, replace the table in §135-7.5.5.10 as follows:
District MFO VLO VO VHO
Height in Feet 52 40 (a) 40 (b) 70 (c)
Height in stories 4 3 3 NR
8:35 p.m. Ms. McKenna, as proponent of the original mo-
tion, noted that the team of proponents unani-
mously opposed the amendment.
Mr. Creech, Vice-Chair of the Planning Board,
noted that the Board had met that evening and
voted 3-2 to disapprove the amendment.
Mr. Lucente, Chair of the Select Board, stated
that the Select Board had voted that evening 1 in
favor, 1 opposed, and 3 waiting for the discussion
on the amendment.
Mr. Parker stated a vote of the Appropriation
Committee for 7-1 against approval of the
amendment.
Ms. Tung stated no official position had been
taken by the Affordable Housing Trust as it was
filed after their last meeting.
Ms. Manz stated that the Housing Partnership
Board had voted 6-1-1 for the amendment.
Mr. Michelson stated that the Lexington Center
Committee was in favor of the amendment.
8:43 p.m. Ms. Weiss raised a Point of Order, and asked
for the minority report of the Planning Board,
and the one vote in favor of the Select Board.
Mr. Schanbacher stated that he had wanted to
keep things in the Center, especially mixed-
use. Mr. Hornig noted that he agreed with Mr.
Schanbacher, especially regarding mixed-use.
Ms. Hai noted she had been the vote in favor and
that mixed-use development was the right thing
for a vibrant downtown.
8:46 p.m. Jerry Levitan, Pct. 6, raised a Point of Order, stat-
ing that the Amendment was outside the scope of
the Motion. The Moderator noted that matters of
scope had to do with the Article in the Warrant
and the motion to amend was within that scope.
Mr. Levitan said that it didn’t cover dimensional
controls on the re-added district. The Moderator
noted that she was ruling that it was within scope.
8:47 p.m. Rod Cole, Pct. 9, asked if the amendment passed,
then article 2 passed if there would be height lim-
it control but wanted to understand what other
controls the Town had on center construction,
either through the Planning Board, Historic
Districts Commission, etc.
Mr. Makarious said that would be within Historic
Districts Commission control as well as dimen-
sional controls that were in the bylaw and noted
that the Planning Board would continue site plan
reviews.
8:53 p.m. Tom Shiple, Pct. 9, noted that two reasons for
denser housing that resonated with him were
economic development and climate action and
that the Center was the best area for denser hous-
ing due to the closeness of transportation.
8:54 p.m. Taylor Carroll Singh, Pct. 6, said that residents
had been asking for scaling back the capacity
on housing units including residents in Precinct
6 and those that had signed the petition to call
the Special Town Meeting. She asked Members to
vote no on the Amendment and yes on the main
motion.
8:57 p.m. Anne MacDonald Broun, 50 Hancock St, asked
Members to vote against the Amendment and
noted that it was against the compromise deal
voted by the Planning Board.
8:58 p.m. The Moderator stated that the time to discuss
the Amendment had passed, but that it would be
appropriate, due to the number of people in line,
for someone to make a motion to extend the time
for debate.
8:59 p.m. Mr. Michaelson, motioned to Extend Debate by
30 minutes. As there were no objections the mo-
tion carries unanimously and debate continued.
9:00 p.m. Deborah Strod, Pct. 6, asked Counsel to explain
the legal zoning context for the sequence of the
votes. Mr. Makarious explained that zoning ar-
ticles, in general, required a 2/3 vote. He noted
that the MBTA Zoning Act allowed for certain
(continued on next page)
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025–ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
41 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
provisions, including those that encouraged
more multi-family housing, among other things,
to only require a majority vote.
9:03 p.m. Kunal Botla, Pct. 4, Chair of Transportation
Advisory Committee, said that at their March
17th meeting, they had voted 5-2 in support of the
Amendment.
9:04 p.m. Lisa Newton, Pct. 8, noted that constituents in
her precinct overwhelmingly asked for a vote of
no, and she agreed with them.
9:05 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Amendment.
9:17 p.m. Jonathan Himmel, Pct. 6, noted that they had
heard the minority view of the Lexington Center
Committee, and asked for the minority view. Mr.
Michelson said that the member who had been in
the minority was not at the meeting.
9:25 p.m. Sanjay Padaki, Pct. 8, asked the Planning Board
to clarify their voting positions. Mr. Schanbacher
noted that the Planning Board had voted 3-2 to
recommend disapproval. Mr. Padaki asked the
proponents of the Amendment whether they
had brought it to the attention of the Planning
Board. Ms. Manz noted that as the Amendment
had been filed on Friday, and the Planning Board
met that evening and there had been discussion.
Mr. Padaki clarified that he was speaking of
prior Planning Board meetings, not the one that
evening, and whether they had discussed adding
the Center at those hearings. Ms. Manz said that
there had been advocates of adding the Center
at those meetings but that Article 2, as present-
ed, had taken some time to put together so no
amendment had been proposed while those
discussions were ongoing. Mr. Schanbacher con-
firmed that information.
9:30 p.m. Mr. Padaki, Pct. 8, moved to extend debate for 15 additional minutes.
The Moderator opened voting on extending debate.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Extend Debate by 15 Minutes
Failed by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
74 91 15
MOTION TO EXTEND DEBATE FAILS
9:33 p.m. Ms. Weiss offered final comments on the
Amendment.
The Moderator explained the process if the amendment
passed or failed and that it would be a simple majority vote,
then opened voting on the Amendment.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Amend Article 2
Fails by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
56 120 3
MOTION FAILS
9:37 p.m. The Meeting returned discussion on the original
Motion.
9:41 p.m. Robert Cohen, Pct. 4, called the question.
The Moderator opened voting to terminate debate.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
123 39 18
MOTION CARRIES
9:44 p.m. Ms. Sacerdote offered final comments on the
Article.
The Moderator opened voting on the original Motion and
reminded Members that a 2/3 vote was required.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 2
Approved by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
164 9 5
MOTION CARRIES WITH MORE THAN NECESSARY
2/3RDS
9:47 p.m. The Moderator asked for a motion to dissolve the
2025 Special Town Meeting-1.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, moved to
dissolve the Special Town Meeting 2025-1.
Motion Adopted by majority voice vote.
A true copy.
Attest:
Mary de Alderete, Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: FEBRUARY 2025–ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
42
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 ABBREVIATED MINUTES
March 24, 2025: Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the 2025 Annual Town
Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., held in the Margery Milne Battin
Hall in the Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts
Avenue, and by means of remote participation, and com-
menced with the William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps
played the National Anthem and Members recited the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Moderator Deborah Brown welcomed all participants and gave
an overview of the voting portal and parliamentary procedures.
A quorum in excess of 100 members was present (176).
Town Clerk, Mary de Alderete, read the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting until waived. The Town Clerk read the Constable’s Return of Service.
7:39 p.m. The Moderator opened the Portal to take atten-
dance and noted that a quorum had been reached.
She then gave a brief overview of parliamentary
procedure for the Meeting.
7:45 p.m. The Moderator called attention to the voting por-tal and asked members approve use of the voting system which would be recording votes on a tablet. Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, moved that the Town Meeting Members approve the use of the remote and hybrid technology during the Meetings. The Moderator noted that she would treat this as a voice vote, and asked if there were any objections to using the tablets. As there were none, the motion carries unanimously.
7:46 p.m. The Moderator called the Meeting open under
Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
a. Deputy Moderator
That Thomas Diaz be approved as Deputy Moderator.
7:46 p.m. MOTION: Mr. Lucente moves that Tom Diaz be
approved as Deputy Moderator.
The Moderator noted that she was delighted
that Mr. Diaz would serve in this capacity once
more and that unless there were objections, she
would consider this a voice vote. As there were
no objections the motion carries unanimously.
The Moderator noted that she was thankful to
Mr. Diaz for agreeing to serve in this capacity. Mr.
Diaz was sworn to the faithful performance of his
duties by the Town Clerk.
7:47 p.m. The Moderator noted that the Meeting would
continue under Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
j. Reports of the Planning Board
That the reports of the Planning Board be received and placed
on file.
Mr. Schanbacher moves that the reports of the
Planning Board for Articles 30, 31, 32, and 33
be received and placed on file. As there were no
objections the motion carries unanimously.
7:47 p.m. The Moderator asked for a procedural motion to
take up Articles 30, 31, 32, 33 in that order. Mr.
Lucente moved to take up Articles 30, 31, 32, 33.
Motion approved by unanimous voice vote.
7:48 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 30.
ARTICLE 30: AMEND ZONING BYLAW – INCLUSIONARY HOUSING FOR SPECIAL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
MOTION:
Mr. Schanbacher moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135
of the Code of the Town of Lexington, be amended as follows,
where struck through text is to be removed and underlined
text is to be added:
1. Amend § 135-6.9.8 as follows:
1. Inclusionary Dwelling Units.
a. At least 15% of the total gross floor area of all dwelling
units other than inclusionary dwelling units sum of
(1) the total area of all lots in the proof plan multiplied
by 0.16 and (2) 4,550 square feet multiplied by the
number of lots shown on the proof plan shall be in-
corporated into inclusionary dwelling units, as defined
by regulations promulgated by the Planning Board
pursuant to § 6.9.8.5 (the “inclusionary GFA”). At least
two-thirds of the inclusionary GFA shall be incorpo-
rated into dwelling units eligible for inclusion on the
Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory as determined
by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and
Community Development EOHLC and shall remain
affordable in perpetuity.
6. A special residential development with six or fewer
market-rate dwelling units shall be permitted to meet
the requirements of this section by making a payment
to the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust in an amount
equal to the estimated construction cost of 15% of
(continued on next page)
43 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
the total gross floor area of all dwelling units other
than inclusionary dwelling units GFA permitted
under the proof plan submitted pursuant to § 6.9.4,
as determined in accordance with regulations to be
promulgated by the Planning Board.
Charles Hornig, Planning Board Member, presented infor-
mation on the Article. He noted that the Planning Board had
voted 5-0 to recommend that the Article be approved.
Ms. Hai noted that the Select Board had voted to support the
Article by a vote of 4-1.
7:52 p.m. Ricki Pappo, Pct. 2, noted that in 2023 the pay-
ment in lieu had been established for special
residential units and they had been assured that
the payment in lieu would represent a per square
foot prorate for all hard and soft costs (estimated
at $500 per square foot). She stated that the final
amounts were less than that and asked whether
any of the recent SPDs had been required to pay
in lieu. Mr. Hornig noted that the payment in lieu
was only available for developments fewer than
6 dwelling units and as the two developments
submitted since this had been enacted were larger
than that, the provision hadn’t been used.
7:54 p.m. Deborah Strod, Pct. 6, asked that the formula
regarding units be explained. Mr. Hornig noted
that the current requirement was 15% of what
could be built in a market rate conventional sub-
division. He explained that the new requirement
was 15% of the actual market rate housing in the
development and the reason it was sometimes
more or less was that the bylaw explicitly per-
mitted a special residential development to have
a somewhat larger total gross floor area than a
conventional development by 15%.
7:55 p.m. Jeanne Krieger, Pct. 3, asked how many units
had been achieved to date. Mr. Hornig asked for
slides to be brought up and showed two devel-
opments as an example and noted that for each
of them, the owner would prepare a proof plan
showing a conventional subdivision and then a
calculation based on that plan that shows what
could be built with the limits of gross floor area
for a single-family home in that conventional
subdivision, and noted that this was considered
the base GFA. He noted that the bylaw permitted
building up to 15% more than that in a special
residential development of market rate housing,
which acted as an incentive rather than using a
conventional subdivision.
7:59 p.m. Bob Avallone, Pct. 8, noted that some of the text
had been replaced with EOHLC and asked that
the term be defined. Mr. Hornig stated that the
State had replaced the Department of Housing
and Community Development with the Executive
Office of the Housing Livable Communities, and
in the bylaw was a technical correction to show
this. Mr. Makarious, Town Counsel, noted that
this was spelled out in another portion of the
bylaws.
8:01 p.m. Mr. Sandeen asked that the Motion be placed on
the screen, and noted that while he supported
the intention of the Article, the calculation of
inclusionary housing of what previously was to
15%, the language stated “other than inclusionary
dwelling units”, and when you used that calcula-
tion, it became 13% of the total gross floor area,
and believed the language should reflect the orig-
inal 15% intention.
8:02 p.m. Bridger McGaw, Pct. 6, asked if there was an ac-
tual square foot goal of inclusionary housing. Mr.
Hornig stated that their regulations required that
inclusionary housing be similar in size and type
to market rate housing and the bylaw set a min-
imum amount of gross floor area, and beyond
that they asked that inclusionary units matched
the size and types of others in the development.
8:05 p.m. Sanjay Padaki, Pct. 8, asked Town Counsel to
interpret the language of the Article and whether
it should be considered 13 or 15 percent. Mr.
Makarious noted that the language stated was
15% of all the units other than the inclusionary
housing
8:07 p.m. Katherine Reynolds, Pct. 1, asked Mr. Sandeen
for further clarification on the percentages. Mr.
Sandeen noted that it required a circular calcu-
lation, and if you did a recursive calculation, it
came out to 13.034%.
8:10 p.m. Jessie Steigerwald, Pct. 8, asked if fixing the lan-
guage was outside of the scope of the Warrant. Mr.
Hornig noted that the current language referred
to 15% and that no questions arose at the public
hearing regarding the percentage amount. The
Moderator said that there wasn’t a scope issue.
Ms. Steigerwald noted that the language should
be clearer. Mr. Hornig said that the Motion would
need to be reworded and that it would have to be
refigured to ensure a development was feasible.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
44
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
8:14 p.m. Alan Levine, Pct. 8, stated that he supported the
Planning Board on this Motion and noted that
the intent of the Article was clear and that if the
percentage needed to be changed it should be
done at another Town Meeting.
8:16 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, asked that Members vote for the
Article, and reminded them that 15% of zero is
zero. He said that the idea was to make things
more attractive to builders than a standard sub-
division which offered zero inclusionary housing.
8:16 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
8:35 p.m. John Zhao, Pct. 5, asked if they could change the
existing text in the Motion to 17.6% to achieve
15%. Mr. Hornig noted that he would be afraid
to do so as it wasn’t considered during the public
hearing.
8:39 p.m. Ajay Joseph, Pct. 2, raised a Point of Order and
asked that Mr. Hornig speak directly into the mi-
crophone as there were some problems hearing
him.
8:40 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, called the question.
8:41 p.m. A member raised a Point of Order that there
seemed to be an audio issue and that some people
who were participating remotely couldn’t hear
the Moderator or Ms. McKenna.
8:41 p.m. The Moderator asked that some Members attend-
ing remotely inform her on how the audio was.
The Moderator asked that the audio be checked.
Harry Forsdick, Pct. 7, raised a Point of Order
that he believed the output to Zoom was not
working. Mr. Pato noted that Members should
turn on closed captioning and then gave instruc-
tions on how to do so. Members noted that this
seemed to fix the issue, as well as logging in and
out of Zoom.
8:46 p.m. The Moderator opened voting to terminate
debate.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
125 40 10
MOTION CARRIES
8:48 p.m. Mr. Hornig gave final remarks on the Article.
8:49 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Article and
reminded Members that a 2/3 vote was required
to pass.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 30 – Amend Zoning Bylaw –
Inclusionary Housing for Special Residential Developments
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
131 39 5
MOTION CARRIES WITH MORE THAN NECESSARY
2/3RDS
8:50 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
31.
ARTICLE 31: AMEND ZONING BYLAW – NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE (NFI) DISTRICT
(Approved by the Attorney General’s Office July 18, 2025,
posted July 28, 2025)
MOTION:
Mr. Schanbacher moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135
of the Code of the Town of Lexington, be amended as follows,
where struck through text is to be removed and underlined
text is to be added, and further that non-substantive changes
to the numbering of this Bylaw be permitted to comply with
the numbering format of the Code of the Town of Lexington.
1) Amend § 135-7.1 as follows:
7.1 NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE (NFI) DISTRICT.
7.1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this district is to insure public
safety through reducing the threats to life and personal in-
jury; eliminate new hazards to emergency response officials;
prevent the occurrence of public emergencies resulting from
water quality, contamination, and pollution due to flooding;
avoid the loss of utility services which if damaged by flooding
would disrupt or shut down the utility network and im-
pact regions of the community beyond the site of flooding;
eliminate costs associated with the response and cleanup of
flooding conditions, and reduce damage to public and private
property resulting from flooding waters.
1. Ensure public safety through reducing the threats to life
and personal injury;
2. Eliminate new hazards to emergency response officials;
(continued on next page)
45 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
3. Prevent the occurrence of public emergencies resulting
from water quality, contamination, and pollution due to
flooding;
4. Avoid the loss of utility services which if damaged by
flooding would disrupt or shut down the utility network and
impact regions of the community beyond the site of flooding;
5. Eliminate costs associated with the response and cleanup of
flooding conditions, and
6. Reduce damage to public and private property resulting
from flooding waters.
7.1.2 Overlay District. The NFI District shall not supersede
other zoning districts but shall be deemed to be superim-
posed over these other zoning districts.
7.1.3 Location. The NFI District includes all special flood
hazard areas within the Town of Lexington designated as
Zone A and AE on the Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) dated July 8, 2025 issued
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for
the administration of the National Flood Insurance Program.
The map panels of the Middlesex County FIRM that are
wholly or partially within the Town of Lexington are
panel numbers 0382F, 0384F, 0392E, 0401E, 0402E, 0403E,
0404E, 0408E, 0411E, 0412E, 0414E, and 0416E, in effect as
of July 6, 2016. The exact boundaries of the District may be
defined by the 1%- change (one-hundred-year) base flood
elevations shown on the FIRM and further defined by the
Middlesex County Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, in
effect dated July 8, 2025 6, 2016. The FIRM and FIS report
are incorporated herein by reference and are on file with the
Town Clerk, Planning Board, Building Official, Conservation
Commission, and Engineering office and available on the
Town website.
7.1.4 Base Flood Elevation and Floodway Data.
1. Floodway data. In Zones A and AE, along watercours-
es within the Town of Lexington that have not had
a regulatory floodway designated, the best available
federal, state, local, or other floodway data shall be
used to prohibit encroachments in floodways which
would result in any increase in flood levels within the
community during the occurrence of the base flood
discharge.
2. Base flood elevation data. Base flood elevation data is
required for subdivision proposals or other develop-
ments greater than 50 lots or five acres (whichever is
less), the proponent must provide technical data to
determine base flood elevations for each developable
parcel shown on the design plans. , whichever is the
lesser, within unnumbered A Zones.
7.1.5 Notification of Watercourse Alteration. In a riverine
situation, the Conservation Floodplain Administrator shall
notify the following of any alteration or relocation of a water-
course: adjacent communities, NFIP State Coordinator, and
NFIP Program Specialist.
1. Adjacent communities,
2. NFIP State Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation, and
3. NFIP Program Specialist, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Region I.
7.1.6 Use Regulations.
1. All man-made changes to improved or unimproved
real estate, including but not limited to building or
other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading,
paving, excavation or drilling operations in the NFI
District, including structural and nonstructural
activities, whether permitted by right or by special
permit must be in compliance with MGL c. 131, § 40
and with the following:
a. Sections of the Massachusetts State Building Code
(780 CMR) which address floodplain and coastal
high hazard areas;
b. Wetlands Protection Regulations, Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) (currently 310
CMR 10.00);
c. Inland Wetlands Restriction, DEP (currently 310
CMR 13.00);
d. Minimum Requirements for the Subsurface
Disposal of Sanitary Sewage, DEP (currently 310
CMR 15, Title 5);
2. Any variances from the provisions and requirements
of the above-referenced state regulations may only
be granted in accordance with the required variance
procedures of these state regulations.
3. In Zones AE, along watercourses within the Town of
Lexington that have a regulatory floodway designated
on the Middlesex County FIRM Map, encroachments
are prohibited in the regulatory floodway including fill,
new construction, substantial improvements, and other
development within the adopted regulatory floodway
unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic
and hydraulic analyses performed in accordance
with standard engineering practice that the proposed
encouragement would not which would result in any
increase in flood levels within the community during
the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
(continued on next page)
46
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
4. All subdivision proposals must be designed to assure
that:
a. Such proposals minimize flood damage;
b. All public utilities and facilities are located and
constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage;
and
c. Adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure
to flood hazards.
5. Existing contour intervals of site and elevations of
existing structures must be included on plan proposal.
7.1.7 Floodplain Administrator.
The Town Manager or their designee shall serve as the official
Floodplain Administrator for the Town of Lexington.
7.1.8 Permits Required.
Permits are required for all proposed development in the
Floodplain Overlay District, as required by the Floodplain
Administrator or their designee. The Town requires a permit
for all proposed construction or other development in the
floodplain overlay district, including new construction or
changes to existing buildings, placement of manufactured
homes, placement of agricultural facilities, fences, sheds,
storage facilities or drilling, mining, paving and any other de-
velopment that might increase flooding or adversely impact
flood risks to other properties.
7.1.9 Assure that all necessary permits are obtained.
The Town’s permit review process includes the requirement
that the proponent obtain all local, state and federal permits
that will be necessary in order to carry out the proposed de-
velopment in the floodplain overlay district. The proponent
must acquire all necessary permits, and must demonstrate
that all necessary permits have been acquired.
7.1.10 In A Zones, in the absence of FEMA BFE data and
floodway data, the building department will obtain,
review and reasonably utilize base flood elevation
and floodway data available from a Federal, State, or
other source as criteria for requiring new construction,
substantial improvements, or other development in Zone
A and as the basis for elevating residential structures to
or above base flood level, for floodproofing or elevating
nonresidential structures to or above base flood level, and
for prohibiting encroachments in floodways.
7.1.11 In A and AE Zones, all recreational vehicles to
be placed on a site must be elevated and anchored in
accordance with the zone’s regulations for foundation and
elevation requirements or be on the site for less than 180
consecutive days or be fully licensed and highway ready.
7.1.12 If the Town acquires data that changes the base flood
elevation in the FEMA mapped Special Flood Hazard
Areas, the Town of Lexington will, within 6 months,
notify FEMA of these changes by submitting the technical
or scientific data that supports the change(s.) Notification
shall be submitted to:
• NFIP State Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation
• NFIP Program Specialist, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Region I
7.1.13 Variances to Floodplain Standards Issued by the State
Building Code
The Town of Lexington will request from the State Building
Code Appeals Board a written and/or audible copy of the por-
tion of the hearing related to the variance, and will maintain
this record in the community’s files.
The Town of Lexington shall also issue a letter to the property
owner regarding potential impacts to the annual premiums
for the flood insurance policy covering that property, in writ-
ing over the signature of a community official that (i) the
issuance of a variance to construct a structure below the base
flood level will result in increased premium rates for flood
insurance up to amounts as high as $25 for $100 of insurance
coverage and (ii) such construction below the base flood level
increases risks to life and property.
Such notification shall be maintained with the record of all
variance actions for the referenced development in the flood-
plain overlay district.
7.1.14 Other Variances
A variance from these floodplain bylaws must meet the re-
quirements set out by State law, and may only be granted if:
1) Good and sufficient cause and exceptional non-finan-
cial hardship exist;
2) the variance will not result in additional threats to public
safety, extraordinary public expense, or fraud or victim-
ization of the public; and
3) the variance is the minimum action necessary to afford
relief.
7.1.15 Abrogation and Greater Restriction
The floodplain management regulations found in this
Floodplain Overlay District section shall take precedence
over any less restrictive conflicting local laws, ordinances or
codes.
(continued on next page)
47 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
7.1.16 Disclaimer of Liability
The degree of flood protection required by this bylaw is con-
sidered reasonable but does not imply total flood protection.
7.1.18 Definitions. The following words shall be defined as
in this subsection 7.1.18 for the purposes of this Section 7.1.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real es-
tate, including but not limited to building or other structures,
mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or
drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials. [US
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
(FEMA)
The federal agency administering the National Flood
Insurance Program.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An Official Map of a community on which FEMA has de-
lineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk
premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
An examination, evaluation, and determination of flood
hazards, and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface
elevations, or an examination, evaluation and determination
of flood-related erosion hazards.
FLOODWAY
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the
base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface
elevation.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless
it is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The
term includes only docking facilities, port facilities that are
necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passen-
gers, and ship building and ship repair facilities, but does not
include long-term storage or related manufacturing facilities.
[US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59] Also
[Referenced Standard ASCE 24-14]
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to
construction next to the proposed walls of a structure. [US
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(a) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic
Places (a listing maintained by the Department of
Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of
the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual
listing on the National Register;
(b)Certified or preliminarily determined by the
Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical
significance of a registered historic district or a district
preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a
registered historic district;
(c) Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places
in states with historic preservation programs which have
been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(d) Individually listed on a local inventory of historic
places in communities with historic preservation pro-
grams that have been certified either:
(1) By an approved state program as determined by the
Secretary of the Interior or
(2) Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states
without approved programs. [US Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of the first floodplain manage-
ment code, regulation, ordinance, or standard adopted by
the authority having jurisdiction, including any subsequent
improvements to such structures. New construction includes
work determined to be substantial improvement. [Referenced
Standard ASCE 24-14]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is:
(a) Built on a single chassis;
(b) 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest
horizontal projection;
(c) Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable
by a light duty truck; and
(d) Designed primarily not for use as a permanent
dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational,
camping, travel, or seasonal use. [US Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
48
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
REGULATORY FLOODWAY – See Floodway
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
An area having special flood and/or flood-related erosion
hazards, and shown on a FHBM or FIRM as Zone A, AO, A1-
30, AE, A99, AH, V, V1-30, V. [Base Code, Chapter 2, Section
202].
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The date of issuance for new construction and substantial im-
provements to existing structures, provided the actual start of
construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition,
placement or other improvement is within 180 days after the
date of issuance. The actual start of construction means the
first placement of permanent construction of a building (in-
cluding a manufactured home) on a site, such as the pouring
of a slab or footings, installation of pilings or construction of
columns.
Permanent construction does not include land preparation
(such as clearing, excavation, grading or filling), the installa-
tion of streets or walkways, excavation for a basement, foot-
ings, piers or foundations, the erection of temporary forms
or the installation of accessory buildings such as garages or
sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main
building. For a substantial improvement, the actual “start of
construction” means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling,
floor or other structural part of a building, whether or not
that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
[Base Code, Chapter 2, Section 202]
STRUCTURE
For floodplain management purposes, a walled and roofed
building, including a gas or liquid storage tank, that is prin-
cipally above ground, as well as a manufactured home. [US
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
STRUCTURE (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
DISTRICT)
A walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage
tank, which is principally above ground, as well as a manu-
factured home. “Structure,” for insurance coverage purposes,
means a walled and roofed building, other than a gas or liquid
storage tank, which is principally above ground and affixed to
a permanent site, as well as a manufactured home on founda-
tion. For the latter purpose, the term includes a building while
in the course of construction, alteration, or repair, but does
not include building materials or supplies intended for use in
such construction, alteration, or repair, unless such materials
or supplies are within an enclosed building on the premises.
SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR OF A FOUNDATION.
When work to repair or replace a foundation results in the re-
pair or replacement of a portion of the foundation with a pe-
rimeter along the base of the foundation that equals or exceeds
50% of the perimeter of the base of the foundation measured
in linear feet, or repair or replacement of 50% of the piles, col-
umns or piers of a pile, column or pier supported foundation,
the building official shall determine it to be substantial repair
of a foundation. Applications determined by the building
official to constitute substantial repair of a foundation shall
require all existing portions of the entire building or structure
to meet the requirements of 780 CMR. [As amended by MA
in 9th Edition BC]
VARIANCE
For floodplain management purposes, means a grant of relief
by a community from the terms of a flood plain management
regulation. [US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part
59]
VIOLATION
For floodplain management purposes, means the failure of a
structure or other development to be fully compliant with the
community’s flood plain management regulations. A struc-
ture or other development without the elevation certificate,
other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required
in §60.3 is presumed to be in violation until such time as that
documentation is provided. [US Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 44, Part 59]
ZONE A (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE DISTRICT)
The one-hundred-year floodplain area where the base flood
elevation (BFE) has not been determined. To determine the
BFE, use the best available federal, state, local, or other data.
ZONE A1-30 AND ZONE AE (FOR NEW AND REVISED
MAPS) (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE DISTRICT)
The one-hundred-year floodplain where the base flood eleva-
tion has been determined.
ZONES B, C, AND X (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
DISTRICT)
Areas identified in the community Flood Insurance Study as
areas of moderate or minimal flood hazard. Zone X replaces
Zones B and C on new and revised maps.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
49 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
3) Amend §135-10.0 Definitions by deleting the following:
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
(FEMA)
The federal agency administering the National Flood
Insurance Program.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
An Official Map of a community issued by FEMA where the
boundaries of the flood and related erosion areas having spe-
cial hazards have been designated as Zone A or E.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
An area having special flood and/or flood-related erosion
hazards, and shown on a FHBM or FIRM as Zone A, AO, A1-
30, AE, A99, AH, V, V1-30, V.
STRUCTURE (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
DISTRICT)
A walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage
tank, which is principally above ground, as well as a manu-
factured home. “Structure,” for insurance coverage purposes,
means a walled and roofed building, other than a gas or liquid
storage tank, which is principally above ground and affixed to
a permanent site, as well as a manufactured home on founda-
tion. For the latter purpose, the term includes a building while
in the course of construction, alteration, or repair, but does
not include building materials or supplies intended for use in
such construction, alteration, or repair, unless such materials
or supplies are within an enclosed building on the premises.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An Official Map of a community on which FEMA has de-
lineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk
premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
An examination, evaluation, and determination of flood
hazards, and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface
elevations, or an examination, evaluation and determination
of flood-related erosion hazards.
FLOODWAY
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the
base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface
elevation.
ZONE A (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE DISTRICT)
The one-hundred-year floodplain area where the base flood
elevation (BFE) has not been determined. To determine the
BFE, use the best available federal, state, local, or other data.
ZONE A1-30 AND ZONE AE (FOR NEW AND REVISED
MAPS) (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE DISTRICT)
The one-hundred-year floodplain where the base flood eleva-
tion has been determined.
ZONES B, C, AND X (NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
DISTRICT)
Areas identified in the community Flood Insurance Study as
areas of moderate or minimal flood hazard. Zone X replaces
Zones B and C on new and revised maps.
8:51 p.m. Bob Creech presented information on the Article
and noted that the Planning Board had voted 5-0
to recommend that Town Meeting approve the
Article.
Mr. Lucente noted the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
8:54 p.m. Jeff Howry, Pct. 2, asked whether anyone had
considered the zone A of the proposed site of the
High School. Mr. Creech stated that specifically,
no, but the same rules would be applicable for
that area. Ms. McCabe, Planning Board Director,
noted that this had been brought to the attention
of the Facilities Director and that the Town’s con-
sultant would have to do a base-flood elevation
study before proposed construction could begin.
8:56 pm. Matt Dagget, Pct. 2, served Notice of Reconsideration on Article 30. The Moderator
stated that this was timely and duly noted.
8:56 p.m. Ricki Pappo, Pct. 2, asked what was projected or
how much more was considered a flood zone.
Ms. Mullins noted that a detailed study hadn’t yet
been accomplished, but that many of the prior
area B locations had been switched to Zone A.
8:57 p.m. Alessandro Alessandrini, Pct. 4, asked if a prop-
erty was considered in the flood zoning whether
they were required to purchase flood insur-
ance, particularly in relation to the School. Ms.
McCabe, Planning Board Director, noted that
this was usually triggered when buying a prop-
erty. Mr. Makarios noted that if the Town didn’t
adopt the Article, they wouldn’t be able to access
the Flood Insurance product.
9:00 p.m. As there were no final comments on the Article,
the Moderator opened voting on the Article.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
50
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 31 – Amend Zoning Bylaw –
National Flood Insurance (NFI) District
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
174 0 3
MOTION CARRIES WITH MORE THAN
NECESSARY 2/3RDS
9:01 p.m. Ms. Canale, Pct. 9, noted that she would like to
vote yes. 174 final count.
9:02 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 32.
ARTICLE 32 AMEND ZONING BYLAW AND MAP – TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
(Approved by the Attorney General’s Office July 18, 2025,
posted July 28, 2025)
MOTION:
Mr. Schanbacher moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135
of the Code of the Town of Lexington, be amended as follows,
and further to make non-substantive changes to the number-
ing of this bylaw to comply with the numbering format:
1. Delete §135-9.4.1.1.a.
2. Amend §135-5.5.8 by deleting “or a special permit with
site plan review”
3. Amend §135-5.5.9 by deleting “or special permit with site
plan review”
9:03 p.m. Melanie Thompson, Planning Board Member,
presented information on the Article and noted
the unanimous vote of the Planning Board.
9:04 p.m. Ms. Kumar noted that the Select Board unani-
mously supported the Article.
9:05 p.m. As there were no questions the Moderator opened
voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 32 – Amend Zoning Bylaw and
Map – Technical Corrections
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
172 0 3
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
9:06 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 33.
ARTICLE 33: AMEND ZONING BYLAW - ACCESSORY USES
(Approved by the Attorney General’s Office July 18, 2025, posted July 28, 2025)
MOTION:
Mr. Schanbacher moves to see if the Town will vote to amend
Section 3.2.1 of the Zoning Bylaw by removing the phrase,
“and complies with all other Town bylaws or General Laws,”
or take any other action in related thereto.
9:06 p.m. Charles Hornig, Planning Board Member, pre-
sented information on the Article and noted that
the Planning Board had voted 5-0 to recommend
the approval of the Article.
Mr. Pato noted the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
9:08 p.m. Eran Strod, Pct. 6 asked for an explanation of the
process. Mr. Hornig noted that approval would
be garnered through the appropriate bylaw or
mechanism.
9:15 p.m. Benjamin Lees, Pct. 7, asked if the bylaw was a re-
sponse to 0 Vine Street litigation. Mr. Makarious
said that to his understanding, it was not.
9:17 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:29 p.m. As there were no further questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article and noted that a 2/3
vote was required to pass.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 33 – Amend Zoning Bylaw –
Accessory Uses
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
160 5 7
MOTION CARRIES WITH MORE THAN
NECESSARY 2/3RDS
(continued on next page)
51 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
9:31 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
b. Report of the Committee on Cary Lectures
That the report of the Committee on Cary Lectures be re-
ceived and placed on file and the Committee discharged.
MOTION: Ms. Goldberg moves that the report of the
Committee on Cary Lectures be received and placed on file
and the Committee discharged. As there were no objections
the motion carries unanimously.
Rita Goldberg, Member of the Committee on Cary Lectures,
presented information on past and upcoming Lectures and
asked Members to keep an eye out for their upcoming flyer.
9:31 p.m. The Moderator called the Meeting open under
Article 3.
ARTICLE 3: APPOINTMENTS TO CARY LECTURE SERIES
MOTION: Ms. Goldberg moves that the Moderator appoint
a committee of four to have the charge of the lectures under
the wills of Eliza Cary Farnham and Suzanna E. Cary for the
current year. Motion approved by unanimous voice vote.
Rita Goldberg presented information on the Article.
Mr. Lucente noted the unanimous support of the Select Board
for the Article.
9:39 p.m. As there were no questions, the Moderator
opened voting on Article 3.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 3 - Cary Lecture Series
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
168 0 2
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
9:40 p.m. The Moderator asked for a procedural motion
to take up Article 25. Mr. Lucente moved to take
up Article 25. Motion approved by unanimous
voice vote.
The Moderator noted that the Deputy Moderator
would preside over the article as the Moderator
had advocated for one of the changes proposed in
the Motion. Mr. Diaz took the gavel.
ARTICLE 25: AMENDMENT TO TOWN MEETING MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS IN TOWN BYLAWS (Citizen Petition)
(Approved by the Attorney General’s Office July 18, 2025, posted July 28, 2025)
MOTION:
Mr. McGaw moves that the following sections of Chapter 118
of the Code of the Town of Lexington be amended to read as
follows (struck through text to be deleted, and bolded text to be added):
1. § 118-15A Previous Question
The previous question shall be put in the form: “Shall
the question on the amendment now be put?” for an
amendment or, alternatively, “Shall the main question
now be put?” for a main motion and all debate shall be
suspended until the previous question is decided. “I
move the previous question.” This form can be used for
main motions and amendments and all debate shall be
suspended until the previous question is decided.
2. § 118-15B Previous Question
The adoption of the previous question shall require a
two-thirds vote to pass and put an end to all debate on
the motion under consideration except as provided in
§118-13(I) of this article.
3. § 118-19: Further Rules of Procedure
The procedure and conduct of the business meetings of
the Town not herein provided for shall be governed by
“Roberts’ Rules of Parliamentary Practice” the latest
edition of “Town Meeting Time” adopted by the
Massachusetts Moderators Association so far as they are
applicable and are not inconsistent with the bylaws of the
Town.
Bridger McGaw, proponent, presented information on the
Article.
Mr. Lucente noted that the Select Board supported updating
the language on calling the question as Town Meeting was
actually being conducted, as well as the change to Town
Meeting Time, however the proposal to update the voting
threshold from a simple majority to a 2/3 majority had var-
ious opinions. Due to this there were 3 Members in support
of the Article as written, and 2 who preferred to await the
discussion before taking a position.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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52
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
The Moderator noted that there had been a request to divide
the question into two parts, and he would use his prerogative
to split the question into 1 and 3 and then a separate vote on
section 2.
9:49 p.m. As there were no questions on the parts 1 and 3,
the Moderator opened voting on this portion.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 25 – Amendment to Town
Meeting Management Provisions in Town Bylaws (Citizen
Petition) Questions 1 and 3
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
161 1 2
MOTION CARRIES
9:52 p.m. The Moderator opened the floor for questions
and debate on part 2.
9:53 p.m. Eric Michaelson, Pct. 1, noted that he had seen
an alarming trend that leadership notes that
they want to wait for debate before an opinion
was expressed. He asked what remedy could be
in place so that Members understood positions
of leadership after debate had been called. The
Moderator noted that the Select Board members
were within their right to do so, and the only
remedy he could envision would be voting “no”
on calling the question if it was important to
know this information.
9:55 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, noted that Lexington
had been holding Town Meetings for over 300
years and questioned whether it ever needed a
2/3 majority in the history of the prior meetings.
Mr. Makarious noted that the Town Meeting by-
law hadn’t always been in place, but since it had
been, it had only required a simple majority and
that the 2/3 was a normal parliamentary rule and
could have been in place prior to the bylaw.
9:59 p.m. John Bartenstein, Pct. 1, raised a Point of Order
to note that Mr. Zabin may not have realized he
should have put his name in the queue to speak,
and asked the indulgence of the Moderator to
do so.
10:01 p.m. Al Zabin, Pct. 1, noted that he didn’t see a prob-
lem that needed to be solved.
10:02 p.m. David Kanter, Pct. 7, raised a Point of Order,
asking what the position of the Select Board was
regarding deferring opinions until after debate.
Mr. Lucente said that he wasn't sure it was in
the scope of what they were discussing. The
Moderator agreed.
10:03 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:10 p.m. Robert Avallone, Pct. 8, offered an Amendment
on the Article.
Mr. Avallone moves that if the calling of the
question fails to pass by the necessary two-thirds
majority, debate will continue. After 30 minutes
of additional debate, calling the question shall
then require a simple majority.
10:13 p.m. The Moderator noted that 30 minutes would be
allotted for the Amendment.
Mr. Avallone presented information on the
Amendment.
10:14 p.m. Mr. McGaw noted that the TMMA had brought
the Article forward due to survey requests, but
they had not taken a formal decision on the
Amendment.
10:15 p.m. Benjamin Lees, Pct. 7, asked whether the intent
was to be in effect after any failed attempt to call
the question. Mr. Avallone noted that after the
additional 30 minutes were allotted, a simple ma-
jority would be sufficient to call the question. Mr.
Lees asked if people could circumvent debate by
calling the question early. Mr. Makarious noted
that the Moderator always had the discretion to
decide whether it would be premature for anyone
to call the question and this discretion would re-
main intact, that it was just change the quantum
of vote when it was called the second time.
10:17 p.m. The Moderator asked the Select Board for their
position on the Amendment. Mr. Lucente noted
that the Select Board had 3 in favor and 2 opposed
to the Amendment.
10:18 p.m. Nyles Barnert, Pct. 4, asked how the time would
work on amendments as they typically allowed
only 30 minutes of time. Mr. Avallone noted that
it would not apply to amendments, just the lan-
guage for closing debate.
10:23 p.m. As there were no further questions, Mr. Avallone
offered final comments on the Amendment.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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53 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
10:25 p.m. Al Zabin, Pct. 1, offered additional comments
noting that allowing access to debate was import-
ant and that cutting people off was not good for
the democratic process.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 25 – Amendment
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
83 72 4
MOTION CARRIES
10:27 p.m. Sarah Higginbotham, raised a Point of Order,
and noted that there were names in the queue of
people that had already spoken. The Moderator
noted that only those who hadn’t spoken would
be recognized, until all others had a chance.
10:28 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
amended Motion.
10:31 p.m. Alessandro Alessandrini, Pct. 4, called the question.
10:33 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on terminating
debate.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
103 42 16
MOTION CARRIES
10:35 p.m. Mr. McGaw offered final comments on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 25 – Amendment to Town
Meeting Management Provisions in Town Bylaws (Citizen
Petition) as Amended
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
99 62 4
MOTION CARRIES
10:38 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to Adjourn the
Annual Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26,
2025, such meeting to be held at the Margery Milne Battin
Hall, Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue,
and by means of remote participation. The Moderator
declared that Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote
and the Meeting adjourned.
March 26, 2025: Adjourned Session of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the second session of 2025
Annual Town Meeting to order at 7;32 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 26, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the
Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and by
means of remote participation. At 7:34 p.m. the Moderator
called a brief recess to address a feedback error on the mi-
crophones. The Meeting resumed at 7:36 p.m. A quorum in
excess of 100 members was present (168).
The Moderator reminded Members participating remotely
to mute themselves while on the Portal. She then explained
seating and parliamentary procedure for the evening. The
Moderator gave notice of quorum at 7:58 p.m. and stated that
she would leave the Portal open while more Members came
into the Hall.
The Moderator stated that there would be memorials for four
Town Meeting Members who had passed away since the last
Meeting, and they would be honoring two Town Meeting
Members that evening, Susan Solomon and Pat Costello.
SUSAN SOLOMON
Susan Solomon passed away on December 6, 2024 at the age
of 92. At the time of her death, she was living in a memory
facility in Lincoln. Susan grew up in Brookline and attend-
ed Baker School and Brookline High School. She attended
Simmons University, graduating with a degree in chemistry.
She met her future husband, Stanley Solomon, in March of
1949 at a dance at the temple at Newton. She was just shy of
17 years old and he was a freshman at MIT.
They married four years later in 1953. Stanley and Susan
spent time in Pittsburgh and Houston before returning to
Massachusetts and settling in Waltham. After they had saved
up enough money to buy a house, they moved to Lexington
and they spent the next 50 years in the home that they pur-
chased here. Susan’s many volunteer activities included provid-
ing support to Estabrook Elementary School, where their sons
Daniel and Lawrence were enrolled. After learning that Boston
schools had a shortage of this type of volunteer support, she
spent a number of years providing the same service in Boston
and organized a group of Lexington moms to join her.
Susan was a longtime town meeting member and member of
the Conservation Commission.
She was appointed by the select board in 1976 to the Sanitary
Landfill Advisory Committee, and she served on its advisory
subcommittee on recycling. She also served as a Lexington
poll worker for many years. Of her time in town meeting, her
husband quipped that. “she spoke quite forcefully when she
believed verbal coercion was helpful”.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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54
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Professionally, Susan provided marketing services to promote
machine vision, which was a new technology at the time used
to provide imaging-based automatic inspection and analysis.
She was also known as quite an accomplished cook. In the ear-
ly years of their marriage, she took courses at the Cambridge
Adult Education center to the learn to cook. And it turned out
she had a real knack for it.
I mentioned both of these things. The machine vision, mar-
keting, and our cooking ability because it not only illustrates
her eclectic skills and interests, but also lends some context
to something Stanley shared in his obituary tribute to Susan.
He said, and I quote, “I believe Susan would identify her most
important achievements as number one, getting Julia Childs
to modify her Beef Wellington recipe in the second edition
of her cookbook. And number two, getting New Zealand’s
World Cup racing entry managers to evaluate a machine
vision device for reading and adjusting their boat’s mainsail.
To Stanley and the family, we extend our deepest sympathies.
Susan will be missed. Please join me for a moment of silence
in memory of Susan Solomon.
PATRICIA COSTELLO
Pat passed away on January 6th, 2025, at the age of 88. At
the time of her death, she was living in Peabody at Brooksby
Village. Pat grew up in Chicago and graduated from St.
Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1958 with a BA in
English. Shortly after graduation, she began her career with
Honeywell, leading to her relocation to Massachusetts and
ultimately Lexington.
What a fortunate relocation that was for us. To our great
benefit, Pat dedicated her retirement years to more than two
decades, to community service, for which she was honored
with the prestigious Minuteman Cane Award in 2019. She
was a dedicated volunteer with the Lexington Visitor Center
and the Lexington Historical Society.
She was a familiar sight on the Lexington Green and on the
Liberty Ride in full colonial attire, leading tour groups from
across the US and the world sharing her vast knowledge of,
and passion for, American history and Lexington’s pivotal
role in that history.
She shared that knowledge with LexSeeHer, the local non-
profit whose research advocacy and fundraising resulted in
our beautiful women’s monument on the lawn in front of the
visitor center. Pat served for many years as an active and dedi-
cated town meeting member right up until her death.
Some of her most valuable and far-reaching work was under
the auspices of the Selectman’s Tax Deferral and Exemption
Study Committee, where she served as co-Chair, initiating
improvements to tax deferral legislation and championing
bills at the state house.
She was extremely active with the League of Women Voters,
both at the local and state level.
She was also known for being a straight talker with a wry
sense of humor.
I am indebted to a group of her closest friends and fans who
provided me with some personal remembrances that capture
Pat’s sense of humor, her appreciation of irony, and her feisty
spirit. I’ll give you a sample.
Pat liked to say she moved to Massachusetts from Chicago
for her job in Boston and Honeywell, choosing Lexington
because of its proximity to the city and the commuter train.
A few months after her arrival, the blizzard of 78 would lead
to the rail service being closed.
Permanently. Then there’s a story about the time Pat and for-
mer selectman Kathy Abbott traveled to San Diego for the
League of Women Voters Convention.
Attendees dubbed the duo Abbott and Costello and called
them that throughout the convention.
As a longtime tour guide for the Liberty Ride, Pat would joke
that she knew all about April 19th ...but, don’t ask her about
the next day.
When Pat moved from Lexington to Brooksby Village in
Peabody, a group of friends took her to Concord’s Colonial
Inn for lunch as a send-off. And they decided to meet up every
six months thereafter. Sadly, Pat passed away shortly before
the most recent scheduled luncheon, but not without having
the last word. Knowing the day was approaching, Pat reached
out from the hospital to tell the group organizer, “Keep the
date, but I won’t be able to make this one”.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Pat’s brother, John, and
his wife, Joyce, her two nephews and her niece, and their
spouses as well as Pat’s many friends.
A moment of silence was observed for Pat.
7:49 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 2.
e. Reports of the Appropriation Committee
MOTION: Mr. Parker moves that the reports of the
Appropriation Committee be received and placed on file. As
there were no objections the motion carries unanimously.
7:49 p.m. The Moderator asked for a procedural motion to
take up Articles 24, 26, 27 and 28. Mr. Lucente
moved to take up Articles 24, 26, 27, and 28. Motion carries by unanimous voice vote.
7:50 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 24.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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55 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE 24: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON TO PROHIBIT OR RESTRICT THE APPLICATION OF SECOND GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES (CITIZEN PETITION)
MOTION: Ms. Bothwell Allen moves that the Select Board
be authorized to petition the Massachusetts General Court to
enact legislation in substantially the form below, and further
that the Select Board be authorized to approve amendments
to said act by the General Court before its enactment that are
within the general objectives of this motion:
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to allow the Town of Lexington to
prohibit or restrict the use of Second-
Generation anticoagulant rodenticides under a future bylaw
approved by Town Meeting.
Section 2. Notwithstanding Chapter 132B of the General
Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the
Town of Lexington may, by bylaw, prohibit or restrict the
application of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
within the Town of Lexington, including the application of
such pesticides by licensed commercial applicators as de-
fined in 333 C.M.R. 10.00.
Section 3. This Act shall take effect upon passage.
7:51 p.m. Marci Cemenska presented information on the
Article.
7:57 p.m. Ms. Hai noted that the Select Board was unani-
mously in support of the Article.
7:59 p.m. Arjun Wassan, 507 Bedford St., spoke in support
of the Article.
8:00 p.m. Bob Avallone, Pct. 8, asked what the penalties
were and how enforcement would be handled.
Ms. Cemenska noted that the Article didn’t have
details for that, and they would be discussed in
the future.
8:02 p.m. Kenneth Shine, Pct. 2, mentioned informal sur-
vey of the commercial uses, and asked if she had
a survey of home users. Ms. Cemeska noted that
they had not ventured to residential land, but
saw many bait boxes in apartment complexes or
multi-family properties.
8:04 p.m. Sanjay Padaki raised a Point of Order stating that
Members online were having an issue hearing.
The Moderator polled some Members to check
the sound and asked the audio be checked.
8:06 p.m. Kenneth Shine, Pct. 2, asked for an explanation of
the outreach. Ms. Cemeska noted that they had
spoken to many residents at the Farmer’s Market
and other locations and said that most were
supportive.
8:07 p.m. Sudhir Ranjan, Pct. 8, asked if they had contacted
OSHA about the exposure of this chemical. Ms.
Cemeska stated that she hadn’t, but followed the
EPA on it. She also noted that currently SGARs
were not for sale on retail shelves.
8:10 p.m. Mark Daggett, apologized for an interruption,
but noted that Lex Media seemed to have better
quality than over Zoom.
8:11 p.m. John Rossi, Pct. 1, raised a Point of Order that
the microphone had become hard to hear.
8:11 p.m. Mark Anderson raised a Point of Order that the
audio was still muffled. The Moderator called
a brief recess in order to address the issue. She
asked Members online to try logging in and out
of Zoom.
8:19 p.m. The Meeting was called back to order. Members
noted that the sound seemed better and IT ex-
plained how to turn on closed captioning. The
Moderator noted that those Members who used
LexMedia would be allowed a few extra seconds
for voting due to the delay in the service.
8:22 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
8:23 p.m. John Rossi raised a Point of Order to state that
the audio was much better.
8:31 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, moved the question. The
Moderator noted that the vote would require a
simple majority.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
144 15 10
MOTION CARRIES
8:34 p.m. Ms. Cemeska offered final comments on the
Article.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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56
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
8:36 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 24 – Authorize the Town of
Lexington to Prohibit or Restrict the Application of Second
Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (Citizen Petition)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
166 3 2
MOTION CARRIES
8:38 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 26.
ARTICLE 26: LOCAL VOTING RIGHTS FOR LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS (Citizen Petition)
MOTION: Ms. Arens moves that the Select Board be autho-
rized to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts to enact legislation in substantially the
form below to grant the Town of Lexington the authority to
endow legal voting rights in municipal elections for Town
of Lexington legal residents regardless of United States cit-
izenship and further that the Select Board be authorized to
approve amendments to said act by the General Court before
its enactment that are within the scope of the general objec-
tives of this motion:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section one of chapter fif-
ty-one of the General Laws, or any other general or special
law, rule of regulation to the contrary, any lawful permanent
resident - otherwise known as a green card holder - of the
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts, that is otherwise eligible
under all provisions for voters in section one of said chapter
fifty one, other than citizenship under the laws of the United
States of America, shall be considered a qualified local voter
(henceforth, “local voter”) of the town for the purposes of
voting in all town municipal elections, and shall be eligible to
stand for and participate as a member in Town Meetings, and
sign all nominating, warrant, and other petitions authorized
by Town bylaws, including school committee referendum or
other municipal elections.
SECTION 2. Said office of the Town Clerk shall establish a
separate registration list for local voters who shall fill out an
alternative registration form. Upon becoming a U.S. citizen,
each local voter shall be taken off said list and notified that
they must register as a regular voter in accordance with state
law, regulations, and guidelines, in order to be eligible to vote.
Said office shall create and print, at the Town of Lexington’s
expense, the special registration form needed for the purpose
of registering local voters.
SECTION 3. Said Select Board is hereby authorized to pro-
mulgate regulations, guidelines, and forms to implement the
purpose of this act.
SECTION 4. If a local ballot question appears on a state elec-
tion ballot, the office of the Town Clerk shall print a separate
ballot for the local ballot question at the expense of the Town
of Lexington to ensure that local voters are able to vote on the
local question and not partake in statewide elections.
SECTION 5. The Town of Lexington is hereby authorized to
enact bylaws or regulations to implement the purpose of this
act subject to all the provisions of Chapter 215, Acts of 1929
and Chapter 753, Acts of 1968, as amended.
SECTION 6. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer
upon local voters the right to vote for any state or federal
office or any state or federal ballot questions.
8:39 pm Nathalie Huitema presented information on the
Article.
8:44 p.m. Ms. Hai noted that the Select Board had 3
Members in favor and 2 who were awaiting de-
bate (herself and Ms. Kumar).
Eric Michaelson, Appropriation Committee
member, noted that both Articles 26 and 27
sought to enlarge Lexington’s voter franchise for
local elections beyond what was allowed under
state and federal law. As such their committee’s
Report to Town Meeting offered a discussion on
both articles, but noted that they did not make
a formal recommendation on either Article, and
noted that funding would be required to imple-
ment either change.
8:49 p.m. Kathleen Lenihan, Pct. 4, stated that it was her
understanding that the penalty for green holder
voting in a federal election, even if it was an
honest mistake, would be that they were barred
permanently from becoming a citizen. Mr.
Makarious noted that he was uncertain if that
was true, and he would be hesitant to give what
was essentially immigration or voting advice, but
that wouldn’t impact the Article as it was for local
elections.
8:51 p.m. Ting Fang, Pct. 5, spoke in support of the Article.
8:52 p.m. Sudhir Ranjan, Pct. 8, stated that while this was
a good article, he wanted to bring to everyone’s
notice that from green card to citizen it was usu-
ally a five-year path, but some residents chose to
stay as green card holders, so he wanted to know
if these residents not choosing a citizenship path
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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57 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
would be allowed to vote. Ms. Huitema stated
that the motion allowed green-card holders to
vote for as long as they held a green card and not
have a boundary on how long they had it. Mr.
Ranjan stated that there should be a 5-year limit.
8:55 p.m. Gang Chen, Pct. 8, spoke in favor of the Article
and said that it was a matter of fairness.
8:57 p.m. Members continued to debate and discuss the
Article.
9:10 p.m. Charles Lamb, Pct. 4, raised a Point of Order
and asked for clarification on whether short
statements could be made at the question mi-
crophone. The Moderator noted that while the
question microphone was for questions, if time
was left, it could be used to make a statement on
how a person would vote, as long as it was within
the time limit.
9:35 p.m. Steve Heinrich, Pct. 3, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
111 46 11
MOTION CARRIES
9:38 p.m. Ms. Huitema offered final comments on the
Article and thanked those who had helped her
bring the Article forward. The Moderator opened
voting on the Article.
9:41 p.m. Mr. Shelat, Pct. 7, raised a Point of Order asking
that they hear the final opinions of the Select
Board . The Moderator noted that as debate was
closed, this would not be permitted.
Mr. Lucente asked the Moderator to note that Mr.
Sandeen had joined the Meeting as of 9:10 p.m.
9:43 p.m. Mr. Lamb served Notice of Reconsideration on
Article 26. The Moderator stated that this was
timely and duly noted.
Motion to Approve Article 26 – Local Voting Rights for
Lawful Permanent Residents (Citizen Petition)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
84 79 7
MOTION CARRIES
9:42 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 27.
ARTICLE 27: ALLOW 16 YEAR OLDS VOTING RIGHTS IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
(Citizen Petition)
MOTION:
Mr. Botla moves that the Select Board be authorized to petition
the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
to enact legislation in substantially the form below to grant
the Town of Lexington the authority to endow legal voting
rights in municipal elections for Town of Lexington residents
aged 16 and 17 years old, and further that the Select Board be
authorized to approve amendments to said act by the General
Court before its enactment that are within the scope of the
general objectives of this motion.
“An Act granting the Town of Lexington the authority to
endow legal voting rights in municipal elections for Town
of Lexington residents aged 16 and 17 years old.”
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of
Chapter 51 of the General Laws or any other general or special
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any individual aged16
or 17 years old residing in the Town of Lexington, who is inel-
igible to vote under state law due to age, but who is otherwise
eligible to vote under state law, may upon application have
their names entered on a list of voters established by the office
of the town clerk for the Town of Lexington. Such individuals
on the list of voters may vote in any election for local offices
and local ballot questions in accordance with this Act. For the
purposes of this Act, “local voters” are anyone who is eligible
to vote pursuant to this Act in a local election or upon a local
ballot question in the Town of Lexington.
SECTION 2. Said office of the town clerk shall establish a
separate registration list for local voters who shall fill out an
alternative registration form. Upon turning eighteen, each
local voter shall be taken off said list and notified that he or
she must register as a regular voter in accordance with state
law, regulations, and guidelines, in order to be eligible to vote.
Said office shall create and print, at the Town of Lexington’s
expense, the special registration form needed for the purpose
of registering local voters.
SECTION 3. Said board is hereby authorized to promulgate
regulations, guidelines and forms to implement the purpose
of this act.
SECTION 4. If a local ballot question appears on a state elec-
tion ballot, the office of the Town Clerk shall print a separate
ballot for the local ballot question at the expense of the Town
of Lexington.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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58
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION 5. The Town of Lexington is hereby authorized to
pass ordinances to implement the purpose of this act subject
to all the provisions of Chapter 215, Acts of 1929 and Chapter
753, Acts of 1968, as amended.
SECTION 6. Nothing in this act shall be construed to confer
upon local voters the right to vote for any state or federal of-
fice or any state or federal ballot questions.
Mr. Botla, proponent, presented information on the Article.
Mr. Lucente noted that the Select Board was unanimously in
support of the Article.
Mr. Michelson, Appropriation Committee Member, stated
that his remarks were the same as on the earlier Article.
9:48 p.m. Nidhi Inamdar, 39 Grapevine Ave. spoke in sup-
port of the Article and stated the importance of
being able to engage civically in the community.
9:50 p.m. Nishanth Veeragandham, 117 Lincoln St., spoke
in support of the Article.
9:52 p.m. Alessandro Alessandrini, Pct. 4, spoke in favor of
the Article.
9:54 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:15 p.m. Sanjay Padaki, Pct. 8, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
114 34 14
MOTION CARRIES
10:17 p.m. Mr. Botla offered final comments on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 27 – Allow 16 Year Olds Voting
Rights in Municipal Elections (Citizen Petition)
Fails by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
76 91 2
MOTION FAILS
10:20 p.m. The Moderator noted that as Eid al-Fitr was tak-
ing place on March 31st, they would adjourn until
April 2nd and then asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to Adjourn the
Annual Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2,
2025, such meeting to be held at the Margery Milne Battin
Hall, Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
and by means of remote participation. The Moderator de-
clared that Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote and
the Meeting adjourned.
April 2, 2025: Adjourned Session of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the third session of 2025
Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
April 2, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary
Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and by
means of remote participation, a quorum in excess of 100
members was present (162).
The Moderator explained how participants would login for
the meeting and noted reminders regarding how members of
the public could participate in the Meeting. She then opened
the attendance portal and ask that Members register their
presence. She also checked in with a few remote Members to
check on the sound levels and was told that audio was work-
ing well.
7:34 p.m. The Moderator called a brief recess in order
for the Town Meeting Members Association
(TMMA) to present recognition awards.
7:35 p.m. Sarah Higgin-Botham, Chair of the TMMA,
noted that she had the privilege of leading this
moment of recognition for long-standing mem-
bers, those people who had served a very long
time in town meeting. She noted the tradition
of recognizing Members who had served for 30
years, and those who had served for 50 years.
She stated that this year they did not have anyone
who has reached the 30-year mark. However,
they did have someone who, although no longer
serving in town meeting, served for 40 years, to
receive recognition and their thanks. She recog-
nized Janet Perry for her 40 years of service and
thanked her. She also said that Robert. Rothberg
had met his 50-year milestone, and that he would
be honored with a service award. She thanked
Bridger McGaw as immediate past-Chair, and
noted that he had led with great skill and humor
along with a passion for focusing in on structures
and systems.
7:38 p.m. The Moderator reconvened the Meeting.
7:39 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article 2.
g. Report of the Select Board.
That the report of the Select Board be received
and placed on file.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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59 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
MOTION: Mr. Lucente moves that report of the Select Board
be received and placed on file. As there were no
objections the motion carries unanimously.
f. Reports of the Capital Expenditures Committee
That the reports of the Capital Expenditures
Committee be received and placed on file
MOTION: Mr. Lamb moves that the reports of the Capital
Expenditures Committee be received and placed
on file. As there were no objections the motion
carries unanimously.
k. Report of the Recreation Committee
That the report of the Recreation Committee
received and placed on file.
MOTION: Ms. Fenollosa moves that the report of the
Recreation Committee received and placed on
file. As there were no objections the motion car-ries unanimously.
h. Report of the Community Preservation
Committee
That the report of the Community Preservation
Committee be received and placed on file.
MOTION: Ms. Fenollosa moves that the report of the
Community Preservation Committee be received
and placed on file. As there were no objections
the motion carries unanimously.
7:40 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa presented information on the
each of the Community Preservation Committee
(CPC) Articles.
Mr. Cohen raised a Point of Order and noted
that the video was garbled on audio.
7:43 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa continued when the audio was
repaired.
Procedural motion
7:54 p.m. The Moderator requested a motion to take up
the Consent Agenda and then Article 10. Mr.
Lucente moved to take up the Consent Agenda
and then Article 10. As there were no objections
the motion carries unanimously.
7:55 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting on the
Consent Agenda. She noted that these were mo-
tions that had the unanimous support of the Select
Board, Appropriation Committee, and Capital
Expenditures Committee (where relevant) and
any other relevant Boards and the Community
Preservation Committee (as appropriate). She
noted that “as appropriate” meant under their
purview. The Moderator noted that these boards
and committees had also unanimously approved
inclusion of these items on a consent agenda
that would be passed with a single vote, without
presentations or debate at Town Meeting. She
further stated that she would allow questions, and
that if 25 or more members wished to remove
an item from the Consent Agenda for separate
consideration, she would do so. She noted that
the required vote quantum was 2/3 as some items
required borrowing to appropriation from stabili-
zation funds, or authorizing eminent domain. She
said that she would read the list of items and one
vote would be taken at the end. The Moderator
also noted that if anyone wished to pose a ques-
tion, they should choose the “point of order” line.
Consent Agenda
ARTICLE 8: APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO CONSTRUCT A PLAYGROUND IN FLETCHER PARK (Citizen Petition)
MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 10: APPROPRIATE FOR THE FY2026 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGET AND CPA PROJECTS
MOTION: That the Town hear and act on the report of
the Community Preservation Committee on the FY2026
Community Preservation budget and, pursuant to the recom-
mendations of the Community Preservation Committee, take
the following actions:
That the Town reserve for appropriation the following
amounts from estimated FY2026 receipts as recommended
by the Community Preservation Committee:
1. $829,000 for the acquisition, creation and preservation of
open space;
2. $829,000 for the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation
and restoration of historic resources;
3. $829,000 for the acquisition, creation, preservation and
support of community housing; and
4. $5,803,000 to the Unbudgeted Reserve.
And further, that the Town make appropriations from the
Community Preservation Fund and other sources as follows:
c) That $21,000 be appropriated for Document
Conservation, and to meet this appropriation $21,000 be
appropriated from the Historic Resources Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund;
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60
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j) That $150,000 be appropriated for Administrative
Expenses and all other necessary and proper expenses of
the Community Preservation Committee for FY2026, and
to meet this appropriation $150,000 be appropriated from
the Unbudgeted Reserve of the Community Preservation
Fund.
8:00 p.m. Alan Seferian, Pct. 8, raised a Point of Order and
asked if this would be the time to separate item
“h”. The Moderator noted that this item would
not be on the Consent Agenda and would be
taken up on a different evening.
ARTICLE 11: APPROPRIATE FOR RECREATION CAPITAL PROJECTS
MOTION: That $70,000 be appropriated for Pine Meadows
Golf Course equipment, and all incidental costs
related thereto; and that to meet this appropri-
ation $70,000 be appropriated from Recreation
Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings.
ARTICLE 12: APPROPRIATE FOR MUNICIPAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT
MOTION: That the following amounts be appropriated for
the following municipal capital improvements
and that each amount be appropriated as follows:
a) Transportation Mitigation - $80,000 for the
Transportation Safety Group for certain traffic, pedestrian
and bike safety improvements, including the design and
construction of smaller scale safety related projects and
education programs related to alternative transportation
and bike safety, and all incidental costs related thereto,
and that to meet this appropriation $18,043 be appropri-
ated from the Transportation Network Company Special
Revenue Fund and $61,957 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance;
c) Equipment Replacement - $2,168,000 for the cost of
equipment for the Department of Public Works and all
incidental costs related thereto, and that to meet this ap-
propriation, $1,816,000 be appropriated from the General
Fund unreserved fund balance, $224,500 be appropriated
from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings, and
$127,500 be appropriated from Wastewater Enterprise
Fund Retained Earnings;
d) Sidewalk Improvements - $870,000 for rebuilding and
repaving existing sidewalks, and all incidental costs
related thereto, and to authorize the Select Board to take
by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire any
fee, easement or other interest in land necessary therefor;
and that to meet this appropriation $870,000 be appropri-
ated from the General Fund unreserved fund balance;
e) Hydrant Replacement - $150,000 for the replacement of
fire hydrants and all incidental costs related thereto, and
that to meet this appropriation $75,000 be appropriated
from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings, and
$75,000 be appropriated from the General Fund unre-
served fund balance;
f) Street Improvements - $2,726,806 for road reconstruc-
tion, extraordinary repairs and resurfacing, and all
incidental costs related thereto, and to authorize the
Select Board to take by eminent domain, purchase or
otherwise acquire any fee, easement or other interest in
land necessary therefor, and that to meet this appropri-
ation $2,726,806 be raised in the tax levy, and authorize
the Town to accept and expend any additional funds
provided or to be provided by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation;
8:02 p.m. Mr. McGaw, Pct. 6, asked how many hydrants had
been replaced out of the total. Mr. Pinsonneault
said that he would need to check the number as
he didn’t have it with him. Mr. McGaw asked if
used dump trucks or plows were ever purchased.
Mr. Pinsonneault noted that they did not as pub-
lic works equipment, when it was being traded in,
was usually at its end of life usefulness.
8:05 p.m. Steven Heinrich, Pct. 3, asked why there were
certain amounts listed coming from certain
water and wastewater enterprise funds. Mr.
Pinsonneault noted that the vehicles listed there
were for the specific tasks in water and sewer
divisions.
8:06 p.m. Robert Rotberg, Pct. 3, noted that the Hardy
Brook was causing flooding and questions what
plans for there were for cleaning it out. Mr.
Pinsonneault stated that it was on their list for
assessment in the Spring.
g) Stormwater Management Program - $2,642,500 for
general stormwater management, including watershed
storm management projects, constructing and recon-
structing storm drains or other projects to achieve
NPDES compliance, and the repair and replacement
of culverts; and to authorize the Select Board to take
by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire
any fee, easement or other interest in land necessary
therefor; and all incidental costs related thereto; and
that to meet this appropriation $2,642,500 be appropri-
ated from the General Fund unreserved fund balance;
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61 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
l) Municipal Technology Improvement Program -
$150,000 for the purchase and installation of server
equipment, critical hardware and components, and
all incidental costs related thereto, and that to meet
this appropriation $150,000 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance; and
m) Network Redundancy and Improvement Plan -
$760,000 to build a stand-alone fiber network for town
computing and communications, and all the incidental
costs thereto, and to authorize the Select Board to take
by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire
any fee, easement or other interest in land necessary
therefor, and that to meet this appropriation $760,000
be appropriated from the General Fund unreserved
fund balance.
ARTICLE 13: APPROPRIATE FOR WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
MOTION: That the Select Board be authorized to make water
distribution system improvements, including the
installation of new water mains and replacement
or cleaning and lining of existing water mains
and stand pipes, conducting engineering studies
and the purchase and installation of equipment in
connection therewith, and pay all incidental costs
related thereto, in such accepted or unaccepted
streets or other land as the Select Board may de-
termine, subject to the assessment of betterments
or otherwise, and to take by eminent domain,
purchase, or otherwise acquire any fee, easement
or other interest in land necessary therefor; and
to appropriate $2,334,940 for such distribution
systems improvements; and that to meet this ap-
propriation, $1,200,000 be raised through water
user fees, and $1,134,940 be appropriated from
Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings.
8:11p.m. Umesh Shelat, Pct. 7, asked whether James
St. would be resealed with regard to 12f. Mr.
Pinsonneault noted that the engineering depart-
ment was currently reviewing and assessing it,
but he didn’t have an answer on that particular
street yet.
ARTICLE 14: APPROPRIATE FOR WASTEWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
MOTION: That the following be authorized, and that the fol-
lowing amounts be appropriated for the following
capital improvements and that each amount be
raised as indicated:
(a) the Select Board be authorized to install sanitary sewer
mains and sewerage systems and replacements thereof,
and pay all incidental costs related thereto, in such ac-
cepted or unaccepted streets or other land as the Select
Board may determine, subject to the assessment of
betterments or otherwise, in accordance with Chapter
504 of the Acts of 1897, as amended, or otherwise, and
to take by eminent domain, purchase, or otherwise
acquire any fee, easement or other interest in land
necessary therefor; to appropriate for such installa-
tion and land acquisition the sum of $1,082,431; and
that to meet this appropriation, $600,000 shall be
raised through wastewater user fees, and $482,431 be
appropriated from Wastewater Enterprise Retained
Earnings.
(b) that $200,000 be appropriated for pump station build-
ing improvements, including replacement of windows
and doors at the main wastewater pump station, and
all incidental costs related thereto, and to raise such
amount $200,000 be appropriated from Wastewater
Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings.
ARTICLE 15:APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT
MOTION: That $1,500,910 be appropriated for maintaining
and upgrading the Lexington Public Schools
technology systems, including the acquisition
of new equipment and software in connection
therewith, and all incidental costs related thereto,
and that to meet this appropriation $1,500,910 be
appropriated from the General Fund unreserved
fund balance.
ARTICLE 16: APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES CAPITAL PROJECTS
MOTION: That the following amounts be appropriated for
the following capital improvements to public fa-
cilities and that each amount be raised as follows:
a) Public Facilities Bid Documents - $125,000
for professional services to produce design
development, construction documents, and
bid administration services for capital projects
and all incidental costs related thereto, and
that to meet this appropriation $125,000 be
appropriated from the General Fund unre-
served fund balance;
b) Public Facilities Interior Finishes - $468,000
for interior finishes in municipal and school
buildings, and all incidental costs related
thereto, and that to meet this appropriation
$468,000 be appropriated from the General
Fund unreserved fund balance;
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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62
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
c) School Paving and Sidewalks - $200,000 for
school paving and sidewalk improvement
programs, including traffic safety improve-
ments, and all incidental costs related thereto,
and to authorize the Select Board to take
by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise
acquire any fee, easement or other interest in
land necessary therefor, and that to meet this
appropriation $200,000 be appropriated from
the General Fund unreserved fund balance;
d) Municipal Building Envelopes and Associated
Systems - $1,100,000 for extraordinary repairs
and modifications to the exterior envelope of
municipal buildings, and all incidental costs
related thereto, and that to meet this
appropriation $863,579 be appropriated from
the General Fund unreserved fund
ARTICLE 17: APPROPRIATE TO POST EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LIABILITY FUND
MOTION: That $2,083,375 be appropriated to the town of
Lexington Post Employment Insurance Liability
Fund established pursuant to Chapter 317 of the
Acts of 2002, and that to meet this appropria-
tion, $3,045 be appropriated from Water Fund
receipts, $609 be appropriated from Wastewater
Fund receipts, and $2,079,721 be appropriated
from the General Fund unreserved fund balance.
ARTICLE 18: RESCIND PRIOR BORROWING AUTHORIZATIONS
MOTION: That the unused borrowing authorities as set
forth below be and are hereby rescinded:
Article Town Project Description Amount to Meeting Description be Rescinded
10O 2014 Replace Townwide $60,000 ATM Telephone Systems – Phase III
16B 2017 Lexington High School $4,190 ATM Air Conditioning
ARTICLE 20: APPROPRIATE FOR PRIOR YEARS’ UNPAID BILLS
MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 21: APPROPRIATE FOR AUTHORIZED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
MOTION: That this article be indefinitely postponed.
8:15 p.m. Sandra Hackman, Pct. 7, asked about 12f street
improvements and noted that it mentioned appro-
priation from the State was Chapter 90, and won-
dered if that was in addition to what the Town
is spending or whether it would reduce it. Mr.
Pinsonneault noted that this would be in addition
to the amount requested.
8:16 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, asked whether the amount in
12a, special revenue fund, was the total amount
that was awarded by the State. Ms. Kosnoff,
Assistant Town Manager for Finance, noted that
the transportation network company funds were
actually the surcharge the Town received from
ride share vehicles that originate in Lexington.
ARTICLE 22: SELECT BOARD TO ACCEPT EASEMENTS
MOTION: That, until July 1, 2026, the Select Board be au-
thorized to acquire on behalf of the Town easements for the
following purposes: roads, sidewalks, vehicular, bicycle or pe-
destrian access or passage, water, drainage and other utilities,
where such easements are acquired at no cost to the Town and
are required pursuant to a land use permit, site plan review, or
memorandum of understanding.
ARTICLE 29: AMEND ZONING BYLAW— BICYCLE PARKING
MOTION: That this article be referred back to the Planning
Board.
8:18 p.m. Mr. Lamb stated that, regarding Article 15, he had
received an email asking why police cars were in
Article 4, and why items such as recurring capital
were not, and that this had been done for trans-
parency and that they tried to fund recurring
capital items with cash.
8:19 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct., 6, requested information
on Article 22 regarding Select Board easements
and asked whether that was for only this year or
permanently. Mr. Makarious noted that this was
only for the fiscal year. Ms. McKenna followed up
by asking if all of the easements were voluntary or
through taking easements. Mr. Makarious noted
that this did not authorize takings by imminent
domain so they would have to be negotiated, vol-
untary easements, including those that could be
conditions of the Planning Board or Zoning Board
of Appeals decisions.
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63 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
8:20 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Consent
Agenda and reminded the Members that this
required a 2/3 vote.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Consent Agenda
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
173 2 4
MOTION CARRIES BY MORE THAN THE REQUIRED
2/3RDS
8:23 p.m. The Moderator opened Article 10 CPC Articles
that had not been on the Consent Agenda.
ARTICLE 10: APPROPRIATE FOR THE FY2026 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
OPERATING BUDGET AND CPA PROJECTS
MOTION: Ms. Fenollosa moves that the Town hear and act
on the report of the Community Preservation
Committee on the FY2026 Community
Preservation budget and, pursuant to the rec-
ommendations of the Community Preservation
Committee, take the following actions:
That the Town reserve for appropriation the
following amounts from estimated FY2026
receipts as recommended by the Community
Preservation Committee:
1. $829,000 for the acquisition, creation and
preservation of open space;
2. $829,000 for the acquisition, preservation,
rehabilitation and restoration of historic
resources;
3. $829,000 for the acquisition, creation,
preservation and support of community
housing; and
4. $5,803,000 to the Unbudgeted Reserve.
And further, that the Town make appropriations
from the Community Preservation Fund and
other sources as follows:
a) That $300,000 be appropriated for Cotton
Farm/Community Center Connector, and
to meet this appropriation $300,000 be
appropriated from the Open Space Reserve
of the Community Preservation Fund;
b) That $75,000 be appropriated for Simond’s
Brook Conservation Area Trail design and
engineering, and to meet this appropriation
$75,000 be appropriated from the Open Space
Reserve of the Community Preservation Fund;
d) That $57,800 be appropriated for Hancock-
Clarke House Roof Replacement, and to meet
this appropriation $57,800 be appropriated
from the Historic Resources Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund;
e) That $3,000,000 be appropriated to fund
the Affordable Housing Trust, and to meet
this appropriation $335,000 be appropriated
from the Community Housing Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund, $2,105,096
be appropriated from the Unbudgeted
Reserve of the Community Preservation
Fund, and $559,904 be appropriated from
the Undesignated Fund Balance of the
Community Preservation Fund;
f) That $494,140 be appropriated for LexHAB
Affordable Housing Support, Restoration,
Preservation, and Decarbonization, and to
meet this appropriation $494,140 be appropri-
ated from the Community Housing Reserve of
the Community Preservation Fund;
g) That $1,490,000 be appropriated for Park
and Playground Improvements - Center
Playground, and to meet this appropriation
$1,490,000 be appropriated from the
Unbudgeted Reserves of the Community
Preservation Fund;
i) That $1,950,000 be appropriated for Lincoln
Park Field Improvements, and to meet this
appropriation $860,000 be appropriated from
the Unbudgeted Reserve of the Community
Preservation Fund, $340,000 be appropriated
from the General Fund unreserved fund
balance, and $750,000 be raised in the tax levy.
8:25 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
10a.
a) That $300,000 be appropriated for Cotton
Farm/Community Center Connector, and to
meet this appropriation $300,000 be appro-
priated from the Open Space Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund;
8:25 p.m. Phil Hamilton, Recreation Committee Member,
presented information on the Article.
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64
TOWN GOVERNMENT
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8:27 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa noted that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended the
Article unanimously with a vote of 9-0.
Mr. Sandeen stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Ms. Verma said that the Appropriation
Committee had voted unanimously in favor of
the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously voted in favor of
Articles 10a, b, d, f, g and I and noted they would
have an oral report for 10e.
8:28 p.m. Kate Colburn, Pct. 4, asked whether the CPC or
Select Board were planning to use CPA funds to
offset the costs of replacing the fields after the
high school project. Ms. Kosnoff, Assistant Town
Manager for Finance, said that they were still in
the process of putting a funding plan together for
the high school and while they could consider
that, the amount of money that it would cost to
reconstruct the fields once the high school was
done would be significant and the amount of
CPC funds available would only be a small por-
tion of that. Ms. Kosnoff also noted that artificial
turf was not eligible for CPA expenditures.
8:32 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, asked for clarification
on the amount of the costs associated with the
Article. Ms. Mullins noted that it was a “maxi-
mum cost” estimate and included all parts of the
design and would include surveying in wetlands,
possible legal funds, as well as permitting and
bid information, technical design, and possible
boardwalk design.
8:35 p.m. Bridger McGaw, Pct. 6, asked if funds were al-
ready earmarked to build the design and whether
they were trying to manage the costs down as op-
posed to managing them up by building the most
simple design at the cheapest cost. Ms. Mullins
stated that while that was the goal, as the path
needed to be accessible there were a lot of vari-
ables regarding the grade of the path. Mr. McGaw
asked if the Select Board had a budget number in
mind for the project. Mr. Lucente noted that they
had not discussed a top amount. Ms. Fenollosa
said they did not have an amount as ConsCom
would need to provide it to them at a future date.
8:40 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:09 p.m. Robert Cohen, Pct. 4, called the question.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
134 28 16
MOTION CARRIES
9:11 p.m. As there were not final comments on the Article, the
Moderator opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 10a: Cotton Farm/Community
Center Connector
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
117 57 6
MOTION CARRIES
9:12 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
10b.
b) That $75,000 be appropriated for Simond’s
Brook Conservation Area Trail design and
engineering, and to meet this appropriation
$75,000 be appropriated from the Open Space
Reserve of the Community Preservation Fund;
9:13 p.m. Phil Hamilton, Recreation Committee Member,
presented information on the Article.
9:14 p.m. Bob Avallone raised a point of order regarding
the review vote button. The Moderator noted that
they needed to scroll to the right.
Ms. Fenollosa noted that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended the
Article unanimously with a vote of 9-0.
Mr. Sandeen stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Ms. Verma said that the Appropriation
Committee had voted unanimously in favor of
the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously voted in favor of
Articles 10a, b, d, f, g and I and noted they would
have an oral report on 10e.
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65 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Ms. Buckley, Chair of the Commission on
Disability, said that the Commission on Disability
was grateful to the Conservation Commission for
addressing all ADA issues in Lexington’s open
spaces and that they were unanimously in sup-
port of the Article.
9:18 p.m. Jonathan Himmel, Pct. 6, asked if the amount
was to fund from design to bid documents. Ms.
Mullins confirmed that. Mr. Himmel asked when
multiple options would be presented with prices.
Ms. Mullins noted that they were usually given at
25% of design. Mr. Himmel stated that it seemed
odd to ask for full design costs, first and he would
like to see the full estimated cost beforehand.
9:22 p.m. Lin Jensen, Pct. 8 raised a point of order asking
which of those sections under Article 10 required
a 2/3 vote. The Moderator noted that there were
none on this Article.
9:23 p.m. Members continued to debate and discuss the
Article.
9:37 p.m. As there were no final comments on the Article,
the Moderator opened the voting portal.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 10b: Simond’s Brook
Conservation Area Trail Design and Engineering
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
175 3 1
MOTION CARRIES
9:39 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 10d
d) That $57,800 be appropriated for Hancock-
Clarke House Roof Replacement, and to meet
this appropriation $57,800 be appropriated
from the Historic Resources Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund;
9:40 p.m. Lester Savage, Member of the Lexington
Historical Society, presented information on the
Article.
9:44 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa noted that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended the
Article unanimously with a vote of 9-0.
Mr. Sandeen stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Ms. Verma said that the Appropriation
Committee had voted unanimously in favor of
the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously voted in favor of the
Article.
9:45 p.m. Steven Heinrich, Pct. 3, asked whether the roof
on the Hancock-Clarke house was cedar or pine.
Mr. Savage stated that according to the architects,
it was pine. Mr. Heinrich said that he strongly
recommended they use cedar. Mr. Savage agreed
and said they had bid the project out with western
red cedar.
9:46 p.m. As there were no further questions the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 10d: Hancock-Clarke House
Roof Replacement
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
170 2 1
MOTION CARRIES
9:47 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 10e
e) That $3,000,000 be appropriated to fund
the Affordable Housing Trust, and to meet
this appropriation $335,000 be appropriated
from the Community Housing Reserve of the
Community Preservation Fund, $2,105,096
be appropriated from the Unbudgeted
Reserve of the Community Preservation
Fund, and $559,904 be appropriated from
the Undesignated Fund Balance of the
Community Preservation Fund;
9:48 p.m. Elaine Tung, Chair of the Affordable Housing
Trust, presented information on the Article.
10:02 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa noted that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended the
Article unanimously with a vote of 9-0.
Mr. Sandeen stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Mr. Michaelson said that the Appropriation
Committee had voted unanimously in favor of
the Article as well as 10f, g, and i.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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66
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. Lamb stated that while the Capital
Expenditures Committee unanimously voted in
favor of the Article, the did not consider it a floor
on future funding levels and that Lexington was
undergoing a time of extraordinary affordable
housing creation due to the MBTA Communities
Act rezoning, LexHAB’s new status as a non-prof-
it, and the Lowell Street 68-44 development.
Ms. Buckley, Chair of the Commission on
Disability, said that the Commission on Disability
were unanimously in support of the Article.
10:06 p.m. Steve Kaufman, Pct. 5, asked for details on the
specific amount of housing that the amount would
create. Ms. Tung said that all of their efforts were
100% towards affordable housing and they were
not funding market rate housing at that time.
Mr. Kaufman asked if there was a specific target
number of units that the fund would generate.
Ms. Tung noted that the average cost of a house
in Lexington the prior year was $1.9 million, so
she did not have a specific number of units that
would generate as housing costs were high. Mr.
Kaufman asked if they should be looking at pro-
viding as many rentals as possible with the funds.
Ms. Tung noted that this was their goal and they
would be buying down the difference between a
market rate rent and an affordable rent.
10:10 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:17 p.m. As there were no further questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 10e: Appropriation for
Affordable Housing Trust
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
160 3 3
MOTION CARRIES
10:18 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 10f
f) That $494,140 be appropriated for LexHAB
Affordable Housing Support, Restoration,
Preservation, and Decarbonization, and to
meet this appropriation $494,140 be appropri-
ated from the Community Housing Reserve of
the Community Preservation Fund;
10:19 p.m. Sarah Morrison, LexHAB Executive Director,
presented information on the Article.
10:28 p.m. Ms. Fenollosa noted that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended the
Article unanimously with a vote of 9-0.
Mr. Sandeen stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
The Moderator reminded the Meeting that
both the Appropriation Committee and Capital
Expenditures Committee had unanimously vot-
ed in favor of the Article.
Ms. Buckley, Chair of the Commission on
Disability, said that the Commission on Disability
supported LexHAB and were unanimously in
support of the Article.
10:29 p.m. Steve Heinrich, Pct. 3, asked for information
about a unit that had been rehabbed, but did
not currently have a tenant and asked what the
process was to get a family into it. Ms. Morrison
noted that the property was unique and that it
had been flooded, which meant a complete re-
hab, but they had needed to wait for the original
tenant to vacate the property to do so. She further
stated that they were currently going through the
lottery list to match a tenant to the units. Mr.
Heinrich asked if LexHAB chose the tenant, or
whether the State was involved. Ms. Morrison
said that LexHAB chose the tenants based on
their eligibility.
10:32 p.m. Lin Jensen, Pct. 8, questioned a unit on Wood
Street that had encountered faulty air condition-
ing the year prior and asked whether a heat pump
unit could be provided. Ms. Morrison noted that
this was a Lexington Housing Authority prop-
erty, not LexHAB, but that LexHAB did try and
replace any of their units with heat pumps in as
many instances as possible.
10:35 p.m. As there were no further questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 10f: Appropriation for
LexHAB, Affordable Housing Support, Restoration,
Preservation, and Decarbonization
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
163 0 2
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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67 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
10:36 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to Adjourn the
Annual Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025,
such meeting to be held at the Margery Milne Battin Hall,
Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and
by means of remote participation. The Moderator declared
that Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote and the
Meeting adjourned.
April 7, 2025 Adjourned Session of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the fourth session of 2025
Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. on Monday,
April 7, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary
Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and by
means of remote participation, a quorum in excess of 100
members was present (173).
The Moderator reminded Members participating remotely
to mute themselves while on the Portal. She then explained
seating and parliamentary procedure for the evening. The
Moderator gave notice of quorum at 7:47 p.m. and stated that
she would leave the Portal open while more Members came
into the Hall.
7:31 p.m. The Moderator called a recess for the Lexington
High School Student Recognition Awards. State
Representative Ciccolo presented the awards,
which were signed by Speaker of the House
Ronald Mariano, herself, and State Representative
Ken Gordon.
7:43 p.m. The Moderator reconvened the Meeting and
noted general instructions for Members and the
public.
7:47 p.m. The Moderator called the Meeting open under
Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
c. Report of the Town Manager
MOTION: Mr. Lucente moves that the report of the Town
Manager be received and placed on file. As there were no
objections, the motion passes unanimously.
Steve. Bartha, Town Manager, presented information on the
Report and thanked the Select Board and the Members for
their support. He then presented a slide show highlighting the
Senior Management Team.
8:00 p.m. A brief recess was called to recognized the Senior
Management Team.
8:01 p.m. The Moderator reconvened the Meeting.
8:02 p.m. The Moderator called the Meeting open under
Article 2.
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
i. Reports of the Superintendent of Minuteman Regional
Technical High School
MOTION: Ms. Crocker moves that the reports of the
Superintendent of Schools be received and placed on file. As
there were no objections, the motion passed unanimously.
Heidi Driscoll, Minuteman School Superintendent, and
Nikki Andrade, Minuteman’s Business Manager, presented
financial information regarding the Report and then fielded
questions from Members.
8:12 p.m. Judy Crocker, Pct. 5, asked whether the school
received any grants or awards that could bolster
the budget. Ms. Andrade said there weren’t many,
but they did receive regular entitlement grants
and had a capital grant.
8:14 p.m. Mark Anderson, Pct. 9, said that it was his under-
standing that there had been significant demand
from member towns and asked whether there
were any circumstances when non-members
were chosen over members. Ms. Driscoll said
there were not and that out of district students
were accepted only if there was room.
8:16 p.m. Scott Burson, Pct. 9, said that he could see a
change in the capital operating budget and asked
for more explanation due to the reduction in op-
erating capital. Ms. Driscoll noted that an energy
savings lease for the old building had fallen off
the books. She said that they had shifted those
funds to increase their OPEB contributions in a
one-time jump and would continue to increase
that amount by 5% per year.
8:20 p.m. Gloria Bloom, Pct. 4, asked if all students from
member towns were accepted. Ms. Driscoll noted
that there were currently enough seats for ev-
eryone through their admissions policy and that
Lexington had 21 slots allocated.
8:24 p.m. The Moderator called the Meeting open under
Article 2.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
68
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ARTICLE 2: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MODERATOR AND REPORTS OF TOWN BOARDS, OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
d. Report of the Superintendent of Schools
MOTION: Ms. Jay moves that the report of the Superintendent
of Schools be received and placed on file. As there were no
objections, the motion passes unanimously.
Dr. Hackett presented information on the FY26 School Budget.
8:34 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 4.
ARTICLE 4 : APPROPRIATE FY2026 OPERATING BUDGET
MOTION: Mr. Lucente moves that the following amounts
be appropriated for the ensuing fiscal year and
raised in the tax levy or from general revenues of
the Town, except where a transfer or other source
is indicated, they shall be provided by such trans-
fer or other source.
Program 1000: Education
Personal Services $127,183,816
Expenses $18,849,517
Total Line Item 1100, Lexington Public Schools $146,033,333
1150 Special Education Reserve Fund (MGL Ch.40, Sec 13E)* $700,000
1200 Regional Schools $3,606,312
Program 2000: Shared Expenses
2110 Contributory Retirement $11,521,504
2130 Employee Benefits (Health/Dental/Life/Medicare) $41,147,189
2140 Unemployment $200,000
2150 Workers' Comp. (MGL Ch. 40, Sec. 13A&13C, Ch. 41, Sec. 111F)* $500,000
2210 Property & Liability Insurance $1,277,696
2220 Uninsured Losses (MGL Ch. 40, Sec. 13)* $200,000
2310 Solar Producer Payments $390,000
2400 Debt Service
2410 Payment on Funded Debt $3,895,500
2420 Interest on Funded Debt $1,288,057
2430 Temporary Borrowing $799,511
2510 Reserve Fund $850,000
2600 Facilities $15,189,172
Program 3000: Public Works
3100-3500 DPW Personal Services $5,428,165
3100-3500 DPW Expenses (including municipal & school refuse & recycling & hazard tree removal) $8,855,763
Program 4000: Public Safety
4100 Law Enforcement Personal Services $8,464,958
4100 Law Enforcement Expenses $1,281,020
4200 Fire Personal Services $8,480,645
4200 Fire Expenses $978,343
Program 5000: Culture & Recreation
5100 Library Personal Services $2,950,596
5100 Library Expenses $740,865
Program 6000: Human Services and Health
6100-6200 Human Services Personal Services $753,284
6100-6200 Human Services Expenses $950,313
6500 Health Personal Services $473,524
6500 Health Expenses $87,500
Program 7000: Land Use, Housing and Development
7100-7400 Land Use, Housing and Development Personal Services $2,034,845
7100-7400 Land Use, Housing and Development Expenses $430,391
Program 8000: General Government
8110 Select Board Personal Services $155,071
8110 Select Board Expenses $131,013
8120 Legal $375,000
8130 Town Report $13,688
8140 PEG $764,757
8210-8220 Town Manager Personal Services $1,214,912
8210-8220 Town Manager Expenses $394,810
8230 Salary Transfer Account (MGL Ch.40, Sec 13D)* $— and further that Line 8230 is to be transferred by the Select Board for contractual settlements within departments upon recommendation of the Town Manager
8310 Financial Committees $8,820
8320 Misc. Boards and Committees $10,500
8330 Town Celebrations Committee $53,800
8400 Finance Personal Services $1,685,728
8400 Finance Expenses $520,490
8500 Town Clerk Personal Services $562,029
8500 Town Clerk Expenses $130,450
8600 Innovation & Technology Personal Services $867,726
8600 Innovation & Technology Expenses $2,508,398
Note: Asterisk denotes a Continuing Balance Account.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
69 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
and that the Town transfer the following sums to meet, in
part, appropriations made at this Town Meeting:
$700,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance/Free Cash for line
item 1150;
$400,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance/Free Cash for line
item 2110;
$596,441 from the PEG Access Special Revenue Fund for
line items 2130, 2600 and 8140;
$100,000 from Recreation Enterprise Retained Earnings for
line item 2400;
$200,000 from Unreserved Fund Balance/Free Cash for line
item 3100-3500;
$2,000 from the Betterments Fund for line items 2410, 2420
and 2430;
$151,875 from the Cemetery Sale of Lots Fund for line items
2410, 2420 and 2430;
$50,000 from the Visitors Center Stabilization Fund for line
items 2410, 2420 and 2430;
$425,500 from the Parking Meter Fund for line item 4100;
$171,000 from the Transportation Demand Management/
Public Transportation Stabilization
Fund for line items 6100-6200 and 7100-7400;
$1,002,244 from the Water Enterprise Fund;
$614,684 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund; and
$318,261 from the Recreation Enterprise Fund.
Mr. Lucente stated the unanimous support of the Select Board
for the Article.
Ms. Jay noted the unanimous support of the School
Committee for the Article.
Mr. Levine said that the Appropriation Committee unani-
mously recommended approval of the Article.
The Moderator took a moment to read each of the general
budget headings.
8:35 p.m. Bronte Abraham, Pct. 3, asked questions regard-
ing vacant positions and what the possible amount
of the turnback would be. Dr. Hackett said that
they did not anticipate a turn back, unless they
received a reimbursement from the state, they
currently had 14 vacant positions, and this was
one of their lowest rates. Ms. Abraham said that
she hoped management would look at the budget
in July and create a fund for paraprofessionals so
that they could receive a raise. Dr. Hackett noted
that they had created reserve account for special
education stabilization.
8:40 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:06 p.m. The Moderator noted the different line items for
the Motion.
9:43 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, called the question.
9:45 p.m. Jay Luker raised a point of order regarding a
person in the public waiting line. The Moderator
noted that they could not call one everyone from
the public line due to timing.
Following remote electronic vote tallying,
the Moderator declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
101 52 17
MOTION CARRIES
9:46 p.m. Mr. Lucente gave final comments on the Article
and mentioned the collaborative budget planning
and meetings.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 4: Appropriate FY2026
Operating Budget
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
154 7 12
MOTION CARRIES
9:48 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 5
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
70
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ARTICLE 5: APPROPRIATE FY2026 ENTERPRISE FUNDS BUDGETS
MOTION: a) Ms. Kumar moves that the Town appropriate
the following sums of money to operate the Water
Division of the Department of Public Works
during fiscal year 2026 under the provisions of
M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53F½:
Personal $1,074,990
Expenses $675,100
Debt $1,438,006
MWRA $8,650,822
Total $11,838,918
Said sums to be funded from water receipts.
b) That the Town appropriate the following sums
of money to operate the Wastewater (Sewer)
Division of the Department of Public Works
during fiscal year 2026 under the provisions of
M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53F½:
Personal $497,353
Expenses $617,100
Debt $1,672,086
MWRA $9,359,196
Total $12,145,735
Said sums to be funded from wastewater receipts.
c) That the Town appropriate the following
sums of money to operate the Recreation and
Community Programs Department during fiscal
year 2026 under the provisions of
M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53F½:
Personal $1,875,354
Expenses $1,670,835
Total $3,546,189
Said sums to be funded from recreation receipts,
except that $455,000 shall be funded from rec-
reation retained earnings, and $254,213 shall be
raised in the tax levy.
Ms. Kumar stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Mr. Bartenstein said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously recommended approv-
al of the Article.
9:51 p.m. As there were no questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 5: Appropriate FY2026
Enterprise Funds Budgets
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
163 0 2
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
Procedural vote
9:53 p. m. The Moderator asked Mr. Lucente for a motion to
next take up Articles 7 and 9. Mr. Lucente moves
to take up Articles 7 and 9. As there were no ob-
jections, the motion carries unanimously.
ARTICLE 7: SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS
MOTION: Mr. Pato moves that $24,000 be appropriated for
solar assessments of Town-owned parking lots to determine
the technical and economic feasibility of installing solar can-
opies and related systems, and all costs incidental or related
thereto, and that to meet this appropriation, $24,000 be ap-
propriated from the General Fund unreserved fund balance.
Maggie Peard, Sustainability and Resiliency Officer, present-
ed information on the Article.
Mr. Pato stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Mr. Lamb noted that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously recommended approv-
al of the Article.
Mr. Levine said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously recommended approv-
al of the Article.
Ms. Arens, stated that the Sustainable Lexington
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
9:58 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, asked for an explanation
about why some things were efficient, but not
others. Ms. Peard noted that the scope of the
Article was strictly regarding feasibility for an
initial phase and not layout or design.
10:00 p.m. Kunal Botla, Pct. 4, said that he was concerned
regarding the method of exclusively using solar
in parking lots that it will not lead to what the
Town needed - a dynamic center. He asked that
consideration be shown for how parcels could be
used in other manners.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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71 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
10:01 p.m. Anil Ahuja, Pct. 5, noted that some solar com-
panies would offer this service for free and won-
dered if this had been looked into. Mr. Cronin
noted that they had looked into it but companies
usually provided the service for the private world,
not public properties.
10:02 p.m. As there were no further questions the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 7: Sustainable Projects
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
160 7 2
MOTION CARRIES
10:05 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 9.
ARTICLE 9: ESTABLISH & CONTINUE DEPARTMENTAL REVOLVING FUNDS
MOTION: REVOLVING FUNDS MOTION: Ms. Kumar
moves that the Town authorize the following revolving
fund limits pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter
44, Section 53E½, and Chapter 110 of the Code of the Town
of Lexington, for fiscal year 2026 beginning July 1, 2025, as
follows:
FUNDS REQUESTED:
Program or Purpose FY2026 for Revolving Funds Authorization
School Bus Transportation $1,300,000
Building Rental Revolving Fund $648,000
Lexington Tree Fund $150,000
DPW Burial Containers $60,000
DPW Compost Operations $955,000
Minuteman Household Hazardous Waste Program $250,000
Refuse and Recycling Collection $0
Senior Services $75,000
Residential Engineering Review $57,600
Health Programs $110,000
Lab Inspections $80,000
Tourism $562,000
Ms. Kumar stated the unanimous support of the
Select Board for the Article.
Ms. Jay said that the School Committee unani-
mously supported passage of the Article with re-
spect to the School Bus Transportation Revolving
Fund.
Ms. Parker said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously recommended approv-
al of the Article.
10:06 p.m. As there were no questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 9: Establish & Continue
Departmental Revolving Funds
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
165 0 2
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
10:08 p.m. The Moderator asked Mr. Lucente for a motion
to next take up Article 28. Mr. Lucente moves to
take up Article 28. As there were no objections,
the motion carries unanimously.
ARTICLE 28: ACCURATE REPORTING ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES (CITIZENS PETITION)
MOTION: Mr. Baskin moves that the Town adopts the fol-
lowing resolution:
WHEREAS, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is
the source of 70% of the cobalt currently used worldwide
and the mining of cobalt in that country is associated with
negative environmental impacts as well as social justice and
environmental justice issues for the indigenous population;
WHEREAS, South America’s lithium “golden triangle”, which
spans the borders of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, is the
source of 60% of the lithium currently used worldwide
and the mining of lithium in that region is associated with
negative environmental impacts as well as social justice and
environmental justice issues for the indigenous population;
WHEREAS, Thacker Pass, Nevada, is estimated to hold the
largest deposits of lithium in the United States and that a pro-
posed 6,000 acre open pit lithium mine will result in negative
environmental impacts as well as social justice and environ-
mental justice issues for the Native Americans who believe
Thacker Pass is sacred ground and that the proposed mine
will ultimately lead to the cultural genocide to the Paiute and
Shoshone people.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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72
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
WHEREAS, the mining of the ocean floor will contribute to
climate change and global warming, negatively impact global
fisheries, and have cultural, social justice and environmental
justice issues for the indigenous population that depends on
fishing as a way of life;
WHEREAS, energy infrastructure has historically been ineq-
uitably located in environmental justice communities across
the country and around the world and that this will likely
continue as more and more green energy sources are brought
into use;
WHEREAS, most lithium-ion batteries are not recycled and
end up in landfills inequitably located near environmental
justice communities, and these batteries are subjected to con-
ditions that can cause them to combust and release toxic
fluoride gas, carbon monoxide, and other toxic substances;
Mr. Baskin presented information on the Article and gave
information on the Resolution. The Moderator noted that it
was non-binding. Mr. Baskin then gave a summation of the
Resolution.
10:18 p.m. Mr. Pato stated the Select Board had 4 in support
and 1 opposed to the Article.
Ms. Arens stated that the Sustainable Lexington
Committee was appreciative of the work and
concept involved, but they did not support the
Resolution, as it was too narrow in focus. They
recommended that the Town continue to make
responsible decisions in all areas and thanked Mr.
Baskin for raising the issue.
10:24 p.m. Betsey Weiss, Pct. 2, asked for a summary of
what Mr. Baskin was trying to accomplish. The
Moderator noted that this was stated in the last
parts of the Resolution. Ms. Weiss asked that the
Select Board member who voted “no” be asked
their reasons. Mr. Sandeen noted that he was
completely in favor of the Town doing a com-
prehensive analysis regarding trade offs in their
decision, but they were already doing so.
10:33 p.m. Barbara Katzenberg, Pct. 2, indicated her support
for the Article.
10:34 p.m. Alex Tsouvalas, Pct. 5, noted that he was opposed
to the Article.
10:37 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:45 p.m. Philip Hamilton, Pct. 7, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
117 18 10
MOTION CARRIES
10:46 p.m. Mr. Bastien offered final comments on the
Article.
Motion to Approve Article 28 – Accurate Reporting on
the Negative Aspects of Lithium-Ion Batteries (Citizen
Petition)
Fails by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
56 79 16
MOTION FAILS
10:50 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to Adjourn the
Annual Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9,
2025, such meeting to be held at the Margery Milne Battin
Hall, Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
and by means of remote participation. The Moderator de-
clared that Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote and
the Meeting adjourned.
April 9, 2025: Adjourned Session of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the fifth session of 2025
Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
April 7, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary
Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and by
means of remote participation, a quorum in excess of 100
members was present (162).
The Moderator reminded Members participating remotely
to mute themselves while on the Portal. She then explained
seating and parliamentary procedure for the evening. The
Moderator gave notice of quorum at 7:35 p.m.
7:35 p.m. The Moderator requested a procedural vote to
take up Articles 12, 16, 10h, and 23.
Mr. Lucente motioned to take up Articles 12,
16, 10h, and 23. As there were no objections, the
motion passed unanimously.
The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
12 and noted that they would be taking up items
that were not part of the Consent Agenda, name-
ly, Articles 12b, 12h, 12i, 12j, and 12k.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
73 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE 12: APPROPRIATE FOR MUNICIPAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT
MOTION: Mr. Pato moves that the following amounts be ap-
propriated for the following municipal capital improvements
and that each amount be appropriated as follows:
b) Fire Pumper Truck - $1,100,000 for the replacement of a
pumper truck, and all incidental costs related thereto, and that
to meet this appropriation $1,100,000 be appropriated from
the General Fund unreserved fund balance;
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimously
supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee had voted 5-0 in favor of passage of the
Article.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
7:37 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, asked why the Article hadn’t
been on the consent agenda. Mr. Pato noted that
it was not a routine item, and therefore not put
on. Mr. Luker asked if the type of equipment had
been chosen. Chief Sencabaugh noted that it was
an “Emergency One” brand and then answered
some questions regarding model of the proposed
fire engine.
7:42 p.m. Kunal Botla, Precinct 4, inquired whether the fire
department was considering adding other types
of equipment as more calls were primarily medi-
cal. Chief Sencabaugh noted that they needed to
keep within a framework to staff the stations.
7:47 p.m. Alessandro Alessandrini, Pct. 4, asked whether
due to increased tariffs, there was enough money
for the equipment set aside to absorb them. Chief
Sencabaugh noted that as of then, there was, as
they had been trying to proceed with this for
some time and the vendor price was still in effect
but it could items something in the future.
7:48 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
7:56 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 12b – Fire Pumper Truck
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
168 1 3
MOTION CARRIES
7:58 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
12h.
h) New Sidewalk Installations - $150,000 for survey and
engineering services for Burlington Street and North Street
for the purpose of future installation of sidewalks in those
locations, and all incidental costs related thereto; and that to
meet this appropriation $150,000 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance; John Livesey, Town
Engineer, presented information on the Article.
8:02 p.m. Anthony Galaitis, Pct. 5, raised a point of order,
and noted that the audio wasn’t working. The
Moderator asked those having an issue to log off
and then back in. The Moderator held the pre-
sentation for a few minutes to allow Members to
do so.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
Articles 12h, i, j, and k
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee,
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
The Moderator reminded members of the public
to get in the queue in the balcony.
8:07 p.m. Mark Anderson, Pct. 9, noted that there wasn’t
an overall cost estimate and asked if there was
a ballpark estimate for total cost and overall
construction. Mr. Livesy said that in the 5-year
capital plan, they had estimated it would be ap-
proximately $250K for design, but they couldn’t
yet estimate land acquisition until they had a
design where the right-of-way was and a current
construction estimate of approximately $4 mil-
lion. He further noted that the estimates were
based on other similar projects they had done in
the past.
8:11 p.m. Sara Bothwell Allen, Pct. 6, noted her support for
the Article.
8:14 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
8:22 p.m. Kenneth Shine, Pct. 2, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
128 31 12
MOTION CARRIES
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74
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8:24 p.m. As there were no final comments, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 12h – New Sidewalk Installations
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
168 2 2
MOTION CARRIES
8:25 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
12i
i) Intersection Improvements - Adams St. at East St. &
Hancock St. - $325,000 for design and engineering services
for improvements at two intersections, Adams Street and East
Street, and Adams Street and Hancock Street, and all inciden-
tal costs related thereto, and that to meet this appropriation
$325,000 be appropriated from the General Fund unreserved
fund balance;
Mr. Livesey, Town Engineer, presented information on the
Article.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee had already stated that they were
unanimously in support of passage of the Article.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee,
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
8:28 p.m. As there were no questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 12i – Intersection Improvements
– Adams St. at East St. & Hancock St.
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
164 1 4
MOTION CARRIES
8:30 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 12j
j) DPW Building Improvements - $120,000 to replace over-
head service bay doors at the Public Services Building locat-
ed at 201 Bedford St., and all incidental costs related thereto,
and that to meet this appropriation $120,000 be appropriated
from the General Fund unreserved fund balance;
Mr. Pinsonneault presented information on the Article.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
Articles 12j.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee,
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
8:32 p.m. As there were no questions, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 12j – DPW Building
Improvements
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
167 1 4
MOTION CARRIES
8:34 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 12k
k) Lincoln Park Parking Lot - Design - $375,000 for design
and engineering services for the Lincoln Park parking lot,
including feasibility and design of solar canopies at that
location, and all incidental costs related thereto, and that to
meet this appropriation $375,000 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance;
Weiwei Li, Recreation Committee Member, presented infor-
mation on the Article.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously recommends passage
of Articles 12k.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee,
unanimously recommends passage of the Article.
8:40 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, asked whether there were
any legal or policy documents for Lincoln Park
regarding adding solar there. Mr. Makarious said
that he was not aware of any for Lincoln Park, and
would be surprised as it was not a change of chap-
ter 97 use to have canopies in the parking lot. Ms.
McKenna asked if that could be checked before
they voted on it.
8:45 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, stated that he thought
there were more people that wanted to use the
park than space available and was concerned
with the cost.
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75 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
8:47 p.m. Peter Shapiro, Pct. 4, noted that the parking
might be used as a satellite lot for the High School
and questioned whether that had been taken into
account. Ms. Battite noted that the parking had
been considered before the High School plan
had been put forward, and they had found that
while students used it, there wasn’t a safe, acces-
sible route to it for them to do so throughout the
school year.
8:49 p.m. Mark Anderson, Pct. 9, said that the park was
an important asset to the Town and demand for
parking was high and asked how much additional
capacity was created and whether options to al-
leviate parking issues had been considered. Ms.
Battite noted that during the master plan some
of the examples showed parking issues when a
bus would come and block out multiple spaces.
She noted that they should learn what they would
gain throughout the design process, and it might
not be more spaces, but spaces that better fit the
vehicles.
8:53 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:08 pm. Taylor Singh, Pct. 6, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
115 41 15
MOTION CARRIES
9:10 p.m. As there were no final comments on the Article,
the Moderator opened voting.
Motion to Approve Article 12k – Lincoln Park Parking Lot
- Design
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
103 65 7
MOTION CARRIES
9:12 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
16 and noted that they would be working with
portions of the Article that hadn’t been a part of
the Consent Agenda, namely 16e and 16f.
ARTICLE 16: APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES CAPITAL PROJECTS
MOTION: Mr. Pato moves that the following amounts be ap-
propriated for the following capital improvements to public
facilities and that each amount be raised as follows:
e) Central Administration Building Demolition - $3,550,000
for the demolition of the old Harrington School located at
146 Maple St. including abatement and disposal costs, and
site and utility work, and all costs incidental or related there-
to, and that to meet this appropriation $3,550,000 be appro-
priated from the General Fund unreserved fund balance; and
Michael Cronin, Director of Facilities, presented information
on the Article.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Ms. Jay said that the School Committee unani-
mously supported passage of Article 16e.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
Article 16e.
Mr. Osborne said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
9:18 p.m. Tom Diaz, Pct. 8, asked if the Article were
adopted, whether demolition would happen
immediately. Mr. Cronin said that the timeline
was that 173 Bedford Street, which was currently
under construction, should be done by the end of
October. Then they would move the staff in, after
which, bidding would be done. The demolition
would be November or December.
9:19 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, stated that she was op-
posed to the Article and that it could be used as a
swing space.
9:21 p.m. Masha Traber, Pct. 5, noted that she was opposed
to the Article.
9:22 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:40 p.m. Marsha Baker, Pct. 7, called the question.
Motion to Approve Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
103 51 13
MOTION CARRIES
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9:41 p.m. As there were no further comments on the
Article, the Moderator opened voting.
Motion to Approve Article 16e – Central Administration
Building Demolition
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
114 41 11
MOTION CARRIES
The Moderator called upon Jennifer Richlin, Pct. 4, who had
hoped to vote by voice. The Moderator asked the Clerk to
record her vote of “no” as the system had already updated.
The new totals are:
Motion to Approve Article 16e – Central Administration
Building Demolition
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
114 42 11
MOTION CARRIES
9:43 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
16f
f) Estabrook Elementary School Nurse Bathroom Renovation
- $300,000 for the renovation of the nurses bathroom at
Estabrook Elementary School, including equipment to pro-
vide service to students with significant special physical
needs, and all incidental costs related thereto, and that to
meet this appropriation $300,000 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance.
Michael Cronin, Director of Facilities, presented information
on the Article.
Mr. Pato noted that the Select Board unanimous-
ly supported passage of the Article.
Ms. Jay said that the School Committee unani-
mously supported passage of Article 16f.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
Article 16f.
Mr. Osborne said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
9:46 p.m. Bob Avallone, Pct. 8, asked if facilities like this
already existed in the middle and high School.
Mr. Cronin stated that there were designs in place
for the new high school, and if needed, it would
be designed for the middle school as well.
9:49 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 16f – Estabrook Elementary
School Nurse Bathroom Renovation
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
160 2 7
MOTION CARRIES
9:51 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting on Article
10h and noted that it had already been moved by
Ms. Fenollosa on a prior evening.
ARTICLE 10: APPROPRIATE FOR THE FY2026 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE OPERATING BUDGET AND CPA PROJECTS
MOTION: That the Town hear and act on the report of
the Community Preservation Committee on
the FY2026 Community Preservation budget
and, pursuant to the recommendations of the
Community Preservation Committee, take the
following actions:
That the Town reserve for appropriation the
following amounts from estimated FY2026
receipts as recommended by the Community
Preservation Committee:
h) That $1,197,904 be appropriated for Park
Improvements – Athletic Fields – Harrington,
including design, engineering, construction doc-
uments and site work to develop athletic fields
at 146 Maple Street, and all costs incidental or
related thereto, and to meet this appropriation
$1,197,904 from the Unbudgeted Reserves of the
Community Preservation Fund;
Claire Sheth, Recreation Committee Member, presented in-
formation on the Article.
The Moderator stated that there was an update from the April
8 Recreation Meeting. Ms. Battite noted that at their meeting
the prior evening, their vote showed that they planned to
pursue a field layout at Harrington Maple Street athletic field
project for 2 large rectangle fields that could contain within
them a cricket field overlay to be composed of a high quality
sand-based, root zone natural grass field substantively as pre-
sented in “option 5 (the preferred layout)”
Ms. Fenollosa stated that the Community
Preservation Committee had voted 9-0 in sup-
port of the Article.
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77 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Mr. Sandeen noted that the Select Board unani-
mously supported passage of the Article.
Ms. Jay read a prepared statement on behalf of
the School Committee, stating that “this article
represents appropriation of CPA Funds for the
full design and engineering and site work for
the development of athletic playing fields at
146, Maple Street. The School Committee is
in support of building athletic fields on the old
Harrington site upon demolition of the LPS
Central Administration Building. The demand
for additional fields to address the unmet recre-
ational needs of their community was outlined
in the Recreation Department’s 2021 to 22
Comprehensive Report. The School Committee
understands the importance of meeting this
need, and supports the request. The land at 146
Maple Street is part of the Harrington School
property, and owned by the Lexington Public
Schools. As such, the land will remain under the
School Committee’s oversight. While we cannot
predict what school or municipal needs there
might be in the future, the School Committee is
in full support of constructing the proposed new
fields at this time in order to meet the recreation-
al needs of our residents. We are glad to support
the creation of a community resource that will
enhance the health, well-being, and enjoyment of
the residents of all ages. The School Committee is
in unanimous support of Article 10h.”
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously 5-0 in support of the
Article and noted that the land was titled to the
Town and any decision as to who controlled it
was policy, only.
Ms. Verma said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously recommended passage of the
Article.
10:00 p.m. Tom Diaz, Pct., 8, said that he had heard the
statement that the land was titled to the Town
and it was only policy that it was controlled by
the School Committee, and asked Counsel to
weigh in on this. Mr. Makarious stated that the
School Committee controlled it only while it was
a school building, but the Town still owned the
legal title.
10:04 p.m. Jeanne Krieger, Pct. 3, thanked the Recreation
Committee for choosing grass fields with a sand
base.
10:06 p.m. Mark Anderson, Pct. 9, thanked Ms. Krieger
on educating them on grass fields and synthetic
alternatives.
10:08 p.m. Mr. Miller read a statement from Jillian Tung and
Wendy Heiger-Bernays in support of grass fields.
10:09 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
10:14 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, moved the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
124 28 11
MOTION CARRIES
10:15 p.m. As there were no final comments, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 10h– Park Improvements –
Harrington Athletic Fields
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
150 12 4
MOTION CARRIES
10:17 p.m. The Moderator asked for a Motion to Adjourn.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, Motioned to Adjourn the
Annual Town Meeting to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14,
2025, such meeting to be held at the Margery Milne Battin
Hall, Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue
and by means of remote participation. The Moderator de-
clared that Motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote and
the Meeting adjourned.
April 14, 2025: Adjourned Session of the 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Moderator Deborah Brown called the sixth session of 2025
Annual Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
April 14, 2025, at the Margery Milne Battin Hall in the Cary
Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue and by
means of remote participation, a quorum in excess of 100
members was present (140). She reminded Members of the
rules of parliamentary procedure and how members of the
public could participate in the Meeting. She checked audio
with Members attending virtually.
7:33 p.m. The Moderator noted that there would be two
memorials that evening, Paul LaPoint and Bob
Balaban.
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TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PAUL LAPOINTE
Paul passed away unexpectedly on January 6, 2025. He was,
his wife Susan told me, a very young 82. Paul was born in
August of 1942 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the eldest of
seven children of Eugene and Charlotte Dykes-Lapointe, all
raised in a modest three-bedroom, single bath farmhouse.
Through geography and good fortune, Paul was able to attend
Deerfield Academy as a day student. There, he excelled in
academics and sports, and he sang in the Glee Club.
He was an American Legion pitcher for the Greenfield af-
filiated team in the summer, and in addition to pitching for
Deerfield, he played varsity basketball. According to Paul’s
brother Peter, this connection with prep school life laid the
foundation for future opportunities that played out again as a
young English teacher and sports coach at Vermont Academy
and later in life. Through his long-standing relationship with
Worcester Academy and his consulting role assisting them in
capital projects management to improve the quality of life for
all their students.
After Deerfield, Paul attended Bowdoin College, where he
played on the varsity basketball team and sang with Bowdoin’s
acapella men’s group. The Meddibempsters. I did some re-
search, have no idea what that name means, but apparently,
it’s the third oldest collegiate a cappella group in the United
States. As a tenor, he was a featured soloist on their album and
traveled with a group on a USO tour of Europe.
After college, Paul taught briefly at Vermont Academy, but
his appointment there was interrupted by the Vietnam War.
When he realized military service was inevitable, he enlisted
in the army. And after basic training, he was sent to Officer’s
Candidate School, and he married Susan. The newlyweds
settled in Georgia. In 1969, he received his orders for a tour
in Vietnam. After his army service, Paul and Susan returned
to Massachusetts, first settling in Greenfield and later in
Lexington.
Paul attended Harvard Business School and established a
career consulting to the construction industry.
Paul loved satire and farce, especially Peter Sellers in the Pink
Panther series. He had a sharp wit. He knew how to tell a good
story. He appreciated a good pun and clever wordplay. He had
a lifelong love of sports, playing men’s league basketball for
years after college before eventually switching to tennis and
even becoming a USTA official to augment his playing.
Paul’s service to Lexington was extensive. I first met him when
we overlapped for a year on the Appropriation Committee in
1999. I found him to be warm, thoughtful, generous with his
time and expertise as Chair of that committee. Paul served
on the Appropriation Committee from 1992 through 1999,
including a stent as Chair from 1994 to 1998.
He was a precinct two town meeting member from 1993
to 2023. His service also included stints on the Council on
Aging, the School Committee’s Budget Advisory Task Force,
the Vision 2020 Budget Task Force. He also served as Vice-
Chair of the Senior Center Action Plan Committee and
as Chair of the Select Board’s DPW Facility/Senior Center
Reevaluation Advisory Committee from 2002 to 2003. Of his
time on town meeting, Susan told me, he was always finding
the humor wherever he could, and he referred to the town
meeting evenings as live entertainment.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s wife, Susan, their
daughter Laura, son Stephen.
To Paul’s five living siblings. And their extended family and
friends, he will be missed.
Please join me for a moment of silence in remembrance of
Paul LaPointe.
ROBERT BALABAN
Robert “Bob” Balaban passed away peacefully at the age of 72
on March 13, 2025. Many of us learned of his death through
Irene’s Facebook post, she wrote, “it’s with a heavy heart that
I post that Bob, my friend and dear husband of 42 years, has
died. Since his diagnosis of ALS in December 2023, He’s been
in a steady decline that he has handled with grace and humor
to the point where he was, in his own words, exhausted, help-
less, and hopeless. We had hoped for more years together to
travel and just enjoy our increasing leisure time, but life had a
different plan for us.”
Bob was born in New York to Alvin and Barbara Balaban.
He graduated from Antioch College and the University of
Michigan with a concentration in Asian studies. He took time
off from his studies to travel throughout Asia, Australia, and
New Zealand, fueling a lifelong interest in travel and culture.
He went on to have a very distinguished career as a software
engineer, most notably his involvement with the introduction
of Lotus Script, the object-oriented programming language
used with Lotus Notes.
Bob’s coworkers describe him as a visionary in the field.
Someone known for his expertise and creative problem solv-
ing, a dedicated mentor and a trusted teammate. He faced
challenges with intelligence, humor, and a willingness to help
others, leaving a lasting impact on his colleagues.
And perhaps most fortunate for Bob, it was through this career
that he met his beloved wife of 42 years, our town meeting’s
own, Irene Donnelly. He was a loving and dedicated father
who took great pride in his children, Samantha and David.
Both of whom put their lives on hold to come back home to
be with their father this past year.
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79 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Irene shared that as a family, they enjoy dinners together with
Bob often typing in his text-to-speech app, “Ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha”, sarcastically, to their amusing jokes and typing, “bullshit”
to the rest.
Bob enjoyed eating. He was still eating bagels long after his
doctor strongly recommended he stop and cooking. It was of-
ten said that his love language was food. He was a skilled cook
who was known to ask his children what they wanted for din-
ner shortly after breakfast, and inquire about Thanksgiving
plans several months in advance. He was known for his sense
of humor, his kind spirit, his intelligence, and what his cousin
David called “Bob’s irreverence in the face of absurdity”.
“Follow the fun” was a career and life touchstone of his.
Regarding Bob’s time in town meeting, Irene recalled that he
ran as a write-in candidate in 2020 and lost. But he came in
second, so he started serving that Fall when someone stepped
down. They joked that Irene wasn’t as good a campaign man-
ager as Masha Traber, who was campaign manager for Rita,
who won the write-in race. That’s pretty funny, actually. He
then ran in 2021 and was elected to a full term.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Bob’s wife, Irene, to
their children, Samantha and David.
To his sister Julie and her husband, Alan Garber and his
brother, Scott Schaefer, and to their extended family and
friends, he will be missed.
And please join me for a moment of silence in remembrance
of Bob Balaban.
7:41 p.m. The Moderator asked for a procedural motion to
take up Articles 23, 10g, 10i, and 19. Mr. Lucente
moved that Articles 23, 10g, 10i, and 19 be taken
up. As there were no objections, the motion pass-es unanimously.
7:41 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 23.
ARTICLE 23: DISPOSE OF 116 VINE STREET
MOTION: Mr. Sandeen moves that the Select Board be au-
thorized to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of Town-owned
land described as parcel 47-45B, located on Vine Street, for
the purposes of developing affordable housing thereon on
conditions acceptable to the Select Board, and to authorize
the Select Board or its designee to enter into such agreements
as are necessary for such purposes including a land disposi-
tion agreement or a lease not to exceed 99 years in length.
Mr. Sandeen gave a description of the Article and noted that
the Select Board had 4 members in support of the Article, and
1 member who believed the scope of the Article was unclear
that the original plan for six units now appears open-ended
and raises concerns a proposed project could increase in size
without town meeting approval. He noted that this one Select
Board member felt the Town should develop a comprehen-
sive affordable housing plan before committing limited town
land and funds to this project. Their final vote was 4 in favor
and 1 against.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
Mr. Michelson said that the Appropriation
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
Ms. Manz stated that the Housing Partnership
Board had voted unanimously in support of pas-
sage of the Article and urged the Select Board to
move forward expeditiously with an RFP.
7:48 p.m. Peter Litchev, 121 Vine St., noted that he was di-
rectly across from the property and said that the
site was insufficient for that many units.
7:51 p.m. Pamela Lyons, Pct. 5, noted that the Vine Street
project was a “remnant project” that had been
before developers were required to add affordable
units and said that other towns were building
more affordable housing, sometimes in parking
lots.
7:54 p.m. Benjamin Lees, Pct. 7, said that he understood
there had been a number of concerns about nar-
rowness of the road and traffic safety at the time
of the Lowell/North Street project and asked that
a member of the Select Board explain how they
were addressed. Mr. Sandeen noted that on that
particular RFP there had been a requirement for
community outreach. He further noted that some
of that outreach required for this project would
be looking at traffic safety and was ongoing at
that time.
7:59 p.m. Wendy Manz, Pct. 4, noted the concern of neigh-
bors regarding the street and said that a portion
was narrow and there were no sidewalks, and
neighbors expressed concern about that. Two
units in the location seemed OK, but more would
not be safe.
8:02 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
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8:22 p.m. Marsha Baker, Pct. 7, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
92 68 13
MOTION CARRIES
8:24 p.m. Mr. Sandeen reiterated that the Select Board or
its designee would review all RFPs it received, but
they were under no requirement to choose one.
The Moderator opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 23 – Dispose of 116 Vine Street
(2/3 Required)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
132 36 8
MOTION CARRIES BY MORE THAN
NECESSARY 2/3
8:26 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
10g and reminded Members that the Motion had
previously been moved by Ms. Fenollosa as part
of Article 10 on April 2nd.
g) That $1,490,000 be appropriated for Park and Playground
Improvements - Center Playground, and to meet this appro-
priation $1,490,000 be appropriated from the Unbudgeted
Reserves of the Community Preservation Fund;
8:28 p.m. Renen Bassik, Recreation Committee Member,
presented information on the Article.
Ms. Fenollosa stated that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended passage
of the Article by a vote of 8-0.
Mr. Sandeen said that the Select Board unani-
mously supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
Mr. Verma said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
Ms. Buckley stated that the Commission on
Disability unanimously supports a pour-in-place
rubber surface and the Article.
8:34 p.m. Jeanne Krieger, Pct. 3, asked what the material
for pour-in-place was. Ms. Batitte said the pour-
in-place material was currently used in all public
school playgrounds. Mr. Krieger expressed her
concerns that it would be made up of recycled
styrene butadiene rubber held together by poly-
urethane, and asked if a natural alternative, such
as cork could be used. Ms. Batitte said that would
be something they could explore.
8:36 p.m. Ricki Pappo, Pct. 2, asked if it were possible to use
cork, instead of the pour-in-place material. Ms.
Batitte noted that as the playground design and
footprint of the play surface were finalized, those
determinations were certainly things that they
would consider.
8:37 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
8:47 p.m. Steven Heinrich, Pct. 3, called the question. The
Moderator noted that as there was no one in line,
they could move straight to the vote.
Motion to Approve Article 10g – Park and Playground
Improvements – Center Playground
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
161 7 5
MOTION CARRIES
8:48 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 10i.
i) That $1,950,000 be appropriated for Lincoln Park Field
Improvements, and to meet this appropriation $860,000 be
appropriated from the Unbudgeted Reserve of the Community
Preservation Fund, $340,000 be appropriated from the
General Fund unreserved fund balance, and $750,000 be
raised in the tax levy; and
Christian Boutwell, Vice-Chair of the Recreation Committee,
presented information on the Article.
Ms. Fenollosa stated that the Community
Preservation Committee recommended passage of
the Article by a vote of 8-1, with the dissenting vote
based on the opposition to the use of artificial turf.
Mr. Sandeen said that the Select Board unani-
mously supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee voted 5-0 in support of the Article.
Mr. Verma said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously supported passage of the Article.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
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81 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
8:58 p.m. Cynthia Arens, Pct. 3, said that when the Lincoln
Field Working Group was preparing the project
bid documents, they were told that the certain
procurement rules prevented the Town from
requiring testing for informational purposes
regarding materials as opposed to a result that
must be met. She asked that due to limitations,
whether Counsel could spend some time with
the Working Group to better understand those
limitations, improving testing requirements and
contract specifications so they could get accurate
data of the chemical makeup of the products be-
ing purchased. Mr. Bartha said that generally, no,
as the question about procurement should first
go through procurement officer.
9:03 p.m. Steven Kaufman, Pct. 5, commended the
Recreation Committee on their outreach and
working to be safer.
9:05 p.m. Ricki Pappo, Pct. 2, noted that while she appreci-
ated the work the group had done, she had hoped
to see more information regarding the manufac-
turer, installer, and disposal hauler and therefore
would be voting in opposition to the Article.
9:06 p.m. Janet Kern, Pct. 1, noted that one of the require-
ments for Lincoln 1 was that the contractor pro-
vide a full, detailed accounting of the removed
turf materials, and the report from the hauler
only showed that it was disposed in Norwich, CT.
She asked what level of detail they could get for
next time on Lincoln II and III so that they had
information regarding final disposition of the
plastic carpet. Ms. Battite noted that through the
continued work of the Working Group, they had
enhanced procurement language for the Lincoln
#2 removal to include a chain of custody.
9:09 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, called the question.
Motion to Terminate the Question
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
132 22 13
MOTION CARRIES
9:11 p.m. As there were no final comments, the Moderator
opened voting on the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 10i – Lincoln Park Field
Improvements #3
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
143 15 9
MOTION CARRIES
9:12 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 19.
ARTICLE 19: ESTABLISH, AMEND, DISSOLVE AND APPROPRIATE TO AND FROM SPECIFIED STABILIZATION FUNDS
MOTION: Ms. Kumar moves
a) That $6,563,050 be appropriated into the Capital
Stabilization Fund, and to meet this appropriation, $6,563,050
be raised in the tax levy, and
b) That $14,002.80 be appropriated into the Affordable
Housing Trust Fund, and to meet this appropriation
$14,002.80 be appropriated from the Affordable Housing
Stabilization Fund
Ms. Kumar described the Article and said that
the Select Board unanimously supported passage
of the Article.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously recommended passage of the
Article.
Mr. Lamb stated that the Capital Expenditures
Committee unanimously supported passage of
the Article.
As there were no questions, the Moderator opened voting on
the Article
Motion to Approve Article 19 – Establish, Amend, Dissolve
and Appropriate to and from Specified Stabilization Funds
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
164 0 3
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
82
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TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
9:15 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 6.
ARTICLE 6: AMEND FY2025 OPERATING, ENTERPRISE AND CPA BUDGETS
MOTION: Mr. Sandeen moves that the following adjustment
be made to the following line item for the FY2025
budget as approved under Article 4 of the 2024
Annual Town Meeting:
Line Item Program From To
2510 Reserve Fund $850,000 $910,000
and further, that to meet this appropriation
$60,000 be transferred from the Recreation
Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings.
Mr. Sandeen presented information on the
Article said that the Select Board unanimously
supported passage of the Article.
Mr. Ahuja said that the Appropriation Committee
unanimously recommended passage of the
Article.
As there were no questions, the Moderator opened voting on
the Article.
Motion to Approve Article 6 – Amend FY2025 Operating,
Enterprise and CPA Budgets
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
167 0 1
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY
9:18 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 2.
l. Report of School Building Committee
MOTION: That the report of the School Building Committee
be received and placed on file.
The Moderator noted that there wasn’t a presentation for this
Article, but there were slides available for review. She then
asked for a Motion to receive and place on file the School
Building Committee Report. Mr. Pato moved to receive and
place on file the School Building Committee Report. As there
were no objections the motion carries unanimously.
The Moderator noted that they were still under Article 2.
j. Reports of the Planning Board
MOTION: That the reports of the Planning Board be received
and placed on file.
She asked for a Motion to receive the Annual Overview
Report of the Planning Board. Mr. Schanbacher moved to re-
ceive the Annual Overview Report of the Planning Board. As
there were no objections the motion carries unanimously.
Michael Schanbacher, Chair of the Planning Board, present-
ed information on the Report.
9:21 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under
Article 34.
ARTICLE 34 AMEND SECTION 7.5 OF THE ZONING BYLAW TO REDUCE MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT CAPACITY (Citizen Petition)
MOTION
Ms. Sacerdote moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135
of the Code of the Town of Lexington, and Zoning Map be
amended as follows, where struck through text is to be re-
moved and underlined text is to be added, and further that
non-substantive changes to the numbering of this bylaw be
permitted to comply with the numbering format of the Code
of the Town of Lexington:
A. Amend §135-7.5.5.6 as follows:
6. The minimum required front yard in feet is the lesser
of that required in the underlying zoning district or
15 feet, except that where 50% or more of the façade
facing the public way is occupied by nonresidential
principal uses in the VO District, no the minimum
required front yard is required 10 feet. Minimum
required front yard areas shall be used as amenity
space available for occupants and semi-public uses
such as landscaping, benches, tables, chairs, play areas,
public art, or similar features. Parking spaces are not
permitted in the minimum required front yard.
B. Amend §135-7.5.5.10.b as follows:
b. VO Height Bonus. In the VO District, the maximum
height is 50 feet and 4 stories when at least 33% of the
gross floor area of the street floor level or buildings’
footprint, whichever is greater, of the entire devel-
opment is occupied by nonresidential principal uses
pursuant to §7.5.4.4, and no more than the greater of
20% or 20 feet of the street floor frontage on a public
way is dedicated to residential uses, and the floor to
floor height of the street floor level is at least 14 feet.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
83 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
C. Amend §135-7.5.9.1 as follows:
1. Transition areas, as specified under §5.3.4 (Transition
Areas), are required only along the boundary of the
Village Overlay Districts and shall have a depth of at
least 20 feet on developments containing a building
with a height greater than 40 feet in the VO District, or
at least five (5) feet otherwise.
Abby McCabe, Planning Director, presented information on
the Article.
Mr. Schanbacher stated that the Planning
Board had held multiple public hearings and
recommended passage by a vote of 5-0.
Ms. Kumar said that the Select Board had 3
Members in support of the Article and 2 awaiting
Town Meeting discussion.
9:25 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, asked what projects surfaced
that had caused the issue they were trying to
solve. Ms. McCabe noted that a few mixed use
projects had come in during the year that did not
leave space for outdoor seating. She noted that
the Planning Board felt that having space was
important for the streetscape.
9:32 p.m. Tom Diaz, Pct. 8, asked for feedback from
undecided Select Board members. Ms. Kumar
noted that she and Mark Sandeen were the ones
awaiting discussion, but that she would be voting
yes. She noted that one of the reasons she was
holding back was concern that it would be a
deterrence to builders due to the restrictions. Mr.
Sandeen noted that his concern was about the
actual dimensions set and he noted that he still
had that concern.
9:35 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Article.
9:35 p.m. Steven Kaufman, precinct 5 moved the question.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
138 22 10
MOTION CARRIES
9:42 p.m. Ms. Sacerdote offered final comments on the
Article. The Moderator then opened voting on
the Article.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Approve Article 34: Amend Section 7.5 of the
Zoning Bylaw to Reduce Multi-Family Dwelling Unit
Capacity (2/3)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
154 14 5
MOTION CARRIES BY MORE THAN THE
REQUIRED 2/3RDS
9:45 p.m. The Moderator noted that before Mr. Daggett
offered his motion to reconsider Article 30, she
would explain the process and remind members
that a motion to reconsider was a request to town
meeting to reopen an article from the current
warrant that was previously decided by a vote
of the meeting. Under the bylaws, there was a
30-minute time limit for debate on a motion
to reconsider and everyone was held to three
minutes to give more people a time to talk. The
person making the motion to reconsider must
present compelling, substantial new information
that wasn’t previously available at the time the
earlier action was taken, and, if known, might
have resulted in the members taking a different
action from the one previously voted. She said
that when Mr. Daggett made his motion to re-
consider, he would have three minutes. She said
that during the remainder of the 30 minutes they
would hear from committee and boards and from
town meeting questions and debate. If a majority
of the meeting votes to reconsider, then Article
30 would be reopened and it would be as if they
were starting over, and the original main motion
would be back on the floor.
9:46 p.m. Mr. Daggett moved Reconsideration.
Mr. Hornig stated that the Planning Board had
not taken a position on Reconsideration
Ms. Hai said that the Select Board had 1 member
who had voted “yes”, 3 opposed, and 1 awaiting
discussion.
9:50 p.m. Charles Lamb, Pct. 4, stated that they had thought
that they were getting 15%, so they should get to
that number.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
84
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
9:51 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
reasons for Reconsideration.
10:03 p.m. Jessie Steigerwald, Pct. 8, called the question.
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
127 24 13
MOTION CARRIES
10:05 p.m. The Moderator opened voting on Reconsideration.
Motion to Reconsider Article 30
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
87 74 4
MOTION CARRIES
10:07 p.m. The Moderator opened the Meeting under Article
30 and asked that the original Motion be shown.
Mr. Schanbacher moved the original Article.
10:08 p.m. Steve Kaufman, Pct. 5, raised a point of order,
and noted that they usually had to wait ten min-
utes to amend a Motion and asked if there was a
way to suspend rules to move Amendment. The
Moderator said that it was up to her discretion
and said unless there was an objection she would
allow it.
10:09 p.m. Jonathan Suber, Pct. 2, raised a point of order,
and asked that the vote for Reconsideration be
explained. The Moderator did so.
10:09 p.m. The Moderator noted that unless there was an
objection she would allow the Amendment. As
there were no objections, Mr. Daggett moved the
Amendment and the Moderator noted that she
would start the timing for 30 minutes.
ARTICLE 30: AMEND ZONING BYLAW – INCLUSIONARY HOUSING FOR SPECIAL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
(Approved by the Attorney General’s Office July 18, 2025, posted July 28, 2025)
MOTION:
Mr. Daggett moves that the Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 135 of the
Code of the Town of Lexington, be amended as follows, where
struck through text is to be removed and underlined text is to
be added:
1. Amend § 135-6.9.8 as follows:
1. Inclusionary Dwelling Units.
a. At least 15% 17.6% of the total gross floor area of all
dwelling units other than inclusionary dwelling units
sum of (1) the total area of all lots in the proof plan
multiplied by 0.16 and (2) 4,550 square feet multiplied
by the number of lots shown on the proof plan shall
be incorporated into inclusionary dwelling units, as
defined by regulations promulgated by the Planning
Board pursuant to § 6.9.8.5 (the “inclusionary GFA”).
At least two-thirds of the inclusionary GFA shall be
incorporated into dwelling units eligible for inclusion
on the Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory as
determined by the Massachusetts Department of
Housing and Community Development EOHLC and
shall remain affordable in perpetuity.
6. A special residential development with six or fewer
market-rate dwelling units shall be permitted to meet
the requirements of this section by making a payment
to the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust in an amount
equal to the estimated construction cost of 17.6%
15% of the total gross floor area of all dwelling units
other than inclusionary dwelling units GFA permitted
under the proof plan submitted pursuant to § 6.9.4,
as determined in accordance with regulations to be
promulgated by the Planning Board.
Mr. Horning stated that the Planning Board supported
passage of the Amendment by a vote of 4-1.
Ms. Hai said that the Select Board was unanimous in
support of the Amendment.
Ms. Tung stated that the Affordable Housing Trust
voted unanimously 5-0 to support the passage of the
revised Motion.
10:12 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, said that she wished to
remind Town Meeting that even with the mod-
ifications under Article 2, they would have a
minimum of 200 units beyond what they needed,
and they didn’t need to take this step right now.
10:13 p.m. Jay Luker, Pct. 1, noted that he supported the
Amendment.
10:16 p.m. Eric Michelson, Pct. 1, asked for the minority
report of the Planning Board. Mr. Hornig noted
that he had voted against it due to procedural
concerns, and that it hadn’t been raised on the
public hearing so the public might not have
known this was a possibility.
10:17 p.m. Members continued to discuss and debate the
Amendment.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2024 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
(continued on next page)
85 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
10:20 p.m. Scott Burson, Pct. 9, moved the question.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
120 29 10
MOTION CARRIES
10:21 p.m. As there were no final comments, the Moderator
opened voting on the Amendment.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Amend Article 30: Amend Zoning Bylaw
– Inclusionary Housing for Special Residential
Developments
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
117 42 2
MOTION CARRIES
10:22 p.m. The Moderator noted that the Motion to
Amended was final, they had a new main Motion
under Article 30. She noted that if it were reject-
ed, no action would be taken, and if approved, it
would be the amended version.
She stated that as the Planning Board had already
mentioned their support of the Amendment,
their approval for the new Motion could be as-
sumed. Ms. Hai noted that the Select Board was
unanimously in favor of the Amended Motion.
Ms. Tung stated that the Affordable Housing
Trust was unanimously in support of the amend-
ed Motion.
10:24 p.m. Dawn McKenna, Pct. 6, asked whether adequate
notice had been given on the increased percent-
age due to lack of discussion on the amendment
in the public hearings. Mr. Makarious noted that
very likely there had been adequate notice and
that the Article and the notice referred to the
recalculation of the percentage for Affordable
Housing, and although there wasn’t debate on
this particular “way” of recalculating, that itself,
would not be indicative that there wasn’t enough
notice.
10:28 p.m. Deborah Strod, Pct. 6, spoke in favor of the
amended motion.
10:30 p.m. Alessandro Alessandrini, Pct. 4, called the question.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Motion to Terminate Debate
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
122 30 10
MOTION CARRIES
10:31 p.m. Mr. Daggett offered final comments on the
Amended Article and then the Moderator opened
voting.
10:32 p.m. Mark Andersen, Pct. 9, raised a point of order
and asked the Moderator to clarify what the con-
sequence of a no vote was. The Moderator noted
that a no vote would reject the action including
all action on Article 30.
10:33 p.m. Joe Pato, raised a point of order to note that it
wasn’t Mr. Daggett’s motion - that it was the
Planning Board motion. Mr. Schanbacher not-
ed the importance of attending public hearings
when discussion is on zoning issues.
Following remote electronic vote tallying, the Moderator
declared that:
Amended Article 30: Amend Zoning Bylaw –
Inclusionary Housing for Special Residential
Developments (2/3)
Adopted by a vote of:
Yes No Abstain
139 23 2
MOTION CARRIES BY MORE THAN 2/3
10:35 p.m. The Moderator asked for a motion to dissolve the
2025 Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Lucente, Select Board Chair, moved to dis-
solve Annual Town Meeting 2025.
Motion Adopted by majority voice vote.
A true copy.
Attest:
Mary de Alderete, Town Clerk
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING: MARCH 2025 – ABBREVIATED MINUTES (continued)
86
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ELECTED TOWN OFFICIALS
ADDRESS TERM EXPIRES PHONE #
SELECT BOARD (5 MEMBERS - 3 YEAR TERMS)
Jill I. Hai, Chair 6 Highland Ave. 2027 781-862-3776
Vineeta Ajay Kumar 14 Munroe Rd. 2028 781-538-5370
Douglas M. Lucente 17 Vine Brook Rd. 2026 781-862-2534
Joseph N. Pato 900 Massachusetts Ave. 2028 781-674-0141
Mark Sandeen 10 Brent Rd. 2026 781-863-8784
MODERATOR (1 YEAR TERM)
Deborah J. Brown 47 Robinson Rd. 2026 781-861-8311
SCHOOL COMMITTEE (5 MEMBERS - 3 YEAR TERMS)
Eileen S. Jay, Chair 191 Waltham St. 2028 781-860-0698
Sarah England Carter 5 Spencer St. 2027 781-640-4802
Sara Cuthbertson 541 Bedford St. 2026 843-513-7467
Larry D. Freeman 218 Lowell St. 2028 404-783-7563
Kathleen M. Lenihan 60 Bloomfield St. 2027 781-863-0023
PLANNING BOARD (5 MEMBERS - 3 YEAR TERMS)
Michael J. Schanbacher, Chair 516 Concord Ave. 2027 713-204-0133
Robert K. Creech 2 Grimes Rd. 2026 781-674-2481
Charles Hornig 18 Bacon St. 2026 781-862-1112
Tina M. McBride 45 Turning Mill Rd. 2028 617-875-4888
Melanie A. Thompson 360 Lowell St. 2027 781-254-7073
HOUSING AUTHORITY (3 ELECTED MEMBERS/1 APPOINTED MEMBER/1 TENANT MEMBER - 5 YEAR TERMS)
Richard F. Perry, Chair 40 Clark St. 2030 781-861-6347
Mena Bell, Treasurer, Tenant Member 3A Countryside Vlg. 2027 781-488-8303
Mark J. McCullough, Vice-Chair, State Appointee 15 Vine Brook Rd. 2027 781-648-1170
Nicholas Santosuosso 2 Washington St. 2026 781-863-1040
Melinda M. Walker 14 Larchmont Ln. 2029 781-863-2024
87 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SENATORS IN CONGRESS—Statewide
Edward J. Markey (D) (term 2020-2027) 255 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-2742 975 JFK Federal Building 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203 Phone: 617-565-8519
Elizabeth A. Warren (D) (term 2024-2030) 309 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-4543 2400 JFK Federal Building 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203 Phone: 617-565-3170
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS—Fifth District
Katherine M. Clark (D) (term 2024-2026) 2448 Rayburn Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-2836 157 Pleasant Street Suite 4, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 617-354-0292
GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Maura Healey/Kim Driscoll (D) (term 2022-2026) Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street Office of the Governor/Office of the Lt. Governor, Room 280 Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-725-4005
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Andrea J. Campbell (D) (term 2022-2026) One Ashburton Place, 20th floor, Boston, MA 02108 Phone: 617-727-2200
SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH
William F. Galvin (D) (term 2022-2026) One Ashburton Place, Rm 1611, Boston, MA 02108 Phone: 617-727-7030, Fax: 617-742-4528 Email: cis@sec.state.ma.us
TREASURER
Deborah B. Goldberg (D) (term 2022-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 227, Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-367-6900
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT— Fourth Middlesex District (precincts 1, 2, 4-7)
Cindy F. Friedman (D) (term 2024-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 208 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-722-1432 Email: Cindy.Freidman@masenate.gov
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT— Third Middlesex District (precincts 3, 8, 9)
Michael J. Barrett (D) (term 2024-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 109D 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-722-1572, Fax: 617-626-0898 Email: Mike.Barret@masenate.gov
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT— Fifteenth Middlesex District (precincts 1-5, 7-9)
Michelle L. Ciccolo (D) (term 2024-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 473F 24 Beacon Street , Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-722-2210 Email: michelle.ciccolo@mahouse.gov
REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT— Twenty-first Middlesex District (precinct 6)
Kenneth I. Gordon (D) (term 2024-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 473F 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-722-2240 Email: ken.gordon@mahouse.gov
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL—Third District
Mara Dolan (D) (term 2024-2026) Concord, MA 01742 Phone: 617-725-4015 ext.3, Fax: 617-727-6610 Mara.Dolan@mass.gov
STATE AUDITOR
Diana DiZoglio (D) (term 2022-2026) Massachusetts State House, Room 230, Boston, MA 02133 Phone: 617-727-2075, Fax: 617-727-3014 Email: auditor@sao.state.ma.us
DISTRICT ATTORNEY—MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Marian T. Ryan (D) (term 2022-2026) Middlesex District Attorney’s Office 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801 Phone: 781-897-8300, Fax: 781-897-8301 Email: Marian.Ryan@massmail.state.ma.us
CLERK OF COURTS—MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Michael A. Sullivan (D) (term 2024-2030) 200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor, Woburn, MA 01801 Phone: 781-939-2700 Email: middlesex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
REGISTER OF DEEDS—MIDDLESEX SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Maria C. Curtatone (term 2024-2030) 208 Cambridge St., PO Box 68, Cambridge, MA 02141 Phone: 617-679-6300, Fax: 617-577-1289 Email: middlesexsouth@sec.state.ma.us
SHERIFF—MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Peter J. Koutoujian (term 2022-2028) 400 Mystic Avenue, 4th Floor, Medford, MA 02155 Phone: 781-960-2800 Email: mspatel@sdm.state.ma.us
REGISTER OF PROBATE—MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Tara E. DeCristofaro (term 2020-2026) 208 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 Phone: 617-768-5800, Fax: 617-225-0781 Email: tara.decristofar@jud.state.ma.us
SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
88
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
MODERATOR
ROLE: To preside over Town Meeting and appoint mem-
bers of the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures
Committee, and the Cary Lecture Series Committee.
ELECTED by the voters at large for a 1-year term:
Deborah Brown.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Presided over the spring annual Town Meeting and a fall
special Town Meeting, both offered in a hybrid format
(in-person in the Margery Milne Battin Auditorium in
the Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building, and remotely
on-line).
• Planned a 2-hour workshop for new Town Meeting
members that was conducted by the Deputy Moderator.
Town Counsel, Town Manager, Town Clerk and Chairs
of major boards, committees, and the Town Meeting
Members Association explained their roles and helped
clarify financial and planning terms and concepts, legal
issues, and parliamentary procedures.
• Held pre-Town Meeting planning
meetings with town staff, Town
Counsel, article sponsors, and
chairs of boards and committees.
• Advised citizens on the protocol
regarding participation at Town
Meeting.
• Nominated Tom Diaz to serve as
Deputy Moderator.
• Appointed new and returning
members to the Appropriation
Committee, the Capital
Expenditures Committee, and the Cary Lecture Series
Committee.
Town Moderator: Deborah Brown
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS ASSOCIATION (TMMA)
ROLE: To inform Town Meeting Members in advance on all
warrant articles, meeting procedures, and matters of town
governance; to act as an interface between Town Meeting
and the municipal government, the Select Board, the School
Committee, and other town boards and committees; to repre-
sent the members of Town Meeting when the Town Meeting
is not in session; to improve Town Meeting procedures and
processes; and to assist in governing Lexington when request-
ed or it is deemed necessary.
MEMBERSHIP: All Town Meeting Members; Town
Moderator, Select Board, Town Clerk, and state legislators liv-
ing in Lexington are at-large members. The TMMA Executive
Committee usually meets the second Wednesday of each
month except July, August, and months when Town Meeting
is in session. These meetings are open to the public.
The precinct officers and the TMMA officers comprise the
TMMA Executive Committee and serve for one year. Precinct
officers are elected prior to TMMA’s annual meeting each of the
nine precincts elects a precinct Chair, Vice-Chair, and Clerk.
Immediately after the election of precinct officers, TMMA
holds its nnnual meeting of the association to elect the TMMA
board officers, which are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer,
Clerk, Webmaster, and Email List Moderator. The Executive
Committee may also appoint subcommittees, working groups,
or task forces from among the TMMA membership.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Advanced efforts to improve town government trans-
parency through increasing the number of online Town
Meeting materials that members and the general public
can access on their town website.
• Maintained the TMMA website, including Executive
Committee minutes, various committee reports, and
access to TMMA email archives: lexingtontmma.org.
• Sponsored warrant information sessions before the
annual town meeting (ATM) and spring town meeting
(STM) to familiarize members with the warrant articles
and give article proponents a chance to present materials
and receive feedback.
• Maintained a TMMA member email group (with message
archives accessible to the public at https://tmmalex.groups.
io/g/TMMAList) to provide a forum for informal discus-
sions among TMMA members around town issues.
• Maintained generic email addresses for all TMMA
members to simplify the process of constituents contact-
ing Town Meeting members.
(continued on next page)
89 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
AT LARGE
Michael Barrett 7 Augustus Rd
Deborah Brown 47 Robinson Rd
Michelle Ciccolo 50 Shade St
Jill Hai 6 Highland Ave
Vineeta Kumar 14 Munroe Rd
Douglas Lucente 17 Vine Brook Rd
Joseph Pato 900 Massachusetts Ave
Mark Sandeen 10 Brent Rd
PRECINCT 1
Term Expiration March 2026:
John Bartenstein 46 Sanderson Rd
James Luker 26 Rindge Ave
Noah Michelson 45 Circle Rd
Margaret Muckenhoupt 19 Whipple Rd
John Rossi 40 Arcola St
Bella Tsvetkova 42 Lowell St
Albert Zabin 1 Page RdY
Term Expiration March 2027:
Sandhya Beebee 10 Page Rd
Robert Cunha 10 Stevens Rd
Tanya Gisolfi-McCready 22 Cliffe Ave
Janet Kern 72 Lowell St
Katherine Reynolds 114 Lowell St
Carol Sampson 8 Brandon St
Judith Zabin 1 Page Rd
Term Expiration March 2028:
Lois Angelo 11 Spencer St
Cristina Burwell 6 Albemarle Ave
Sarah Carter 5 Spencer St
Larry Freeman Jr. 218 Lowell St
Charles James 218 Lowell St
Eric Michelson 45 Circle Rd
Valerie Overton 25 Emerson Gdns
PRECINCT 2
Term Expiration March 2026:
Avram Baskin 43 Carville Ave
Sarah Daggett 11 White Pine Ln
Carolyn Goldstein 10 Peacock Farm Rd
Jeffrey Howry 5 Bennett Ave
Mark Manasas 6 Bennett Ave
Jonathan Suber 56 Taft Ave
Laura Swain 29 Locust Ave
Term Expiration March 2027:
Marian Cohen 8 Plymouth Rd
Barbara Katzenberg 37 Moon Hill Rd
Peter Lee 770 Waltham St
Syed Rizvi 237 Worthen Rd East
Kenneth Shine 7 Ellis St
Rita Vachani 75 Blossomcrest Rd
Amy Weinstock 33 Dawes Rd
Term Expiration March 2028:
Matthew Cohen 29 Tower Rd
Matthew Daggett 11 White Pine Ln
Rita Goldberg 10 Independence Ave
Ajay Joseph 46 Golden Ave
Sean Osborne 822 Massachusetts Ave
Ricki Pappo 16 Blossomcrest Rd
Betsey Weiss 8 Dover Ln
PRECINCT 3
Term Expiration March 2026:
Bronte Abraham 22 Hudson Rd
Cynthia Arens 7 Kitson Park Dr
Norman Cohen 1010 Waltham St
Steven Heinrich 11 Potter Pond
Ipek Ozer-Stillman 6 Stonewall Rd
Hua Wang 16 Hudson Rd
Stanley Yap 30 April Ln
Term Expiration March 2027:
Joshua Apgar 31 Barberry Rd
James Baldwin 39 Potter Pond
Delanot Bastien 3111 Main Campus Dr
Michael Martignetti 37 Barberry Rd
Letha Prestbo 470 Concord Ave
Robert Rotberg 14 Barberry Rd
Michael Schanbacher 516 Concord Ave
Term Expiration March 2028:
Courtney Apgar 31 Barberry Rd
Sallye Bleiberg 960 Waltham St
Sudhir Jain 3 Benjamin Rd
Jeanne Krieger 44 Webster Rd
Glenn Parker 186 Spring St
Prashant Singh 65 Munroe Rd
Franklin Smith 7 Potter Pond
PRECINCT 4
Term Expiration March 2026:
Alessandro Alessandrini 32 Slocum Rd
Michael Boudett 39 Prospect Hill Rd
Kathryn Colburn 49 Forest St
Katie Cutler 115 Kendall Rd
Heather Hartshorn 62 Farmcrest Ave
Nancy Shepard 2 Baskin Rd
Ruth Thomas 10 Parker St
Term Expiration March 2027:
Gloria Bloom 17 Loring Rd
Kunal Botla 40 Grapevine Ave
Robert Cohen 10 Grassland St
Eileen Jay 191 Waltham St
Charles Lamb 55 Baskin Rd
Kathleen Lenihan 60 Bloomfield St
Jennifer Richlin 36 Sherburne Rd
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS
(continued on next page)
• Worked closely with the town staff, the Town Moderator,
and the Select Board to help plan and execute STM
2024 and 2025 Annual Town Meeting and support
various board and committee initiatives including the
Sesquicentennial Commemoration (Lexington's 250th
Celebration of the Battle of Lexington).
• Developed and passed Article 25 through Town Meeting
to amend and update town bylaws in the governance of
Town Meeting based on current practices.
2025 Executive Committee Officers
Chair: Bridger McGaw
Vice-Chair: Sarah Higginbotham
Treasurer: Noah Michelson
Clerk: Brielle Meade
Email List Moderator: Vicki Blier
Webmaster: Bob Avallone
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS ASSOCIATION (continued)
90
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN MEETING MEMBERS ASSOCIATION (continued)
Term Expiration March 2028
Nyles Barnert 142 Worthen Rd
Wendy Manz 3 Captain Parker Arms
Gerald Paul 43 Highland Ave
Kathryn Roy 382 Marrett Rd
Carol Sacerdote 15 Loring Rd
Peter Shapiro 113 Waltham St
Sandra Shaw 51 Wachusett Dr
PRECINCT 5
Term Expiration March 2026:
Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti 340 Lowell St
Judith Crocker 5 Currier Ct
Anthony Galaitsis 7 Burroughs Rd
Steven Kaufman 116 East Emerson Rd
Pamela Lyons 51 Grant St
Lin Xu 117 Vine St
Lily Yan 46 Courtyard Pl
Term Expiration March 2027:
Anil Ahuja 7 Leonard Rd
Ting Fang 39 Courtyard Pl
Sarah Higginbotham 21 Byron Ave
Joyce Murphy 1505 Massachusetts Ave
Kristin Pechinsky 38 Saddle Club Rd
Marc Saint Louis 5 Brookwood Rd
Alex Tsouvalas 77 Grant St
Term Expiration March 2028:
Monica Davis 26 Hayes Ln
Marilyn Fenollosa 10 Marshall Rd
Andrew Friedlich 22 Young St
Jerold Michelson 3 Clyde Pl
Melanie Thompson 360 Lowell St
M. Masha Traber 106 Maple St
John Zhao 10 Cooke Rd
PRECINCT 6
Term Expiration March 2026:
Thomas Barry 159 Burlington St
Jonathan Himmel 66 Hancock St
Morton Kahan 44 Hancock St
Innessa Manning 46 York St
Bridger McGaw 89 Meriam St
Dinesh Patel 22 Brent Rd
Ryan Wise 8 Berwick Rd
Term Expiration March 2027:
Edmund Grant 27 Grove St
Jyotsna Kakullavarapu 5 Diamond Rd
Brian Kelley 44 Grant St
Susan McLeish 665 Lowell St
Deepika Sawhney 6 Porter Ln
Taylor Singh 40 Hancock St
Vinita Verma 3 Graham Rd
Term Expiration March 2028:
Sara Bothwell Allen 158 Burlington St
Margaret Counts-Klebe 8 Hancock Ave
Jeremy Levitan 10 Adams St
Dawn McKenna 9 Hancock St
Deborah Strod 10 Thoreau Rd
Eran Strod 10 Thoreau Rd
Sarah Wolfson 164 Grant St
PRECINCT 7
Term Expiration March 2026:
Vida Batterina Hom 175 Grove St
Sara Cuthbertson 541 Bedford St
Harry Forsdick 46 Burlington St
Pam Hoffman 4 Rangeway
Samita Mandelia 59 Harding Rd
Raul Marques-Pascual 4 John Benson Rd
Tina McBride 45 Turning Mill Rd
Umesh Shelat 34 James St
Term Expiration March 2027:
Marsha Baker 46 Burlington St
Philip Hamilton 23 Fifer Ln
Stacey Hamilton 25 Robinson Rd
Meghana Khanolkar 63 Winter St
Benjamin Lees 57 Gleason Rd
Pamela Tames 26 Bertwell Rd
Term Expiration March 2028
Archan Basu 34 Harding Rd
Katharine Blauer 46 Robinson Rd
Robert Creech 2 Grimes Rd
Sandra Hackman 65 Fifer Ln
Letitia Hom 175 Grove St
Vikas Kinger 13 Donald St
Monami Roy 36 Bertwell Rd
PRECINCT 8
Term Expiration March 2026:
Robert Avallone 21 Constitution Rd
Lauren Black III 143 Bedford St
Shailesh Chandra 10 Childs Rd
Gang Chen 24 Bellflower St
Thomas Diaz 13 Lois Ln
Robin Lovett 18 Bates Rd
Andrei Radulescu-Banu 86 Cedar St
Term Expiration March 2027:
Heidi Burkholder 51 Ward St
Lin Jensen 133 Reed St
Brielle Meade 17 Manning St
James Osten 8 Revere St
Sanjay Padaki 46 Ward St
Dahua Pan 34 Balfour St
Jessica Steigerwald 143 Cedar St
Term Expiration March 2028:
Peggy Enders 11 Kimball Rd
Alix Fox 5 Hillside Ter
Betty Gau 64 Ward St
Alan Levine 54 Reed St
Lisa Newton 15 Ledgelawn Ave
Sudhir Ranjan 155 Reed St
Alan Seferian 10 Augustus Rd
PRECINCT 9
Term Expiration March 2026:
Shireen Ahmed 393 Lincoln St
Mark Andersen 2400 Massachusetts Ave
Hemaben Bhatt 8 Jean Rd
Todd Burger 386 Lincoln St
Jeanne Canale 29 Shade St
Suzanne Lau 18 Phinney Rd
Lisah Schmidt Rhodes 482 Marrett Rd
Term Expiration March 2027:
Richard Canale 29 Shade St
Mollie Garberg 16 Cary Ave
Kimberly Hensle-Lowrance 23 Tufts Rd
Philip Jackson 50 Shade St
Ethan Kiczek 26 Tufts Rd
Alicia Morris 19 Welch Rd
Thomas Shiple 18 Phinney Rd
Term Expiration March 2028:
Victoria Blier 41 Shade St
Scott Burson 5 Willard Cir
Rodney Cole 80 School St
Diana Donovan 112 Shade St
Thomas Fenn 15 Shade St
Foster Jackson 50 Shade St
Elizabeth Mettetal 6 Hastings Rd
91 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 30 30
Part Time 23 23
ROLE: The Cary Library’s Mission is to ignite curiosity, en-
gage minds, and connect the community. The Cary Memorial
Library Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Library.
As specified by an 1868 gift from Maria Hastings Cary, the
Library Board consists of the Town’s Select Board, School
Committee members, and the community’s settled clergy.
APPOINTED by the Trustees. Each year the Full Board
elects a 5-member Executive Board from its member-
ship. Members of the FY25 Executive Board included: Jill
Hai (Chair), Eileen Jay (Vice-Chair), Karen Thomashow,
Barbara Callaghan, Suzie Barry (through February 2025),
and Joe Pato (starting March 2025).
Administration
On July 1, 2024, Cary Library closed its lower level to prepare
for the renovation of the Children's and Large Meeting Rooms
(ChiRP) as well as the installation of a new HVAC system for
that level. Portions of the youth collections were moved to
the main level for the year, and the remaining collections and
furniture were moved to storage. Construction on the project
began in August 2024 and after several delays, the library
anticipates reopening this level mid FY26. The library thanks
the Department of Public Facilities for their management of
the project and their efforts to ensure that the library could
continue to provide services on the upper two levels.
The library was proud to be part of Lexington's 250th
Celebration (Lex250), the 250th anniversary of the Battle of
Lexington. In addition to providing programming, outlined
in Adult Services, members of our staff also ushered at an
event featuring documentarian Ken Burns and worked at
Lex250 related events during the celebration.
The library continued to provide outstanding services
to patrons on fewer floors as well as offsite and online. The
library is very grateful to the many community partners who
have hosted library programming over the course of the year.
These include the Lexington Community Center, The Munroe
Center for the Arts, LexFarm, Omar's World of Comics,
Galary House, and the Town's Cary Memorial Building. The
library staff worked on communication and workflow plans
to ensure a transition as easy as possible during the project.
Three of the staff who worked on these plans, Kevin Grocki,
Nicole Vandeyar, and Eunice Hong, were invited to present
their work at the annual Massachusetts Library Association
Conference in May.
And as always, thanks to the Trustees, Cary Library
Foundation, and Friends of Cary Library for their continued
support, especially in the last year.
Adult Services
The ChiRP construction project has shaped our public services
for FY25, with Youth Services joining the Adult Services staff
on the main desk, which has provided a unique opportunity
for cross departmental training and collaboration. Patrons
are increasingly interested in downloadable materials such as
e-books, audiobooks, and streaming content. Although our
archives are in storage, local history continues to be a strong
area of interest, particularly with Lex250 in April 2025. With
help from our community collaborators, we now have 17 lan-
guages represented in our World Languages collection. A ma-
jor archival digitization project, the papers of the Lexington
Civil Rights Committee, are now available through Digital
Commonwealth. We were given the papers of committee
member David Reiner, who collected materials from the Civil
Rights Committee and their work on fair housing in the area,
including at Hanscom Field. Lexington scholar Marion Kilson
began the work of organizing and describing these materials,
and Bridgette Cavaliere from Cary Library completed it. The
papers were digitized at the Boston Public Library and are
now available online for anyone to use at digitalcommon-
wealth.org/collections/commonwealth:t435pc24d
The Adult Programming Department continued to offer
virtual programs and in-person programs offsite in FY25. The
library is so grateful to our community partners for sharing
their spaces with us: Venues such as the Community Center,
the Munroe Center for the Arts, LexArt, LexFarm, and the
Lexington Venue, have all been so generous and kind and
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
(continued on next page)Cary Bears visit construction site.
92
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
enabled us to continue our in- person programming to those
who really appreciate the social interaction. We focused on
opportunities for the community to come together to watch
and discuss a film, learn a new skill, immerse in a cultural ex-
perience, or try a new craft. Library patrons really enjoyed the
additional “Take & Makes” we supplied during library reno-
vations. Patrons were also very excited with the introduction
of a Cookbook Club, Writer’s Group, and Climate Book Club.
Cary Library participated in Lexington's 250th celebration
of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The library hosted
authors Woody Holton and Robert A. Gross who discussed
Holton’s book, Liberty is Sweet: the Hidden History of the
Revolution. Cary Library also hosted “Sounds of the 1700s”
with Lexington Strings, who presented a recital of music con-
temporary to the April 19, 1775 skirmish on the Lexington
Battle Green.
The Programming Team continues to find ways to sup-
port older adults in the community with a studio art program
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY (continued)
sponsored by a grant from the Dana Home Foundation. The
library also partnered with Lexington Human Services, Mass
General West, and Supportive Living, Inc. to host workshops
to address health and wellness for older adults.
Cary Library continues to find opportunities to collab-
orate with community partners while finding space to am-
plify the voices of smaller organizations. The Programming
Team focused on partnering with Lexington Climate Action
Network (LexCAN) to promote climate awareness and action
through film screenings and book discussions. The mending
programs that the library has hosted in partnership with
Lexington Zero Waste Collaborative encourages sustainabili-
ty by reducing waste, promoting conscious consumption, and
fostering creativity and mindfulness.
The Adult Programming team offered 327 programs
serving 8,715 attendees with an additional 17,370 views of
our recorded programs.
Youth Services
July 1, 2024 saw the closure of the Children’s and Teen
Rooms as the lower level renovation project (ChiRP) began.
Approximately 70% of the youth services collections were
relocated to the main floor for the duration of the project as
well as the entirety of the Youth Services staff. Programming
was adjusted to be held in off-site locations or virtually during
FY25. The Children’s Department offered 339 programs serv-
ing 10,019 attendees. Storytimes were held off-site at Estabrook
Hall in the Cary Memorial Building, book clubs were held at
Omar’s World of Comics, arts and craft programs were held
at Munroe Center for the Arts, and Lexington Community
Farm provided space for a new collaborative series called Fun
on the Farm during the year as well as hosting the annual Eric
Jordan Moskow annual program. Despite limited program-
ming space, the Children's Room was able to host its annual
April vacation Toe Jam Puppet Band April vacation concert,
as well as a sensory friendly concert with the BenAnna Band.
The Teen Services Department offered 94 programs serving
2,151 participants, finding great success with the passive
programming Take & Make kits, providing over 1,000 craft
kits over the course of the year. Galaray House provided a
location for an in-person meeting of the high school book
club and Open Mic Night, Munroe Center for the Arts pro-
vided a home for the monthly Library Leadership Council
meetings, and Omar’s World of Comics provided a space for
Teen Crafternoons on a regular basis. Virtual programs with
Pop Up Art School and Kids Cooking Green continue to be
popular features within both the Children’s Room and Teen
Room program schedules. The Children’s Room continued
its popular collaboration with the Lexington Public Schools
entitled Picture Book Madness in March. This year’s winner
Dog vs Strawberry handily defeated the competition not only
Cookbook Club
(continued on next page)Read on the Lawn event
93 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
at Cary Library but also at five of the six participating elemen-
tary schools! Youth Services librarians continued their out-
reach visits to area schools throughout the year, participating
in visits for Picture Book Month, National Poetry Month,
Children’s Book Week, and more!
The Teen Department continues its ongoing partnership
with Lexington's Pelham Academy with support from a grant
from the L.I.T.T (Love is the Treatment) foundation. This year,
we said goodbye to Teen Services Manager, Michelle Techler,
who took a job as the Assistant Director at the Wellesley Free
Library. The library is excited to welcome Laura Harrington
as new Teen Services Manager.
Friends of Cary Memorial Library
The Friends of Cary Library (Friends) is a membership,
all-volunteer organization. Their mission is to advocate,
support, and raise funds to help supplement library resourc-
es and services. Through the ongoing effort and work of
members, the Friends of Cary Library have raised funds to
continue supporting numerous library sponsored programs,
including the Summer Learning Program for All Ages, 23 dis-
counted passes to Museums, Parks, and Cultural Attractions,
Brickmania, accessibility programs, the “Read it Now” and
“See it Now” collections, “Beyond the Library” programs and
more. In addition, Friends of Cary Library have been partic-
ipating in VO250, the celebration of volunteer service as part
of Lex250.
The Friends of Cary Library raises money for these
programs and services through the in-library book store,
children’s book sale cart, and the Friends membership
dues. Change to The Friends currently has 273 members,
many of whom are active members providing direct ser-
vice to the organization, logging over 2,100 hours this year.
Due to the library construction project, the Friends were
unable to hold a book sale, which reduced the number of
volunteers needed. However, several volunteers did donate
significant time; one donated over 400 hours, one over
300 hours and five donated over 100 hours.
Cary Memorial Library Foundation
The Cary Library Foundation (Foundation) strengthens Cary
Library by securing financial support to augment public
funding, championing the Library and its mission, and serv-
ing as a vital link to the community. Thanks to the dedication
of the community and volunteers, in FY25, the Foundation
continued to provide funding and support to Cary Library
for innovative programming, new physical and digital collec-
tions, and capital projects, raising over $375,000 in total giv-
ing. This amount includes $189,000 in undesignated gifts and
over $186,000 in designated gifts. Designated gifts included
items such as materials for seniors and children, and specific
language or topic acquisitions.
The majority of donors are individuals committed to the
library's mission, though the Foundation also raised money
from charitable organizations, institutional supporters, and
civic and cultural organizations. The Foundation mailed the
first campaign out specifically to about 200 local businesses
and civic and cultural organizations and received nine do-
nations amounting to nearly $5,000. The Foundation also
received another $125,000 bequest from the Estate of Marie
E. Toscano, a longtime Lexington resident, after receiving the
library's largest bequest ever from her estate in 2024.
Foundation funding provided support for 214 library
programs attended by 32,863 people of all ages. These pro-
grams were held in person and virtually and featured events
like Kids Cooking Green, teen book clubs, adult learning
seminars and programs, and much more. Thanks to gener-
ous donors, the Foundation was able to award $339,415 in
funding to the Library for next year’s programs and book and
material acquisitions.
The Foundation, now led by Executive Director Mary Ann
Sorel, who replaced Mary Ellen Ringo this spring, looks for-
ward to the unveiling of the Children’s Room and Teen Space
that it helped fund through its ChiRP! Campaign that ended
last year. The Foundation's success is made possible by the
Foundation’s strong board and dedicated volunteers, and the
engaged community members who prioritize the Foundation
and Cary Library in their giving.
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY (continued)
Making Tote Bags.
94
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
(continued on next page)
Assessor
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 6 6
Part Time 0 0
ROLE: The Assessing Office's primary function is the
assessment of full and fair market value, in accordance with MA
General Laws, of all real and personal property in Lexington
to equitably allocate the annual tax levy among Lexington
taxpayers, and the evaluation of any applications for abatement
of such property tax. Other significant duties include: a)
administration of motor vehicle excise tax abatement, b)
supplemental tax commitments, and c) determination of
taxpayer eligibility for statutory exemption from (or deferral
of) Lexington property taxes (including the Community
Preservation Act surcharge).
APPOINTED The 3-member Board of Assessors (BOA) con-
sists of Gregory Johnson (Chairman, Term ends: 2026), Edmund
Grant (Member, term ends 2027), and Casimir Groblewski
(Member, term ends 2026). Their appointments are renewable
by the Town Manager on a 3-year rotation. Working with the
FINANCE
ASSESSOR CATEGORIES FY25
Property Description (State Use Code) No. of Parcels/ Assessed Value Accounts
Single-Family Dwellings (101) 9,065 $14,309,924,000
Residential Condominiums (102) 1,144 $976,336,483
Miscellaneous Residential (103, 109, Other) 46 $83,827,000
Two-Family Dwellings (104) 146 $164,892,000
Three-Family Dwellings (105) 10 $11,729,000
4+ Unit Dwellings/Apartments (111-125) 14 $358,388,000
Residential Vacant Land (130,131,132,106) 517 $62,819,000
Mixed Use -- Residential Portion Only 13 $9,437,590
Commercial Property (300-393) 418 $833,015,000
Mixed Use -- Commercial Portion Only Counted Above $13,118,410
Industrial (400-452) [NET, less TIF values] 50 $1,269,869,000
Agricultural Land—Chap 61A (700) 0 $0
Recreational Land—Chap 61B (800) 7 $1,812,000
Mixed Use [Residential and Commercial] (012-043) Counted Above Counted Above
Exempt (not taxed) Properties (900) See Below See Below
Real Property (Taxable Parcels) Total 11,430 $18,095,167,483
Personal Property Taxable Entities (500-552) Note: in fiscal year 2016, the Lexington Select Board voted to render as "exempt" all Personal Property accounts where the value of Personal Property assets add up to less than $1,200 per year. 679 (taxable accounts) These Doing Business As (DBAs) are physically located among the commercial/industrial parcels noted above. $406,689,050
Exempt Real Estate (untaxed) Parcels (900) 1,216 $1,559,720,300
BOA is Robert Lent (in Lexington since 2006) as Lexington's
Director of Assessing, and Michael Golden (in Lexington since
2015) as the Assistant Director of Assessing.
As required by the Change to Massachusetts Department of
Revenue (MA DOR), all real and personal property in Lexington
was reviewed and adjusted on a mass appraisal basis to reflect
statistical trends and market conditions during the most recent
full year of analyzed Lexington transactions (calendar 2023). The
underlying methodologies used to determine the assessed values
for FY25 were approved by MA DOR in October, 2024. Per the
MA DOR, FY25 was a recertification year for Lexington, which
is required to occur on a five (5) year cycle basis.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In the statistical review for the annual classification study,
the Lexington single-family dwelling (SFD) average
assessment in FY25 was ~$1,578,000, a 4.5% increase
from ~$1,510,000 in FY24. (The FY25 SFD value was:
~$1,416,000.) Values of SFDs dominate the overall
Residential Class of property in Lexington, and so the
Residential Class naturally followed the SFD increase in
assessed value, up by 4.5% over FY24.
• The Commercial, Industrial, and Personal (C/I/P)
properties overall (as a class) in Lexington in FY25
increased in assessed value, up by 8.4% over FY24, with
the following approximate breakout: Commercial:
-2.3%, Industrial: +16.7%, and Personal: +9.0%.
• The total net number of SFDs changed little in FY25 (+6),
and the net number of residential condominiums in FY25
(+1) in Lexington was also rather flat year on year vs. FY24.
• Notable taxable construction: 10 Maguire Road (a
quadrangle of four (4) formerly general office buildings
totaling ~300,000 square feet) has been retrofitted to
accept life science tenants. Several large residential rental
apartment projects, likely driven by recent signal changes
in MA State (Multi-Family/MBTA Communities) and
expanded Lexington building zone options, have been
approved by the Lexington Planning Department.
(L-R) Shawn Connolly, Assessor Robert Lent, Sarah McNamara, Barbara Sird, Cheryl Draper, and Asst. Assessor Michael Golden
95 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
FY25 TAX CLASS Levy % (rounded) Valuation (FY25) Tax Rates (FY25) Tax Levy Revenue (Rounded)
All (including condominiums) Residential ( R ) 86.42% $15,977,353,073 $12.23 $195,403,030
All (including condominiums) Commercial ( C ) 4.59% $847,945,410 $24.26 $20,571,160
GROSS (before TIFs reduction) Industrial ( I ) 6.87% $1,269,869,000 $24.26 $30,807,020
Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) -0.08% ($14,094,000) $24.26 ($341,920)
NET (less TIFs) Industrial ( I ) 6.87% $1,269,869,000 $24.26 $30,807,020
Subtotal Real Property (R+C+ net I) 97.80% $18,081,073,483 $24.26 $246,439,290
Personal Property ( P ) 2.20% $406,689,050 $24.26 $9,866,280
All Real Estate and Personal Property (Total) 100.00% $18,487,762,533 $256,305,570
Comptroller
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 7 7
Part Time 0.4 0.4
ROLE: To oversee all financial operations of the Town, which
includes assessing of property, collecting accounts receivable, ac-
counts payable, procurement, investment of town funds, main-
taining accounting records, preparation of financial statements,
annual audit, administration of the retirement system, and
support to the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures
Committee and Community Preservation Committee.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Town Comptroller,
Carolyn J. Kosnoff; by the Town Manager: Town Accountant,
Krista L. Murphy.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In September 2024 the Town issued $1.103 million of bond
anticipation notes with a premium of $1,709 paid to the
Town and a maturity date of February 28, 2025. The issu-
ance was to fund capital projects, including water and sewer
system improvements, infrastructure design on Hartwell
Avenue, and the Lexington High School Feasibility Study.
In February 2025 the Town rolled forward the notes for an
additional year, to a maturity date of February 27, 2026.
• In 2021 the Town was granted approximately $9.9 million
in federal relief funds via the American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA). This grant was issued for public health response,
economic recovery, revenue replacement and to assist
populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARPA funds are appropriated at the direction of the Select
Board. As of June 30, 2025, $8.272 million of the Town's
ARPA Funds were spent on a variety of municipal projects
approved by the Select Board. The remaining balance of
the ARPA funds was encumbered by December 31, 2024,
and will be spent by December 31, 2026. The Comptroller's
office will continue to manage the accounting and report-
ing of these federal funds.
Treasurer/Collector
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 4 4
Part Time 1 1
ROLE: To perform the duties of Treasurer and Collector
as outlined in Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.),
Chapter 41. As Treasurer, is responsible for the receipt and
disbursement of all town funds as well as the management
of investment policies, and debt. As Collector, issues and
collects all Real Estate, Motor Vehicle, Personal Property and
Water/Sewer bills as assessed.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Arnold Lovering,
January 2008.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Real Estate tax collections totaled $245,187,706 including
collections of prior year’s taxes. Accounts with out-
standing balances were put into tax title or entered into
payment plans.
• Personal Property tax collections totaled $9,553,353
• Motor Vehicle Excise tax collections totaled $6,606335.
These bills were based on information provided by the
Registry of Motor Vehicles. Overdue accounts were
committed to the Deputy Collector, who under M.G.L.,
marked these accounts for license and registration
non-renewal.
• Water/Sewer collections totaled $28,199,446.
• Investment income for all town accounts was $15,302,349
of which $6,279,974 was credited to the General Fund.
• The Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund
posted a gain of $4,541,975.74 on a total fund balance
of $38,671,491. All investments are made according to
M.G.L. When investing the Town’s money safety, liquidity
and yield are considered in that order.
FINANCE (continued)
96
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 65 65
Part Time 1 1
ROLE: To protect the lives and property of the citizens of
and visitors to Lexington from emergencies involving fire, ex-
plosions, medical issues, hazardous materials incidents, and
other environmental causes, whether naturally occurring or
man-made. This mission is accomplished through profession-
al emergency response and hazard mitigation, comprehensive
code enforcement, and effective public education.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Derek Sencabaugh
(Chief of Department, Emergency Management Director),
March 2019.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Completed the multi-year portable radio project. This
puts a portable radio in the hands of every firefighter
during an emergency incident significantly increasing
accountability and safety.
• Responded to 5,072 calls for emergency assistance, with
medical emergencies accounting for 3,257 or 64.21% of
all emergency calls.
SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS DURING FY25
Date Location Incident
5/3/2025 27 Colony Rd. Working Fire (Tree into home during storm)
4/16/2025 1 Baskin Rd. Working Fire
1/24/2025 727A Marrett Rd. Working Fire
9/9/2024 7 Graham Rd. Working Fire
11/16/2024 113 Concord Ave. 2nd Alarm Fire
11/29/2024 176 Waltham St Working Fire
Unprecedented Brush Fire Season Statewide
10/27/2024 Weston Forestry Task Force
10/27/2024 Lincoln Forestry Task Force
10/28/2024 Salem Forestry Task Force
10/29/2024 Middleton Forestry Task Force
11/2/2024 Middleton Forestry Task Force
11/8/2024 Reading Forestry Task Force
11/16/2024 10 Pelham Rd. Brush Fire
11/19/2024 Abington Forestry Task Force
11/19/2024 Milton (Blue Hills) Forestry Task Force
3/11/2025 41 Peacock Farm Rd. Brush Fire
4/17/2025- Lexington's 250th Total Fire 4/22/2025 Celebration events Department Recall
Fire Prevention Division
Assistant Chief Donald Chisholm
The Fire Prevention Division issues permits and performs
inspections in accordance with the Massachusetts General
Laws and the Fire Prevention Regulations. These requirements
are continuously revised to comply with changes made by the
Commonwealth and they affect such things as sprinklers, fire
alarms, oil burners, blasting, welding, schools, healthcare facil-
ities, and many aspects of new construction.
• Inspections requiring frequent coordination between
Fire, Police, Inspectional Services, Schools, and Health
Departments continued. An increased level of specialty
inspections continued during FY25 with the new construc-
tion of lab and research fit-outs, photovoltaic solar panels,
and energy storage systems.
• Issued 963 permits for the professional installation of
equipment; 1,249 inspections and re-inspections were
conducted of educational or healthcare facilities, as well
as inspections of new or resale homes, welding, and hot
work; 300 plans were reviewed for new or renovation
construction. In total, 1,400 inspections were performed by
the Lexington Fire Department.
• The Fire Investigation Unit is responsible for investigating
all fires and explosions in the Town. This is done in
conjunction with the police department detectives and the
state Fire Marshal’s investigators.
• Continued to support fire and safety education programs
in the schools, through the senior center, and at the fire
stations with funding provided from the Department of
Fire Services, Dana Home Foundation, and the Lexington
(continued on next page)
(L-R) Lt. Jon Kimball, Firefighter Daniel Tyler, Firefighter Peter Carabillo, Chief Derek Sencabaugh
FIRE AND RESCUE
97 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
FIRE AND RESCUE (continued)
Mason’s Lodge. Dana Home foundation Knox Box key
holders program continues to grow and has required the
purchase of an additional 30 boxes that were installed over
140 systems. The Fire Department continues to partner
with the Human Services Department on numerous senior
citizen programs within the community. This year the
department continued to provide safety devices in homes
of seniors with financial constraints.
Training Division
Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Ford
• Continued to maintain a high standard of training on a
vast list of topics including medical emergencies, vehicle
extrication, and firefighting. The department continued
joint training with the Police Department for Active
Shooter and Hostile events. For this training, members
of the Fire Department wear ballistic gear and perform
rapid triage and treatment of potentially seriously injured
patients. Training is conducted on a weekly basis with
emphasis on fundamentals of apparatus operation, hose
line techniques, search and rescue, ladder drills, advanced
medical skills, and new equipment familiarization.
• The department continues to take advantage of the
availability of tear down homes before they are razed.
Many contractors make the homes available for the
department to train on before knocking the houses down.
An inventory of commercial property being torn down
or rehabbed has provided the department with larger
structures allowing for an additional level of training.
This has allowed for a realistic training environment for
the firefighters to practice their skills.
• New hires were put through an intense 2-week training
program followed by 2-week on shift orientation
program, which has been a great benefit in preparing
members for the 10-week Massachusetts Fire Academy.
Officers continue to focus on fire prevention, safety, and
professional development.
• The department conducted over 11,000 hours of training
this year.
Emergency Medical Services
• The department provides advanced life support paramed-
ics to the community out of both fire stations and staffs
two ambulances so it can deliver rapid and high-quality
care to the citizens. The department still relies on mutual
aid partners for backup ambulances.
• The department continues to improve its service by staff-
ing all responding apparatus with firefighter paramedics
and providing state of the art equipment and training in
the latest techniques. The department continues to receive
high marks during the annual ambulance review by the
Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Emergency Management
• The Fire Chief serves as the Town’s Emergency Manager
Director. Any man-made or natural disaster can trigger
enactment of the Town-wide Emergency Plan, where the
Town Manager would be in overall charge of the event,
advised by the Emergency Manager. Tracking expenses
for state and federal reimbursement for incidents is a
critical function of Emergency Management.
• The Town utilizes Code Red as the emergency notifi-
cation program to contact all Lexington households by
phone, cell phone, email, etc. Complete notification takes
approximately 20 minutes. Residents should be sure that
they are enrolled in the Code Red emergency system
(available on the Town’s website).
Personnel
• Retirements: Firefighter Mark Bellino and Fire Inspector
Paul Bates
• Promotions: Lieutenant Jon Kimball, Lieutenant Fire
Inspector Richard White and Fire Inspector Christopher
Lively
• New firefighter additions: Vincent Mortillaro, Jon
Pellegrini, Peter Carabillo, and Daniel Tyler
Firefighter Vincent Mortillaro Firefighter Jon Pellegrini
98
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
HUMAN SERVICES
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 8 8
Part Time 4 4
ROLE: To serve Lexington residents across their lifespan. The
department provides information and resources, support,
and educational programs/services focused on enrichment,
socialization, and mind/body health. The Human Services
Department also assists residents with essential needs, such as
housing resources, food, and financial issues. The department
comprises four divisions: Senior Services, Veterans Services,
Youth & Family Services, and Transportation Services. The
Human Services Department partners with other town de-
partments, Lexington Public Schools, community groups,
and agencies to provide programs and services to residents.
Services are delivered in a professional, confidential, and car-
ing manner and are inclusive and respectful to all.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Dana Bickelman
(Director of Human Services).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Mental Health Services: Human Services updated
the contract with a new vendor, which resulted in cost
savings and enabled extension of the program. The new
contract also included group and community programs,
in addition to long-term therapy. The partnership with
The Edinburg Center now provides a full-time clinician
for residents, and staff continues to offer short-term
therapy. Access to mental health care continues to be an
important need in the community, and these changes
have had a positive impact. Programs offered through the
Human Services Division this year included:
• Monthly caregiver support groups.
• Year-round QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer)
suicide prevention trainings.
• Mental Health Awareness Month programs in May,
including Goat Yoga, bracelet-making, guest speakers,
therapy dog visits, and self-care activities, many in
partnership with other departments and organizations.
• Decluttering: A Buried in Treasures workshop.
• Events co-sponsored with the Human Rights
Committee and the Collaborative Reform Group.
• Community Partnerships: Human Services worked
with many community partners and funders, including
Friends of the Council on Aging, the Dana Home
Foundation, the Fund for Lexington, Rotary Club, the
Youth Commission, the Lions Club, the Compassion
Fund, and the Lexington Food Pantry. These partnerships
helped provide financial assistance, subsidies, and basic
services to residents, while also reducing barriers to care.
• New Staff Member: In August 2024, Human Services
welcomed Juanica Buchanan as the new Clinical and
Community Outreach Manager.
• Mental Health Task Force: The Task Force continued to
build on its website launch by engaging the community
throughout the year, especially during the winter holidays
when residents may feel more isolated. The website
includes information on emergency services, suicide
prevention, referral options, multicultural and BIPOC
(black, indigenous, and people of color) mental health
resources, child and adolescent supports, LGBTQ+
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/question-
ing, intersex, asexual, and all gender identities and sexual
orientations) resources, and Veterans' services. More
resources will continue to be added.
• Professional Development: Staff took part in multiple
trainings to strengthen their skills and knowledge.
A special highlight was the recognition of Penny
Tsiounis, who was accepted into the Certificate in
Local Government and Management program through
the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Suffolk
University.
The Human Services Department honored several awareness
months with proclamations read and signed by the Select
Board, including Suicide Awareness (September), Domestic
Violence Awareness (October), Pride (June), Mental Health
Awareness (May), and Minority Mental Health Awareness
(July).(continued on next page)
Maisey and Watson Mental Health Month cards.
99 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Senior Services
• Held an aging in place resource fair with over
250 participants, resulting in Lexington becoming
an age-friendly community.
• Through the Senior Health Outreach Program, provided
monthly home visits to homebound seniors for blood
pressure checks, vaccinations, ongoing safety assessments,
and guidance for resources for long-term care. Health
Outreach Clinician Wai Chong has 31 residents who are
part of this program.
• Collaborated with the Public Health Department and
local Theatre Pharmacy to offer Tdap, RSV, Shingles,
Pneumococcal, flu, COVID, and hepatitis A and B vaccines
to seniors.
• Partnered with the Lexington Fire Department (LFD) to
promote and install Knox boxes for seniors. These boxes
are mounted outside a senior's home and have a key for the
fire department to retrieve in an emergency. Worked with
LFD offering the Safety Net program.
• Continued to offer support groups for caregivers of indi-
viduals living with Alzheimer's dementia or other chronic
conditions.
• Offered Buried in Treasures workshop, then continued
with support group for registrants; secured funding
through the Massachusetts Councils on Aging to continue
offering workshops.
• Worked with American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP) to schedule 95 seniors for tax preparation.
• Over 52 seniors benefited from the Sand for Seniors
program.
• Continued offering Shine appointments in conjunction
with Minuteman Senior Services.
• Worked with Recreation and Community Programs
for the Harvest Festival.
• Offered staffing for a program on hoarding through
ClearPath.
• Offered staff training on protective services through
Minuteman Senior Services.
• Barbara Collins, part-time dietitian, offers one-on-one
appointments, an Intuitive Eating Support Group, and
monthly Nutrition Talks that cover important topics.
• Continued work with Minuteman Senior Services,
partnering with the Bedford Council on Aging to offer
monthly LGBTQ+ events.
• The department offered eight trips over the past year, most
of which were filled.
• Offered multicultural programs, including Diwali, Chinese
New Year, and Holi.
• Offered scam prevention workshops with the FDIC
(Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation).
• Worked with the Good Energy Program with the
Salvation Army to help seniors in need who are above
the income guidelines.
• Received Internship placement (during the spring) through
Middlesex Community College.
• Hosted Regis College Occupational Therapy interns for
Health and Wellness Series.
• Worked with Lex Goes Purple to offer programming
during Alzheimer's Awareness Month.
Transportation Services
• Secured $116,000 grant to go towards items in the annual
Lexpress contract to keep the service contract price down.
A new contract with new vehicles begins in FY26 at the
same hourly rate as in FY25!
• Worked with the town Department of Public Works and
Finance Department to move Lexpress fuel purchase to
the town fuel contract to reduce costs. This will begin
in FY26.
- Limitless Pass sales for FY25 increased by
7.4% over FY24.- Lexpress ridership increased by 10.2% over FY24.
• Rolled out District-Wide Travel Survey in partnership
with Lexington Public Schools, supporting the Safe
Routes to School initiative.
(continued on next page)Senior Services trip.
HUMAN SERVICES (continued)
100
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Middlesex Sheriff office presentation on scams, Goat Yoga with Chip-In Farm sponsored by Youth and Family Services, Author Talk: Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.
HUMAN SERVICES (continued)
• Organized a regional public forum, Beyond the Core,
to discuss transit for areas outside the urban core with
state representative Michelle Ciccolo and Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Massachusetts
Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and MBTA
Advisory Board senior officials.
• Hosted Anna Zivarts for a public discussion on her book,
When Driving is Not an Option, focused on the needs of
people who cannot drive due to being too young, too old,
having a disability, or being unable to afford to drive, etc.
• Coordinated an array of bike education classes for people
of all ages (Bike Rodeo, Bike Smart Youth, Smart Cycling,
Flat Tire Clinic, and Bike Maintenance Clinic). Led and/
or participated in an array of events to induce mode shift,
enhance mobility, and educate the public. Participated in
Breakfast on the Bikeway., Transportation Options Open
Houses, Travel Training events for people of all ages,
tabling at numerous events and properties, and organized
new programs specifically for older adults.
• Held approximately 741 consultations with individuals on
their transportation options, ranging from public transit
to curb-to-curb and door-to-door options
• Awarded the MassDOT Innovation Award for the
category of Education for Municipalities
Veterans Services
The Town of Lexington is part of a district that compris-
es Lexington, Bedford, and Carlisle. The mission of the
Lexington-Bedford-Carlisle Veterans’ Services District is to
support veterans and their families in need of assistance with
benefits and provide information about services for which
they are eligible under the law. The district has a full-time
Director and part-time Veterans Services Officer (VSO), and
office hours are held across all three towns each week.
• Over the last year, the district averaged a monthly clien-
tele of 25 veterans and/or dependents, focusing on the
distribution of financial assistance under Massachusetts
General Laws M.G.L. Chapter 115. In addition to local
and state benefits offered to veterans and their families,
another big priority is to assist with Federal benefits,
particularly those through the Department of Veterans
Affairs. The Executive Officer of Veteran Services has
researched and created a Veterans’ Community Value
Sheet, which states, “For every $1 Lexington spends on
Municipal veteran benefits (Property Tax Exemptions and
Ch 115 Financial Assistance), veterans in the community
bring in $23 worth of Federal and State benefits.” Veterans
and their families are receiving a value of $415,283 in
non-municipal benefits revenue. In 2025 there were
154 Veterans/family members currently receiving VA
benefits. Each recipient receives an average of approxi-
mately $1,600 per month, resulting in an estimated total
of nearly $3 million in VA compensation paid annually.
• This year, Veterans Services honored 15 Korean War
veterans/next-of-kin who earned the Korean Ambassador
for Peace Medal at the Veterans’ Day Breakfast. The
Republic of Korea issues this medal for United States
service members who were boots-on-the-ground
during the Korean War. Kim Jae-jui, Consul General,
was in attendance as the keynote speaker and presented
the medals to the veterans/next-of-kin. In addition to
receiving the medal, the Korean American Organization
of Lexington attended and gave each recipient a bouquet
of flowers as a show of appreciation.
Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal
Bike Rodeo
101 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
HUMAN SERVICES (continued)
• Veterans Day and Memorial Day events were conducted
by the Town Celebrations Committee and the Veterans’
Services Department. There was a Veterans Day breakfast
that filled the room at the Knights of Columbus. There
was also a Veterans Car Parade. There were two contests
for the Lexington high school students, one for poetry
and the other for art. The winning poem was read,
and the art was displayed at the breakfast. Over 2,500
flags were placed on the graves of veterans at Westview
Cemetery, and 150 flags were placed at Munroe for
Memorial Day. There were small wreath-laying ceremo-
nies at monuments, and the main ceremony was in front
of the visitor center, with the public in attendance.
Youth and Family Services
During the past fiscal year, the Youth and Family Services
Division provided a range of programs and services, including:
• Achieved their division initiative to provide more pro-
grams in FY25. The division provided and participated
in a total of 20 programs offered to the community. The
programs included Women's Self Defense and Awareness
Seminar., Make Your Own Friendship Bracelets, Goat
Yoga, and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer).
• Welcomed Juanica Buchanan, LICSW, MPH, as the new
Clinical and Community Outreach Manager. The division
also had an MSW intern from Boston University assisting
the Human Services Department from September to May.
• Continued to provide case management and supportive
services to Lexington residents and their families
through confidential consultative meetings, short-term
counseling, resource referrals, and collaboration with
community partners.
• Renewed the contract with Massachusetts Coalition for
the Homeless, The Casa Project, connecting Lexington
residents to housing case managers to assist with housing
needs such as Residential Assistance for Families in
Transition applications, section 8 vouchers, landlord
mediation, housing searches, etc. This service is free
to residents.
• Collaborated with Lexington Public Schools and decided
not to renew the mental health referral service contract
with William James Interface due to low usage and high
costs. The division has begun creating a Mental Health
Referral Program, which will be run through the Youth
and Family division, to launch it in the Fall of 2025.
• Provided holiday program assistance in the form of hol-
iday meals to over 464 Lexington residents and families,
including holiday gift cards for over 114 children. The
division also assisted residents with food insecurity by
referring them to the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry
and other community partners and resources. Additional
referrals included assisting residents with applications
for energy assistance and other state and local subsidy
programs.
• Partnered with the Recreation Department on Harvest
Fest and Haunted House programs, and partnered with
the School Health Advisory Council to help plan and
attend Parent Academy, held annually at the Community
Center. Staff also presented this year at the event.
• Continued to facilitate a quarterly series of virtual
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention
Gatekeeper trainings offered to Lexington community
members and staff, both in-person and virtually.
• Co-led the task force alongside the Public Health Director
on the Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds.
• Hosted various mental health-related programs during
Mental Health Month in May, Suicide Awareness Month
in September, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month
in October.
• Co-chaired The Youth Substance Use Prevention SHAC
(Student Health Advisory Council) subcommittee with
the school prevention department, and worked on creat-
ing goals for youth-focused prevention programming in
the coming years. Participated in Lexington High School's
Day of Prevention and Active Bystander training.
Make Your Own Friendship Bracelets
102
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 8 8
Part Time 2 2
ROLE: To provide a customer-centric approach to the delivery of innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the
town departments and to strengthen the services provided to
Lexington residents while providing the highest level of securi-
ty to the town network.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Tim Goncalves (Director of Innovation and Technology), Dorinda Goodman
(Director of Information Technology), David Bordenca
(Network Administrator), Christopher Tran (Applications
and Systems Administrator), Jeff Wertheim (Frontend
Applications and Systems Administrator), Jessica Malafeew
(Project Manager/Applications Analyst), Victor Gorospe
(Project Manager/Applications Analyst), Judith Baldasaro (GIS/Database Administrator), Andrea Vinci (Administrative
Assistant), and Anton Lopez (Seasonal Intern).
The Department of Innovation and Technology (IT) sup-
ports, maintains, and manages town-wide business-related
technology. IT maintains the systems, networks, and services
supporting all municipal departments. The department sup-
ports town-wide core services including the financial system,
time keeping, document management, electronic workflows
and permitting, public safety, facilities maintenance and man-
agement technology, emergency management web sites and
services, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone
systems. IT maintains the infrastructure and security of the
network core and co-manages the town-wide area network for
municipal and school departments. The department manages
municipal technology purchases and performs the installations
and maintenance of town IT equipment and services. IT staff
also provides support and training for end-users.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Supported the preparation, planning, and technology
operations for Lexington's 250th Celebration
(Lex250) events and associated Emergency
Operations Center (EOC).
• Coordinated the Lexington Police Department’s relo-
cation into its new headquarters, ensuring seamless
technology integration and system functionality.
• Oversaw technology operations during the renovation of
The Old Reservoir building.
• Standardized and expanded digital signage to include the
Lexington Police Department and Visitors Center.
• Replaced mobile computing equipment across the
Lexington Fire Department fleet.
INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
• Upgraded and modernized Square POS (point-of-sale)
hardware at the Lexington Visitors Center.
• Upgraded network switches at the Town Office Building
to improve performance and reliability.
• Provided full technology support for Special
Town Meeting.
• Initiated partial deployment of the new municipal
fiber network.
• Secured a $250,000 state grant to support fiber
construction.
• Implemented a new file storage system with enhanced
security and high availability.
• Launched the Digitizing Paper project, streamlining
workflows across multiple departments.
• Initiated implementation of Microsoft 365 and its suite of
collaboration tools.
• Initiated implementation of Tyler Recruiting to modern-
ize applicant tracking and hiring processes.
• Began deployment of a new time, attendance, and detail
billing system for the Police Department.
• Began installation of new server hardware to replace
aging infrastructure.
• Completed installation of new hybrid public meeting
spaces, including:
• Estabrook Hall, Cary Memorial Hall
• Training Room, Public Services Building
• Community Room, Police Department Headquarters
• Rooms 006, 139, 237, and 242 at the Lexington
Community Center
• Installed an outdoor public Wi-Fi network across the
town center, Lincoln Park, and the Center Recreation
Complex.
• Began implementation of a new time and attendance
system for the Department of Public Works and
Public Facilities.
• Hired a seasonal IT intern (Summer 2025), Anton Lopez.
• Administered cybersecurity training for all employees.
Note: A substantial amount of work the IT Department does
cannot be publicized as it may jeopardize the security of our
systems and data.
103 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Land Use, Housing, and Development
ROLE: To coordinate and advance town policy objectives
and operations related to both the orderly development of
the built environment and the protection of the natural en-
vironment in Lexington. This requires strategic planning and
resource allocation to identify and advance the various hous-
ing, development, and land protection needs of Lexington.
The department provides assistance to the public and prop-
erty owners on regulations and processes that govern devel-
opment and land protection, and protects the public health
and safety through outreach, information, and administering
relevant codes and regulations.
The department comprises six areas: Administration,
Building and Zoning, Conservation Commission, Economic
Development, Planning Board, and Housing. The depart-
ment coordinates with Fire, Police, Public Health, Recreation,
Human Services, Facilities, Information Technology, Public
Works, including the Engineering Division, notably through
the Development Review Team (DRT). The department ad-
ministers the DRT to help developers/applicants early in their
process by assembling live, inter-departmental staff input and
technical guidance in-person for smooth permitting and to
increase efficiency in board hearings.
The department provides staff support to the Planning
Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission,
Affordable Housing Trust, Economic Development Advisory
Committee, Historical Commission, Historic Districts
Commission, Tourism Committee, Lexington Center
Committee, Neighborhood Conservation Districts, and others.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Carol Kowalski,
Assistant Town Manager for Development.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Assistant Town Manager for Development and
the Economic Development/Tourism staff focused on
Lexington's 250th Celebration of the Battle of Lexington.
• Completed the Housing Needs Assessment produced by
the Regional Housing Services Office.
• The state legislature approved the Special Act to reorga-
nize Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) in
September 2024, allowing for the transition of LexHAB to
a 501c3 nonprofit housing development corporation.
• The Assistant Town Manager for Development and
administrative staff provided technical support and pro-
fessional guidance to the Affordable Housing Trust. This
included assisting with developer selection and project
eligibility designation by the state for the development of
affordable housing on town-owned land on Lowell Street
by CW Lexington Woods, LLC.
• Consistent with the Community Preservation Act
funding, completed the Conservation Restriction for the
town-owned Busa Farm (leased to LexFarm), which was
executed by the Select Board.
• The Assistant Town Manager for Development
participated in pre-development meetings with
developers, Development Review Team Meetings, and
Planning Board public hearings on MBTA overlay
district and Special Residential Development multifamily
developments, providing direction and feedback to
developers on preliminary designs.
Detailed highlights from each division follow.
(continued on next page)
Planning Board at 17 Hartwell Avenue: (L-R) Sandhya Iyer, Mark Sandeen, Robert Creech, Michael Leon, Melanie Thompson, Michael Schanbacher, Abby McCabe, Carol Kowalski, Carolyn Morrison, Aaron Koepper, and Charles Hornig.
104
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
Building and Zoning
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 6 6
Part Time 2 2
ROLE: To enforce the State Building Code, Uniform State
Plumbing and Gas Code, State Mechanical Code, State
Electrical Code, Architectural Access Board Regulations
(enforcing regulations regarding handicapped accessibility
to buildings), and Lexington Zoning Bylaws. This involves
plan review, permit issuance, and inspection of all building,
electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical construction in the
Town, including new structures, additions, alterations, and
repairs. The Sealer of Weights and Measures determines the
accuracy of all weights and measuring devices in commercial
and public use within the Town. At the present time the Town
contracts this service from the state.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Alix Berube (Inspector
of Wires), Jim Kelly (Building Commissioner), Bruce
Dempsey (Assistant Building Commissioner), Olivia Lawler
(Zoning Administrator), David Anderson (Local Building
Inspector), James Kennedy (Plumbing/Gas Inspector),
Patrick Ryan (Mechanical Inspector), Tony Rose (Alternate
Plumbing and Gas Inspector), Larry Sweet (Alternate
Plumbing and Gas Inspector), Matthew Hakala (Alternate
Building Inspector), Brad Patrick (Alternate Inspector of
Wires), and Joe McElhinney (Alternate Inspector of Wires).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Issued a total of 4,526 permits, a high level but slightly
less than in FY24 when 4,892 permits were issued.
Staff Inspectors performed 8,181 inspection visits,
approximately 300 more than FY24 and the Building
Office collected $4,339,314.94 in fees, a 23 percent
increase from last year.
• Lexington is one of ten Massachusetts communities that
has eliminated the use of fossil fuels in new construction
as part of the Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration
Program, announced by the Massachusetts Department of
Energy Resources in 2022. This pilot program was created
to establish a demonstration project where municipalities
can adopt and amend general or zoning ordinances or
bylaws that require new building construction or major
renovations to be fossil fuel-free. More information can be
found at Mass.gov. Lexington passed a Fossil Fuel Free bylaw
in March 2024 in order to participate in the Demonstration
Program with two minor amendments approved at the 2024
Annual Town Meeting, Article 38 and effective on January
1, 2025. Seventy-three percent of the Town’s greenhouse
gas emissions come from buildings, largely driven by fossil
fuel systems used to heat and cool homes and businesses.
By participating in the Demonstration Program, Lexington
is ensuring that new and renovated buildings won't use
fossil fuels, will be healthy environments for occupants, and
won’t require costly retrofits down the line. This strategy is
crucial to the successful achievement of local and regional
greenhouse gas reduction goals.
• Permitted Lexington's first MBTA multi-family residential
complex, which broke ground this year. The new building
located at 17 Hartwell Avenue is a five-story wood framed
residential building with 312 dwelling units. There is an
adjacent five-story concrete parking garage, along with a
small 2,100 square foot stand-alone retail building at the
street. The permit fee collected for this new construction
was over 1.5 million dollars.
• Permitted two other multi-family residential developments
totaling an additional 40 dwelling units. When combined,
these three new residential developments will also provide
over 50 inclusionary/affordable housing units that will
be sold to households earning no more than 80% of area
median income and will therefore be eligible for inclusion
in Lexington’s subsidized housing inventory. These units
will be substantially similar in size, layout, parking,
construction materials, fixtures, amenities, and interior
finishes to the other dwelling units.
• Issued permits to demolish 53 existing houses, while
87 permits were issued for the construction of new
single-family dwellings, as the demolition of existing
houses (teardowns) and the construction of new larger
houses on scattered sites continued.
• One hundred and sixty six permits were issued for roof
mounted photovoltaic systems; 43 permits issued for new
decks and porches; 127 permits issued for window and
door replacements; and 256 permits to re-roof existing
homes. Fees collected for all these types of permits issued
totaled $198,305.
PERMITS ISSUED FY25 Fees Collected
Building 1600 $3,636,617
Electrical 1398 $$423,295
Mechanical/Sheet Metal 300 $126,132
Plumbing 793 $121,485
Gas 435 $31,785
(continued on next page)
105 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Conservation Office and Conservation Commission
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 2 2
Part Time 1 1
ROLE: To administer and enforce the Massachusetts
Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Ch. 131, s.40) and the
Wetland Protection Code of the Town of Lexington (Chapter
130; formerly Lexington General Bylaw Article XXXII); to
promote and protect natural resources; to protect watersheds,
waterways, and wetlands; to acquire and manage open land
for passive recreation and natural habitat; and to provide cor-
ridors for wildlife. The Commission’s responsibilities include
performing site visits; holding hearings and meetings with
applicants, abutters, property managers, and committees;
issuing permits; managing conservation land; and educating
the public about conservation land and natural resources.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager with the approval of the
Select Board for overlapping 3-year terms: Philip Hamilton
(Chair), Ruth Ladd (Vice-Chair), Duke Bitsko, Alex Dohan,
Kevin Beuttell, Ruth Ladd, Jason Hnatko, and Thomas Whelan.
Appointed Community Preservation Committee Member for
2-year term: Kevin Beuttell (Commissioner). Other Associate
Commissioners serving on Conservation Commission Sub-
committees: Charlie Wyman, Land Acquisition (former
commissioner). Staff: Karen Mullins (Director); Amber Carr
(Conservation Coordinator) resigned in July 2024 and Erica
Herrera (Assistant Conservation Director) joined the depart-
ment in May 2025; Adam Green (part-time Land Use Ranger);
and seasonal interns.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Reviewed and acted between July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
on 42 Notices of Intent, of which 34 Orders of Conditions
were prepared and issued; 5 Abbreviated Notice of
Resource Area Delineations, of which 5 Order
of Resource Area Delineations were issued; 28 Requests
for Determinations, of which 25 Negative Determinations
of Applicability with Conditions were issued and
2 Positive Determination of Applicability were Issued;
5 Amendments to Orders of Conditions were heard and
issued; 7 Extensions to Order of Conditions were issued;
38 Certificates of Compliance (including Partials) were
reviewed, commented on, and compliance issued as
applicable; 12 insignificant plan changes were reviewed
and approved; 2 Emergency Certificates were issued;
5 Enforcement Orders/Violations; 21 Hazardous Tree
Reviews were acted upon, and approved 21 Administrative
Staff Reviews. Held 202 public hearings/meetings during
24 regularly scheduled Conservation Commission virtual
meetings and performed over 831 on-site inspections and
monitoring for these and all other on-going projects.
• Submitted the updated Action Plan for the Town of
Lexington’s Open Space and Recreation Plan extending
the goals and objectives over 10 years, and received an
additional three years of state approval on the Open Space
and Recreation Plan, and the Town is eligible to apply for
State Division of Conservation Services grants through
May 2033.
• Continued existing subcommittee charges and working
group initiatives: Land Acquisition Subcommittee (LAS).
The LAS was established to plan for open space land
acquisitions for conservation purposes and make recom-
mendations to the Conservation Commission in support
of the Town acquiring for permanent protection. Over the
last year, Charlie Wyman, LAS Chair, with the support of
the Conservation Commission has been leading the charge
on a potential land donation from the Widnall family in
the Summit and Follen Road area.
• Conducted a land management and stewardship planning
process for the Concord Avenue Conservation Area with
the services of Mass Audubon's Ecological Extension
Service Consultant William Giezentanner paid for by
a Judy Record Grant award. After significant amount
of field work and public engagement and outreach,
the Commission approved the Land Stewardship
Recommendations that included invasive species manage-
ment, wildlife habitat enhancements, encroachments, and
public trail access after conducting surveys of property
boundaries.
• Managed approximately 1,400 acres of conservation land
and approximately 60 miles of conservation trails with
the help of three seasonal land management interns (one
supervisor, two crew members), a nine hour per week
Conservation Land Use Ranger, the Department of Public
Works, consultants, and more than 400 hours of volunteer
help from the Lexington Conservation Stewards and the
Boy and Girl Scouts. Work in FY25 included progression
or inception of the following conservation area projects:
• Successful continued management of nearly every
conservation area in the Town, including routine
trail mowing and weed-whacking, trail closures and
re-routes, tree pruning, boardwalk repairs, invasive
and nuisance species removal, signage posting and
repairs, and trash and woody debris removal.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
(continued on next page)
106
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
• Continuation of meadow preservation and invasive
species management across five conservation areas
through a contract with Parterre Ecological under the
participatory budget process.
• Maintenance, support, and plantings at the Native
Plant Nursery with Steward Holly Samuels.
• Hosted two Wellness Walk days for town employees at
Parker Meadow and Lower Vine Brook conservation
areas showcasing the nature and history of some of the
Town’s public conservation lands.
• Aided in the distribution and sale of shade- and
sun-tolerant pollinator plant kits in collaboration with
Lexington Living Landscapes and the Recreation and
Community Programs online registration system.
• Monitoring, in collaboration with Ranger Adam
Green, and naturalization of several vandalism sites
in conservation areas, including bike jumps, fire pits,
felled live trees, and excavated pits.
• Worked with Steward Andy Friedlich and Department
of Public Works to identify, locate, cut, remove, and
compost fallen trees, branches, and woody debris from
conservation area trails and meadows.
• Ongoing improvements to land and infrastructure
(wooden fences, stone walls, meadow and woods
trails) at Wright Farm, including removal of invasive
black swallowwort and Asiatic bittersweet.
• Continuation of invasive species removal efforts,
especially for black swallowwort and tree of heaven,
at Cataldo Reservation.
• Coordinated the maintenance of the Community
Garden and Idylwilde trails by seasonal crew rather
than by volunteer gardeners.
• Continuation of Cotton Farm apple orchard
management plan, as well as removal of invasive
Asiatic bittersweet, tree of heaven, and nuisance
vines such as poison ivy and Virginia creeper, which
could compromise health of certain apple trees.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
(continued on next page)
• Administered, with support from Volunteer Garden
Coordinators Julia Sedykh and Vivek Joshi, community
gardening program at Idylwilde Conservation Area for
111 gardeners. Managed two agricultural licenses (for
Waltham Street Farms and Hayden Woods), one apiary
permit for vegetable production and bee keeping on
conservation land, and one goat grazing permit for land
management and meadow preservation purposes at
Chiesa Farm and other conservation areas.
• Supported Greenways Corridor Committee on
Conservation Commission prioritized projects for
ACROSS Lexington or other related projects on conser-
vation land, including receiving appropriated Community
Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the Cotton Farm to
Community Center Connector Trail project and the
Rangeway Road and Simonds Brook Conservation Area
trail realignment project. Supported three Eagle Scout
projects on conservation land, comprised of boardwalks
and new panel signage.
• Ranger Comparative Statistics: These stats are gathered
by the part-time Conservation Land-use Ranger while
on patrol through the Town, and hence, statistically only
represent a 9-hour work week. FY25 saw an increase in
visitor numbers and incidents. Overall visitor incidents are
low per capita with no major incidents occurring for the
fourth straight fiscal year.
107 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
Conservation Land Inventory: Summary 1964–2025
Year(s) Total Federal State Net Cost Voted/Given Acres Cost Reimbursement Reimbursement to Town
TOTAL LAND ACQUISITION 1403.3 18,089,786 335,406 1,699,031 16,050,349
Cataldo Reservation '74, '84* 5.4 6,150 ---- ---- 6,150
Great Meadow Expansion '74, '82 1.9 3,857 ---- ---- 3,857
Lillian Road at Munroe Brook '92 1.1 transfer ---- ---- ----
Orchard Crossing '88, '89# 8.5 gift ---- ---- ----
Whipple Hill '63, '66-7, '74, '77*, '94#, '95# 121.0 142,489 47,487 35,020 59,982
Bowman Park Expansion '75 1.2 18,000 ---- 9,000 9,000
Daisy Wilson '78 8.0 75,995 ---- 37,997 37,998
Dunback Meadow '65-6, '72, '77-8-9, '80-1*# 170.5 374,147 87,100 87,050 199,997
Liberty Heights '74* 5.5 9,596 ---- 4,618 4,978
West Farm '66, '76, '77, '85* 12.8 323,000 ---- 12,100 310,900
Brookhaven '89# 3.3 gift ---- ---- ----
Concord Avenue Area '71, '79#, '94# 30.7 102,890 ---- 49,534 53,356
Hayden Woods '69, '77-8, '81*, '03 79.2 157,598 68,304 38,540 45,754
Juniper Hill '70, '72, '74# 28.4 120,413 ---- 56,872 63,541
Metropolitan State Hospital '73# 6.2 gift ---- ---- ----
Philbrook Terrace '89# 2.0 gift ---- ---- ----
Waltham Line '77* 12.0 transfer ---- ---- ----
Waltham Street Farms '72, '76-7*# 41.5 300,450 ---- 154,225 146,225
Upper Vine Brook-Cotton Farm '11 4.2 3,800,000 500,000 3,300,000
Upper Vine Brook '72, '75-6, '95*, '03*, '19, '21 58.7 3,846,443 ---- 55,803 3,790,640
Lower Vine Brook/ Pinard Woods '68-9, '75, '78-9, '81, '85*#, '09, '18# 116.6 2,431,235 42,069 147,200 2,241,966
Munroe Brook Pond '85# 3.1 gift ---- ---- ----
Pheasant Brook Estates I '85, '89# 4.6 gift ---- ---- ----
Pheasant Brook Estates II '90# 29.7 gift ---- ---- ----
Shaker Glen '73 16.8 85,636 ---- 41,143 44,493
Tower Park Expansion '87 2.3 180,000 ---- ---- 180,000
Chiesa Farm '76, '85 23.1 1,592,500 ---- 46,125 1,546,375
Hammer Hill '79 0.9 gift ---- ---- ----
Parker Meadow '76, '79, '80 17.7 237,000 ---- 60,000 177,000
(continued on next page)
* All/part Town-owned transfer # All/part gift
108
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Willard's Woods Expansion '64, '66, '67, '79*, '95*, '02# 104.2 116,786 32,906 17,997 65,883
Woodland Bird Sanctuary '89# 7.2 gift ---- ---- ----
Burlington Strip '71, '77* 8.6 106,097 ---- ---- 106,097
Paint Mine '75, '77* 35.5 8,811 ---- 2,000 6,811
Simonds Brook North '70, '76-7, '82# 57.7 291,736 38,526 131,600 121,610
Simonds Brook South '68, '70, '79 20.7 49,028 19,014 12,006 18,008
Turning Mill Pond '77, '78, '85#, '71# 12.6 5,000 ---- ---- 5,000
Turning Mill Road '89# 4.4 gift ---- ---- ----
Hastings Sanctuary '71 1.7 6,000 ---- ---- 6,000
Meagherville/Pine Meadow '66, '77*#, '95*, '09 99.4 70,000 ---- ---- 70,000
Meagherville Lots '91#, '93#, '94# 0.5 gift ---- ---- ----
Poor Farm '83* 10.7 transfer ---- ---- ----
Valley Road '82* 3.2 transfer ---- ---- ----
128 Greenbelt '78* 11.7 transfer ---- ---- ----
Bates Road '91* 9.3 transfer ---- ---- ----
Cranberry Hill '77 24.6 73,929 ---- 15,201 58,728
Fiske Hill '78, '84* 10.2 transfer ---- ---- ----
Idylwilde '75, '21 9.8 200,000 ---- 100,000 100,000
Katahdin Woods '77, '80, '89#, '09 37.5 255,000 ---- 85,000 170,000
Tophet Swamp '81* 25.5 transfer ---- ---- ----
Sutherland Woods '95* 24.9 transfer ---- ---- ----
Brown Homestead '95* 6.0 trade ---- ---- ----
Joyce Miller's Meadow (n/f Augusta Land) '96 8.0 150,000 ---- ---- 150,000
Hennessy's Field 99* 10.0 transfer ---- ---- ----
Hartwell Avenue 03# 4.1 gift ---- ---- ----
Myrna Road 03# 0.8 gift ---- ---- ----
North Street 05* 24.4 transfer ---- ---- ----
Wright Farm '13, '20 13.2 2,950,000 ---- ---- 2,950,000
* All/part Town-owned transfer # All/part gift
Another 167 acres are protected by restrictions and easements given to the Town by residents. The largest are: Munroe Brook, 65.7 acres; Tophet Swamp/Kiln Brook, 34.3 acres; Potter's Pond, 15.1 acres; Bertucci's, 50 Hill Street, 12.1 acres; Belmont Country Club, 10 acres; Waterstone 6.5 acres; and Vine Brook, 9 acres. The others are as small as 0.1 acre. Boston Edison Company licenses 26.4 acres.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
Conservation Land Inventory: Summary 1964–2025 (continued)
Year(s) Total Federal State Net Cost Voted/Given Acres Cost Reimbursement Reimbursement to Town
109 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
Economic Development
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 4 4
Part Time 7 25
Seasonal 20 23
ROLE: The Economic Development Office (EDO) works to
improve the local commercial environment, enhance small/
retail business vitality, and support the visitor-based econo-
my. The EDO, as a division of the Land Use, Housing, and
Development Department, works to advance the economic
goals outlined by the Select Board and the Town Manager.
The EDO works on land use and tourism initiatives to cre-
ate long-term commercial viability as well as supporting
businesses one-on-one as they work through the permitting
process or other issues. In addition, the EDO supports the
visitor-based economy through programs and operations
through the Visitors Center, Liberty Ride Trolley Tour, and
Battle Green Guide program.
STAFF: Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development Director),
Lorraine Welch (Economic Development Coordinator),
Jay Abdella (Senior Economic Development Coordinator),
Ariel Chin (Visitors Center Manager), Jackson Rhodes (Tour
Coordinator), Adrienne Robinson (Assistant Visitors Center
Manager)
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Installed new wayfinding signage at the Bow Street inter-
section to direct Bikeway users to East Lexington stores.
• Formed grant agreements with several artists and installed
murals on buildings along the Minuteman Bikeway as part
of the American Rescue Plan Act, Rapid Recovery Plan,
and Lexington Next.
• Assisted in bringing ten new businesses into Lexington,
including Braskem and Tatte Bakery. With the opening of
Tatte, Lexington Center has become a breakfast destination
in the area.
• Distributed $15,000 for events in the Lexington Cultural
District, which helped fund events such as the Chamber of
Commerce Summer Concert Series, Bikeway Block Party,
Illumination Night, Reenactment of Paul Revere’s Arrival,
and many other events!
• Procured landscaping services with funding from the
American Rescue Plan Act to improve the quality of life
on the Minuteman Bikeway in East Lexington through
invasive species removal and amenity setting.
• Installed a new parklet in Lexington Center to beautify and
provide the public with additional outdoor public seating.
The Economic Development Office continued to work closely
with the Select Board and Town Manager’s Office to imple-
ment a series of programs to aid local businesses and help
grow the local economy. In FY25, the Economic Development
Office was able to assist with supporting and funding events
such as Discovery Day, Taste of Lexington, and LexLux
Illumination Night.
Tourism
With an emphasis on Lexington's 250th Celebration of the
Battle of Lexington celebrated on April 19, 2025, much of
Lexington’s tourism advertising and focus centered around
Patriots’ Day Weekend. The Visitors Center saw roughly
112,000 visitors in FY25. The Lexington Visitors Center was
also awarded the designation of “Best of the Best” in Travel
and Tourism from the American Bus Association. .
• Patriots' Day Weekend: The Town of Lexington welcomed
more than 50,000 people to Lexington and the Lexington
Visitors Center sold roughly $70,000 in merchandise.
• Advertising: Advertising efforts with WCVB, National
Geographic, NBC10 and other entities reached tens of
millions of people across the world, generating support and
interest in the event.
• Hotel and Meal Tax 2025: Meal and hotel excise tax
exceeded projected benchmarks, reflecting a return to
dining and traveling. Meals tax has exceeded FY24 actuals,
and revenue has increased by 8.5% since FY24. Hotel excise
tax exceeded projections by 3%.
• Conferences: The Economic Development and Visitors
Center staff promoted the Town of Lexington through sev-
eral major conferences including: Discover New England,
U.S. Travel Association, American Bus Association, North
of Boston Summit, Governor’s Travel and Tourism, and the
Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.
(continued on next page)
Lexington Economic Development Office staff.
110
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
• New Exhibits: The Lexington Visitors Center installed a
penny press machine in the gift shop to provide visitors
with 250th anniversary memorabilia coins. In addition,
through a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel
and Tourism, new animated videos were installed, which
educate visitors about Paul Revere’s Ride, Pompey Fisk,
Eli Burdoo, and Prince Estabrook.,
Planning Board
ROLE: Lexington's land use planning efforts are supported
by the Planning Board and the Planning Office. The Planning
Board and the Planning Office are responsible for short-
and long-term planning initiatives relative to land use and
development and permit review.
Responsibilities of the Planning Board include preparation
and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and other
current planning initiatives; administration of the subdivi-
sion control law; administration of site plan review; review
and evaluation of special permit applications; planning and
preparation of zoning initiatives and amendments to recom-
mend to Town Meeting; and conducting the required public
hearing process for citizen rezoning proposals.
The Planning Office supports the Planning Board,
the Assistant Town Manager for Land Use, Housing, and
Development, the Town Manager, and other town departments
and committees, supplying technical analysis for permitting
activities, economic, demographic, and development trends in
Lexington and the region. The Planning Office also responds to
requests for help and information from citizens and other parties.
ELECTED by Lexington voters, members of the Planning
Board, for a 3-year term: Michael Schanbacher (Chair –
term expires 2027), Melanie Thompson (Vice-Chair – term
expires 2027), Tina McBride (Clerk – term expires 2028), Bob
Creech (term expires 2026), and Charles Hornig (term expires
2026). Michael Leon (Associate Member) is appointed by the
Planning Board to serve in place of a regular member if needed
in the event of an absence or inability to vote. In March 2025,
the Planning Board welcomed Tina McBride and said goodbye
to Robert Peters.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager, members of the
Planning Office: Abby McCabe (Planning Director), Meghan
McNamara (Assistant Planning Director), Aaron Koepper
(Planner), and Carolyn Morrison (Planning Coordinator).
Lexington said goodbye to Assistant Planning Director Sheila
Page and Kiruthika Ramakrishnan in October 2024 and
welcomed Planner Aaron Koepper and Planning Coordinator
Carolyn Morrison during 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Zoning Amendments: The Planning Board sponsored and
Town Meeting approved four changes to the zoning bylaw
and made recommendations on two citizen petitions. The
Planning Board sponsored zoning articles at the Annual
Town Meeting with changes to update the following: the
new Federal Emergency Management Agency Floor Rate
Insurance Maps, the inclusionary dwelling requirements
for special residential developments, and accessory uses to
clarify procedures. They also made technical corrections.
At a Special Town Meeting in March 2025, the Town
Meeting voted to adopt the citizen petition to amend the
Village & Multi-Family Overlay Districts by amending the
map to reduce the size of the overlay districts and add
density limits and dimensional controls to reduce the
number of new multi-family dwelling units. A citizen
petition with additional limitations for village overlay
developments was also adopted at Annual Town Meeting.
• Development Administration: In FY25 the Planning Board
approved ten development applications for multi-family
housing developments. The total number of new dwelling
units approved was 1,096 including 160 affordable dwelling
units. New developments are primarily residential projects
with four units including a commercial component resulting
in mixed-use developments. One approved development
was a special residential development while the other nine
projects were in the village overlay districts.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
Planning Board (L-R): Charles Hornig, Michael Schanbacher, Melanie Thompson, Bob Creech, and Tina McBride
Lexington Visitors Center Staff and Town of Lexington employee volunteers working at the Lexington Visitors Center during Patriots' Day celebrations.
(continued on next page)
111 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
2025 Annual Town Meeting
At the Annual Town Meeting of 2025, the following amend-
ments to the Lexington Zoning Bylaw were approved:
• Article 30 – Amend Zoning Bylaw – Inclusionary
Housing for Special Residential Developments
• Article 31 – National Flood Insurance (NFI) District
• Article 32 – Amend Zoning Bylaw – Technical Corrections
• Article 33 – Amend Zoning Bylaw for Accessory Uses
• Article 34 – Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to
Reduce the Multi-Family Dwelling Unit Capacity
(Citizen Petition)
2025 Special Town Meeting
• Article 2 - Amend Section 7.5 of the Zoning Bylaw to
Reduce the Multi-Family Dwelling Unit Capacity
(Citizen Petition)
Development Administration
Subdivision Control
• 331 Concord Avenue (Definitive Subdivision)
• 17 Hartwell Avenue (Preliminary followed by a
Definitive Subdivision)
• Kay Tiffany Way (Modification to Definitive
Subdivision)
• 3-4-5 Militia Drive (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 217-241 Massachusetts Avenue (Preliminary
Subdivision)
• 11 Larchmont Lane (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 3 Maguire Road (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 10 Maguire Road (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 131 Hartwell Avenue (Preliminary and Definitive
Subdivision)
• 125 Hartwell Avenue (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 475 Bedford Street (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 251, 267, 275 & 301 Massachusetts Avenue
(Preliminary Subdivision)
• 242 Bedford Street (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 419, 429, 433 & 439 Marrett Road (Preliminary
Subdivision)
• 80 Bedford Street (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 407 Waltham Street (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 162 Bedford Street and 5 Reed Street (Preliminary
Subdivision)
• 16 Clarke Street (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 450 Marrett Road (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 329 Massachusetts Avenue (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 7-9 & 11-13 Muzzey Street & 1834-1840 Massachusetts
Avenue (Preliminary Subdivision)
• 5-7 Piper Road (Preliminary Subdivision)
Site Plan Review
• 28 Merriam Street & 32 Edgewood Road (Special
Residential Development for 10 dwelling units)
• 5-7 Piper Road (Village Overlay Multi-Family for
46 dwelling units)
• 89 Bedford Street (Village Overlay Multi-Family for
30 new dwelling units)
• 331 Concord Avenue (Village Overlay Multi-Family &
Mixed-Use for 200 dwelling units & commercial space)
• 217-241 Massachusetts Avenue (Village Overlay
Multi-Family & Mixed-Use for 44 dwelling units and
commercial space)
• 17 Hartwell Avenue (Village Overlay Multi-Family &
Mixed-Use for 312 dwelling units and commercial space)
• 231 Bedford Street (Village Overlay Multi-Family for
8 new dwelling units)
• 3, 4, & 5 Militia Drive (Village Overlay Multi-Family
& Mixed-Use for 292 dwelling units and commercial
space)
• 185-189 Bedford Street (Village Overlay Multi-Family
for 25 new dwelling units)
• 7 Hartwell Avenue (Village Overlay Multi-Family for
130 new dwelling units)
• 166 Spring Street (Limited Site Plan Review)
• 287 & 295 Waltham Street (Special Residential
Development)
• 952 Waltham Street (Village Overlay Multi-Family for
8 dwelling units)
Special Permit
Several special permits to provide relief from parking
design standards were consolidated into a major site plan
for review.
Approval Not Required (ANR)
• 28 Meriam Street
• 5-7 Piper Road
• 114 Wood Street
• 320 Waltham Street
• 9 Cart Path Lane
• 25 Somerset Road
• 336 Marrett Road
• 20 Muzzey Street
• 952 Waltham Street
• 185, 187-189 Bedford Street
(continued on next page)
112
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
• 12 Summer Street
• 217-241 Massachusetts Avenue
Street Adequacy Determination
• None
Transportation Safety Group
ROLE: The group meets monthly to review and act on inqui-
ries or requests relative to traffic, transit, pedestrian, bicycle,
and parking (outside the Center) safety.
In addition, Transportation Safety Group (TSG) makes
recommendations to the Select Board to amend traffic and
parking regulations, reviews school circulation plans, and
evaluates crosswalk requests.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: appointed Working
Group comprised of staff from Planning, Engineering, Police,
Schools, and Transportation Services as well as liaisons from
the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Transportation Advisory
Committee, Commission on Disability, and the Greenways
Corridor Committee.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In FY25, TSG received and evaluated over 110 requests
from residents such as improved roadway signage, cross-
walks, parking restrictions, intersection improvements,
speeding and traffic calming measures; this is a 175%
increase in number of requests from FY24.
• Individual requests often include several requests/con-
cerns, some of which are easy to resolve while others may
need capital investment. TSG judiciously makes decisions
and recommendations using the guidance of federal and
state standards. Requests during FY25 fell under the
following categories:
Speed Concerns/Speed Bump Requests: 24
Crosswalk Requests new/improve/ maintenance/crossing guards: 34
Intersection safety/improvement requests: 16
Sidewalk Requests: 2
Street Parking: 4
Signage Requests: 11
Other/Potholes/Road Repairs: 19
• Petitioned Massachusetts Department of Transportation
(MassDOT) to reduce the speed limit on Marrett Road
from 40 to 30 mph. The request was denied by MassDOT,
noting that the existing speed limit of 40 MPH is in
conformance.
• Recommended several traffic and parking regulations to
the Select Board.
• Reviewed numerous requests for crosswalks and reduc-
tions in speed limits town-wide.
• Worked towards implementing a school zone on Worthen
Road for the Lexington High School to reduce speeds
during school hours from 35 MPH to 20 MPH.
• Reviewed and provided recommendations to numerous
multi-family development proposals under the MBTA
Communities Act.
• Finalized plans for the Cedar Street sidewalk construction
project (estimated summer 2025 start of construction)
and held a neighborhood meeting for the Burlington and
North Street sidewalk project.
• Attended meetings and provided recommendations on
the new high school design, site circulation, and neigh-
borhood traffic safety concerns.
Much of the town transportation/safety improvements
originate from resident requests. To submit a transpor-
tation safety request please visit lexingtonma.gov/279/
Transportation-Safety-Group.
Regulatory Support
ROLE: To provide administrative support and coordinate
daily activities for the Building, Health, and Conservation
Departments, and Land Use, Health and Development boards
and commissions, including the Zoning Board of Appeals,
Historic Districts Commission, Historical Commission,
Conservation Commission and Board of Health. Schedules
and coordinates hearings, sets agendas, processes electronic
applications and permits, maintains files, circulates petitions
among town boards and officials, prepares meeting notices,
agendas, minutes and certificates of appropriateness, deter-
mines and notifies abutters, assists at flu clinics and hazard-
ous waste collections, communicates with the public, attends
meetings, performs payroll and accounts payable functions,
makes daily deposits, and files all final documentation.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Carol Kowalski
(Assistant Town Manager); Kiruthika Ramakrishnan
(Office Manager); Ragi Ramakrishnan (Administrative
Assistant); Siqing Pan, Megan Downer, EmmaJean Anjoorian
(Department Assistants).
HIGHLIGHTS:
For highlights, please see introduction section to the Land
Use, Housing and Development section, and the Building
Division, Conservation Commission, Board of Appeals,
Historic Commission, and Historic Districts Commission.
LAND USE, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)
113 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ROLE: As the regional vocational-technical high school
serving nine member communities, Minuteman provides
Lexington students with rigorous academic instruction inte-
grated with career technical education (CTE) in state of the
art labs. Minuteman complements Lexington High School by
expanding the menu of high quality pathways, offering work
based learning, industry credentials, individualized course-
work, AP Classes, and early college experiences that prepare
students for both college and careers.
APPOINTED The Minuteman Superintendent-Director,
Heidi Driscoll, leads districtwide strategic planning, budget
development, personnel, compliance, and program over-
sight, in collaboration with the elected Minuteman School
Committee and our nine member towns. Mrs. Driscoll has
served as Superintendent-Director since July 1, 2024.
Teaching and Learning
Our instructional focus is on relevant, standards aligned
learning that blends core academics with authentic, career
connected experiences. Students select from 19 CTE majors
spanning engineering, health and human services, life scienc-
es, communications, trades, and advanced manufacturing.
Learning is reinforced through project based work, coopera-
tive education experiences, and credentials valued by higher
education and employers.
Minuteman’s vocational technical programs benefit
the Greater Lexington Community through a variety of
student-run services including The Salon @ Minuteman,
The District Restaurant, The Flower Shop, and auto repairs
through our Automotive Technology Program. In April
2025, Minuteman was awarded a grant from the Dana Home
Foundation to provide free student-run services to Lexington
area seniors allowing us to add services like IT Support.
In June of 2025, 19 Minuteman students participated at
the SkillsUSA National Skills & Leadership Conference, were
students enrolled in vocational technical programs across the
country meet and participate in a variety of events to show-
case the skills gained during their high school experience.
Minuteman earned the most medals from any Massachusetts
vocational school, including the Gold Medals in Employment
Application and Entrepreneurship and Bronze Medals in
projects that showcased student work in Sustainable Homes
for Bats as well as a Cybersecurity Training Program.
Minuteman offers a robust Cooperative Education Program
allowing juniors and seniors to get real-world, paid experience
in their chosen vocational technical program. From Lexington,
nine seniors and three juniors worked locally in fields such as
Automotive, Biotechnology, Health Assisting, and Robotics
with employers including Emerson Hospital, Lexington
Toyota, The Goddard School of Lexington, Parker Hannifin
(Chomerics Division), and Fresh Pond Animal Hospital.
Lexington Senior Spotlight
Sunay Agarwal, the Class of 2025 vale-
dictorian from Minuteman’s Engineering
program and dual-enrollment program,
earned national recognition for academ-
ic excellence and leadership. Named a
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program nom-
inee, Sunay also achieved distinction
as a National Merit Semifinalist and an
AP Scholar with Distinction. Beyond the classroom, he held
leadership roles in the FIRST Robotics Club, Math Team,
and SkillsUSA, while excelling in competitions such as the
American Invitational Mathematics Exam and the Harvard-
MIT Math Tournament. Sunay will continue his academic
journey at Cornell University this fall where he is enrolled in
the Electrical Engineering program.
Adult Education
Minuteman Technical Institute (MTI), the adult learning
division of Minuteman High School, was awarded a $1.2
million Round 9 Career Technical Initiative grant to support
training for carpentry, plumbing, and welding positions
across the region. MTI students earn credentials including
OSHA 10, OSHA 30 (Welding), NFPA Hot Work, AWS
SMAW and GMAW certifications, and licensure from the
Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology. All participants in Fall
2024 Carpentry Build It! Pre-Apprenticeship programs were
hired before completion.
Technology
Minuteman’s Technology Department supports the technol-
ogy needs of students, teachers, staff, and administrators.
Minuteman continues is 1:1 laptop program that provides all
students with a take-home device in all grades to ensure eq-
uitable access. As a vocational technical school, Minuteman’s
role is to train students for the technology they will see in the
real-world. As such, students use Windows laptops and the
Microsoft 365 Suite for productivity.
MINUTEMAN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sunay Agarwal '25
Minuteman High School: 2024-2025 School Profile
Size of Class 175
Total Post Secondary Placement 97.1%
4-year college 59.5%
2-year college 13.3%
Employed or Register Apprenticeship 22.6%
Military 1.7%
Undecided 2.9%
Mean SAT Scores —Total 1196
Critical Reading/Writing 619
Math 583
114
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
POLICE
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time
Police 50 50
Dispatch 10 10
Parking Meter Maintenance 1 1
Civilian 5 5
Part Time
Crossing Guards 18 18
Cadets 6 6
Animal Control 1 1
ROLE: The Lexington Police Department is a professional,
accredited organization committed to working in partnership
with the community to ensure the Town of Lexington is a safe
and welcoming place to live, work and visit. Our mission is to
provide high-quality, accountable police services, reflecting
the values of the community in a manner that affirms the fair
and equitable treatment of all, where each individual matters
and their rights are recognized and protected.
APPOINTED by Town Manager James Malloy: Michael A.
McLean (Chief of Police), February 2022.
Promotions and Personnel Changes
• July 2024: Sydney Linden was hired as a Public Safety
Dispatcher (previously a Police Cadet).
• August 2024: Joseph Eluszkiewicz was hired as a Police
Officer (previously a Public Safety Dis-patcher).
• August 2024: Dustin Burkle was hired as a Police Officer.
• August 2024: Jacob Milojkovich was hired as a
Police Officer.
• August 2024: Mattheau Gaudet was hired as a
Police Officer.
• September 2024: Michael McGloin was promoted to the
position of Sergeant.
• January 2025: Laura Custance was hired as
Office Manager.
• March 2025: Zachary Fiore was hired as a Police Officer.
• March 2025: Spenser Davis was hired as a Police Cadet.
• June 2025. Nicholas Dell’Anno was promoted to the
position of Sergeant.
Noteworthy Investigations
Wiretap/Secret Recording
Investigated a report of an individual caught filming another
person within a bathroom stall. Seized cell phone, conducted
in depth investigation that ultimately uncovered multiple
victims, over the course of two years. The Police Detective
was able to successfully identify three victims and charge the
perpetrator with a felony and multiple misdemeanors. Still
open in juvenile court.
ICAC Internet Crimes Against Children
Lexington Police Detectives have partnered with the
Massachusetts State Police ICAC Team to investigate and
prosecute those individuals who are found to be in posses-
sion or producing child pornography. In January, Lexington
Detectives joined with state investigators acting on an internet
tip to investigate possession of child pornography. The joint
investigation led to the confiscation of material and an arrest
of the subject. This partnership has proven very successful
with the arrest of several local individuals over the last two
years. Prosecution pending.
Fugitive from Justice
Members of the Detective Bureau worked in conjunction with
Nashua New Hampshire Police and the FBI Bank Robbery
Task Force to locate and arrest a subject wanted for armed
bank robbery in New Hampshire. Detective’s along with the
Violent Fugitive Task Fork were able to locate and arrest the
subject at his Lexington residence without issue. A search
warrant was executed which lead to the recovery of items
associated with the bank robbery. Prosecution pending
Local Investigations
Members of the Detective Bureau investigated and located a
Level 2 Sex Offender living in Lexington for over two years
without any form of notification to the state or town. After a
thorough investigation including surveillance resulted in an
arrest warrant issued and subject placed into custody.
Members of the department collaborated to investigate a
pattern of crime involving six incidents of someone harassing
people in the Center area since 2022. All victims and witnesses
were reinterviewed. Although we were not able to charge
the individual due to an uncooperative victim, we were able
to identify the individual and have multiple documented
interviews. As a result, no new incidents have been reported.
FY25 Grant Funding
• The Department was awarded a Support and Incentive
Grant for $109,744.
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115 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Programs and Initiatives/Goals and Objectives
• The Lexington Police Department proudly partnered with
the Middlesex Sheriff's Department to send 20 Lexington
youth to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Academy. This
engaging summer program focuses on critical safety
lessons, including bicycle safety, fire prevention, anti-bul-
lying, and stranger awareness. In addition to educational
sessions, cadets participated in team-building activities
and spent an immersive day at the Lexington Police and
Fire Departments, fostering positive relationships between
youth and first responders.
• Building on the success of last year’s inaugural session,
Lexington Police completed their second RAD-kids
self-defense course, expanding participation from 10 to 16
children. This nationally recognized program empowers
youth with tools to recognize, avoid, and respond to
dangerous situations such as bullying and abduction. The
department is committed to expanding this impactful
program in future sessions to reach even more children
and families.
• Multiple Lexington officers were honored with the Medal
of Valor by the Irish American Police Officers Association
in recognition of their courageous actions during a critical
incident that occurred in September 2023. This prestigious
award reflects the bravery and professionalism demonstrat-
ed by our officers in the line of duty.
• Officer Joseph Carruthers received the Medal of Valor
from the Massachusetts Police Association for his life-sav-
ing actions on February 12, 2022. His swift and decisive
response undoubtedly saved the life of a fellow officer and
potentially others in a densely populated area.
• The department continues to work with our civilian
advocate partners from DVSN (Domestic Violence Service
Network). These dedicated advocates provide services for
any victims or witnesses of domestic violence or families
or individuals in need of relationship advice, counseling or
just someone to speak to during times of crisis.
• The department also continues to work with Communities
for Restorative Justice (C4RJ). This program stresses alter-
native to arrest options on qualifying crimes. The lengthy
restorative process then includes greater involvement
and for the victim and the opportunity for the individual
to make amends and avoid a criminal record. Lexington
Police were selected as a pilot department to participate
in the Restorative Justice First Program which refers all
non-violent and non-motor vehicle misdemeanors to the
C4RJ rather than the court system.
• Officers participated in the Town’s annual Halloween
Trick-or-Treat in the Center, a beloved community event
that draws over 500 children and families. Officers ensured
traffic safety while also engaging with families by setting up
a tent, distributing candy, and connecting with residents in
a fun and festive atmosphere.
September 11, 2024: Lexington First Responders, including members of Lexington Police Department participated in the Lex250 Countdown Calendar located in front of the town office building.
POLICE (continued)
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116
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
• Lexington officers participated in No Shave November,
raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which
grants life-changing wishes to children with critical
illnesses.
• Officers also took part in the annual Fill-A-Cruiser
toy drive in support of the Toys for Tots Foundation.
Community members were invited to donate new,
unwrapped toys for local children in need, reinforcing our
shared commitment to spreading holiday cheer.
• Detectives Chaisson and Sullivan proudly represented the
department in Operation Christmas Hero, in collaboration
with neighboring police departments, Hanscom Air Force
Base, and FedEx. As part of Operation Christmas Spirit,
the team delivered surprise gifts to families of deployed
service members, offering support and joy during the
holiday season.
• Detective Chaisson led the department’s seasonal Home
Alone Safety Class, designed to help children build
confidence and decision-making skills when staying home
independently. The class also equips parents with conversa-
tion guides to ensure their children are ready and safe. This
program runs each Fall, Winter, and Spring.
• Lexington officers were honored to be invited and attend
multiple cultural events in town, including Diwali and
Holi festivals, Chinese New Year celebrations, MLK Day,
several events at our Jewish Temples and the first Ramadan
lighting ceremony…. Members of the department attended
138 community, cultural and affinity events and meetings
as part of our commitment to cultural inclusivity and
forging community partnerships.
• The entire department proudly participated in 250th
Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, held on Saturday,
April 19, 2025, which concluded successfully with no
significant public safety incidents reported. The events
throughout the day, drew tens of thousands of attendees
and showcased the strength of coordination across town
departments as well as local, state, and federal agencies.
Planning for the events began 18 months in advance and
was greatly supported through the ongoing facilitation
of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
(MEMA). The seamless execution of the anniversary
events highlighted the effectiveness of these collaborative
efforts. The successful conclusion of this historic anni-
versary celebration is a testament to thoughtful planning,
interagency collaboration, and community engagement.
• Lexington Police were actively involved in the Town’s
Annual Discovery Day, providing an opportunity for
residents—especially children—to explore a police cruiser,
interact with officers, and learn more about the tools and
equipment used in daily police work. This event is a valu-
able opportunity to build trust and positive relationships
between officers and the community.
• The 2024-2025 school year proved to be an overwhelming
successful period for the School Resource Officer (SRO)
program. This year marked the first full school year
implanting the Police Department’s new Community
Resource Dogs Program, and its impact far exceeded
everyone’s expectations creating many new avenues to
connect with members of the community.
• The two Community Resource Dogs, “Watson” and
“Maisey”, worked diligently alongside Detective Hankins
and Detective Sullivan throughout the school year. Their
primary assignments were within the middle schools and
high school, where they became familiar and comforting
presences. Additionally, the Community Resource Dogs
engaged in numerous interactions with the community
members, both within and outside the school environment.
• Created the “Pawfice Hours” program at the Lexington
Community Center. The Lexington Community Center
holds “Comfort Dog Hours” on the first Thursday of each
month from 10:00 AM–11:00 AM. These sessions, featur-
ing Maisey and Watson, offer a calming and supportive
presence for individuals seeking stress relief or emotional
comfort.
• They have also been a fixture at many community, cultural
and affinity group events. In addition to their daily duties
and responsibilities, they have attended 295 documented
community engagement activities. The following is a list
of some of the events and community outreach efforts
conducted this past fiscal year: Trick or Treat in the Center,
Discovery Day, Veteran’s Day ceremony, led the Patriot’s
Day Parade with the Lexington Youth Commission, Special
Olympics at Center Field, Lexington DPW Day, Attended
the Senior Prom, participated in Lexington Goes Purple,
held a well-attended first birthday party for Watson at
Hastings Park, numerous other department comfort dogs
attended. Detectives Hankins and Sullivan will continue
to actively seek opportunities engage all members of the
community in the future.
POLICE (continued)
117 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
POLICE (continued)
Complaints and Calls for Service
Motor Vehicle Crashes 746
Animal Control 192
Alarms Residential/Commercial 951
B&E mv, trailer, truck 77
Burglary/B&E (Includes attempts) 20
Fire Department Assists 1,174
All Assists 248
Missing Person(s) 10
General Disturbance/Disputes 58
Domestic Disputes 110
Building/Person Check 3,519
Suspicious Activity 193
Park Lock and Walk/Directed Patrols 524
Community Engagement Events 138
Community Engagement Comfort Dog 295
By-Law Violation (Gas Leaf Blower) 231
Total Calls for Service 15,920
Motor Vehicle Citations Issued
Warnings 1,717
Civil Infractions 465
Criminal Complaints 99
Arrests 13
Total 2,294
High Accident Locations (10 or more accidents) 0
Fines Generated by Traffic Enforcement
Civil Motor Vehicle Fines Collected (FY24) $79,377
Parking Violations (tickets) Issued 1,599
Meter Revenue Collected $239,658
Parking Fines Collected $29,987
Prosecution Summary
Arrest without warrant 47
Arrest warrant only 9
Criminal Summons/Hearings 130
By Law Violation 6
Medical-Section 12 50
Lexington Police Department Detective Kristina Hankins with “Watson” and Detective Joseph Sullivan with “Maisey.”Courtesy of Lexington Police Dept.
118
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 90 90
Part Time 1 0
ROLE: The Department of Public Facilities (DPF) is responsi-
ble for the coordination and care of all town-owned buildings
inclusive of those under the control of the Select Board, Town
Manager, Library Trustees, Recreation Committee, and School
Committee. The DPF is charged with managing the efficient
operation and maintenance of town buildings, preserving
building and equipment assets, and planning and implement-
ing capital improvements. These objectives are accomplished
by establishing appropriate services in support of building
users, implementing preventive maintenance programs that
result in reliable facility operation, and managing a 5-year
facility capital plan through collaboration with the Permanent
Building Committee (PBC) and other town committees.
DPF Administration
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Growth and Development Program continued in FY25,
with a goal of improving communication among DPF
employees, developing strategies to strengthen workplace
relationships and teamwork, and continued education and
training. Manny Cabral, David Amicangioli and Vesselin
Nedeltchev facilitated OSHA-10 training, an AHERA
(Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) certification
training, and annual Safety and Right-to-Know training for
DPF employees.
• The Department of Public Facilities continued to refine the
20-year Facility Condition Assessment which is a critical
tool used to inform the rolling 20-year capital plan. The
development of this report allows the financial planners
time to identify major spikes in demand for capital dollars
and react in time to smooth them out. The long-term capital
plan also allows DPF to identify multiple projects scheduled
for the same timeframe and encourages a single project that
could be all-inclusive. This would generate some savings in
the total price versus a plan where each project is completed
independently. The staff received training to allow a variety
of reports to be created and used to provide information to
the various financial committees. The department is excited
to announce the hiring of a Data Analyst who will provide
a deeper analysis of the information. This will allow the
department better planning, projection of costs, and provide
enhanced timing for projects. The report also was useful in
identifying which building requires more capital investment
and provides a catalyst for us to make decisions on the
long-term viability of specific buildings.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
• Shawn Newell worked on the installation of photovoltaic
solar rooftop systems at Westview Cemetery. This project
is projected to make the building net zero when it is finally
online. Like many other projects in Town, this project was
subjected to supply chain issues, delaying the cutover to solar
power. The solar systems are due to go online at the end of
September of 2025.
• The Facility Rental Program continued with typical rental
volumes and revenues.
DPF Operations
HIGHLIGHTS:
• DPF custodial staff and maintenance technicians continued
to clean, maintain, service, and repair the facility infrastruc-
ture and equipment in both school and municipal buildings.
The Operations Division has continued to implement proac-
tive preventive maintenance programs to reduce emergency
and reactive work orders, resulting in a continuing decrease
of these types of work orders and associated repair costs.
• DPF Operations division continues to oversee various
building related improvement and life-cycle replacement
projects in addition to the day-to-day building maintenance,
service, and repair.
School Site Work and Playgrounds• Shawn Newell, Assistant Director of Facilities, and Manny
Cabral, Facilities Superintendent, completed poured-
in-place safety surfacing plus a full replacement of the
Lexington’s Children Place play Structure.
• At the 2024 Annual Town Meeting, funding was once
again approved and appropriated under Article 16D
for the annual Site Improvement Capital Program. This
program is in place to conduct in-kind replacements
of pavement, sidewalks, and other site-related areas at
the School properties based on life-cycle and condition.
When and if possible, accessibility and pedestrian
walkway improvements are incorporated as part of these
in-kind replacement site work projects. Over the summer
of 2024 the funding was utilized to repave the Bowman
Elementary School roadway, front parking lot, and a
portion of the hardtop play area.
• Due to the town’s bylaw that no domestic pets are allowed
on playground areas fencing will be added at the elemen-
tary school in the future to limits access with the addition
of bylaw signage.
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119 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Interior Finishes
• The annual painting program continued in FY25 in
both School and Municipal Buildings. Areas requiring
repainting are identified by a life cycle report and visual
inspections. In FY25, many classrooms, hallways, re-
strooms, office spaces, and portions of building exteriors
were repainted at both town and school buildings.
• In the Spring of 2025, six (6) restrooms at the Lexington
Community center were updated to include hands-free
plumbing fixtures with motion activated faucets and
dispensers.
• In a continuation of the Annual Capital Flooring program,
Manny Cabral, Facilities Superintendent, completely
replaced thirty-two (32) classroom floors at Fiske
Elementary School. The old Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT)
was replaced with no-wax Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). The
new tiles eliminate the need for caustic chemical strippers
and the need to re-wax the floors. This process eliminates a
significant safety issue for the staff.
• Manny Cabral, supervised multiple contractors to renovate
several student bathrooms at Clarke Middle School. The
scope of work included all new hands-free fixtures, new
stall partitions, epoxy grouted floors, paint, lighting and
ceiling tiles. In addition to this work, six classrooms at
Clarke were also updated with LVT flooring as a phased
approach to converting all VCT floors to LVT.
• Although most of the floors at Lexington High School are
past their expected useful life cycle, David Amicangioli
continued to oversee a robust floor maintenance and
replacement program which is in place to allow for safe
flooring while awaiting a new Lexington High School.
• Three restrooms at the Town Office Building were reno-
vated with new floor tile, wall tile, lighting, and hands-free
plumbing fixtures.
Building Envelope and Roofing
• In FY25 the slate roof, copper gutters, and copper down-
spouts were replaced in kind at Cary Memorial Building.
• The pre-fabricated modular buildings at Bowman, Bridge
and Fiske Elementary School were re-sided with new
corrugated metal siding and trim. The new siding is a
long-lasting product that will require less upkeep and
extend the life of those building.
• The Exterior Doors and storefront for Receiving/
Deliveries at the Clarke Middle School were replaced
in FY25.
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing
• Security Improvements were made to the Front Entry
Visitor Vestibule at Harrington Elementary School in
the summer of 2024. This improvement allows visitors to
enter the vestibule, but required one to be buzzed into the
main part of the school. It’s an additional safety measure.
• Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Security cameras were
upgraded at Municipal and School Buildings
• Infrastructure upgrades were performed to the Electronic
Door Access Control at Municipal and School Buildings
• The domestic hot water heaters at the Harrington and
Fiske Elementary Schools were replaced during the
summer of 2024.
DPF Project Management
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In March 2022, the Superintendent received notification
that the MSBA had accepted the school department’s
Statement of Interest and was welcoming the district
into the Eligibility Period. This is the first step towards
a new or renovated Lexington High School, and the
Facilities Department has supported the work of the
Superintendent's Office, and the School Building
Committee, as we navigate through the MSBA process.
The Eligibility Period commenced at the end of the school
year on June 1, 2022, and was completed in February 2023
with acceptance of all required documents by the MSBA.
A Feasibility Study agreement was then established by the
MSBA for the district, allowing the project to continue
into the Feasibility Study phase. This Phase completed in
December of 2024 with the submission of the Preferred
Schematic Report. The Schematic Design phase began in
January of 2025 and will be complete in the fall of 2025
with a Project Budget and Schematic Design that will go
before Town Meeting and the community. Much of this
work has and will involve seeking out input for the project
from the community at large, neighbors, students, teachers,
community programs and committees throughout town.
• In May of 2025 General Bids were received for the
Renovation and addition to the Munroe Center for the
Arts building at 1403 Massachusetts Ave. The project
includes an accessible addition with an elevator and
restrooms as well as full HVAC and accessibility im-
provements in the existing building, replacing an end of
life Gas boiler with all new electric heat pump systems.
Construction will commence in the summer of 2025 and
continue into 2026.
PUBLIC FACILITIES (continued)
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120
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC FACILITIES (continued)
• General Bids were received in January of 2025 to complete
a renovation of the Pine Meadows Golf Club facility. The
building needed updated and accessible restrooms and
office space. An existing oil-fired boiler is being replaced,
and a new all electric heat pump system is being installed
as the new HVAC system. Construction will continue thru
to the Fall of 2025.
• The renovation of the Cary Memorial Library Children’s
Room started in August of 2024. The project updates
the current children’s room to improve program space,
improved safety with sightlines throughout the Children’s
Room, and improved restroom access, as well as HVAC
upgrades throughout the entire lower level of the Library.
Construction will continue until the fall of 2025.
• A Contract was awarded in April of 2025 to renovate
the building at 173 Bedford street to support the School
Administration Department. The renovations include
adding an elevator and a fire suppression system, two
important systems not included in prior renovations.
Since the School Department will occupy both floors of
the building, adding these two systems were required.
Construction is intended to continue until the end of 2025,
when the School Department will occupy the new space.
• The contract to construct the solar canopy over portions of
the Police Station parking lots and walk ways was awarded
in May of 2025. Work on the rooftop array will begin in
September of 2025 and the steel canopy construction
should start immediately after, in October of 2025. This
system, which will support the police station and its energy
use, will include rooftop and canopy arrays as well as a
battery system.
• Due to bids coming in over the appropriated funding
for the Reservoir Bath House, Shawn Newell and his
operations team utilized in house personnel and on call
contracts to renovate the existing building. Working with
Christopher Bouchard and Manny Cabral, the building
incorporated many ADA updates to the parking, pathways
and interior features of the building. The project came in
under budget and looks fantastic.
121 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 5 5
Part Time 0 0
ROLE: To protect and promote the health
of residents and those who work in or visit
Lexington, and to develop and implement
effective health policies, regulations, and
programs that prevent disease and ensure
the wellbeing of the community.
The Board of Health acts as the advisory and oversight
Board to the Public Health Department and its staff. The
Board of Health is responsible, under various Massachusetts
General Laws, for disease prevention and control, and health
and environmental protection. The Board of Health promul-
gates and enforces local health regulations to maintain or en-
hance minimum standards in sanitation and environmental
protection, and to assure that the basic health needs of the
community are being met.
The mission of the Public Health Department is to prevent
disease and promote wellness in order to protect and improve
the health and quality of life of its residents, visitors, and
workforce. This charge is carried out by the implementation of
local, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations concern-
ing community health and disease prevention, surveillance
programs, public health education outreach and empower-
ment programs, environmental health permit and code en-
forcement inspection activities, and public health emergency
planning efforts, conducted locally and as a region.
APPOINTED to the Board of Health by the Town Manager:
Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD (Chair), David Geller, MD
(Vice-Chair), Shoolah Escott, MS, MT(ASCP), Jillian Tung,
MD, MPH, and Susan Wolf-Fordham, JD, MPA.
APPOINTED to the Public Health Department by the Town
Manager: Joanne Belanger, RN (Director), Alicia McCartin,
REHS/RS (Assistant Director), Kelliann Coleman, RN,
(Public Health Nurse), Jessica Shah, (Health Agent), Akeem
Mcdougal (Office Manager)
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Free COVID test kits were provided by the State and
placed for distribution in multiple Town buildings.
Education and guidance to the community continued.
• Continued review and revise local Board of Health
regulations and the permit fee schedule. The Board of
Health adopted new tobacco regulations.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT/BOARD OF HEALTH
• Worked with State and local officials regarding the
Emergency Assistance Shelters and Overflow Shelter
sites in Lexington. Collaborated with multiple partners,
including resident advocacy groups, Lexington public
schools, the National Guard, multiple town departments
and service providers. Coordinated and facilitated weekly
meetings with all stakeholders. Collaborated with the
Lexington School Dept to provide shelter residents with
flu and COVID vaccines and needed childhood vaccines
for school entry.
• Continued to work with The Towns of Burlington and
Wilmington on the Public Health Excellence for Shared
Services grant. The Town of Burlington is the lead
municipality for the TriTon Coalition. This grant will be
used to enhance local public health and strive to meet
the recommendations of the Blueprint for Public Health
Excellence.
• Continued to collaborate with LexZeroWaste on reusable
take-out containers to food establishments and residents
in Lexington. The Public Health Department worked with
LexZeroWaste on the protocols and food safety procedures
in order to maintain compliance with the food code.
• Worked with the Town Manager’s Office, Fire, Police,
DPW, Economic Development, Human Services, Lex250,
and other departments in planning for the Lexington
Semiquincentennial celebrations. Participated in the
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operations in
preparation for Lexington’s Semiquincentennial cele-
brations. Engaged with the Central Middlesex Medical
Reserve Corps and other Medical Reserve Corps volun-
teers to help staff first aid stations during the Patriots’ Day
events. Inspected multiple food vendors during the April
19th events to ensure compliance with the food code.
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Public Health Department staff in front of countdown clock.
122
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Environmental Health
• Monitored water quality lab test results at the “Old
Reservoir” bathing beach weekly and after post-rain
events. This testing was done according to the Board of
Health Beach Closure policy in order to measure the
bacteria levels and help ensure that the beach was safe to
remain open.
• Staffed four Household Medical Waste collections and
eight Household Hazardous Waste collections with
Health Division employees in a joint effort with the
Department of Public Works in an effort to help protect
groundwater and the environment. In addition, collected
used syringes to reduce the chance of an accidental
needle stick. As a result of these programs, hundreds of
pounds of these materials were prevented from entering
the curbside rubbish and garbage collections.
• Continued work towards the requirements of the
Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program
Standards (VNRFRPS) using the NEHA–FDA’s Retail
Food Regulatory Program Standards Grant awarded to
the Health Office.
• Participated in an integrated mosquito management
program directed at reducing the mammal biting
mosquito population and reducing the risk of West Nile
Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Some of the statistics include the treatment of over 4,200
catch basins and 183 acres of prime mosquito habitat. In
addition, mosquito survey collections were submitted
to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to be
tested for WNV and EEE.
Community Health and Emergency Preparedness
• Monitored and investigated contagious diseases, including
tuberculosis, foodborne illnesses, and vector-borne
pathogens. Conducted case follow-up and collaborated
with local healthcare providers and state agencies to
ensure timely reporting, control measures, and community
education, supporting the overall health and safety of
Lexington residents.”
• Vaccinated individuals for seasonal influenza and
COVID-19, including boosters. Partnering with Human
Services staff, continued to administer vaccines to home-
bound residents, including those in group homes and
housing developments. With the expansion of the
vaccine program, approximately 1500 residents, adults
and children.
• Partnering with Human Services staff, expanded the
Wellness clinic offerings onsite for residents at three
housing developments In Town. The Wellness clinics
include blood pressure screening and other vital signs,
glucose monitoring, medication review, vaccination review,
and other health and medical information. These clinics
provide direct services to residents that may be Isolated or
have limited access, as well as providing socialization and
connection to Town officials.
• Continued the Vaccine for Children program. The Health
vaccine program has expanded to be able to assist the
School Dept in vaccine compliance for students, especially
new students to the district
• Participated in National Public Health Week from
April 7th to the 13th. National Public Health Week. The
Lexington Health Department, in collaboration with the
Lexington Human Service Department, and the Tri-Town
Coalition, offered a free Narcan training. Collaborated with
the Lexington Recreation Department to offer fitness and
wellness classes through out the week.
• Worked with the Central Middlesex Medical Reserve
Corps. The participating communities are: Lexington,
Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Littleton, Woburn,
Lincoln, Winchester, Stow, and Maynard. The CMMRC
will be able to provide trained and vetted, volunteers to
Lexington and the surrounding communities when there is
a Public Health need, whether emergency or routine.
• Maintained the Massachusetts Municipality and Non-
Municipality Agency Controlled Substance Registration.
This enables the Health Department to order Naloxone
(Narcan) at low or no cost through the State and have
doses available for residents and those who need them.
The Health Department, as part of the opioid settlement,
developed rescue kits that contain Narcan, gloves, fentanyl
testing strips, face shields, and resource materials for the
public. These kits are available at the Health Department at
no cost and with no questions.
Public Health Department/Board of Health (continued)
123 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 74 74
Part Time 5 5
Seasonal 7 7
DPW Administration
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 7 7
Part Time 0 0
ROLE: To manage personnel and monitor all divisions
within DPW including Administration, Engineering,
Highway, Equipment Maintenance, Parks, Forestry, Cemetery,
Environmental Services, Water and Sewer; provide oversight
for Streetlight Maintenance and Snow Operations; monitor
the annual budget; provide outreach to the community; and
supervise numerous projects.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: David Pinsonneault
CSFM, CPRP, CPWP-M (DPW Director) appointed in
March 2016.
• Lexington Department of Public Works was the 90th
agency in the country to be accredited by the American
Public Works Association (APWA). Re-accreditation
occurs every 4 years. In 2025, Public Works is actively in
the process of policy review for accreditation, which will
occur in 2026.
• The Director is a member of the American Public
Works Association and current APWA Technical Board
Director for Fleet, Facilities and Ground, also an active
member of the New England Chapter of Public Works.
The DPW Director and the Manager of Operations
maintain Certified Public Works Professional (CPWP)
certifications in Management and Supervision, respec-
tively, which are issued to individuals in the public
works field who have the knowledge and experience to
manage organizations within a public works department.
The Director also holds Certified Sports Field Manager
(CSFM) and Certified Park and Recreation Professional
(CPRP) certifications. The Director and the Operations
Manager participate on various boards and committees
regionally and nationally.
• Continue working on sustainable initiatives.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Public Works Department played a major role in
the success of the Lex250 Anniversary. DPW provided
logistical assistance for the 250th events and worked closely
with the Lexington Police and Fire departments to provide
a safe and enjoyable Patriots' Day Experience.
• Hosted its annual DPW Day, in June. This was a well-
at-tended successful event with over a hundred visitors.
Attendees were able to meet staff, view the DPW equip-
ment and ask questions about the services DPW provides.
The Water Division introduced the Towns’ new “Water
Wagon” to educate on water conservation, and to provide
refreshing water in a sustainable manner to all in atten-
dance. Children who attended received a small goodie bag
with some DPW-related items to remember their visit.
• Continued to assist residents and other town departments.
The DPW receives many calls, emails, and requests for
public records and service, as well as calls for emergencies.
• Provided support to various town committees, boards, and
working groups including the Lex250, Lexington Center,
Tree, Recreation, Noise Advisory, Permanent Building,
Appropriations, Capital Expenditures, Bicycle Advisory
and Sustainable Lexington Committees; the Water/
Sewer Abatement Board, Transportation Safety Group,
Commission on Disabilities, Waste Reduction Task Force,
Select Board, and Minuteman Household Hazardous
Products (MHHP) program.
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PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works
124
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Engineering Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 8 8
Part Time 1 1
ROLE: To provide design, construction, and management
services and capital planning to the DPW, other departments,
boards, committees, and the public.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: John Livsey (Town
Engineer) appointed in January 2009.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Continued water quality sampling in an aggressive effort
to identify illicit discharges and remove them from the
system. This is part of an overall goal to improve water
quality in Lexington. Stormwater Interns made significant
contributions to the water quality improvement. To date
we have found and removed 13 illicit discharges.
• Continued the implementation of the roadway manage-
ment program, including updated roadway condition
inspections, managed in an asset management software
called PeopleGIS. This allows for tablet based online
street inventory, sidewalk inventory and inspection forms,
which are being used in inspection of roadway condi-
tions. Street inspection reports are reflected immediately
and are being used in real-time for decision-making.
• Continued to play a key role in the improvements to the
Town’s Geographical Information System. Similarly, the
Division is using Proplegs’ PeopleForms and MapsOnline
website for pavement markings and other asset manage-
ment including water, sewer and stormwater. MapsOnline
provides an online platform for the town's database
management and plays a key role in an improved
Geographical Information System.
• Performed traffic, bike and pedestrian improvements in
various locations.
• Continued the Inflow and Infiltration investigation and
removal program.
• Continued water distribution improvements following
the Water asset management plan
• Completed work on the Battle Green Improvements
Project
• Kept assessors and utility overlay maps updated.
• Continued to design infrastructure improvements and
manage construction projects, including but not limited
to the following highlighted projects:
Contract 25-52 (multi-year contract): $2,157,699
Roadway Improvements Contractor Lazaro Paving
The 2024 work for this project was completed in November
and included 3.75 miles of roadway repaving and reconstruc-
tion. This project included Brookside Ave, Depot Square,
Depot Place, Edison Way, Eldred St, Jackson Ct, Muzzey St,
Raymond St, Sheridan St, Lowell St, and the Minuteman
Bikeway. Substantial drainage improvements were also com-
pleted on these roadways.
Contract 22-48: $3,598,5399 (3rd year of multi-year contract) and Contract 23-40: $520,670 (2nd year of multi-year contract)
Lexington Preservation Treatments of Various Roads
Contractor: Indus Inc dba Sealcoating Inc of Braintree, MA
This work was completed under 2 separate contracts with the
same contractor. Four different treatments were applied this
year to the roads depending on the condition of the road be-
ing treated under Contract 22-48. These treatments included
fog seal, double microsurfacing, and cape seal that covered
over 11 miles of roadway. The fourth treatment was crackseal
which was applied throughout town. Under Contract 23-40
another treatment know as Cold-in-Place Recycling was
completed on Eldred St totaling just under half a mile.
Contract 23-33: $1,651,008
North St Pump Station Upgrades Project
Contractor: N. Granese and Sons Inc
This project began late fall of 2023 and included building a
new wastewater pump station to replace the existing, aging
pump station in the same location. The new pump station
was elevated above the 100 yr flood zone which the old pump
station was susceptible to. The project included installing a
new wet well, sewer manhole, pumps, piping, valves, control
panel, standby generator, and retrofitting of the old wet well.
Site work also included an 8 ft retaining wall creating a plat-
form to elevate the flood susceptible components of the new
station, protective fencing, flood storage mitigation excava-
tion work, and various plantings. Final acceptance and site
restoration work has been completed.
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
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125 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
(continued on next page)
Contract 24-54: $1,892,400
Pleasant Street Improvements
Contractor: Unified Construction
Work began on the Pleasant Street Improvements project in
May of 2024. The work consists of the construction of a round-
about at the Pleasant Street at Watertown Street intersection,
minor widening of the Pleasant Street roadway to accom-
modate bicycle lanes, roadway resurfacing, pedestrian curb
ramps, installation of a pedestrian crossing beacon, removing
and resetting of curb, signing and pavement markings and
other various items to complete the roadway improvements.
Construction is significantly complete with some minor clean
up and punch list items in 2025.
Contract 25-37: $1,248,774
Traffic Signal Reconstruction at Four Locations Along Lowell St.
Contractor: Pine Ridge Technologies, Inc.
Began reconstruction of the traffic signal systems at the in-
tersections of Lowell St. at North St., East St., Woburn St.,
and Maple St./Winchester Dr. The improvements include
replacement of all traffic signal system equipment and re-
construction of concrete accessible ramps. The traffic signal
systems at North St. and East St. are fully installed and waiting
on final traffic signal fine-tuning. The traffic signal systems at
Woburn St. and Maple St./Winchester Dr. are expected to be
completed fall 2025.
Contract 25-39: $206,050
Pedestrian Crossing Beacon Installation at Five Locations Along the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway
Contractor: Coviello Electric and General Contracting Co., Inc.
Began installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons
(RRFB) along the MMCB at the roadway crossings of
Westview St., Revere St., Meriam St., Fletcher Ave., and
Woburn St. The RRFBs at Fletcher Ave. and Meriam St. are
fully installed and operational. The RRFBs at Westview St.,
Revere St. and Woburn St. are pending a power connection
and expected to be completed fall 2025.
Contract 25-84: $993,701
New Sidewalk Installation –Cedar St. from Mass Ave. to
Winding Rd.
Contractor: Allied Paving Corp.
Construction of a new asphalt sidewalk on Cedar St. of ap-
proximately 3,400 linear began in summer 2025 and is expect-
ed to be completed in fall 2025. Work included installation
of sloped granite curb, asphalt sidewalk, concrete accessible
ramps, stone masonry walls, tree plantings, and all signage
and pavement markings associated with the new sidewalk.
Water Distribution improvements
Design work progressed to improve a low-pressure zone in
the Fairland Drive area which includes the installation of a
booster station. This expected to be constructed in FY26
Design work progressed on the improvements to unlined wa-
ter lines in high break areas including Vine Street, Valleyfield
Road and Grassland Street. In lieu of open-cut the intent is
to install a structural liner within the existing pipe. The con-
struction is expected in FY26.
Hartwell Avenue and Bedford Street Complete Streets Design: $1,500,000
Proposed Analysis and Transportation Improvements
Contractor: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc.
Progressed the design effort toward the 25% Design
Submission. VHB has completed initial MassDOT plan-
ning phase including project scoping, Intersection Control
Evaluation (ICE), and the over-the-shoulder (OTS) review.
VHB submitted the pre-25% Design Submission in August
2025 and anticipates submitting the 25% Design Submission
by the end of 2025.
Hancock Street at Adams Street and Adams Street at East Street Intersection Improvements Design: $147,320
Proposed Improvements
Contractor: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
Began the design of safety improvements at the intersec-
tions of Hancock St. at Adams St. and Adams St. at East St.
Jacobs has produced and evaluated multiple alternatives for
each location. The public outreach will begin in late 2025
as the alternatives are narrowed down to the viable options.
Construction is expected to begin in 2029.
Issued 211 Trench permits.
Issued 136 Driveway permits.
Issued 123 Water permits
Issued 112 Sewer permits.
Issued 4 Drain permit.
Issued 1 Right of Way obstruction permits.
Issued 186 ROW excavation permits.
Issued 1 Stormwater permits.
Issued 15 Stormwater Control Measure Certificates
126
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
Environmental Services
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 5 5
Part Time 0 0
ROLE: To manage environmental service programs, including
contracted curbside refuse collection and disposal, curbside
recycling collection of mixed paper, plastic, glass and metal
containers, yard waste, appliances, and drop-off of corrugated
cardboard. Manage operations of the Minuteman Household
Hazardous Products (MHHP) Regional Facility, including
maintenance of the facility, accounting, and anal-ysis of sta-
tistics for nine-member towns. Handle special col-lections of
medical waste, cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and other electron-
ics. Manage operations at the Lexington Composting Facility
(LCF), including the processing and collection of leaves, yard
waste, brush, tree waste, wood chips, and other organic mate-
rials from contractors, residents, and municipal curbside ma-
terials. Oversee the provision of composting-related services
completed by private contractors, administer the contractor
permit program for yard waste and brush, and develop and
implement marketing programs regarding the sale of various
compost/loam products.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Robert Beaudoin
(Superintendent) appointed in September 2001.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In FY25 Capitol Waste Services began their second year
of a 5-year contract starting July 1, 2024.
• Residents, all town buildings and public schools
generated 7763 tons of solid waste that was disposed at
Win Waste Innovations (WWI) waste-to-energy facility
in North Andover. Trash generation declined in FY25
compared with FY24, resulting in 160 less tons. As of
June 30th, the Town completed a 3rd amendment of the
service agreement with WWI. The term of the contract is
for 5-years, ending June 30th 2030. The tip fee for FY25
was $ 88.65 per ton. Tip fees consist of disposal, fuel, and
environmental fees.
• Residents continued to use the 2 drop off stations for the
community composting food waste program carts at the
Community Center and at the Samuel Hadley Public
Services Building. ARPA Funding was used to provide
curbside food waste collection up to 4,000 households.
• Recycled nearly 3300 tons of Single Stream recyclables
such as glass, metal, plastics, mixed paper, and cardboard
through the curbside collection programs in FY25.
Recycling tonnage was 3,407 in FY24 compared with
3,407 in FY25, this was a reduction of 111 tons compared
to FY24.
• Collected syringes, needles, and other related medical
products at 4 drop-off collections for Lexington residents,
which were diverted from trash disposal. This program
is offered primarily through the Health Department with
assistance from the Department of Public Works.
• Continued the curbside pick-up of TVs, computer
monitors, and miscellaneous electronics. In FY25,
nearly 15,000 pounds (7.5 tons) of electronic waste were
collected from Lexington households and municipal
departments. Since 2000, Lexington has diverted nearly
2.95 million pounds (1,478 tons) of CRTs and electronic
waste from trash disposal.
• Trident Environmental Group LLC provided collection
services at 8 HHP collections at the Minuteman Regional
facility. In FY25 nearly 2,500 cars delivered approximately
80,000 pounds of household hazardous products that
were diverted from trash and properly disposed. The
MHHP Committee consists of representatives from
Health or Public Works Departments from Lexington
and nine surrounding communities. Each year eight HHP
collections are held at the Hartwell Avenue site.
• Received approximately 50,000 cubic yards of yard
waste, leaves, brush, grass clippings, and wood chips at
Hartwell Avenue. The compost continued to be available
for residents, for sale to contractors, and for use in Public
Work’s projects. Sales of finished compost, loam, leaf and
bark mulches were $707,000 and contractors generated
$620,000 in revenue from the purchase of yard waste
disposal permits and punch cards. Since 2003, $12.6
million in revenues from the sale of loam, compost,
and yard waste disposal has been generated to fund
personal services, operational and capital expenses at the
Lexington Compost site.
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127 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
Snow Removal Operations
ROLE: To execute all snow plowing and treating operations
with DPW staff and private contractors. The Town utilized 36
pieces of town-owned equipment including eight spreaders
and 44 pieces of hired plowing equipment with operators
for roads and parking lots and seven pieces of Town owned
equipment for sidewalks.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Lexington experienced 26 snow and ice events for a total
of 20 inches of accumulation during the winter of 2024-
2025. Seven storms required full plowing operations by
town staff and hired contractors. 2,196 tons of salt, 91,209
gallons of salt brine and 12,015 gallons of carbohydrate
additive were used to treat the streets, parking lots, and
sidewalks during the 26 winter events.
• Staff continued training on using the brine generator
and equipment used to pre-treat roadways in advance of
storms. The Staff continued the use of the brine system
with blending capabilities, further enhancing its liquid
technology. The blended brine increases the residual
product on the road, reducing the overall quantity of
material used.
Equipment Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 5 5
ROLE: To maintain all DPW vehicles in a ready, active sta-
tus. DPW equipment consists of 146 vehicles ranging from
sedans, pickups, and dump trucks to off-road construction
equipment, including backhoes, front-end loaders, lawn
mowers, and landscaping maintenance equipment.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Continued implementation of upgrades to diagnostic
tools and database software to enhance repair efficiency.
• Provided education and training to maintain a well-
trained and capable team of Automotive Technicians.
(continued on next page)
Highway, Equipment and Drains Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 13 12
Part Time 1 1
ROLE: To maintain the Town’s accepted streets (137 miles),
sidewalks, drainage infrastructure, brooks, street signs, street
lines, traffic signs and signals, and manage Snow Removal
Operations.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: John Zaccardi
(Superintendent) appointed in March 2021.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Placed over 300 tons of asphalt to maintain roads,
sidewalks, and asphalt curbing. Oversaw the replacement
of 20,000 LF of asphalt sidewalks, and 24 ramps.
• Repaired and rebuilt more than 30 VF (Vertical Feet)
of catch basins and drain manholes in the storm drain
system.
• Oversaw the cleaning of 4,500 catch basins by a
contractor.
• Highway staff swept 137 road miles multiple times using
two town-owned sweepers.
• Oversaw the line striping of roadways by a contractor.
• Highway staff performed line striping of crosswalks and
stop lines town-wide.
• Maintained 2,450 traffic control signs and 500 parking
meter posts and footings.
• Maintained 13 traffic control signals and 11 additional
flashing signals.
128
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
Public Grounds
The Park, Forestry, and Cemetery Divisions and the Street
Light Maintenance Program are consolidated under the
supervision of the Public Grounds Superintendent.
Park Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 16 17
ROLE: To maintain and care for more than 600 acres of town,
school, and recreation lands. Areas maintained include athletic
fields, public grounds, playgrounds, tennis and basketball
courts, trails, right-of-way’s, bike paths, and pool and
reservoir complexes. To assist the Conservation Commission,
the Recreation, School, and Facilities departments, youth
groups, and various other committees with special requests,
projects, and special town events throughout the year.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Christopher Filadoro
(Superintendent) appointed in May 2011.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Performed seasonal maintenance at the pool complex,
Old Reservoir, and the skateboard park; transported
supplies and equipment for departments and user groups;
performed landscape improvements and cleanups at
various town sites, and playground inspections; repaired
playground deficiencies, basketball and tennis nets.
• Assisted the Chamber of Commerce with special events
and worked directly with the Lex250 committee for the
2025 Patriots' Day event.
• Performed the following activities: roadside mowing;
daily ball field maintenance during the playing seasons
and synthetic field maintenance at Lincoln Park, as well
as drainage improvements on turf areas, site amenity
repairs of various playfields; core aerated, over seeded, top
dressed, fertilized, and added soil amendment products
to help increase turf quality of the athletic fields per the
turf maintenance program.
• Performed athletic field layout for school, youth, adult,
and recreation. Coordinated the turf maintenance
program; emptied public space recycling/trash barrels;
installed new benches and repaired benches; painted,
repaired, installed, and constructed picnic tables, and
trash receptacles.
• Maintained the Minuteman Bikeway.
• Performed the following trash pickup at designated sites
mowing maintained site amenities, including drinking
fountains and irrigation systems.
• Performed maintenance at the Town’s basketball and
tennis courts rough-cut mowing at conservation areas
and road-sides limited maintenance on traffic islands in
coordination with the Lexington Field and Garden Club.
• Assisted the Recreation Department with various capital
projects-maintained planting beds and shrubs assisted
with the Teak Bench Program performed other service
requests from town departments, boards, commissions,
and the general public
Forestry Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 5 5
Seasonal 2 2
ROLE: To care for and preserve all woody plant vegetation
in parks, along streets, and in all public properties, with the
highest priority given to emergencies to provide support to
cemetery operations as needed; to maintain trees and shrub
plantings in parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, traffic islands,
public right-of-way’s, conservation land, recreation land,
and school property; to maintain 3,529 streetlight bulbs;
and to assist other departments and groups with aerial-lift
services.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Staff responded to more than 425 requests for service and
pruned trees at the cemeteries, schools, conservation,
recreation and public grounds areas, and other locations
within the public right-of-ways.
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129 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
• Removed bittersweet vine from several park and athletic
field areas, cleared foliage obstructing streetlights, signs,
and intersections to improve visibility. Cleared downed
trees and limbs after storms. Cut back encroaching trees
and shrubs along the Minuteman Bikeway and other
town right-of-ways. Watered trees as resources permitted.
Pruned 131 trees to remove hazards and improve health,
structure, shape, and aesthetics. Removed 51 dead,
diseased, storm-damaged or otherwise hazardous trees,
the majority of which were Elm, Ash, and Maple trees.
Ground 21 stumps, added loam to grade, and seeded
the sites.
• Assisted with the planting of 70 new trees in the fall,
and 7 in the spring on public land. Continued with the
Setback Planting Program. Trees were funded through
the Lexington Tree Fund account, private funding
sources, and the program budget. The trees were planted
by town staff and outside contractors.
• Treated for bees and wasps, as needed, at various
locations.
• Staff attended further training on tree health, arborist
certification, insect workshops, invasive plant and
playground safety.
Administration:
• Lexington received the 2025 Tree City USA Award for the
36th consecutive year in the program.
Other Projects:
• Inspected and replaced bulbs and sensors on town-owned
streetlights.
• Installed and removed holiday lighting in the town
center; repaired overhead traffic lights; installed and
removed voting banners; assisted with the Arbor Day
ceremony and the planting of an Ironwood tree. Provided
on-going assistance to the Cemetery and Park Divisions;
and assisted other town departments with aerial-lift
services.
Cemetery Division
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 4 4
Seasonal 2 2
ROLE: To operate and maintain 34 acres of grounds and
all buildings and equipment for four cemeteries: Westview,
Munroe, Robbins, and Colonial. To serve the bereaved in a
professional manner.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Assisted and prepared cemeteries for special events
including installing flags. Performed spring and fall
maintenance.
• Operated and maintained the irrigation system at
Westview Cemetery. Coordinated with the contractor
for turf maintenance services, including fertilizing and
integrated pest management at Westview Cemetery.
• Handled 98 interments and 88 cremations at Westview
Cemetery and one cremation at Munroe Cemetery. Dug
and backfilled graves, set stones, loamed and seeded
graves, removed trash, repaired benches and fences, and
maintained landscape, signs, and buildings.
• Sold 88 graves at Westview Cemetery, with the revenue
split between the Town (45%) and the Perpetual Care
Trust Fund (55%). One hundred and one (101) founda-
tions for flush markers were approved and set. Seven (7)
markers were removed and replaced.
• Sold 57 grave boxes and 32 burial vaults (99% of the total
installed). One burial vault was purchased from, and
installed by, an outside vendor for an inspection fee.
• Revolving Fund expense for burial containers totaled
$24,021 while revenue was $37,265
• Collected total revenue, including Cemetery Preparation
Fees of 327,779, $102,608 was deposited in the Perpetual
Care Trust Fund.
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130
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
Street Light Maintenance Program
ROLE: To proactively maintain a cost-effective lighting sys-
tem that enhances public safety along Lexington roadways for
vehicles and pedestrians, while considering all characteristics
of light-source quality.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Maintained 3,529 streetlights since March, 2000. Forestry
Division employees inspect and change photo-sensors
and light bulbs. Service calls are scheduled on an over-
time basis as weather permits. Calls are processed in
the order they are received or are prioritized according
to safety concerns. If the repair requires more technical
expertise involving wiring or replacement of fixtures, an
electrical contractor is dispatched to resolve the problem.
• Received reports of 78 outages, which town staff inspect-
ed. Town staff repaired 10 lights and 17 sensors. The
electrical contractor repaired the remaining 51 lights.
The response time for town staff inspection and repair
of lights is within 10 to 15 days. If the repair requires
electrical work, the contractor response time could be an
additional 10 to 15 days.
• The Town converted 3,175 streetlights to LED lights,
completed June 2020. The lights in the town center, and
around the Battle Green were converted to LEDs as part
of the Streetscape projects. All other non-LED lights are
being evaluated.
• Residents are encouraged to report outages on the
dedicated Streetlight Outage Line at 781-274-8388. Please
give name, contact information, address of outage, type of
issue, and pole number.
Water/Sewer Divisions
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 14 15
Part Time 1 1
Seasonal 1 1
ROLE: To provide quality drinking water to Lexington
residents and to industrial and commercial customers, with
minimal service interruptions. Along with maintaining
the safe and proper discharge of wastewater in the sewer
infrastructure system.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: David Pavlik
(Superintendent) appointed September 2020.
The water infrastructure consists of 154 miles of water main,
two water storage tanks with total capacity of 3.1 million
gallons, 1,500 fire hydrants, 3,400 street and hydrant control
valves, and approximately 10,500 residential service line con-
trol valves located on property lines. Four main transmission
lines from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
(MWRA) serve Lexington: a 16-inch main on Summer Street,
a 16-inch main on Massachusetts Avenue in East Lexington,
a 12-inch main on Watertown Street, and a 24-inch main on
Concord Avenue. The MWRA supplies Lexington with ap-
proximately 2 billion gallons of water annually.
The sewer system has 120 miles of main, 34 miles of trunk-
line main, and ten pump stations, including the main pump
station at Route 128 and Bedford Street, and 4,800 manholes.
The Town also pays the MWRA to treat and dispose of the
Town’s sewage.
The division is divided into four sections: Water
Distribution, Meter Reading and Billing, Sewer Maintenance,
and Water Sewer Construction. Employees are cross-trained
to perform all divisional functions and also participate in
snow removal operations.
Water Distribution
The Water Distribution section responds to service calls from
residents, repairs curb and water control boxes, reads and in-
stalls water meters, obtains water samples, performs hydrant
maintenance, updates and maintains the water control valve
locations, oversees the cross-connection control program, in-
vestigates all water billing complaints, marks out services for
contractors and utility companies, and assists the Engineering
and other DPW divisions.
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131 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC WORKS (continued)
Water is tested weekly for coliform and other bacterial or-
ganisms at nine sampling locations for a total of 36 samples.
Sampling is done annually at selected locations to test for lead
and copper; Lexington passed the last ten test period results
for these metals. The Department will continue to excavate
those services that are suspected of having a problem, wheth-
er due to missing information on the Water Service Card or
the time frame in which they were built.
The Town conducts annual comprehensive correlation
leak detection surveys on Lexington’s water distribution sys-
tem. This survey was performed on approximately 154 miles
of the distribution system to reduce unaccounted for water by
identifying hidden and surfaced leaks. Through this survey,
9 leaks were discovered thus identifying losses of 246,240
gallons per day or 89 million gallons per year.
Meter Reading and Billing
The Meter Reading and Billing section is responsible for read-
ing water meters and managing the billing system. The Utility
Billing Manager, Vyctoria Walsh (appointed February 2020),
under the Water and Sewer Superintendent, oversees the
billing process and handles problems and complaints about
adjustments due to estimated water bills. Since the launch of
the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, there
has been a significant reduction in estimated water bills and
abatement applications. The new AMI system also features a
user-friendly customer portal, allowing Lexington Water &
Sewer users to monitor their water usage and receive leak
alerts. This free portal has gained immense popularity, po-
sitioning Lexington among the top participants in the nation
for app engagement.
Sewer Maintenance
The Sewer Maintenance section maintains the sewer system,
implements the main flushing program, and manages the
pump station maintenance program to ensure the safe and
proper discharge of wastewater. The staff also identifies any
electrical problems with relay or pressure switches.
Water Sewer Construction
The water Sewer Construction division oversees the replace-
ment of hydrants, sewer mains, and services, and repairs
water and sewer system leaks.
Employees attended training seminars on water system
operations, MWRA procedures for drinking water sampling,
hydrant maintenance, and courses relating to the state
certification exams. Eight employees are state-certified
Drinking Water Facility Operators; two are Grade 2, and two
are Grade 3.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Repaired or replaced 60 fire hydrants as part of an
ongoing program that will continue until all hydrants
have been evaluated and addressed.
• Implemented the Lead service line replacement program.
• A program to assess and upgrade all the sewer pump
stations began in 2008. All ten sewer pumping stations
had an evaluation and capital improvement plan report
done by Wright-Pierce. All ten stations are currently
upgraded.
• Assisted the Engineering Division with the road-
resurfacing project by providing mark-outs, materials,
and emergency service. Assisted Engineering with the
Water System Replacement Program.
• Responded to emergency water and sewer repairs day and
night, keeping service interruptions to a minimum.
Repair and Replacements
Water main breaks repaired 21
Water service leaks repaired 9
Hydrants repaired 22
Hydrants replaced 60
Service control valves repaired 120
Street control valves repaired 6
Sewer services replaced 7
Sewer services camera televised 20
Sewer main blockages repaired 16
Sewer service blockages repaired 18
Sewer manholes repaired 18
Sewer mains flushed and cleaned (feet) 140,000
Outdoor watering meters (made the change) 2,800
Water meters (made the change) 556
Water services 130
Sewer services 60
132
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Personnel FY24 FY25
Full Time 10 10
Permanent Part Time 1.9 1.9
Seasonal Part Time 206 253
Volunteers 266 188
ROLE: To provide the community opportunities to engage
in quality, inclusive and accessible programs and services. To
be a leader in promoting inclusion, community engagement
and a healthy active lifestyle. Creating Community Through
People, Parks, and Places
APPOINTED by the Town Manager, Melissa Termine Battite,
CPRP, Director of Recreation and Community Programs.
January 2017.
The Recreation and Community Programs Department
provides year-round, high quality programs and services at
well maintained facilities meeting the needs of the commu-
nity. Community programs, activities and services are offered
through affordable and accessible opportunities for all ages
and abilities. A wide variety of passive and active recreation,
wellness and leisure activities are available throughout the
year. The Department operates as an Enterprise where pro-
gram and facility fees cover the direct cost for the department
operations. There are four divisions within the department;
Recreation, Community Center, Administrative and the Pine
Meadows Golf Club. The operating budget may increase
or decrease each year based on cost of living, participation
and facility use. The Director of Recreation & Community
Programs, through the Recreation Committee, sets fees
with the approval of the Select Board. The Department
operating budget supports full time staff and overhead as-
sociated with operating a robust public recreation agency,
the staff that manage and deliver programs along with the
supplies, equipment and hundreds of seasonal staff and
volunteers needed to deliver those programs. Revenue gen-
erated through the Recreation Enterprise helps to fund some
Capital Improvement Projects and by way of indirect charges
made through the Enterprise Fund reimburses the Town for
a portion of indirect support provided through other town
departments. The Pine Meadows Golf Course revenues sig-
nificantly support the department operations each year. Our
mission is to provide the community opportunities to engage
in quality, inclusive and accessible programs and services. To
be a leader in promoting inclusion, community engagement
and a healthy active lifestyle. Creating Community Through
People, Parks, and Places. We support the diversity of our
community by modeling our core values of respect, trust,
accountability, teamwork and open-mindedness.
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
HIGHLIGHTS
Staff certifications and recognitions:
• Charles Schroeder received his Certified Parks and
Recreation Professional certification from the National
Recreation and Parks Association and received his
Certified Youth Sports Administrator certifications from
the National Alliance for Youth Sports.
• Laura Perry completed her Lifeguard Instructor
certification.
Facility Permitted Hours Visits
Community Center 14,404 175,747
Athletic Fields 25,179 69,670
Tennis Courts 28,419 N/A
Pickleball Courts 9,394 N/A
Aquatics N/A 26,247
Pine Meadows *rounds N/A 47,742
Core Program Area Unique Programs Participation
Adult Arts & Enrichment 2 234
Adult Fitness 24 2,609
Adult Leagues 2 243
Aquatics 3 1,130
Camps & Clinics 38 955
Rec Adult 10 2,944
Rec Youth 46 2,584
Tennis & Pickleball 9 889
Therapeutic 8 417
Youth Leagues 5 816
Total: 147 12,821
Capital Projects and Infrastructure Updates
Community Preservation Capital Programs
• FY22 Park Improvements – Athletic Fields. The Muzzey
soccer field was renovated in 2024. The project mobilized
in Spring 2024 and the field came back online in July 2024.
• FY23 Park Improvements – Athletic Fields. The Fiske
Little League fields were renovated in 2024-2025. The
project mobilized in October 2024 and the fields came
back online on May 5, 2025.
• FY23 Community Park Master Plan – Lincoln Park.
The Lincoln Park Master Plan was accepted in
September of 2024.(continued on next page)
133 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Recreation Enterprise Capital Programs
• FY24 Pine Meadows Equipment. The Rough Mower, top
dresser, and buffalo blower were delivered.
• FY24 Pine Meadows Clubhouse Renovation – Design/
Engineering.
• FY25 Pine Meadows Clubhouse Renovation mobilizes
Cash/Bonding/Other Capital Programs
• FY24 Lincoln Park Field Improvements. This project,
which includes replacing the playing surface at Lincoln
#1 and installing new athletic lighting at Lincoln #1
and Lincoln #3, mobilized in June 2024. Lincoln #3
reopened on July 22, 2024 and the Lincoln #3 lights were
operational as of October 3, 2024. Lincoln #1 came back
online and the Lincoln #1 lights were operational as of
October 31, 2024.
Infrastructure Donations and Updates
• Lexington Little League – donated foul poles
and windscreens
Recreation Enterprise Subsidies
• 24 free Lexington High school rounds in the summer
• 96 free Lexington High School 4-day tryouts
Therapeutic Recreation
• On-boarded a total of 33 staff
• 26 inclusion aides
• 4 inclusion specialists
• 3 adaptive instructors
• Received 424 registrations with inclusion services within
74 unique programs for 130 unique participants
• Offered adaptive seasonal sports
• Adaptive martial arts
• Adaptive quickball
• Adaptive basketball
• Adaptive tennis lessons
Partnerships
• Lexington Public Schools (LPS):
• The Recreation Enterprise fund subsidized free use of
outdoor recreation facilities to the Lexington Public
schools including Athletic Fields, Hard Court Surfaces,
the Golf Course and pool. Additionally, free use of the
Community Center for a variety of school sponsored
activities and events, including LABBB.
• The total number of hours and subsidies provided
to LPS use of synthetic fields is the equivalent of
approximately $49,000 @1,400 hours use
• The total number hours of hard-court hours and
subsidies provided to LPS is $105,000 @ approximately
7,000 hours of use.
• SADDD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Club –
Community Center Haunted House with over 220 residents
during the night. Over 30 High School volunteers.
• Cary Library
• Artist Exhibition Program
• 85 hours of reserved use while under construction
• LABBB Educational Collaborative
• Bi-weekly drums alive classes for students visiting the
Community Center
• Monthly dances at the Community Center for students
• Weekly facility space for yoga classes
• Provide pool access for students in the summer
• Human Services
• Collaborated with the Senior Services Program
Coordinator to continue Drums Alive
• Collaborated with the Senior Service Director to offer
Harvest Fest, a sensory friendly, intergenerational
community event.
• Collaborated with Senior Services program
coordinator to offer a Seniorgraphed program where
Lexington High School students interview senior
citizens of Lexington about their life. The student’s
audio record it and send it back to the resident.
• Collaborated with Senior Services program
coordinator to offer Loteria (bilingual Spanish
BINGO for all ages)
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS (continued)
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134
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS (continued)
• Lexington Farmers’ Market
• The Lexington Farmers’ Market relocated from
Fletcher Park to the Worthen Road practice field
beginning in 2021 due to the Center Streetscape
project and this location has been home to the
Farmers’ Market during the 2021-2025 seasons. In
cooperation with other town departments (DPW,
Police, Fire, Health) and the Lexington Public Schools,
the Farmers’ Market has made a successful transition
to the Worthen Road practice field.
• Lexington Public Schools Food Service
• Provided discounted snacks for summer camps
• Community Stakeholders
• Quarterly meetings with Lexington program providers
to share policies
• Lexington Field and Garden Club and Boston Chinese
Garden Club
• Conducted seasonal volunteer work days
• Maintenance and stewardship of the sensory garden
beds, and front and rear perennial beds
• Cotting School
• Provided Cotting School students weekly job skills
opportunities at the Community Center
• Utilized space at the Cotting School for adaptive
basketball
• Eagle Scouts & Gold Medal Awards
• Accepted a Bocce court and scoreboard in the back of
the Community Center for a Eagle Scout project.
• Accepted Free Little Art Gallery at the Community
Center
• ARC of Massachusetts (Northeast)/Leadership Pathways
• Collaborated with the Northeast Arc to host an
inclusion summit for recreation and leisure providers
• Lexington High School
• Tables were set up in front of the common’s multiple
times throughout the year to advertise the teen events
and department updates.
• Annual Parents Academy hosted at the
Community Center
• Collaborate with Liz Nichols to properly display
Volunteer Opportunities to students.
• Advocates Brain Injury Survivors
• Facility space to offer art classes
• English At Large
• Host small group instruction helping immigrants to
build their English language skills and understanding
of American culture as they gain the skills and
confidence they need to join in their communities and
achieve their life goals.
• Special Needs Arts Program “SNAP”
• Weekly choral and arts programs at the Community
Center for adults with physical and cognitive
disabilities
• Provide staff resources for trainings
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Staff Training and Wages
• Over $65,000 in wages was dedicated to Inclusion
and Therapeutic Recreation support staff
• Over $4000 in training hours were provided to all
summer seasonal staff
• Supplies and Equipment: Over $2,500 inclusive supplies
and equipment purchased
Financial Aid, Grants, Donations and Volunteers:
• $78,052.50 – Volunteer Hours
• 188 volunteers @ $15.00/hour x 5,203.5 hours
(includes Tom, TR, Rec Division, & HS)
• $45,765 – Financial Aid Awarded
• $27,921.00 supported summer camps/aquatics/sports
clinics/tennis/Community Center programs, and
out of school time programming through Fund for
Lexington support.
• $16,279.00 supported a variety of programs and
activities through the Recreation Enterprise Fund
• $865 supported therapeutic recreation programs
through the All Abilities Fund.
• $700 supported senior programs and activities through
the Dana Home Grant.
• A total 51 families and a total of 271 individual
registrations awarded
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135 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS (continued)
• $40,720 - Scholarship Donations Received
• $32,000 - Fund for Lexington
• $5,168 - Help Make a Difference Scholarship Fund
• $3,552 - All Abilities Fund
• $1600 – Battle Green Run LexRec Team
• 872 individual donations received through commu-
nity members directly to the Recreation Enterprise
Scholarship Fund and All Abilities Fund to support
Therapeutic Recreation Programming.
• $17,900 - Dana Home Foundation - Funding to offer
Forever Fit, a cardio and weight training program
that combines group classes with personal training to
Lexington residents age 60 and up. This results-proven
program was funded for an eight-straight year.
• $5,000 – Dana Home Foundation – Funding to offer
Aqua Aerobics classes at the Town Pool, primarily
focused on members age 60+.
• $12,000 – American Camping Association, Mental Health
Reimbursement Grant
• $900 – Ping Pong Tables
• $500 – Beth Sager, Harvest Fest
• $735 – Rotary Club, Harvest Fest
• $2,300 - USTA Tennis
• $1,800 – USTA Adaptive Tennis
• $500- Tennis Venue Services Grant for the Gallagher/
Farias Hard Court Capital project.
• $759.42 – Jeffrey Semon Tennis Benches
• $125 – Book Club Donation
• $250 – Jill Strait Community Center Mural supplies
• $17,500 – NRPA Healthy Aging Grant
• NRPA Grant – Million Coaches Challenge
• Provided free coach training through the US Soccer
Foundation with funding from the Susan Crown
Exchange.
Recreation Division
• The department experienced another successful season
at the aquatic’s facilities in Summer 2024. Programs that
were offered at the Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex
included American Red Cross Learn to Swim Lessons,
Swim Team and Aqua Aerobics.
• The department also offered and had strong participation
in many of its staple programs during the Summer 2024
season, such as the LexRec SOAR Day Camp, Youth
Tennis Lessons & Clinic, Minuteman Sports Clinics, and
vendor sports camps and clinics.
• Ongoing success of the NFL FLAG Football Leagues,
Pump It Up Basketball, Youth Basketball Clinics and In-
Town Basketball Leagues, Ski and Snowboard programs
at Nashoba Valley, Youth and Adult Tennis Lessons, and
Junior and Adult Golf Clinics,
• The department continued to offer a variety of pickleball
opportunities to Lexington residents. In addition to
offering four different levels of pickleball at the Diamond
Middle School, other programs that were offered this
past year include one-day Introduction to Pickleball
workshops as well as an Introduction to Pickleball for
Seniors classes.
• Private Run Camps: Coordinated the use of the Diamond
Middle School fields and Lincoln Park fields for eight
privately run camps/clinics (Lexington United Soccer
Club, Lexington Youth Lacrosse Camp, Nike Lacrosse
Camp, and Lexington Nike Field Hockey Camp).
Community Center Division
The Lexington Community Center is committed to providing
an inclusive and equitable environment for all. We support the
diversity of our community by modeling our core values of re-
spect, trust, accountability, teamwork and open-mindedness.
• The Community Center was awarded a grant from the
Massachusetts Cultural Council to enlist 3 local artists to
create and install murals to represent the and celebrate
the Town’s rich history and diversity.
• Three additional raised garden beds were added to
exterior of the building. These beds were funded by an
intergenerational connections program facilitated by the
National Recreation and Park Association and were used
to bring youth and older adults together for a shared
experience focused on growing vegetables.
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136
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS (continued)
• Via a cooperative fund appropriated through the
Department of Public Facilities, purchased a treadmill,
water rowing machine, air hockey table, door hardware,
folding tables and dollies.
Pine Meadows Golf Club
• 47,742 rounds played
• 350 Golf League participants (two youth leagues and
14 adult leagues)
• 49 Golf ID cards issued
• New golf logo
• Lexington High School, MMHS
Administrative Division
• The Administrative Division continued its commitment
to streamlining operations and reducing paper use in
FY25. We maintained our fully electronic hiring and
volunteer onboarding processes through BambooHR,
further supporting our paperless initiative.
• This year, we also introduced new payment options,
including Touch Pay and Apple Pay, for in-person credit
card transactions at the Community Center, Town Pool,
and Old Reservoir, offering residents a faster and more
convenient payment experience.
• Additionally, patrons can now request refunds directly
through the MyRec registration software—a new feature
that has received great feedback and significantly saves
our customers time.
Sustainability Initiatives
• The Lincoln Park Fields #1 and #2 synthetic fields infill
now have Brockfill, a white birch natural infill. The
Brockfill products are also recyclable.
• The Lincoln Park Fields #1 and #3 have new athletic
LED lighting installed.
Marketing and Outreach
• Social Media
• 2,284 Facebook Followers.
Average monthly views (10,458), reach (3,300),
and watch time (1.6 hrs).
• 1,299 Instagram followers
Average monthly views (5,700) and reach (1,250).
• Online Brochure Viewing Software - Issuu
• 2,025 unique monthly reads.
• Monthly impressions of our publications were
8,875 with an average read time of 4 minutes and
20 seconds.
• Constant Contact – Current e-newsletter list
• 17,387 contact with an average open rate of 72% and
an average click rate of 7%.
• Google Analytics – Traffic to our lexrecma.myrec.com
website.
• 75,000 users during the year.
137 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
ROLE: To oversee, guide, monitor, and enforce the
Massachusetts Pension Laws governing the Town’s retirement
system; to invest the system’s assets prudently for the purpose
of providing the benefits guaranteed to the public employees
qualifying under the plan.
ELECTED by the members of the Retirement System: Robert
Cunha (Chair) term expires in 2026. Joseph Foley the second
elected member term expires in 2026.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Fred Weiss term expires
in 2027. Appointed by the Retirement Board: Alan Fields
term expires in 2027. Carolyn Kosnoff, the Assistant Town
Manager for Finance, is the ex-officio member named by the
Select Board.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The system consists of a combination of 476 retirees,
795 active and 444 inactive members. In 2024,
10 Town employees retired, 7 School employees retired,
and 1 Lexington Housing Authority employee retired;
20 members withdrew, 36 members transferred to
another system; 24 members transferred in; 118 new
members were added (36 new Town employees,
81 new School employees and 1 new Lexington
Housing Authority employee); and 10 retirees passed
away. Currently there are 26 disability retirements.
• The Retirement Board can grant a cost-of-living
adjustment (COLA) up to 3% on the first $15,000 in a
year when the Consumer Price Index is less than 3%.
The Board granted a 3% cost of living increase effective
July 1, 2025.
• As fiduciaries, the Board carefully monitors and reviews
its asset-allocation policy using a mixture of stocks,
bonds, international funds and cash equivalents. With the
assistance of the Board’s investment consultant, Meketa
Investment Group, the Board reviews the investment
portfolio monthly, making adjustments as necessary. The
success of the investment program will continue to be
determined by the extent of our portfolio diversification
among and within asset classes as well as our skill in
hiring and diligence in monitoring strong investment
managers. The Board is committed to long-term invest-
ment strategies, asset allocations, and diversification
of investments. The Public Employees Retirement
Administration Commission, which has oversight over all
the Massachusetts Public Pension Systems, has published
the latest funding ratios of the pension’s funds which
shows our System to be in the top third of retirement
systems in the Commonwealth. The System continues
RETIREMENT BOARD
the challenges rising from the challenging market marked
by extreme volatility, heightened geopolitical tensions,
and deteriorating global economic conditions. This year
underscores the fact that the state of the capital markets
performance fluctuates and is Influenced by many diverse
factors.
• The Board continued to broaden the system’s asset
allocation and asset strategies. Our portfolio is made
up of the following investments across asset classes:
Fixed Income (Monroe Capital Senior Secured Direct
Loan (unleveraged), Angelo Gordon Direct Lending
Fund III, Golub Capital partners 14 and Rollover
Fund 2, Neuberger Berman Private Debt Fund V),
Domestic Equity (Kayne Anderson SMID Cap Core,
Fidelity Contrafund, Rhumbline Russell 1000), Non-US
Equity (Acadian Non-US All-Cap Equity, Driehaus
Emerging Markets Growth, Wellington Enduring
Assets), and mixed equity and fixed income (Wellington
Opportunistic Fund). The remainder includes alternatives
portfolios for absolute return and real estate assets man-
aged by the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment
Trust (MA PRIT). Peoples' United Bank handles the
Board’s institutional custodian banking.
• The board engaged the services of Stone Consulting,
Inc. to perform an actuarial valuation of the Retirement
System as of January 2025. A full valuation is prepared
every two years pursuant to Chapter 32 of the General
Laws of Massachusetts, based on the acceptance of
Section 22D. Actuarial assumptions and methods are
designed to produce stable program costs. The Board
currently has adopted a funding schedule which amortiz-
es the unfunded liability in 2030 based on an investment
assumption of 7.25%. The board has reviewed the new
actuarial valuation and determined a funding schedule
which was submitted to the Public Employee Retirement
Commission and has received their approval. The actuar-
ial valuation found the system to be 86.5% funded. While
it is important that future taxpayers are not expected to
bear a greater burden than the current taxpayers, it is
equally important that current taxpayers are not asked
to build a legacy for future taxpayers. The board takes
great pride in having balanced the need to ensure that the
liabilities are addressed with the fact the Towns resources
must meet a variety of needs.
• The net market value of the plan as of January 1, 2024,
totaled $225.9 million and as of January 1, 2025, the net
value of the plan totaled $262.3 million.
138
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
ROLE: To hire, supervise, and evaluate the Superintendent
of Schools; to develop school policies; to approve the schools'
operating and capital budgets; to advocate for school con-
cerns to other Town officials, boards, and the community; to
act as a liaison between the School Department and the com-
munity; to govern Lexington Public Schools (LPS) in areas
not governed by State or Federal law.
ELECTED by voters of Lexington to overlapping 3-year
terms. Five members: Eileen Jay (Chair), Larry Freeman
(Vice-Chair), Sara Cuthbertson, Kathleen Lenihan, Deepika
Sawhney (through Feb. 2025), Sarah Carter (elected
March 2025).
HIGHLIGHTS:
The School Committee worked closely with Superintendent
Julie Hackett toward continued progress on: reviewing and
updating curriculum; refining use of data and assessments;
addressing achievement gaps; providing equitable access to
learning; promoting student agency; embracing diversity,
inclusion, and belonging; upholding LPS core values; and
advancing the Lexington High School Building Project.
Some specific initiatives and activities in 2024-25:
• Conducted ongoing curriculum review and
data monitoring for literacy and math
• Launched district-wide data system to monitor
student progress and intervention
• Implemented Learning for Justice curriculum at
elementary level
• Initiated a comprehensive Special Education
District Review
• Participated in Lex250 celebrations and education,
in partnership with LPS staff
Policy Updates
The School Committee adopted revised policies regarding
student use of cell phones and personal devices in schools,
eliminating single-use plastic bottles in schools, and nutrition
program fees and procedures.
Operating Budget
The overall FY25 operating budget for the Lexington Public
Schools was $140,508,367. The School Department continues
to operate within a level service budget despite increased
financial pressures due to increases in transportation costs
and enrollment of students in need of more intensive supports.
In December 2024, LPS adopted a modified spending freeze
aimed at slowing expenses to stay within the approved budget.
At the close of FY25, the district successfully ended the year in
the black, finishing the year with a positive financial balance
without accessing Special Education Stabilization or Reserve
Funds.
Capital Investments
The Lexington High School Building Project reached import-
ant milestones. A preferred schematic design was selected
and approved by the State, thereby moving the project from
Feasibility to the Schematic Design phase. Numerous meet-
ings and information sessions were held with stakeholders
and the community. Frequent updates can be found on the
Lexington High School Building Project website.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Committee (L-R): Kathleen Lenihan, Sara Cuthbertson, Eileen Jay (Chair), Dr. Julie Hackett (Superintendent), Larry Freeman (Vice-Chair), Sarah Carter.
139 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Principal 2023-24 2024-25 2024-25 Actual Projected Actual
Lexington Children's Place - Pre-Kindergarten, built 2019 Heejean Parry 76 70
Elementary Schools
Bowman, 9 Phillip Road, built 1967 Jennifer Corduck 428 429
Bridge, 55 Middleby Road, built 1966 Margaret Colella 365 345
Estabrook, 117 Grove Street, built 2014 Gerardo Martinez 537 490
Fiske, 55 Adams Street, built 2007 Brian Baker 335 324
Harrington, 328 Lowell Street, built 2005 Jackie Daley 378 374
Hastings, 7 Crodby Road, built 1955 Chris Wai 631 579
Total elementary students, grades K-5 2,681 2,644 +/-70 2,541
Middle Schools
Clarke, 17 Stedman Road, built 1972 Dane Depres 810 796
Diamond, 99 Hancock Street, built 1957 Johnny Cole 927 936
Total middle school students, grades 6-8 1,740 1,723 +/-45 1,732
High School
Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, built 1950 Andrew Baker 2,318 2,341 +/-45 2,405
Total student enrollment, PK-12 6,815 6,748
Lexington Public School Enrollment
ROLE: As Chief Executive Officer of Lexington's ten public
schools, Dr. Hackett provides educational leadership through
budgetary oversight, program development, and supervision
of all academic, special education, and extracurricular pro-
grams for children in grades PreK-12. The Superintendent
reports to an elected School Committee, enforces the
Committee's policies and goals, and upholds federal and
Massachusetts state requirements. The role also includes
cooperating with other communities to oversee collaborative
programs for students with identified learning disabilities.
APPOINTED by the School Committee: Dr. Julie Hackett
has served as Superintendent of Schools since July 1, 2018.
Teaching and Learning
District-Wide Initiatives
Culturally Sustainable Practices: The 2024-2025 school year
focused on supporting the success of all learners. Each school
team and department examined instructional practices to
improve culturally sustaining instruction and make curricula
more reflective of students' needs and identities.
Throughout the year, all departments concentrated
on understanding individual learner needs and adjusting
instruction accordingly, particularly addressing disparities
for Black students and students with disabilities. Educators
collaborated with math and literacy specialists, mental
health providers, and administrators to identify common
needs and design comprehensive support systems. The
district continued providing Universal Design for Learning
professional development opportunities.
School and district leaders met monthly to examine cul-
turally proficient pedagogy and explore ways to ensure all
students have the support they need to achieve at the highest
levels. Departments began the year with Curriculum Review
meetings and established learning walk schedules. At year's
end, departments submitted Curriculum Review Goals for
2025-2026 and will continue their efforts this fall.
Supervision and Evaluation: Union, district, and school
leaders collaborated throughout the year to develop a new
model of educator supervision and evaluation. A good
supervision and evaluation system should be neither
performative nor perfunctory—we want our educators to be
inspired to solve complex problems together. We designed
a new supervision and evaluation system that encourages
educators to explore new ways to learn and grow. Educators
can engage in collegial intervisitation, exploring teaching and
learning in other classrooms, learning environments, and
school districts. Other options include shadowing students,
examining student artifacts, or sharing their expertise. We
know that our educators’ growth is connected to our students’
growth. We hope to generate opportunities for educators to
learn and innovate for the benefit of our students. With our
new system, educators are in charge of their own learning and
development, and their individual expertise is respected and
valued at every stage of their career.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
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140
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (continued)
MTSS
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a framework
for how school districts can build the necessary systems to
ensure each student receives a high-quality educational
experience. Building and curriculum leaders enhanced
the current MTSS framework to ensure all students receive
appropriate academic, behavioral, and social-emotional
interventions. This work included examining existing Tier 2
and 3 support structures while continuously strengthening
Tier 1 instruction through Professional Development and
Professional Learning Communities. As noted on the MASS
DESE website1 :
• Tier 1 provides the instructional foundation within a
tiered model and is often referred to as "core." Core in-
struction is provided to all students (Connor et al., 2007).
Data from screening and progress monitoring is used to
differentiate instruction within tier 1. All students must
have equitable access to core instruction that addresses
grade-level expectations for learning.
• Tier 2 is preventive intervention offered to students
who fall behind, who demonstrate difficulty based on
screening measures, or who make weak progress from
regular classroom instruction. Instruction in tier 2 must
be targeted to the underlying difficulty(s) impacting the
students' progress. Students in tier 2 receive supplemental
("in addition to") small group instruction. Importantly,
this instruction should be systematic, explicit, and highly
interactive. Progress-monitoring data should be used to
group students periodically. Students who demonstrate
improvement and exit from tier 2 support should be
carefully monitored to ensure that general classroom
instruction is adequate. In many studies, effective tier
2 intervention has been shown to reduce or eliminate
reading difficulties in the early elementary grades
(Gersten et al, 2017).
• Tier 3 is more intensive intervention offered to students
for whom support in tiers 1 and 2 was insufficient.
Instruction in tier 3 must be targeted to the underlying
difficulty(s) impacting the students' progress. Ongoing
tracking of student performance is critical in tier 3. If
students still experience difficulty after receiving high-
quality core instruction and targeted tier 2 support, they
may be evaluated for possible special education services,
but tier 3 is not synonymous with special education.
Elementary Education (K-5)
Literacy Department
The K-5 Literacy Department implemented the Revised
Units of Study in Writing for Grades 3-5, which included
specific and explicit components in Grammar and Spelling.
K-5 Literacy also implemented the Revised Units of Study in
Reading for Grades K-2, which included the “Let’s Gather”
Interactive Read Aloud component as well as updated
units with integrated phonics and phonological awareness
components. Both of these efforts to implement revised
elements of the existing curriculum provided teachers with
updated materials and instructional practices as we continue
our efforts to conclude our Curriculum Review process.
Math Department
The K-5 Math Department continued our work supporting
teachers with the implementation of the Illustrative Math
program in all grades. Our focus in the District Curriculum
Professional Development afternoons was strengthening Tier
1 instruction and teacher practice. Teachers were introduced to
elements of the IMplementation Reflection Tool, a resource that
supports collaborative conversations and deep reflection about
strengths and opportunities for improvement of math instruc-
tion. Work with this tool will continue in the 25-26 school year.
K-5 Math also conducted pilots of various universal math
screening assessments. As an outcome of these pilots, K-5
Math selected the Renaissance Star Math Assessment to replace
the Aimsweb Plus Math Assessment in the 25-26 school year.
Additionally, K-5 Math worked with Special Education to
review and continue our collaborative work on improving
accessibility for all learners. The K-5 Math Team provided
Unit C training for Instructional Assistants twice last year at
the district level and during building-based training on an
ongoing basis.
Science
Big Backyard Program is entering its 29th year. This program
helps students "think like scientists" through hands-on explo-
ration of natural areas. Educators and coordinators developed
updates following program review and faculty feedback to
strengthen learning and broaden access. Beginning Spring
2026, pilot improvements include:• Streamlined instructional resources
• Station-based approach to field walks
• Expanded training options and instructional supports
• Virtual orientation option
• More accessible volunteer opportunities
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1 https://www.doe.mass.edu/massliteracy/leading-mtss/tiered-instruction.html
141 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (continued)
Middle School Education (6-8)
Standards-Based Reporting Departments improved family
communication about student progress using TeacherEase
standards-based reporting software. This system accurately
and consistently communicates student progress toward key
curricular learning objectives during each grading period.
Department and building leaders analyzed data to understand
better the challenges students face as they transition from
standards-based reporting to traditional high school grad-
ing. This analysis increased focus on the "Learning Process
Standard," which correlates with some students' challenges in
high school.
Mathematics (Grades 6-8) Teachers focused professional
learning on three key areas:• Tier 1 Intervention Strategies: Using data to guide
instruction and provide timely, targeted support
• Building Thinking Classrooms: Fostering
problem-solving, collaboration, and reasoning
to make math active and engaging
• Criteria Placement: Creating and refining placement
systems using regular and honors-level tasks to inform
consistent course placement
High School Education
Concurrent Enrollment Program: This dual enrollment
initiative continues to succeed at Lexington High School.
During 2024-2025, 368 students enrolled in CE Physics,
Astronomy, Environmental Science, or Personal Finance,
with 226 students earning transferable college credits.
English Department - Honors for All: The department
successfully completed its second year implementing the
Honors for All program for grades 10-12. Student survey data
throughout the year showed:• High comfort levels with teachers and classmates
• Strong participation in discussions
• High classroom community levels
• Appropriate course pace and rigor
• Clear understanding of how to access teacher support
Grade data analysis showed no significant decline in course
grades or increase in student struggles. Over the past year
the department has created common grade level norms and
expectations for success, as well as statements about the use
of generative AI in written work. Teachers have embraced the
opportunity for more in class writing experiences and writing
by hand to hone the focus and thinking skills necessary to
produce high-quality original work.
Performing Arts notable accomplishments included:• Lexington High School ensembles accepted to
perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band
and Orchestra Conference (Chicago) and the Percy
Grainger Wind Band Festival
• Lexington High School Chamber Orchestra won the
Orchestra Cup at Carnegie Hall
• Clarke Drama's "Oops, I Looked!" won Gold at the
Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Middle
School Festival
• First-time tabla players led Indian Classical Music
sessions across all nine schools
• Partnership with Lexington Symphony brought
a guest Pipa player from China
(continued on next page)
Size of Class 595
Total Postsecondary Education 96.9%
4-year college 89.4%
2-year college 2.6%
Non-U.S. college 4.2%
Prep and other schools .7%
Gap Year 1.5%
Military0%
Employed .6%
Undecided 1.0%
Mean SAT Scores —Total 1,341
Critical Reading/Writing 666
Math 678
National Merit Scholarship Program
2024 Winners 6
2024 Finalists 37
2024 Semi-Finalists 26
Advanced Placement Special Recognition
AP Scholars with Distinction 324
AP Scholars with Honor 123
AP Scholars 187
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL:
2024–2025 SCHOOL YEAR Profile
142
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (continued)
Equity and Social Justice Initiatives
Learning for Justice Standards Integration- The district
continued comprehensive PK-12 integration of Learning for
Justice Standards. Elementary teachers revised and created
"Identity Domain" lessons for 2024-2025 implementation,
bringing greater consistency across all elementary schools.
Adult Youth Equity Design Partnership (EDP)- At the sec-
ondary level, approximately 70 adult and youth partners col-
laborated to develop prototype resources centering student
voice in curriculum development. The partnership produced:• A Student Voice Rubric for developing and reviewing
student experiences
• A comprehensive Teacher's Guide covering all
Learning for Justice framework domains
Professional Development
The Lexington Public School system remains committed to
providing high-quality professional learning opportunities for
all employees. The Professional Learning Committee, jointly
facilitated by the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel/
Staff Support and Directors of Elementary and Secondary
Education, uses data and staff input to develop annual pro-
fessional learning programs aligned with the Strategic Plan.
KEY INITIATIVES
• Summer Workshop Program: Twenty-two workshops
focused on improving and integrating culturally respon-
sive practices throughout LPS, made possible through
generous Lexington Education Foundation grants.
• Lexington Learns Together: The November 2024
professional learning day featured keynote speaker
Dr. Josephine M. Kim from Harvard University, who
provided historical context on education systems and
student outcomes.
• Central Office Professional Learning Team: This team en-
sures that professional learning opportunities are equitable
and available to all community members. Curriculum
leaders collaborate with Special Education and English
Learning Education offices to provide appropriate resource
allocation for strong Tier 1 differentiated instruction.
Facilities
Central Office Move to 173 Bedford Street
Plans are underway to demolish the Old Harrington School,
which now houses the Central Office of the Lexington Public
Schools, and relocate to 173 Bedford Street. The swing space
at 173 Bedford Street has housed the Police Station, the Fire
Station, and now the LPS Central Offices. Old Harrington
received an “F” rating due to the estimated $20M needed
to upgrade its systems. The Central Office move gives us an
opportunity to use resources wisely. • Instead of investing $20M in the Old Harrington
building, the plan is to tear it down. Recreation will
construct new playing fields for Town-wide use,
including LPS. The Town already has over 2,000 hours
of unmet demand for time on playing fields.
• The $20M that we would have invested in Old
Harrington will add 20,000 SF to Lexington High
School for Central Office space until such time as the
space is needed to accommodate students.
• If student enrollment increases dramatically, the space
designated for the Central Office can be converted to 11
classrooms, accommodating nearly 250 more students.
High School Project Timeline
The High School renovation project continues progress-
ing through the Massachusetts School Building Authority
(MSBA) phases:• Complete replacement of the Children's Place
Playground Structure
• March 2022: MSBA accepted Statement of Interest
• February 2023: Entered Feasibility Study Agreement
Phase
• December 2023: Completed Module 2 with SMMA
Architects and Dore & Whittier Project Managers
• June 2024: Submitted Preliminary Design Program
• December 2024: Submitted Preferred Schematic
Report
• January 2025: Entered Module 4 - Schematic Design
(target completion September 2025)
After over 200 public meetings, the established project scope
and budget will be presented to the Town Meeting and voters
in Fall 2025.
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143 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (continued)
Major Facility Improvements
Summer 2024 Projects:
• Complete replacement of the Children's Place
Playground Structure
• Flooring replacement in 34 Fiske Elementary
classrooms (VCT to LVT)
• Renovation of nine Clarke Middle School student
bathrooms
• Painting of over 45 classrooms district-wide
• Domestic hot water heater replacement at Harrington
and Fiske Elementary
• Security improvements to the Harrington Elementary
School front entry vestibule
• Bowman Elementary roadway, parking lot, and play
area repaving
Long-Term Planning The annually updated 20-year Facility
Condition Assessment informs capital planning, identifies
system replacement needs at Lexington High School (HVAC,
electrical, roof, windows, plumbing), and enables cost-effective
project bundling.
Technology
Infrastructure and Access
The Technology Department supports all district technology
needs, ensuring reliable access to hardware, communication
tools, software applications, and network resources. Key
achievements include:
Device Access:
• Maintained 1:1 computing for Grades 3-12 with take-
home devices for Grades 6-12
• Continued iPad access (10 per class) for Grades K-2• Completed K-2, multimedia, and special education
iPad replacements• Replaced 150 teacher devices as part of a six-year
replacement plan• Conducted Chromebook pilot with 55 teachers for
potential PreK-12 implementation
Infrastructure Improvements:
• Updated presentation technology with laser projectors
replacing bulb-based units• Implemented network cabling improvements and
equipment updates (multiyear project)• Enhanced virtual computing environment and
network access• Implemented two-step verification for additional
staff security
Educational Technology Support
Technical Support: Field technicians provide in-house device
repairs and ensure highly functional equipment for students
and teachers.
Digital Learning: Digital Literacy Coaches pro-vide curriculum integration support, including:
• G-Suite tools and Google Classroom training
• Blended learning and digital platform instruction
• "Hour of Code" computer science introduction
• Digital Citizenship lessons across K-9
• Virtual reality headset integration for immersive
learning experiences
Sustainability: Partnership with Second Life Mac for technol-
ogy recycling continues returning funds to the Town while
responsibly disposing of expired devices.
Lexington Community Education
Role: To offer lifelong learning by providing practical, cre-
ative, and enjoyable educational and enrichment opportuni-
ties at a reasonable cost.
STAFF: Director Craig Hall, Program Coordinators Julian
Calleja and Shirley Choy, Registrar Amy Sullivan, Accounts
Payable Danielle Pozz.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Program Expansion:
• Relocated office and classroom to Fiske Elementary
during Central Office transition
• Implemented a successful six-week Lexplorations
summer program at Hastings Elementary
• Collaborated with New Legacy Cultural Center
for Mandarin Language Learning programs at all
elementary schools
Community Engagement:
• LCE Children's Community Chorus performed at
featured concerts, including 250th Celebration on
Battlegreen• Funded Tabla Indian musical demonstration tour
featuring Amit Kavthekar• Hosted music recitals for students of all ages and abilities
• Notable Speakers and Artists: Li-Young Lee, Haleh Liza
Gafori, Myra Melford, Martín Espada, Henry Acker,
Melanie Matchett Wood, and Marjan Kamali.
• Hybrid Programming: Successfully offered flexible in-
person and online class options, broadening educational
outreach nationwide while maintaining focus on the
greater Lexington learning community.
144
TOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
The Town Counsel report is divided into three sections
as required by Chapter 90-28 of the Code of the Town of
Lexington: (1) all actions by or against the Town that were
pending on July 1, 2024; (2) all actions brought by or against
the Town during FY25, and (3) all actions settled or disposed
of during FY25. The report does not include tax title proceed-
ings initiated by the Town and other matters not brought to
Town Counsel’s attention.
All Actions By or Against the Town That Were Pending on July 1, 2024
• Rogers & Company, Inc. v. Town of Lexington Board of
Appeals et al., Land Court 23 MISC 000233. An appeal
was filed on July 25, 2023, appealing the Board of Appeal’s
decision to deny Rogers & Company Inc.’s request for
enforcement of the zoning bylaw with respect to a batting
cage located at the property located at 0 Vine Street. Trial
took place on April 22, 23, and 24, 2024. On May 22,
2024, Defendants filed a Motion to Reopen Evidence and
Dismiss. On June 21, 2024, the Court issued its Findings of
Fact and Conclusions of law and entered judgment in favor
of the Plaintiff. On August 1, 2024, the Court awarded
Plaintiff $1,826.20 in court costs, of which the Town was
ordered to pay $913.10. No further appeals were filed and
this matter is concluded.
All Actions Brought By or Against the Town During FY25
• Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company v. Town Of
Lexington, Middlesex Superior Court, 2381CV03374.
An insurer covering a property in Lexington alleges
that the Town caused damage through negligence in the
process of installing a new water line. The Town allegedly
turned the water off in the area, then when installation
was complete, turned the water back on to the old valve,
which was uncovered, causing property damage. This case
is being handled by the Town’s insurer.
• Armando D. Mancini, II v. Zoning Board of Appeals
of Lexington, et al., Middlesex Superior Court
2581CV00416. The first of the three “Mancini” cases.
Armando Mancini, abutter to the Stone Meadow Golf,
appeals the decision of the ZBA that granted Stone
Meadow Golf a renewed special permit to continue to
operate the golf course and driving range. Mancini claims
that the ZBA’s decision failed to adequately address light
from the driving range, was granted with an inadequate
plot plan, and relies on an impermissible and illegal
license of town-owned Article 97 conservation land.
The Town has answered the Complaint and the parties
are discussing consolidating this case with Mancini
v. Lexington Conservation Commission and Carroll v.
Lexington Conservation Commission.
• Armando D. Mancini, II v. Town of Lexington
Conservation Commission and John P. Carroll, LLC
D/B/A Stone Meadow Golf, Middlesex Superior Court,
2581CV000572. Armando Mancini files a petition
for a writ of mandamus and certiorari to compel the
Conservation Commission to revoke its vote to issue
a license permitting Stone Meadow Golf to use certain
land that Mancini alleges is Article 97 conservation land.
The Town has answered the Complaint and the parties
are discussing consolidating this case with Mancini v.
Lexington ZBA and Carroll v. Lexington Conservation
Commission.
• John P. Carroll, LLC and Kenneth D. Carroll v. Town of
Lexington By Its Conservation Commission, Middlesex
Superior Court, 2581CV01181. Carroll seeks to establish
title to the land that is the subject of Mancini v. Lexington
Conservation Commission and Mancini v. Lexington
ZBA. The Town has answered the Complaint and the
parties are discussing consolidating this case with the two
afore-mentioned cases.
• Pitts v. McLean, Chief of Lexington Police Department
et al., Middlesex Superior Court, 2581 CV 00254. The
Police Chief suspended a resident’s license to carry after
the resident repeatedly discharged his firearm inside his
shop while apparently under the influence of alcohol.
The resident unsuccessfully petitioned the District Court
to reverse the Chief’s decision. The resident has now
brought a further appeal to Superior Court. The Superior
Court case will be decided on briefing and the District
Court record alone. The resident’s brief is currently
pending.
• Onyuksel v. McLean, Chief of Lexington Police
Department, Concord District Court, 2547 CV 000088.
The Police Chief suspended a resident’s license to carry
following a January domestic conflict incident. The
District Court has heard testimony from the petitioner,
the petitioner’s wife, and two Lexington Police Officers
at a hearing in July 2025. The matter is now under
advisement.
TOWN COUNSEL
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145 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENTTOWN GOVERNMENT
TOWN COUNSEL (continued)
• Temple Emunah, Inc. v. Charles Hornig et al., Land Court
Docket No. 25 PS 000012. On October 30, 2024, Temple
Emunah, LLC filed a complaint in Superior Court
(Docket No. 2481 CV 02861) appealing the Town of
Lexington Planning Board’s (the “Board”) decisions con-
cerning the premises at 5-7 Piper Road, Lexington MA,
regarding Major Site Plan Review, the grant of a Special
Permit, and alleging waivers of conditions in the Bylaw
granted by the Board exceeded the Board’s authority. On
January 8, 2025, this matter was transferred to the Land
Court. On April 3, 2025, this matter was resolved by
Stipulation of Dismissal after the private parties reached a
settlement agreement.
All Actions Settled or Disposed of During FY25
• Temple Emunah, Inc. v. Charles Hornig et al., Land Court
Docket No. 25 PS 000012. On October 30, 2024, Temple
Emunah, LLC filed a complaint in Superior Court
(Docket No. 2481 CV 02861) appealing the Town of
Lexington Planning Board’s (the “Board”) decisions con-
cerning the premises at 5-7 Piper Road, Lexington MA,
regarding Major Site Plan Review, the grant of a Special
Permit, and alleging waivers of conditions in the Bylaw
granted by the Board exceeded the Board’s authority. On
January 8, 2025, this matter was transferred to the Land
Court. On April 3, 2025, this matter was resolved by
Stipulation of Dismissal after the private parties reached a
settlement agreement.
• Tracer Lane II Realty v. Lexington Planning Board., Land
Court Docket No. 23 MISC 000255. On June 8, 2023,
Developer filed a Complaint appealing the Planning
Board Decision on its approval of a Major Site Plan
Review for a solar facility, seeking to invalidate certain
conditions contained in the Approval and challenging the
decision on the grounds that it constituted a regulatory
taking. Pursuant to a July 18, 2023 Order of Assignment,
this matter was consolidated with three other Tracer
Lane-related cases: Rachel Learned et al. v. Lexington
Planning Board et al, Middlesex Superior Court 2381-CV-
01741 (filed by abutters of the project); City of Waltham
et al. v. Lexington Planning Board et al. Middlesex
Superior Court 2381-CV-01737 (alleging the plan relies
on Waltham municipal services for fire protection
and water suppl), City of Cambridge et al. v. Lexington
Planning Board et al., Middlesex Superior Court 2381-
CV-01683 (filed by the City of Cambridge and alleging
potential harm to the Cambridge reservoir). The Court
dismissed the City of Waltham’s claim, which the City
then appealed. On July 30, 2024, all parties agreed to a
Memorandum of Agreement and a Settlement Agreement
in which the Developer agreed to convey the subject
property to the City of Cambridge, and Cambridge
agreed to purchase the property in the terms set by that
agreement. The case has since been dismissed.
• Rogers & Company, Inc. v. Town of Lexington Board of
Appeals et al., Land Court 23 MISC 000233. An appeal
was filed on July 25, 2023, appealing the Board of Appeal’s
decision to deny Rogers & Company Inc.’s request for
enforcement of the zoning bylaw with respect to a batting
cage located at the property located at 0 Vine Street. Trial
took place on April 22, 23, and 24, 2024. On May 22,
2024, Defendants filed a Motion to Reopen Evidence and
Dismiss. On June 21, 2024, the Court issued its Findings
of Fact and Conclusions of law and entered judgment
in favor of the Plaintiff. On August 1, 2024, the Court
awarded Plaintiff $1,826.20 in court costs, of which the
Town was ordered to pay $913.10.
146 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST
ROLE: To provide for the preservation and creation of
affordable housing in the Town of Lexington for the benefit of
low and moderate income households and for the funding of
community housing.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 2-year terms:
Elaine Tung (Chair), Linda Prosnitz (Vice-Chair), Tiffany
Payne (Clerk), William Erickson, Mark Sandeen (Select
Board Member).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Met 31 times in FY25.
• Conducted site visit and pre-bid conference on July 23,
2024 with potential affordable housing developers for
Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 in connection with posted RFP.
• Reviewed seven proposals received on August 22, 2024
from affordable housing developers in response to
Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 RFP.
• Proposed Land Disposition Agreement with
Causeway Development for Lowell Street Parcel 68-44
for Select Board consideration which was signed on
February 5, 2025.
• Attended Developer’s community meetings regarding
Lowell Street Parcel 68-44 on March 6, 2025 and
April 28, 2025.
• Submitted Letter of Support to Select Board and EOHLC
regarding Developer’s submittal to the State for a Project
Eligibility Letter.
• Submitted a CPA application to the Community
Preservation Committee for CPA funding in the amount
of $3,000,000. Town Meeting passed (Article 10e) on
April 2, 2025 (160-3-3).
• Submitted letter of support and advocated with housing
partners and the community on behalf of passage of
Lexington home rule petitions H2740 (commercial
linkage fee) and H2741 (residential linkage fee). H2740
establishes a Select Board determination surcharge
on certain commercial development to be paid to the
Affordable Housing Trust and was signed into law on
January 10, 2025.
• Granted $1,100,000 in April 2025 to LexHAB towards
the purchase of a single-family three-bedroom home
with a required addition of a one-bedroom accessory
dwelling unit.
• Collaborated with town staff on filing application on
June 3, 2025 for Commonwealth One Stop for Growth
Housing Works Infrastructure Program grant in the
amount of $1,619,650. State’s response on grant
application award expected Fall 2025.
• Issued position statements on various 2025 Town Meeting
warrant articles.
• Collaborated with Housing Partnership Board, LexHAB,
Lexington Housing Authority and town staff on Housing
Needs Assessment.
• Developed resident support program.
• Negotiated with developers of MBTA multi-family zoning
developments to discuss additional affordable units/
buydown of affordability.
• Attended 2025 Massachusetts Housing Partnership
Housing Institute and Mel King Institute Affordable
Housing Training.
• Regularly attended Housing Partnership Board, LexHAB,
and Lexington Housing Authority
Board meetings.
ANTONY WORKING GROUP
ROLE: To promote, create, and nurture relationships between
the citizens of Lexington and Antony, France, as well as sup-
port municipal best practice sharing, school exchanges and to
facilitate tourism, economic development, and cooperation.
APPOINTED: Current members are Kerry Brandin, Tony
Galaitsis, Kitty Galaitsis, George Gamota, Christina Gamota,
Sandy Gasbarro, Fred Johnson, Dawn McKenna, Marie-
Tristan Rago. The Antony Sister City relationship was formed
in the 1980s and is managed under the auspices of the Tourism
Committee.
(continued on next page)
Affordable Housing Trust Committee: (L-R) Tiffany Payne, Mark Sandeen, Bill Erickson, Linda Prosnitz, Elaine Tung.
147 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Delivered Select Board formal invitation to Ville
D’Antony representatives to come to join the 250th
anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Lexington in
April.
• Select Board Member Jill Hai spearheaded the visit
with the assistance of Tom Shiple, Tony Galaitsis, and
a number of volunteers. Mayor Jean-Yves Sènant led a
delegation of 14 elected officials who stayed at the Archer
Hotel. Additionally, 13 non-elected citizens were hosted
by 7 different Lexington host families.
• Began visit with a welcome breakfast at the Lexington
Visitors Center followed by a Battle Green Tour. Other
notable activities included a Boston Duck Boat tour, State
House tour, and Boston and Cambridge sightseeing.
Dinners were hosted at the Gamota home, by Rep.
Michelle Ciccolo at Il Casale, and by host families.
• Celebrated the formal dedication of Antony Park with a
public ceremony attended by the Select Board, the Town
Manager, the School Superintendent, residents, and those
who had fostered the Sister City relationship over the years.
• Participated in the Patriots’ Day festivities including the
Award Ceremony, Reenactment, Pancake Breakfast Tree
Dedication Ceremony, Battle Green Rededication, and
marched in the Parade. They also enjoyed the Patriotic
Picnic in the Park.
• Funded visit through a combination of public funds and
private donations.
• Continued work with Department of Public Works and
Field & Garden Club on Antony Park landscaping and
artwork preparation.
Residents, students, businesses, and organizations are en-
couraged to celebrate friendships, visit Antony, and follow the
Lexington-Antony Sister Cities page on Facebook.
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE
ROLE: To give financial advice to the Town and Town
Meeting. The Committee makes recommendations on the
prudent management of the financial affairs of the Town
and supports the Town's current and long-range financial
planning processes. The Committee reviews and approves
transfers from the Reserve Fund, which may be used to fund
extraordinary and unforeseen expenses.
Prior to each annual and special town meeting, the Committee
publishes a report covering all warrant articles related to the
finances of the Town, including the annual operating budget,
capital expenditures, and matters of fiscal policy. During
town meetings, the Committee delivers oral reports summa-
rizing and, when necessary, updating its positions on these
articles. No motion carrying an expenditure or appropriation
of money may be acted upon by the town meeting until the
Appropriation Committee has made a report thereon.
Antony Working Group (continued)
Appropriation Committee: back row (L-R) Alan Levine, Sanjay Padaki, Lily Yan, Anil Ahuja, Sean Osborne; front row (L-R) Carolyn Kosnoff, Eric Michelson, Vinita Verma, John Bartenstein, Glenn Parker.
Elected officials from Antony, France stand ready to lead the Lexington Antony Sister Cities marchers in the Patriots' Day Parade.
Select Board Member Jill Hai and Antony Mayor Jean-Yves Sènant rededicate the importance of the Sister Cities relationship at Antony Park.
(continued on next page)
148 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
APPOINTED by the Moderator for overlapping 3-year
terms, the membership as of July 1, 2024, was: Glenn Parker
(Chair), Sanjay Padaki (Vice-Chair), Alan Levine (Secretary),
Anil Ahuja, John Bartenstein, Eric Michelson, Sean Osborne,
Vinita Verma, Lily Manhua Yan. Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant
Town Manager for Finance/Town Comptroller, is an ex-of-
ficio, non-voting member.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Published the following reports:
• Report to Special Town Meeting 2024-1 (November 6,
2024)
• Memo entitled MBTA Community Zoning – Financial
Considerations (February 14, 2025)
• Report to Special Town Meeting 2025-1 (March 13,
2025)
• Report to the 2025 Annual Town Meeting (March 26,
2025)
• Memo entitled Growth in Lexington in the Coming
Decade (June 13, 2025)
• Approved or reviewed, as appropriate, end-of-year
adjustments recommended by Town staff to balance all
budget line items for FY24 (July 11, 2024) and for FY25
(June 26, 2025)
Over the course of the year, the Committee participated in
budget summit meetings with the Town Manager and other
boards and committees to understand the projected revenues
and expenses of the Town, to evaluate the FY26 budget as
proposed by the Town Manager, and to discuss the financial
impacts of housing growth on the Town.
The Committee’s reports and special memos analyzed in
considerable detail the financial as well as certain other im-
plications of the growth anticipated under Lexington’s zoning
changes and amendments thereto that allow the develop-
ment of multifamily housing in compliance with the MBTA
Communities Act.
Members of the Committee acted as liaisons to Town boards
and committees, including:
• Capital Expenditures Committee
• School Building Committee
• Recreation Committee
• Community Preservation Committee
• Crematory Study Committee
The Committee's reports and meeting minutes can be found
in the Public Records and Archives portal on the Town
website.
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To advise the Select Board on all matters relating to
bicycle routes and general bicycle policy to serve the best
interests of the Town, its citizens, and neighboring commu-
nities affected by these facilities. Nine members are interested
citizens and six liaison members are representatives of town
boards and departments.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Betty Gau
(Chair), David Armstrong (Recording Secretary), Jonathan
Bernays, James Cadenhead, Suzan Chen, Sarah Hews, Ram
Reddy, Jonathan Schwarz, Tom Shiple, Ben Alperovich (High
School student).
LIAISONS: Susan Barrett (Transportation Manager), Mark
Sandeen (Select Board), Ross Morrow (DPW), Mitch Caspe
(Police).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Worked with the DPW and the Massachusetts Water
Resource Authority (MWRA) to provide guidance and
feedback on the MWRA plans to close the Minuteman
Bikeway in November 2025 for water pipe replacement.
Proposed bike path detour to MWRA and DPW.
• Provided feedback and guidance to DPW on projects to
ensure safe biking as part of the design.
• Discussed with the Select Board and Lexington Police
Department issues concerning bikeway safety and speed
guidelines.
• Worked with the Economic Development department
on the East Lexington information kiosk, Depot mural
project, and East Lexington wayfinding signs.
Bicycle Advisory Committee members.
(continued on next page)
Appropriation Committee (continued)
149 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• The Bike Parking working group provided feedback to
the Planning Board to improve the bike parking facilities
of proposed multi-family housing developments in the
Village Overlay district. Based on this experience, the
group proposed revised bike parking regulations to better
match the needs of cyclists.
• Formed a working group to research the student bicycle
traffic to Lexington High School. Proposed that the Town
establish a School Safety Zone outside of Lexington High
School on Worthen Rd which was approved by the Select
Board and will be implemented for the 2025 school year.
• Continued work with Town Planning Department to
review and provide feedback on the Bicycle/Pedestrian
Transportation Plan, specifically the prioritized project list.
• Continued work with the DPW on Rectangular Rapid
Flashing Beacons project for Minuteman Bikeway
intersections.
• Worked with the Town Manager’s office to review and
approve event permitting applications for the Minuteman
Bikeway, provided applicants with bikeway safety
guidelines.
• Participated in meetings and provided liaisons to the
Transportation Safety Group, the Greenways Corridor
Committee, the Planning Board and various DPW
projects involving bikeways and streets in town.
• Participated in quarterly meetings of the Tri-Town
Minuteman Bikeways Committees with Arlington and
Bedford.
• The Committee is a sponsor of the Bikeway Block Party to
be held September 14, 2025.
• Collaborating with the Friends of Lexington Bikeways,
the Committee:
• Hosted a “Light the Night” bike lights giveaway in the
fall of 2024 as part of a regional MassBike event.
• Held the annual Bikeway Spring clean-up in May 2025.
• Performed the annual Minuteman Bikeway count of
weekend and weekday users in April 2025, part of a
regional MPO effort to document users of shared use
trails and paths.
• Partnered with town staff to offer a variety of public
events during Bike Walk and Bus month in May 2025,
including a Bike Smart class, Bike Rodeo and annual
Commuter Breakfast held on Bike to Work Day.
• Had booth at Lexington Discovery Day in May 2025
where the Friends fit and distributed free bike helmets
through a helmet donation program.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE
ROLE: To review all Town capital matters and to make recommendations for the prudent management of the Town's capital financial matters, including all funding under the Community Preservation Act (CPA). To receive and review from Town entities a list of all capital expenditures that may be required within the next 5-year period; to consider the relative need, timing, and cost of those projects, the adequacy thereof, and the effect the expenditures might have on the financial position of the Town; and to make recommenda-tions on capital spending to the departments and offices, other Boards and Committees, and to Town Meeting. This includes receiving from the Town’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) information on all appropriations it intends to recommend to Town Meeting and to make independent recommendations about them.
APPOINTED by the Town Moderator to overlapping 3-year
terms: Charles Lamb (Chair; term expires 2028), Lisah Rhodes
(Vice-Chair; term expires 2026), David Kanter (Clerk; term ex-
pired June 30, 2025), Rod Cole (term expires 2027), Sandy Beebee
(term expires 2026), Michael Boudett (term expires 2027).
HIGHLIGHTS:
The Committee reviewed and made recommendations
to Town Meetings and town departments, Boards, and
Committees on appropriations for a wide range of capital
expenditures involving public works, public facilities, pub-
lic safety, recreation, and school facility and non-facility
requirements throughout fiscal year including the Fall Special
and Annual Town Meetings.
Recommendations and reviews for the following appropria-tions were made:
• Schools: Lexington High School rebuild/renovation.
• CPA: Affordable Housing Trust, LexHAB, Park and
Playgrounds Improvements (Center Playground,
Harrington Fields).
• Municipal: Fire Pumper Truck replacement, IT Network
Improvements.
• Capital Stewardship and Planning for the Future: This
Committee focused on addressing the Town’s extensive
infrastructure which requires continuing capital projects
to provide safe conditions and quality service, meet
current operating needs, enhance productivity, improve
efficiency, and extend infrastructure’s useful life.
Continuing concerns include Town buildings that need
major updates or replacements, roadways and sidewalks,
(continued on next page)
Bicycle Advisory Committee (continued)
150 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
the water-and-wastewater infrastructure, recreational
spaces and facilities, and vehicle replacement (other than
cars) and other heavy equipment. Additional needs in-
clude enhancement of the Town’s information technology
equipment and network, installation of traffic−mitigation
measures, creation of more community (affordable)
housing, and preservation of conservation/open-space in-
cluding connectivity projects (e.g., Greenways Corridor).
• Specified Stabilization Funds: Considered possible
spend-down of Capital Stabilization Fund for the
upcoming high school rebuild/renovation.
CARY LECTURE SERIES COMMITTEE
ROLE: To bring to Lexington a variety of free, educational,
and entertaining lectures which might not otherwise be
available, in accordance with the will of the Cary sisters. The
Committee welcomes suggestions for future programming.
APPOINTED by the Town Moderator: Kevin Oye (Chair),
Monica Galizzi, Rita Goldberg, Meryl Loonin.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The Committee delivered four compelling and well
attended talks this past season, including three that
thematically related to the town’s 250th celebration.
A postcard with program information is sent to
every Lexington household. In addition, the website
(carylectureseries.org) provides a central source of
information about the lectures. As our co-sponsor, Cary
Library gratuitously provides poster designs and extensive
advertisement of all events, as do local businesses, such
as the Lexington Times Magazine, who not only donate
advertising space, but also often feature articles based on
interviews with speakers.
• Current Challenges
• Expanding audiences
- Changing demographics suggest new audiences
- More diverse audiences enable more diverse events
• Exploring cooperation with other town groups to
expand audience and potential speakers:
- Lexington Lyceum
- Lexington Historical Society
- Affinity groups, such as Lexington Climate Change Network (LexCAN)
• Experimenting with new approaches
- Experimenting with new event formats, such as fireside chats, and media rich presentations
- Experimenting with social media and email to market events
• Live events attracted new attendees, including many
first-timers.
• Talks covered a wide spectrum of topics.
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Past year (FY25)
Date Name Title
10/01/2024 Philip Deloria The Five Things Indians Say: Native Americans in the American Past, Present, and Future
11/16/2024 Felix Warneken What Children Teach Us About Altruism
3/22/2025 Jonathan McPhee Coming to America: A Musical Journey
5/05/2025 Justice Stephen Reading the Constitution: Breyer Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism
Upcoming year (FY26)
Date Name Title
9/20/25 Anna Michel Exploring the Deep: Technology, Discovery, and the Future of Our Oceans
11/1/25 Jessica Lander Cultivating Changemakers: and De’Shawn How Teachers Defend Washington Democratic Education Today
4/11/26 Martha Minow Not Born a Democracy: Preconditions for a Constitution Republic
5/2/2026 Raney The Future of Investigative Aronson-Rath Journalism in an Evolving Media Landscape
Capital Expenditures Committee (continued)
Cary Lecture Series Committee: (L-R) Meryl Loonin, Monica Galizzi, Rita Goldberg, Kevin Oye.
151 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
(continued on next page)
COMMISSION ON DISABILITY
ROLE: To ensure that people with disabilities are fully inte-
grated into all aspects of the Town and can participate seam-
lessly without barriers. The Commission makes recommenda-
tions concerning the implementation of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) within the Town. Members review
and recommend policies as they affect those with disabilities,
by providing information, guidance, and technical assistance.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Victoria Buckley
(Chair), Susan Cusack, Shaun Grady, Julie Miller, Leonard
Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, John Rossi, Francine Stieglitz and
Nancy Wong.
SELECT BOARD LIAISON: Joe Pato.
STAFF SUPPORT: Kelly Axtell (Deputy Town Manager),
James Kelly (Building Commissioner), Hemali Shah (Chief
Equity Officer, through December 2024).
COMMITTEE LIAISONS: Rod Cole, Capital Expenditures
Committee; Stephanie Hsu, Human Rights Committee; Pam
Lyons, Lexington Center Committee; Janet Perry, Council on
Aging; John Rossi, Lex 250 Committee.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Program Development
• Provided Commission member liaison to the Lex250
Committee and Council on Aging.
• Worked with town departments, committees and
commissions to provide recommendations to ensure full
inclusion and accessibility for all.
• Convened with working group called Collaborative
Reform Group (CRG) with police, town departments,
employees, HRC, and residents to address Collaborative
Reform. CRG sponsored a community forum: December
panel discussion on Celebrating Neurodiversity in Our
Community – Understanding and Acceptance Matter,
with the Lexington High School Turing Alliance.
• Defined the Commission’s challenges for the future
year to remain proactive and stay actively involved:
1) to ensure that full inclusion is carefully considered
in planning and reviewing all services, programs,
projects, events, and services; 2) to promote universal
design principles for construction projects by presenting
a Universal Design Resolution to Town Meeting; to
advocate for rights of citizens with disabilities in all
aspects of community life including housing and
employment; 3) to continue to review plans for newly
proposed renovations to both private and municipal
buildings.
Technical Support and Advocacy - Compliance/Oversight
• Continued to work with the Recreation Department to
review projects and plans for full inclusion in programs
as facilitated by therapeutic recreation specialist and in
playground redesign.
• Consulted regularly with liaisons from Council on
Aging, Capital Expenditures Committee, Human Rights
Committee, Lexington Center Committee. Worked with
Human Services Director and Director of Recreation and
Community Programs to plan an upcoming fall work-
shop about employment of people with disabilities.
• Addressed school suspension disparities with ABCL and
LPS Director of Equity Supports.
• Worked with DPW on Farmer’s Market accessibility
issues, Hastings School sidewalk grading, and concerns
about MBTA bus stop in the Center; reviewed plans and
Town projects (including Munroe Center for the Arts)
with architects, DPW, and Building Commissioner.
• Consulted with Conservation Commission concerning
Willard’s Woods; worked with Planning Board on
multi-family housing zoning plans, accessible housing,
and affordable housing initiatives.
• Reviewed and commented on Mass. Architectural Access
Board (MAAB) pertinent variances and requests.
• Provided technical advice to Town Committees and
departments, as well as to Town Meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To advise the Select Board on all aspects of wired and
wireless communication and data services to and within the
Town; to serve as ombudsman for town users of such services;
to represent the Town in negotiations and relationships with
providers of those services; to monitor and evaluate compli-
ance of the Lexington Public, Education, and Government
Access Corporation; to oversee any network which includes
municipal and/or school buildings; to help set town regu-
lations and review applications to the Town for wired and
wireless communications and data services; and to advise
the Select Board and other town officials on managing the
Town’s growing information handling needs and supporting
networks.
152 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
APPOINTED by the Select Board for three-year terms:
Kenneth Pogran (Chairperson, Wireless Services, Cable
Provider License Negotiations), Robert Avallone (Access
Provider Oversight), Shabbir Bagasrawala (Wireless Ser-
vices), David Becker (Cable Provider License Negotiations),
David Buczkowski (Cable Provider License Negotiations),
Sreeni Chippada (beginning May 2025), Smita Desai
(Access Provider Oversight), Dorinda Goodman (Director,
Town Information Technology), Steven Kaufman (Wireless
Services), Nicholas Lauriat (Cable Provider License
Negotiations), P.K. Shiu (through September 2024), and Rita
Vachani (Access Provider Over-sight, PEG Financial Review)
and Mark Sandeen (Select Board Liaison).
HIGHLIGHTS:
Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Access
Provider Oversight
• Reviewed LexMedia’s performance under the PEG Access
Grant Agreement. Reviewed and approved LexMedia’s
quarterly and annual reports and provided feedback.
Reviewed LexMedia’s revised capital spending plan.
• Continued to analyze and report to the Select Board
on the ongoing decline in license fee revenue from the
Town’s three cable television providers due to decreasing
numbers of subscribers. Recommended funding levels
from Town appropriations needed in coming years to
continue full funding for Lex-Media.
Cable Television Service Provider Interactions
• Continued the three-year cable television license renewal
process with Verizon. Conducted the required “commu-
nity ascertainment” phase, including a Public Hearing
held on June 24, 2025.
Cable Television Service Complaints
• The Committee investigated and helped resolve one cable
television subscriber complaint.
Wireless Services
• Met with representatives of the three major wireless
service providers (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) with
the goal of understanding their coverage gaps in the Town
and learning about their plans to improve coverage, as
well as what assistance they might need from the Town in
order to make such improvements.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
ROLE: To review Community Preservation Act (CPA) proj-
ect applications for open space, community housing, historic
resources and recreation funding, and recommend eligible
and worthy projects to Town Meeting.
APPOINTED by the Select Board and various boards
and committees, in accordance with the CPA, for 2-year
terms: Marilyn Fenollosa (Chair, Historical Commission),
Jeanne Krieger (Vice-Chair at-large, appointed by the Select
Board), Kathryn Roy (Vice-Chair, at-large, appointed by the
Select Board), Kevin Beuttell (Conservation Commission),
Christian Boutwell (Recreation Committee), Robert Creech
(Planning Board), Robert Pressman (Housing Partnership
Board), Mark Sandeen (at-large, appointed by the Select
Board), and Melinda Walker (Lexington Housing Authority).
OVERVIEW: The Community Preservation Committee
(CPC) met regularly from September 2024 through February
2025 to review projects for presentation to the 2025 Annual
Town Meeting. The Committee evaluated project applications
submitted by town departments, non-profit organizations,
and others and submitted its funding recommendations to
the Town Meeting.
CPA funding comes from an annual property tax surcharge
of 3%, adopted by Town Meeting in 2005 and accepted by
Lexington voters in 2006. This local surcharge is matched
with State funds collected as part of the deeds excise tax and
has previously been supplemented with State budget surplus
funds. Lexington initially received 100% of State matching
funds in 2007 ($2,556,362) but has seen that match decline
as additional communities adopt CPA and join the funding
pool. In FY25, the Town received a 18.73% match equaling
$1,234,313. As of November 2024, the Town had received
over $25.4 million in State matching funds, representing
a significant portion of over $117 million in CPA projects
approved by Town Meeting voters through FY26. (2025 state
reimbursement figures have yet to be received.)
(continued on next page)
Communications Advisory Committee: (L-R) Dorinda Goodman, David Becker, Nicholas Lauriat, Kenneth Pogran (Chair), David Buczkowski, Shabbir Bagasrawala, Steven Kaufman, Robert Avallone. Not present: Smita Desai, Rita Vachani.
Communications Advisory Committee (continued)
153 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Recommended 9 project applications for CPA funding to
the 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
Town Meeting approved the following amounts:
• Cotton Farm/Community Center Connector
- $300,000
• Simond's Brook Conservation Area Trail Design and
Engineering - $75,000
• Document Conservation - $21,000
• Hancock-Clarke House Roof Replacement - $57,800
• Affordable Housing Trust Funding - $3,000,000
• LexHAB Affordable Housing Support, Restoration,
Preservation, and Decarbonization - $494,140
• Park and Playground Improvements - Center
Playground - $1,490,000
• Park Improvements - Athletic Fields - Harrington
- $1,197,904
• Lincoln Park Field Improvements #3 - $860,000
• The CPC's customary Administrative Budget of $150,000
was approved by Annual Town Meeting.
• Updated and maintained the CPC website.
• Updated the CPA Needs Assessment Report (the guiding
document for CPC review of proposals) and held a public
hearing to receive comments on December 12, 2024.
• Compiled and published reports for submission to
Annual Town Meeting.
• Completed state-mandated reporting of all projects
approved by Town Meeting.
• Monitored over 50 ongoing CPA projects.
COUNCIL ON AGING
ROLE: To serve as an advisory board that partners with the
Human Services/Senior Services Department in developing
and evaluating programs, services, and activities that support
Lexington’s older adults. The Council on Aging (COA) Board
communicates the views of the community to the staff and
Town Manager, assesses trends, and advocates for the unmet
needs of older adults and their families.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: John Zhao
(Co-Chair), Julie-Ann Shapiro (Co-Chair), Ellen Cameron
(Vice-Chair), Sudhir Jain, Jyotsna Kakullavarapu, Julie Barker,
Sue Rockwell, Charles James, Bonnie Teitleman-Levin, Janet
Perry, Sandra Hackman. Suzie Barry was the Select Board
liaison until May, 2025, Vineeta Kumar assumed the liaison
role in June 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Monthly meetings have been conducted hybrid i.e., both
in-person and via Zoom. Only one meeting was held
in-person.
• The Age-Friendly Working Group continued to hold pe-
riodic meetings to consider which age- friendly initiatives
to undertake. Considerations included programs related
to home maintenance/repair programs and aging in place;
strategies for effective advocacy for senior/affordable/
accessible housing options; increasing transportation
opportunities for seniors.
Community Preservation Committee (continued)
Community Preservation Committee: (Top L-R) Robert Pressman, Thomas Case (Admin.), Kathryn Roy, Kev-in Beuttell; (Middle L-R) Robert Creech, Christian Boutwell, Melinda Walker, Marilyn Fenollosa; (Bottom L-R) Jeanne Krieger, Mark Sandeen.
(continued on next page)
154 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• The Age-Friendly Working Group continued to compile
information for the Senior Resource Guide, focusing
on an inclusive list of services and vendors to assist
with home maintenance and repair, to help seniors
age in place.
• On September 4, 2024, a certification ceremony was held
at the Community Center to recognize that Lexington has
been designated an AARP Age-Friendly Community.
• On May 6, 2025, an Age-in-Place Resource Fair was held
with more than 50 vendors and over 200 participants,
with many expressing appreciation for the event.
• Representatives of the COA and Human Services
attended several health and wellness clinics held at the
senior housing villages in town.
• The Senior Parking Program continued, with over
2,500 Lexington residents participating in the program.
• COA welcomed speakers/presenters: October meeting
– FCOA members David Grabel, Suzanne Caton and
Lorain Marque; November meeting – Aviram Cohen,
Sarela Bliman-Cohen, and Peter Kelly presented re-
garding Lexington High School building project impact
on seniors; April meeting – Taylor Singh and Kathleen
Linehan presented regarding Lexington High School
building project impact on sections.
• COA collaborated with the Friends of the Council on
Aging (FCOA) to ensure funding of key programming
that includes LexConnect Taxi rides, promoting the
Older, Wiser, Lifelong Learning program (OWL), and
LifeTimes Magazine.
• COA liaisons continued to attend virtual meetings of
other town boards and committees that address concerns
related to aging in Lexington.
DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To provide the Town with design guidance on primar-
ily town-funded projects or town buildings, and various public
facilities. The committee is also charged with making recom-
mendations to enhance the attractiveness of town lands, parks,
recreation areas, conservation areas, and other public spaces. In
addition, the committee may be asked to review and comment on
proposals by private sector businesses and individuals where the
Town's interest is involved. The committee's recommendations
are made to the Select Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning
Board, Historic District Commission and other committees as
needed or requested.
The committee is primarily comprised of individuals with
expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, planning,
environmental engineering or other related design professions.
APPOINTED by Select Board for 3-year term: Timothy Lee
(Chair), Ian Adamson, Christopher Johns, Steven Vincent,
Hema Bhatt, Minhaj Kirmani, Danit Netzer, Zhu Liu.
HIGHLIGHTS:
In 2025, The committee reviewed and provided design guid-
ance and recommendations on numerous proposed planning
board and town building projects.
• Lexington High School
• MBTA housing projects
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To promote balanced, long-term economic development,
which reflects and enhances the character of the community.
APPOINTED by the Select Board to 3-year terms: Rick
DeAngelis (Chair), Bridger McGaw (Vice-Chair), Samuel Ang,
David Pronchick, Charles Minasian, Samuel Ang, Lisa Murray
and Adrienne Ortyl.
LIAISONS: Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Doug Lucente
(Select Board) and Jill Hai (Select Board).
STAFF: Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development Director) and
Jay Abdella (Senior Economic Development Coordinator).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In FY25, the Economic Development Advisory
Committee (EDAC) welcomed 10 new businesses and
expanded businesses to Lexington. A notable develop-
ment project in FY25 is the 440 Bedford Street six-story
facility completion. New businesses continued to open in
Council on Aging at the first Age-in-Place Resource Fair, May 2025.
Council on Aging (continued)
(continued on next page)
155 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Lexington Center included Braskem, and Liberty Sweets
illustrating the hard work and partnership between the
Town staff and local community leaders to attract new
and retain existing businesses.
• The EDAC was active in advising the Select Board prior
to Annual Town Meeting on various articles including
policy and license changes. The EDAC partnered with the
Lexington Center Committee and finalized recommenda-
tions for the Journey Forward Center Charette to increase
foot-traffic and vibrancy of Lexington Center.
• While the EDAC supported the overall spirit and prin-
ciples of the MBTA Communities Act, we are closely
monitoring the approval of over 1,000 new multi-family
housing units that in some cases are converting commer-
cial properties to larger multi-family residential projects.
Three such multi-family housing projects one of which
is 17 Hartwell which is a mixed-use multi-family project
which broke ground in FY25. In the year ahead, the
EDAC will continue to advocate for careful fiscal capital
planning, capital and operational cost controls, and lim-
ited debt financing to ensure continued economic growth
of the community. Essential future economic vitality and
attractiveness for new businesses will be the development
of a new high school.
FENCE VIEWERS
ROLE: To arbitrate fencing disputes in accordance with
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 49, Sections 1-21.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 1-year terms: David
Burns (Chair) and Dawn E. McKenna.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• This past year there were a limited number of
disputes which required review. Some issues resulted
in applications for variances and others required
enforcement actions being taken against violators.
• Prior to having a new fence installed or an existing fence
replaced you are encouraged to read the town bylaw
which can be found on the Town website. If you have
questions, contact the Fence Viewers through the Town
website or the Building Commissioner.
FUND FOR LEXINGTON
ROLE: To assist those in Lexington in need, to support beau-
tification projects, and to seed innovative projects for com-
munity betterment. The Select Board established the Fund for
Lexington 28 years ago, inviting all residents and community
members to contribute to these three core purposes.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Douglas Lucente (Chair),
Norman Cohen, Rev. Claire Feingold Thoryn, Ed Grant, Joe
Pato, Lester Savage, and Alan Wrigley.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Received approximately $21,000 in donations from the
November 2024 Annual Appeal, including $4,500 in
online gifts.
• Voted distributions totaling $80,400 for community needs
and projects in FY25.
• Funded emergency rent, heating, utilities, car repairs,
transportation subsidies, and grocery gift cards for
residents in need.
• Supported the Holiday Gift Program with $8,000 in
September and $10,000 in June to assist families during
the holiday season.
• The Board voted in support of updating the Lexington
Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF) residency
requirement from three months to one year to better
support long-term Lexington residents.
• Allocated $15,000 in September and $17,000 in
June for Recreation Scholarships, enabling more than
100 residents to participate in Town programs.
• Provided $5,100 for East Lexington flower barrels to
continue community beautification.
• Approved $2,500 to the Police Comfort Dog Program for
search-and-rescue training and $2,500 to the Beantown
Baby Diaper Bank for diaper distribution through the
Food Pantry.
• Welcomed Lester Savage to the Board in FY25 as a
representative of the Trustees of Public Trusts.
Fence Viewers
Economic Development Advisory Committee (continued)
156 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
GREENWAY CORRIDORS COMMITTEE
ROLE: To identify, actively plan, and recommend the im-
plementation of pedestrian, bicycle, and other greenway
corridors linking Town Conservation, Recreation and other
open space parcels via the ACROSS (Accessing Conservation,
Recreation, Open Space and Schools) Lexington, The Rick
Abrams Memorial Trail Network; and the establishment of
links to regional trail systems and open space in neighboring
communities.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Keith Ohmart (Chair),
Alex Dohan (Acting Conservation Commission liaison),
Peggy Enders, Eileen Entin, David Frohman, Robert
Hausslein, Daisy Liu, Bobak Moshiri, Stephen Perkins, Mike
Tabaczynski (Non-voting Member), Millie Webster (Non-
voting member), Bob Creech (Planning Board liaison), Joe
Pato (Select Board liaison).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Initiated and installed special ACROSS Lexington signage
marking the historic Battle Road of April 19, 1775
as Greenways Committee’s contribution to the 250th
Anniversary celebration.
• Received permission from the Conservation Department
and the Recreation Department to install a new board-
walk to improve the existing trail in Bowman Park that
will become part of new ACROSS Lexington route Q.
Installation anticipated in the second half of 2025.
• Continued cooperative project with the Conservation
Department to develop a new trail on the Lexington
Conservation parcel south of Concord Avenue abutting
the State’s DCR Beaver Brook North property that will
allow the installation of a new ACROSS Lexington route
connecting to the Western Greenway Trail. Completed
the Land Management Plan phase of the project, which
included Conservation Commission approval of the
proposed trail layout. Working with the Conservation
Department to obtain funding for boundary surveying to
be completed before final approval is granted.
• Approval obtained from Friends of Arlington’s Great
Meadows and the Town of Arlington to develop a new
ACROSS Lexington route connecting existing ACROSS
Lexington routes on the Arlington’s Great Meadows
property and the Lower Vine Brook Conservation parcel
via public streets and sidewalks. Now seeking to initiate
discussions with the Conservation Department to identify
the required permitting for trail installation approval.
• Secured inclusion of funding in the FY26 Conservation
Department budget, for Planning and Engineering of
a new trail entrance to Conservation’s Simonds Brook
property at the end of Rangeway. This will facilitate
the creation of a new ACROSS Lexington route con-
necting Wright Farm, Simonds Brook, and Paint Mine
Conservation properties.
HANSCOM AREA TOWNS COMMITTEES (HATS)
ROLE: To coordinate the policies and activities of the four
towns (Bedford, Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln) that
contain Hanscom Field and their relationship with the major
organizations that operate in the Hanscom Field area. The
four towns coordinate their efforts in planning, growth man-
agement, land use, traffic control, and environmental protec-
tion. HATS seeks to protect and preserve the physical and
environmental attributes of the area in the face of expanding
institutional and commercial development, increasing traffic
and airport noise, and other threats to the environment.
APPOINTED by the Select Board to represent Lexington:
Mark Sandeen (Select Board Member), Charles Hornig
(Planning Board Member), and Margaret Coppe.
(continued on next page)
The Greenways Corridor Committee: (Front row L-R): Keith Ohmart (Chair), Millie Webster, Eileen Entin, Alex Dohan; (back row L-R): Mike Tabaczynski, Bobak Moshiri, Stephen Perkins, David Frohman, Bob Hausslein, (missing): Peggy Ender, Daisy Liu.
157 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
HIGHLIGHTS:
• HATS members submitted a public comment letter to
Secretary Tepper regarding Massport’s draft 2022 Hanscom
Field Environmental Status and Planning Report (ESPR) to
highlight some pressing environmental concerns regarding
the draft ESPR and its potential contradiction with the
state’s climate and environmental objectives. The comment
letter requested changes regarding measurement and
analysis of greenhouse gas emissions, criteria pollutants,
ultrafine particulate matter, airborne lead pollution, and
analysis of future growth scenarios impacting sustainabili-
ty, noise, and housing in the area.
• HATS members also submitted a letter to the HATS towns’
legislative delegation requesting that the legislature amend
Massport’s charter to require that Massport prioritize
environmental justice and reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions consistent with the Commonwealth’s goals. In
response, both the Senate and the House passed legislation
to amend Massport’s charter.
• Rich Davey, Massport’s new CEO presented his strategic
vision for Massport and Hanscom Airfield over the next
five years. One of Massport’s response to climate change
will be to pursue the development of Sustainable Aviation
Fuel or SAF as a replacement for conventional jet fuel.
• HATS members received an update on the results of the
Hanscom Area Towns Air Pollution study funded by the
Towns of Lincoln, Lexington, Bedford and Concord. The
research team has found high ultrafine particulate matter
pollution and lead levels that exceed accepted guidelines
and were twice as high in areas downwind of the airport
compared to areas upwind of the airport. Bedford and
Lexington were the two communities that are most
impacted by aircraft operations at Hanscom.
HANSCOM FIELD ADVISORY COMMISSION
ROLE: To act as an advisory commission with regard to
Hanscom Field for review of issues of land use, noise, and
transportation, and to provide a forum for communications
among the surrounding towns, the users of the airfield and
Massport in matters pertaining to Hanscom Field.
APPOINTED by the Select Board to represent Lexington:
Barbara Katzenberg (member) and Michael J. Barrett (alter-
nate member).
HISTORIC DISTRICTS COMMISSION
ROLE: To promote the educational, cultural, economic and
general welfare of the public through the preservation and
protection of historic buildings, places, and districts through
development of appropriate settings for said buildings, places,
and districts and through their maintenance as landmarks of
historic interest. The Lexington Historic Districts Commission
(HDC) was established by a special act of the State Legislature
under Chapter 447 of the Acts of 1956. It has jurisdiction over
the four registered Historic Districts in the town.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for overlapping 5-year
terms: Lee Noel Chase (Chair), Ed Adelman (Vice-Chair),
Paul O’Shaugnessy, Dan Hisel, Scott Cooper.
HDC membership is appointed as follows: two are nominated
by the Lexington Historical Society, one is nominated by the
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, one is nominated by the
trustees of Cary Memorial Library, and one is selected at large
by the Select Board. Alternates are nominated by the same
organizations.
HDC began FY25 with five full members: Paul O’Shaugnessy
(Chair), Ed Adelman, Robin Lovett, Lee Noel Chase, and Dan
Hisel, and two Associate Commissioners Richard Neumeier
and Brien Cooper. Paul O’Shaugnessy resigned as Chair and
Lee Noel Chase was voted in as new Chair in March.
Of the ten full and associate members past and present who
served during FY25, the HDC had three architects, one engi-
neer, three lawyers, and one history professor.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The HDC met 13 times during FY25. In those meetings, the
commission held 71 hearings (including informal and continued
hearings) and issued 40 Certificates of Appropriateness (CofA).
Significant decisions and activities include the following:
• Issued CofA for Solar Canopy at Fletcher Fiend at the
Police Station on December 5, 2024.
• Approved numerous alternations and new signage in
support of businesses along Massachusetts Avenue in the
Battle Green District.
• Approved public art project to install murals at the
Depot Museum building along the Bike Path.
• Approved accessibility changes to Belfry Hill.
• Supported 250th anniversary commemoration of the
Battle of Lexington in April.
• Provided architectural guidance in response to resident
inquiries and efforts to comply with HDC guidelines.
Hanscom Area Towns Committees (continued)
158 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
ROLE: To preserve and protect historically and architectural-
ly significant buildings and sites in Lexington. To determine
the issuance of demolition permits for buildings included on
the Comprehensive Cultural Resource Survey. To support
efforts to nominate buildings for the National Register of
Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager for 3-year terms: Robert
Rotberg (Chair), Diane Pursley (Vice-Chair), Susan Bennett,
Marilyn Fenollosa, Wendall Kalsow. Alternates: David
Kelland
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Maintained the Historical Commission’s webpage
providing public access to the Town-wide Comprehensive
Cultural Resources Survey, which includes scanned
inventory forms, period histories, architectural surveys,
National Register listings, building styles and other archi-
tectural and historical information (lexingtonma.gov/735/
Historical-Commission). The website also outlines the
demolition delay process and provides links to important
historic preservation organizations and resources.
• Reviewed 19 applications for public hearings for demoli-
tion permits and/or removal from the Inventory. Of the
demolition applications, six were determined to consti-
tute preferably preserved buildings and made subject to a
demolition delay of a maximum of 21 months. Fourteen
other applications for partial or total demolition were
permitted.
• Prepared and submitted to the Massachusetts Historical
Commission a Form B Building Survey of 40 Middle
Street.
• Reviewed proposed changes at 110 Shade Street as part of
the HC’s oversight of the Preservation Restriction.
• Received input from Historic New England, New England
Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians,
DOCOMOMO-NE, the Moon Hill Association and area
architects and builders to save 25 Moon Hill Road, the
Donald T. Clark home. This home was the first house
designed and constructed by The Architects Collaborative
on Moon Hill. A 21-month demolition delay has been im-
posed and the property is being monitored for demolition
by neglect by the Building Department. If this house is
demolished after 21 months it will be the first demolition
in this unique and nationally significant Mid-Century
Modern neighborhood.
• Reviewed and commented on three state- or federally-
funded projects during the year. The HC continues to
monitor the proposed expansion of the private jet airfield
at Hanscom Field, a Massport project currently under re-
view by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection.
• Commented on the construction of a communications
tower in the faux chimney atop the Parker Manor
condominiums building.
• Received consulting party status on the Massachusetts
Department of Transportation Hanscom Field Navy
Hangar project.
• Reviewed projects that requested funding under the
Community Preservation Act (CPA) and provided
recommendations to Town Meeting. Provided input to
Community Preservation Committee’s annual Needs
Assessment report.
• Participated as Full and Alternate members on Turning
Mill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission
and Pierce/Lockwood Neighborhood Conservation
District Commission.
• Participated in the “Property Working Group”, which was
formed in response to a Select Board request to make co-
ordinated recommendations whenever a gift of land, land
purchase or other opportunity for the Town to acquire
ownership or use of property arises or when public use
of indoor or outdoor space in a private development is
proposed.
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP BOARD
ROLE: To promote and support production and preserva-
tion of housing, including low and moderate income, older
persons, and workforce housing. The Housing Partnership
Board (HPB) brings together committees, groups, and hous-
ing advocates to create a collaborative approach to achieving
Lexington’s housing goals.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Wendy
Manz (Chair), Betsey Weiss (Vice-Chair), Harriet Cohen
(Clerk), Nanette Byrnes, Margaret Heitz, Charles Hornig
(Planning Board), Paul Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB),
Robert Pressman, Melanie Thompson, John Zhao (Council
on Aging). Non-member liaisons: Jill Hai (Select Board), and
Cynthia Arens (Sustainable Lexington Committee).
(continued on next page)
159 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Held 21 official meetings during FY25; all meetings were
held remotely via Zoom teleconference. Minutes for all
meetings have been approved by the HPB and posted to
the town website.
• Expressed gratitude to departing member Robert
Pressman for his outstanding contributions and dedica-
tion for over 20 years and CPC Liaison for 13 years.
• Sent a letter to the Select Board in support of Lexington
home rule petitions (residential and commercial sur-
charges) pending in the MA state legislature.
• Voiced many comments on Article 2 to at Lexington
Planning Board Hearings and to Article 2 proponents as
well as sending a statement to the Select Board from HPB
on the original Article 2 proposal .
• Identified four goals for the upcoming year:
• Advocate for the creation by both town and private
developers of affordable and accessible housing units
that are close to services and facilities that would
enable seniors to age in place in Lexington and meet
the housing needs of citizens with mobility and other
challenges.
• Review the provisions of the recently passed
Affordable Homes Act regarding accessory dwelling
units on residential properties and work to educate
Lexington residents on the possibility of building these
units.
• Review the report of the Housing Needs Assessment
Report Committee and help to publicize its conclu-
sions and support its recommendations — specifically
in relation to housing for lower income ranges.
• Increase AHT sources of funding by continuing to
advocate for passage of an RETF proposal in the state
legislature and, locally, by continuing to advocate
for a larger allocation of funds to housing from the
Community Preservation Fund.
• Attended Consultant's Multifamily Housing Impact
Analysis (Fougere Report) at 6/16/25 Select Board
Meeting and provided supportive comments on the
Report.
• Provided feedback/ corrections to Lexington Housing
Needs Assessment Report which was very comprehensive
and informative.
• Provided feedback on West Metro HOME Consortium 5
Year Housing Needs Assessment.
• Approved signing of Local Action Unit Local Initiative
Program (LIP) Applications for 47 affordable dwelling
units at 17 Harwell Avenue, four at 93 Bedford Street, and
one at 28 Meriam Street / 32 Edgewood Road.".
• Approved the dissolution of the Lexington Housing
Foundation, which had been created to fund efforts
advocating for housing in Lexington. All remaining funds
of approximately $8,100 were disbursed to LexHAB.
• Appointed Paul Linton to fill the vacancy of HPB rep-
resentative to the Community Preservation Committee
(CPC). Robert Pressman was the HPB's representative to
CPC for 13 years.
LEXINGTON CENTER COMMITTEE
ROLE: To advise the Select Board and business community
on managing change in the Center to ensure its long-term
viability while preserving its historical significance and the
integrity of adjacent neighborhoods.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Jerold
Michelson (Chair), Frederic Johnson (Vice-Chair), T. Eric
Ballard, Richard Brown, Upasna Chharbra, Micheal Harris,
Katherine Huang, Jeffrey Lyon, Pamela Lyons, Kat MacDonald,
Innessa Manning, Pamela Shadley. Liaisons: Charles Hornig
(Planning Board), Jill Hai (Select Board). Staff: Sandhya Iyer
(Economic Development Director), Jay Abdella (Economic
Development Coordinator).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Discussed activating Lexington Center by attracting
businesses, adjusting zoning regulations, and influencing
programing in Lexington Center to create a welcoming
business community.
• Collaborated with Town staff and EDAC to bring joint
recommendations to the Select Board from the Lexington
Center: The Journey Forward report.
(continued on next page)
Housing Partnership Board (continued)
1
Lexington Housing Partnership Board (HPB) FY 2025 Annual Report ROLEmoderate income, older persons, and workforce housing in Lexington. HPB brings
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Wendy Manz (Chair), Betsey
Hornig (Planning Board), Paul Linton, Sarah Morrison (LexHAB), Robert Pressman,
Melanie Thompson, John Zhao (Council on Aging). Non-member liaisons: Jill Hai
MEETINGS HELD:
have been approved by the HPB and posted to the town web site.
Housing Partnership Board
160 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Recommended that Town Meeting maintain the Multi
Family Overlay district for Lexington Center which was
approved in the 2023 Annual Town Meeting article 34.
This support did not convince Town Meeting therefore
the MFO was repealed from the bylaws by a citizens
article at 2025 Special Town Meeting article 2.
• Worked with Economic Development Office to develop
better signage along the bikeway to indicate that the users
are in Lexington Center. Effort includes a dynamic kiosk
at Grain Mill Alley plus other static signs and markers.
• Reviewed 2024 summer parklet installation so that a
complete day-one installation for summer 2025 can yield
a complete effort for the full season.
• Continued to communicate with Engineering regard-
ing the Muzzey St and Library parking lot redesign.
Maintaining current functions of parking, deliveries and
trash collection are the priorities.
• Continued to communicate with DPW regarding needs of
Center for upkeep and cleanliness, ensuring effective use
of resources.
• Continued to encourage citizens to support Lexington’s
businesses in order to maintain a vital town center.
LEXINGTON COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
ROLE: To promote and support arts initiatives that enhance
the cultural vitality of the Lexington community, providing
greater awareness of opportunities around town to explore,
participate, and attend artistic initiatives. In partnership
with the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), Lexington
Community Arts (LCA) awards grants to support individual
artists, musicians, performers, as well as arts and cultural
organizations. The grants process includes soliciting and eval-
uating applications, selecting recipients, distributing funds,
and ensuring funds are properly used. The LCA also develops
and implements its own arts initiatives tailored to the inter-
ests of the community.
APPOINTED by the Select Board to 3-year terms: Alix
Fox and Claudia A Lach (Co-Chairs), Marie-Aude Hewes
(Treasurer), David M Hoose (Secretary), Mamata Banerjee,
Lisa Hebert, Eric Hellweg, Shalini Kakar, E Ashley Roonry,
Elizabeth Xu, and Jennifer Zacharis. Suzie Barry was the Select
Board Liaison.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Managed LCA’s 2024-2025 grants process. Grants totaling
$15,920 were awarded to 29 local artists and cultural
organizations for Lexington-related projects and events
that took place throughout the year.
• Voted to use local funding to augment MCC grant fund-
ing, which enabled LCA to award more grants overall.
• Funded several grants to support events and projects as-
sociated with Lex250, including Midnight at the Clarkes’
play at Hancock-Clarke House, In The Footsteps of the
American Revolutionary War photo exhibit at Munroe
Tavern, and several local concerts.
Lexington Center Committee (continued)
(continued on next page)
LCA members at the Lex250 Countdown Calendar.
Lexington Center Committee
161 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Sponsored 2nd Annual Lexington Porchfest in September,
voted to continue supporting as an annual signature
event. Porchfest is a free community music festival
featuring local musicians performing on front porches,
decks, lawns, and driveways. Over 80 bands – ranging
from rock to Bollywood, folk to jazz – performed on over
60 porches throughout Lexington. The festival culminated
in a well-attended finale performance by Rocking Horse
People, a Beatles cover band, on the lawn of the Ellen
Stone Building.
• Hosted a reception for grant recipients at Lexington
Community Center in March. Grantees enjoyed each
other's company, exchanged ideas, and shared details
about their grant projects with the group.
• Continued to improve publicity efforts, raising awareness
of grantee and LCA-run projects by enhancing website,
expanding social media use, and publishing a bi-monthly
newsletter.
LEXINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
ROLE: To provide safe, stable, quality affordable housing for
low- and moderate-income persons and to deliver these ser-
vices with integrity and mutual accountability; and to create
living environments that serve as catalysts for the transforma-
tion from dependency to self-sufficiency.
MEMBERS: Richard Perry (Chair), Nicholas Santosuosso,
Melinda Walker, Mena Bell, Mark McCullough (Governor
Appointee), Caileen Foley (Executive Director).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Administered 340 units of State and Federal affordable
and low-income housing for elderly, families, and dis-
abled individuals, 72 Section 8 housing choice vouchers
and four Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
project-based vouchers.
• Continued to maintain a 100% occupancy rate for all
housing units.
• Completed an array of capital improvement projects
including exterior landscaping and paving improvements,
new siding and window replacements at Mass Ave prop-
erty, garage door replacements, new equipment purchases
and other improvements to our portfolio.
• Processed applications from the statewide centralized
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, enabling
applicants an opportunity to receive vouchers from other
communities.
• Continued to receive a state grant through Executive
Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC)
for a Resident Service Coordinator with the Acton
Housing Authority. The RSC hired an individual who
splits his time between the two agencies. He is bilingual
and speaks Mandarin and English. The robust Resident
Service Coordinator position was expanded with services
to ensure residents can age in place and maintain their
tenancy.
• Worked with the Lexington Planning Department, LexHAB,
and the Lexington Housing Partnership to promote the
development of more affordable housing in Lexington.
• Closed on our Federal Repositioning application that
moved our 17 scattered site properties from a traditional
Federal Public Housing model to a voucher-based model.
Doing so opened a larger revenue stream and switched
the ownership to the Housing Authority’s LLC. The LHA
now has the capability and financial capacity to pursue
large scale improvements, modernization or possible
redevelopment.
• Information and applications can be found at
lexingtonhousing.org.
LEXINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
ROLE: To build a stronger, more unified Town that respects
and recognizes both diversity and commonalities, while
respectfully confronting statements and actions that conflict
with these core values. The Committee works to foster
respectful, civil, public discourse and debate.
APPOINTED by the Select Board, Police Chief,
Superintendent and Town Manager to serve 3-year staggered
terms: Christina Lin (Chair), Stephanie Hsu (Vice-Chair),
Hafsah Syed, Mamata Banerjee, Judy Zola, Rachel Levy,
Stephanie Ryan. Town Manager to serve as Town liaison
Colleen Dunbar (LPD), Dana Bickelman (STM), Andrea
So/Johnny Cole (LPS). Liaisons: Mark Sandeen (Select
Board); Eileen Jay, Larry Freeman and Sarah Carter (School
Committee); Shaun Grady (Commission on Disability),
Juanica Buchanan (Human Services).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Updated Committee charge and secured approval by
Select Board."
• Debuted Community Roundtable Gathering to foster
cross-community dialogue and connections as well
as a second round focused on skills for challenging
conversations.
Lexington Council for the Arts (continued)
(continued on next page)
162 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Worked with Chief Equity Officer to fund keynote speaker
Loretta J. Ross for MLK Day 2025 programming honoring
Women of the Civil Rights Movement.
• Debuted an activator fair on MLK Day to connect and
diversify human rights focused volunteer opportunities
in Town.
• Hosted the Annual Q&A on Lexington Public Schools’
Report on Reducing System Barriers.
• Continued engagement with community cultural
groups and affinity spaces: LUAA programs on antisem-
itism, CALex’s My American Story, IAL’s Community
Conversation: 60 Years of AAPI Voices Shaping Lexington’s
Story, Collaborative Reform Group programming on
Celebrating Neurodiversity, Dismantling Racism in Our
Town, and LICA.
• Participated in Lex250 celebrations including the Calendar
Keepers and VO250 Challenge.
• Advocated for Town to post Know Your Rights resources
around Immigration Rights
• Hosted a Community Conversation on Community Safety
and Immigration Rights.
• Connected with Human Rights groups in other
municipalities.
• Joined the MA Anti-Hate/Anti-Bias monthly meetings.
• Advocated for more affordable housing through multi-
family housing and affordable housing development.
LEXINGTON HOUSING ASSISTANCE BOARD (LexHAB)
ROLE: To provide affordable housing to low- and moder-
ate-income individuals and families in Lexington, managing
84 units throughout the Town as well as acquiring and devel-
oping new properties.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Robert
Burbidge (Chair), Lester Savage (Vice-Chair), Tara Mizrahi
(Clerk), Henry Liu (Treasurer), Jonathan Silverstein (Assistant
Clerk), Eric Brown, Thomas Donahue, Russell Tanner.
Select Board liaison: Jill Hai. LexHAB staff: Sarah Morrison
(Executive Director), Pearlene Varjabedian (Housing
Director), Regina Brown (Finance Director), Laura DiFronzo
(Administrative Assistant).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Provided safe, comfortable, affordable housing to 241
low- and moderate-income individuals in Lexington.
• Separated from the Town of Lexington by legislative
Special Act on September 4, 2024, and became an
independent nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status.
• Added two units to affordable housing portfolio, a
three-bedroom house funded by the Affordable Housing
Trust (AHT) and a three bedroom home generously
donated by former Lexington residents. Will add a third
unit in 2026 as an interior Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU), transforming the AHT funded single family unit
into a duplex.
• Launched new initiative to add Accessory Dwelling Units
to as many existing properties as possible.
• Marketed LexHAB Legacy Initiative to increase affordable
housing stock through donations of land, property, or
percentage of real estate sales.
• Hosted fundraiser ‘Raise the Roof’ to increase awareness
about the need for affordable housing and raise funds for
LexHAB’s affordable housing.
• Honored tenant Melissa Foss with LexHAB’s Community
Builder Award for outstanding affordable housing advocacy.
• Renovated bathrooms and replaced flooring in three
senior residents’ units to increase accessibility, with a
grant from the Dana Home Foundation.
• Worked with sustainability consultant to draft a
Decarbonization Road Map, furthering energy efficiency of
all units, with a grant from MA Center for Clean Energy.
• Collaborated with experienced affordable housing
consultants to evaluate program data and prioritize key
strategic initiatives as an independent nonprofit, with a
grant from the Community Endowment of Lexington.
• Outlined strategic initiatives including: increasing
portfolio with ADUs; expanding fundraising from
individuals; streamlining property management;
marketing life estate and home donations through
LexHAB Legacy; increasing collaborating with local
organizations; preserving and renovating properties with
focus on environmental sustainability.
Lexington Housing Assistance Board
Lexington Human Rights Committee (continued)
163 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
LEXINGTON SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATION FUND COMMITTEE
ROLE: To oversee the distribution of funds, which are
collected bi-annually through the tax bill solicitation, that
go to either the Lexington Scholarship Fund and/or the
Lexington Education Foundation, per donor request.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Raquel Leder and
Dr. Julie Hackett.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Over 100 donations were received in FY25 and allocated
as follows:
• $40,285 in donations were designated and distributed
to the Lexington Scholarship Fund.
• $2,020 in donations were designated to the Lexington
Education Foundation.
MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS COMMITTEE
ROLE: To create a comprehensive database of Town monu-
ments and memorials, support the development of an annual
maintenance and restoration plan for Town monuments and
memorials, hear citizen proposals for new monuments and
memorials. To make recommendations to the Select Board
and collaborate with other Town organizations to inform
visitors about and promote interest in Town monuments and
memorials.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Linda
Dixon, Regina Sutton. For 2-year terms: Nicholas Wong
(Chair) Avram Baskin, Glen Bassett, George Gamota,
Elizabeth Huttner. For 1-year term: Leslie Masson.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Met eleven times during the fiscal year.
• Welcomed new member Regina Sutton.
• Bid farewell to retiring member Bebe Fallick, founding
member of the Committee.
• Accepted the resignation of member Mirela Vaso.
• Elected new committee Chair Nick Wong and Vice-Chair
Avram Baskin.
• Focused on producing a narrative “story” for every
monument in our database.
• Completed most monument stories and loaded them to
monument database.
• Modified and improved our database design and
functionality.
• Met several times with donor group proposing a
memorial for Lex250.
• Lex250 proposed monument terminated by lack of HDC
approval; no vote taken.
• Supported Lexington High School youth STEM team in
new project using stories from the committee database,
and providing free training to local students on digital
storytelling using AI.
• Organized a working group to redesign/reorganize
our website.
• Took group photo and turned calendar page for Lex250
calendar countdown.
• Began planning with DPW on tailoring our database to
provide useful information for their ongoing Monument
Maintenance and Repair program.
Monuments and Memorials Committee members turn the page for the Lex250 Calendar Countdown on January 4, 2025. (L-R) Regina Sutton, Avram Baskin, Leslie Masson, Linda Dixon (Chair), Liz Huttner. Missing: Glen Bassett, George Gamota, Mirela Vaso, Nick Wong.
164 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
NOISE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To advise the Select Board on issues related to the
Noise Bylaw and to review the Bylaw, monitoring its efficacy
and suggesting updates that would protect residents from ex-
cessive or unwarranted noise. To coordinate with other Town
committees and departments and with intergovernmental
groups associated with Hanscom Field on noise-related is-
sues. To review and analyze noise complaints on a quarterly
basis and report to the Select Board on areas of concern and
make suggestions about how complaints are reported and
made available for internal and public review. To coordinate
with town departments responsible for enforcing noise bylaw
regulations to identify challenges that affect its enforceability.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Barbara
Katzenberg (Chair), Sallye Bleiberg, Benjamin Lees, Laura
Rosen, Elaine Rudell, Joe Pato (Select Board liaison).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Following a year and a half in which there were no
meetings, the first meeting of a reconstituted Noise
Advisory Committee was held on July 2, 2024.
• In the interim, new Noise Bylaw provisions had been
enacted to 1) to phase out the use of gas-powered leaf
blowers and 2) to extend the bylaw relating to ledge
excavation resolving some language ambiguities and
requiring involvement of noise mitigation specialists on
projects that would require 7 or more days of ledge work.
• Clarified understanding of the current bylaw to compare
Lexington's with those of other municipalities.
• Invited various speakers to NAC meetings who helped
educate the Committee on various aspects of noise.
These included two noise mitigation specialists who have
worked on Lexington projects (Lawrence G. Copley and
Aaron Farbo); a city planner who led Rye, NY’s ap-
proach to construction noise that involved limiting the
number of allowed days of ledge work (Christian K.
Miller); Quiet Communities Founder and President
(Jamie Banks); Sound measurement expert and former
NAC member, (Joseph Campbell); Chicago’s pilot of a
“sound camera” (Richard Reibstein); and Metropolitan
Area Planning Council (MAPC)’s ongoing review of
Boston-area municipal noise bylaws and ordinances,
(Abbey Judd).
• Chief Michael McLean and Captain Christopher Barry of
the Police Department met with the NAC and individual
NAC members multiple times to explain noise bylaw
enforcement and record-keeping practices; and to review
noise complaints.
• Corresponded with members of the Building Department
to understand noise complaints relating to construction
and to learn of construction projects requiring a noise
mitigation plan.
• Followed requests to the Select Board for special permits
to exempt applicants from the Noise Bylaw to understand
the nature of the request and the process for granting
them.
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
ROLE: To provide ongoing expertise and experience in col-
laboration with the Department of Public Facilities (DPF) to
manage the scope, cost, schedule, and strategy for the design
and construction of selected capital building projects. This
includes hiring of design professionals, obtaining construc-
tion bids, entering into contracts for design and construction,
shepherding the integrated design process, and overseeing
the construction, commissioning, and closeout phases.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager for 3-year overlapping
terms: Charles Favazzo (Co-Chair), Jonathan Himmel (Co-
Chair), Celis Brisbin, Elizabeth Giersbach, Peter Johnson,
Frederick Merrill and Ian Adamson; and Associate Members:
Wendy Krum and Henrietta Mei.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Lexington Police Station: (New Construction on
Mass Ave and Renovation of 173 Bedford Street for use
as a temporary police station). Tecton Architects were the
Architects. CTA Construction were the Chapter 149
successful, lump sum bidders.
• CTA Construction began on site on October
2022. Project building completion was June 2024.
Fabrication of the solar car canopy continued through
FY25 with onsite installation expected early in FY26.
• The total approved budget for the project is $35.2 +
$3.4 million and covers the modifications needed to
temporarily house the Police at 173 Bedford Street and
construction of the new station, photovoltaic panels
with battery backup on the building and site, and site
restoration at the building and the adjoining Fletcher
Park.
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165 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Permanent Building Committee (continued)• The Lexington High School project. The Lexington
School Building Committee (SBC) is the main decision
making body for the Town in compliance with MSBA
requirements.
• The PBC has acted as an advisory committee to the
SBC. PBC meetings have focused on issues related
to design, cost, schedule, process, and the Integrated
Design Policy (IDP). The PBC has worked with
DPF, the Architect – Symmes Maini McKee, the
Owners Project Manager – Dore Whittier and the
Preconstruction Construction Manager – Turner
Construction (who joined the team in January 2025).
• The PBC has also worked alongside Sustainable
Lexington on matters related to and embodied in
the IDP.
• As of the end of FY25, the project was substantially
done with the Schematic Design with the actual
submission due in late August 2025.
• The total estimated project cost expressed in 2026 bid
dollars is in the $660 million range and is being further
refined early in FY26.
RECREATION COMMITTEE
ROLE: To oversee the planning and administration of public
parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreational facilities
in the Town. The Committee is charged with administering,
expanding, and promoting recreation, leisure activities, play,
sports, physical fitness, and education for all citizens.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager to 3-years terms: Rick
DeAngelis (Chair), Claire Sheth (Vice-Chair), Carl Fantasia,
Renen Bassik, Weiwei Li, Andrea Jackson, Sean Bridgeo
Liaisons: Doug Lucente (Select Board), Sara Carter and
Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee), Rod Cole (CEC), Julie
Ann Shapiro (Council on Aging), Sanjay Padaki (AC).
Subcommittee, Lincoln Park. Brian Kelley (Chair), Robert
Pressman, Joanne Shorter, Pamela Cohen, Paul Earsy, Weiwei
Li (liaison).
HIGHLIGHTS:
Participation and Usage
• Aquatics Centers: 69,000+ visits
• Community Center: 175,000+ visits
• Pine Meadows Golf Course: 46,000 rounds played
• Therapeutic Recreation: 74 programs, 130 unique
participants, 424 registrations
• Athletic Fields: 25,179 permitted hours
• Tennis Courts: 28,419 permitted hours
• Pickleball Courts: 9,394 permitted hours
Facility Improvements and Projects
• Completed Lincoln Park Field #1 Reconstruction and
Lighting (Fields #1 and #3) — included organic infill and
LED lighting; ribbon cutting in Fall 2024
• Completed Muzzey Field Improvements
• Mobilized Lincoln Park Field #2 Reconstruction Project
— expanded sustainability initiatives with organic infill
• Extended Pickleball Program at Adams Park Hard Courts
(pilot continued into 2025)
Ongoing Maintenance and Operations
• Supported Pine Meadows Golf Course with proactive
grounds maintenance and equipment replacement plan
Planning and Strategic Initiatives
• Athletic Playing Surfaces Working Group — continued
engagement during Lincoln Park Field #2 planning
• Ongoing participation in Lexington High School Building
Project discussions (temporary and permanent impacts to
Center Recreation Complex)
• Incorporated findings from Recreation Facilities and
ADA Compliance Study (2017), Community Needs
Assessment (2020), Athletic Fields Feasibility Study
(2022), and Lincoln Park Master Plan into capital
planning
Recreation Committee (L-R): Renen Bassik, Andrea Jackson, Claire Sheth, WeiWei Li, Sean Bridgeo; not present, Rick DeAngelis and Carl Fantasia.
166 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
ROLE: The regional planning agency represents 101
communities in the metropolitan Boston area, including
Lexington, serving as a forum for State and Local officials to
address regional issues. Council members collaborate in the
development of the organization’s regional plan and make
recommendations in areas of population and employment,
transportation, economic development, regional growth and
the environment. MAPC is one of the 22 members of the
Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which
carries out the federally-mandated transportation planning
process for the region. MAPC is also the federally-designated
economic development district for the region, responsible for
creating a regional economic development plan. The Council
provides technical assistance and professional resources in
land use, the environment, housing, transportation, water
resources management, economic development, demograph-
ic and socioeconomic data, legislative policy, and interlocal
partnerships which strengthen the efficient and effective op-
eration of local governments.
APPOINTED by the Select Board as MAPC Lexington
Representative for a 3-year term: Abby McCabe (Planning
Director). Appointed as the Alternate MAPC Lexington
Representative for a 3-year term: Sheila Page (Assistant
Planning Director).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Supported regional housing services, including
the WestMetro Home Consortium and MetroWest
Collaborative Development.
• Provided Lexington with planning data and analyses,
including population, employment, and household
forecasts.
MAPC Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC)
ROLE: As one of MAPC’s eight subregions, MAGIC works on
issues of interlocal concern. Lexington is in the Minuteman
Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) sub-
region. Other MAGIC towns are: Acton, Bedford, Bolton,
Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton,
Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury. MAGIC holds a regional seat
in The Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
APPOINTED by the Select Board as MAGIC Representative:
Jill Hai. Appointed by the Planning Board as MAGIC
Representative: Bob Creech.
Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
ROLE: To conduct the federally required metropolitan trans-
portation-planning process for the Boston metropolitan area.
The MPO develops a long range transportation plan for the
region and then decides how to allocate federal and some
state transportation funds to roadway, transit, bicycle, and
pedestrian projects and programs that support that vision.
The Boston MPO is responsible for producing three key cer-
tification documents: Regional Transportation Plan (RTP),
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and Unified
Planning Work Program (UPWP).
Lexington has been a proud advocate of meaningful projects
that benefit the region. Lexington remains active in the MPO
activities.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Secured the Bedford / Hartwell Complete Streets
Reconstruction Project position in the Region’s Long-
Range Transportation Plan Destination 2050 slated for
programming with $45 million in the 2029-2033 time
band.
• Obtained funding for federal FY26 for Safety
Improvement Design at the Bedford Street Rt 4/225
I-95 interchange in the MPO discretionary funding
Transportation Improvement Program. We will need to
continue to advocate to maintain the funding in next
year’s TIP development cycle.
• Participated in the MPO’s regional planning efforts
such as the long-range transportation planning, transit
planning, and vision zero planning.
Boston MPO: Regional Transportation Advisory Council (RTAC)
ROLE: To provide public policy advice to the Boston MPO
members on regional transportation issues and specific
MPO actions. The Council is composed of 60 representatives
from cities and towns, MAPC subregions, professional
transportation and planning associations, advocacy and
advisory groups, transportation providers, and various state and
regional agencies.
HIGHLIGHT:
• Lexington maintains a voice in transportation
planning and project selection through the Regional
Transportation Advisory Council.
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167 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee
The Battle Road Scenic Byway follows the approximate path
of the British regulars during the battles that marked the start
of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, when the “shot
heard round the world” was fired. The byway runs along ap-
proximately fifteen miles of roadway in the communities of
Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord, including part
of the Minute Man National Historical Park.
ROLE: To oversee and implement the Battle Road Scenic
Byway Corridor Management Plan. The Committee con-
sists of five voting member entities: the Towns of Arlington,
Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord plus the Minute Man
National Historical Park.
MEMBERS: Representatives designated by the local elected
officials of each of the four communities and a representative
from the Minute Man National Historical Park.
APPOINTED by the Select Board as Lexington’s
Representatives to the Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee:
Richard Canale.
HIGHLIGHT:
• Fostered inter-town and state stakeholder communi-
cations to implement the byway management plan and
advocate for the byway as the byway's steward.
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMISSION (LEX250)
ROLE: To evaluate, make recommendations and coordi-
nate the Town-wide activities commemorating the 250th
Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington (which took place
in April 2025) and other historical events related to the
Revolutionary-era. To further the coordination of the Town’s
events with local, state, regional and federal commemorations.
APPOINTED Suzanne Barry, (Chair and Select Board
Member); Monami Roy (Vice-Chair and Community
Representative); Cleve Coats (Security Representative, as of
August 2023); Steven Conners (Reenactment Community);
Barry Cunha (Local Business Representative); Bebe Fallick
(Tourism Committee Representative); Jane Hundley
(Lexington Public Schools Representative); Cerise Jalelian
(Town Celebrations Committee Representative); Melanie Lin
(Community Representative); Doug Lucente (Select Board
Member); Bridger McGaw (Transportation Representative);
Noah Michelson (Community Representative); Julie O’Leary
(Civic Representative); Paul O’Shaughnessy (Historical
Organization Representative); Ashley Rooney (Publicity
Representative); Jillian Tung (Music & Arts Representative);
and John Rossi (Liaison to the Commission on Disability).
Suzanne Barry announced her resignation from her position
on the Lex250 Commission in June 2025. Following her
departure, Monami Roy was elected Chair, effective July 2025.
Introduction
The Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) is proud to
report that July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 was a landmark year of
remembrance, reflection, civic engagement, and community
celebration as Lexington prepared for the 250th anniversary
of the Battle of Lexington.
Beginning in the fall, Lex250 launched signature events
including Parker’s Prelude, a dramatic concert that set the
tone for the year, and Riding Through History, which brought
Lexington’s equestrian heritage to life. The season culminat-
ed in the breathtaking Lex250 Drone Show (October 2024),
which drew thousands to the Battle Green for an innovative
display blending technology and history.
In the winter and early spring, the Commission intro-
duced its own major project, the Witness House Project,
shining new light on Lexington’s early built environment and
Revolutionary-era lives. Alongside it, Lex250 supported a rich
array of community partner events — from the Lexington
Lantern Festival to LexLux: Illuminating Lexington, the an-
nual Tea Burning commemoration, and the ongoing Voices
Regional Planning Agencies (continued)
(continued on next page)
Semiquincentennial Commission members pose in front of the Lex250 arch commemorating the countless hours of volunteering Lexington residents provide: (L-R) Doug Lucente, Bridger McGaw, Bebe Fallick, Steve Conners, Mona Roy, Ashley Rooney, Noah Michelson, Melanie Lin, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Julie O’Leary, Barry Cunha, and Cleve Coats.
168 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
on the Green series — sustaining momentum and highlight-
ing the many ways Lexingtonians connect with their shared
history.
Year-long efforts such as the Countdown Calendar kept
the community focused on the approach to April 19, 2025,
while the online events calendar served as a hub for residents
and visitors to stay connected to Lex250 programming.
These efforts built to the capstone Patriots’ Day Weekend,
when Lexington welcomed well over 100,000 visitors from
across the region and around the world. Highlights included
the Battle Green reenactment at dawn, the Paul Revere ride,
the grand Patriots’ Day Parade, the Bicentennial Band Concert
featuring a world premiere symphony, and the joyful Patriotic
Picnic in the Park with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops
Brass Ensemble. Special appearances by Ken Burns, the U.S.
Army Golden Knights parachute team, and Lexington native
Rachel Dratch further elevated the celebrations.
This extraordinary year was only possible through the
collaboration of Town staff, dedicated volunteers, local orga-
nizations, state and federal partners, and generous sponsors.
Year-Round Projects and Signature Initiatives
Witness House Project
Lex250 identified and honored 24 known pre-1775 Lexington
structures, each marked with a seasonal ground banner
featuring the Captain Parker statue and the Lex250 logo.
Homeowners received banners at a March 12, 2025 gathering
at Cary Hall. The project included historical research and
photography, creating a lasting record of these “celebrities in
our midst,” with stories, photos, and a digital map available
online.
Countdown Calendar
This donor-funded project was launched on April 19, 2024,
on the lawn of the Town Office Building to serve as a daily,
visual marker of the approaching 250th anniversary. The ini-
tiative paired the physical countdown with a digital storytell-
ing campaign on the Lex250 website, which highlighted the
people, places, and projects that define the town. Each day, a
different “Calendar Keeper”—including schools, civic groups,
and local businesses—flipped the number, underscoring the
broad community ownership of the commemoration. The
year-long program concluded with a ceremonial final flip
just before the Midnight Ride on April 19, 2025, when “Paul
Revere” officially changed the number from 1 to 0.
Riding Through History
Lex250’s signature public art exhibit showcased seven
life-sized fiberglass horses painted by jury-selected artists.
Strategically sited in Lexington Center, the horses are on
display through 2026, celebrating Lexington’s equestrian
heritage and commemorating the historic rides of April 18,
1775. The exhibit seamlessly blends art and history, creating a
lasting cultural landmark.
Weekend of Light: Lex250 Drone Show (October 2024)
Funded by a generous donor, the first Lex250 Drone Show
blended history, technology, and storytelling. The show fea-
tured roughly 400 drones performing a 15-minute narrative,
synchronized with live musket firing, historical music, and
imagery highlighting Revolutionary-era Lexington and the
contributions of women, indentured, and enslaved persons.
Pre-show performances by the Lexington High School
Marching Band, Chinese American Association of Lexington
(CAAL) Enlightened Dragon, and the William Diamond
Juniors Fife & Drum Corps set the stage for the spectacle.
Hundreds of community volunteers collaborated with pro-
duction partners, and the evening concluded with a lighting
moment on the Battle Green.
(continued on next page)
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) (continued)
Riding Through History artists.
Lex250 Drone Show
169 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Inclusive History Projects
To deepen the historical lens and broaden community learn-
ing, Lex250 advanced and supported projects including:
• Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL) and
Community Endowment of Lexington (CEL) funded Black
Patriots of Lexington — a multi-part educational series
honoring the service of Black patriots from Lexington
and neighboring towns, including several who fought on
April 19, 1775.
• The Black Residents of Lexington — a companion effort
exploring the lives and experiences of Black residents across
Lexington’s history.
• The Minute Men of Lexington — profiles and stories of
the town’s militia members who stood on the Battle Green,
connecting genealogies, places, and events.
VO250 Volunteerism and the Arch
A central symbol for the VO250 volunteer campaign was the
VO250 Arch, a 16-foot replica structure of Lexington’s 1875
Centennial arch. The donor-funded project was designed to
light up incrementally as the community logs service hours.
After an initial reveal during an awards ceremony on April
17th resulted in a mechanical mishap, the Arch was success-
fully rebuilt. The Historic Districts Commission granted
approval for the Arch to be installed as a temporary structure
on the Town Office Building lawn, the same location that the
Countdown Calendar had occupied. On May 16, 2025, it was
officially re-unveiled. The underlying VO250 volunteerism
campaign continues to track and celebrate service hours
across numerous partner organizations.
The Big Weekend 2025 (April 17–22)
Press Conference
Lex250 launched media coverage for the weekend with a
formal press conference, ensuring residents and regional au-
diences were informed and engaged.
Ken Burns Screening and Student Forum
Battin Hall hosted a screening of clips from the upcoming
PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns,
Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. A moderated panel,
led by 8th-grade Social Studies teacher Ramille Romulus,
featured student-generated questions. Approximately 400
students from Lexington, Concord, Arlington, Lincoln, and
Minuteman Technical High School attended, along with hun-
dreds of community members and invited guests.
Patriots’ Day Awards Ceremony and VO250 Launch
On the evening of April 17, 2025, the Town held its cherished
annual Patriots' Day Awards Ceremony. The special 250th an-
niversary event drew a capacity crowd that filled Battin Hall
in the Cary Memorial Building and reached an even wider
audience through a live stream. The ceremony celebrated
individuals whose community service reflects the spirit of
1775, honoring recipients of the Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth
Award, the Minuteman Cane Award, the White Tricorne Hat
Award, and the Lexington Minute Men Scholarship.
Hosted by Saturday Night Live alum and Lexington native
Rachel Dratch, the ceremony was an unforgettable celebration
of hometown pride, featuring humor and memorable musical
performances, including a surprise flash-mob orchestra. This
year's event also served as the official launch of the ambitious,
year-long VO250 volunteerism initiative. To mark the occa-
sion, representatives from local volunteer organizations and
community partners took to the stage to help officially kick
off the call to service for a new generation.
Midnight Ride
Organized and funded by Lexington History Museums,
riders on horseback traced Paul Revere’s historic route from
Buckman Tavern to Hancock-Clarke House. Enhanced light-
ing and sound created a vivid, immersive experience for the
record-breaking crowd of thousands.
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) (continued)
(continued on next page)
The Arch
170 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Reenactment of the Battle of Lexington
The 250th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Lexington
was a signature event, drawing tens of thousands of specta-
tors to the Battle Green at dawn. The portrayal was expertly
performed by the Lexington Minute Men Company and ded-
icated British reenactment units, including His Majesty's 10th
Regiment of Foot.
To accommodate the massive crowd and ensure an im-
mersive experience for everyone, significant logistical and
technical support was implemented. Key reenactors were
equipped with microphones, allowing their dialogue and the
officers' commands to be broadcast clearly across the entire
area. Furthermore, three large Jumbotrons were strategically
placed around the Green, providing close-up views of the
drills, musket volleys, and historical action. This combination
of live audio and video ensured that every spectator, regard-
less of their vantage point, had a clear and engaging view of
the historic commemoration.
Battle Green Rededication
Following the dawn reenactment, the Town of Lexington
hosted a formal Rededication Ceremony, underscoring the
Battle Green's status as nationally sacred ground. The event
brought together a distinguished gathering of dignitaries to
commemorate the 250th anniversary. Esteemed guests in-
cluded the Select Board members, state leaders like Governor
Maura Healey, and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, the full state
delegation, federal representatives such as Congresswoman
Katherine Clark and America250 Chair Rosie Rios, and
international delegates, including a special delegation from
Lexington's sister city, Antony, France.
The ceremony was a blend of solemn remembrance and
patriotic pageantry. It featured remarks from key officials, a
wreath-laying ceremony, and musical performances by the
Lexington Children's Community Chorus. A major highlight
was the significant participation of the U.S. Army's Military
District of Washington (MDW), which brought the prestige
of a national-level commemoration. Their contributions
included:
• A spectacular parachute demonstration by the U.S. Army
Golden Knights.
• Stirring musical performances by the Old Guard Fife and
Drum Corps.
• A display of precision by the U.S. Army Drill Team and a
demonstration by the Commander-in-Chief's Guard.
A particularly poignant moment was the ceremonial presen-
tation of the "Lexington" battle streamer by Brigadier General
Mark Kalin, officially affirming the battle's foundational role
in U.S. Army history. The commission's extensive coordina-
tion of logistics ensured a seamless and powerful tribute for
all in attendance.
(continued on next page)
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) (continued)
Reenactment of the Battle of Lexington.
Battle Green wreath-laying ceremony.
171 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Patriots’ Day Parade
One of the largest in recent Lexington history, the Patriots’ Day
Parade featured approximately 120 units, including marching
bands, reenactors, veterans, community groups, and floats.
An estimated 55,000 spectators lined Massachusetts Avenue,
and roughly 2,000 participants showcased local pride and
regional collaboration. The Town Celebrations Committee
worked closely with Town staff, conveners, and volunteers to
ensure a safe and vibrant procession. (See photos of the parade
on the inside back cover of this report.)
Bicentennial Band Concert
Held at Battin Hall (Cary Memorial Building), the concert
featured Seeds of Revolution by Daniel Lutz and the world
premiere of Symphony No. 11 — The Year 1775 by Dr. Andrew
Boysen, with both composers conducting. The near-capacity
audience and LexMedia livestream extended the event’s
cultural reach.
Patriotic Picnic in the Park — April 21, 2025
The community enjoyed performances by Keith Lockhart
and the Boston Pops Brass Ensemble and Lexington’s Malin
Band, with refreshments from Revolution Hall (beer gar-
den), Rancatore’s Ice Cream, and pre-ordered meals from
local restaurants. The National Lancers escorted Paul Revere
and William Dawes on horseback for an immersive, fami-
ly-friendly experience.
Naturalization Ceremony — April 22, 2025
In partnership with Lexington History Museums, a
Naturalization Ceremony on the Battle Green formally wel-
comed 49 new U.S. citizens from 28 nations. Speakers includ-
ed civic leaders and community members; the Minute Men
Honor Guard presented the colors, closing the weekend with
meaning and dignity.
Additional Morning Events — April 19, 2025
Other traditions complemented the weekend: multiple
Pancake Breakfasts; the Lexington Lions Club hosted the
111th Patriots’ Day 5-Mile Road Race and the USS Lexington
Memorial Ceremony; and the Daughters of the American
Revolution held a Tree Dedication. While independently
managed, these events were coordinated with Lex250 to align
schedules and logistics.
Operations, Safety and Logistics
The monumental scale of Lex250 required an extraordinary
level of operational planning and seamless interdepartmental
collaboration to ensure a safe and successful commemora-
tion for thousands of residents and visitors. To manage this
complexity, the Town partnered with Conventures, a premier
event planning and management firm with extensive experi-
ence in large-scale public celebrations.
The logistical nerve center for the events was a sophis-
ticated Unified Command post at Minuteman Technical
High School. This hub brought together leadership from
Lexington's Police, Fire, and Public Works departments with
state and regional public safety partners, enabling real-time
monitoring and coordinated, split-second decision-making.
A comprehensive traffic and crowd management plan
was crucial for the celebration's success. This involved a
multi-layered strategy that went far beyond simple barricades
to include planned road closures, designated satellite parking
facilities with a robust shuttle bus system, and carefully man-
aged pedestrian corridors along the parade route.
The flawless execution of these complex logistics was a
testament to the powerful partnership between Town staff,
hundreds of dedicated volunteers, public safety officials, and
the expert production team. All parties worked in concert to
deliver a series of safe, accessible, and memorable events for
the entire community.
(continued on next page)
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) (continued)
Patriotic Picnic in the Park.
USS Lexington Memorial Ceremony.
172 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Communications and Media Outreach
To ensure Lexington's story reached the widest possible
audience, Lex250 executed a comprehensive, multi-channel
communications strategy with the support of a professional
partner John Guilfoil Public Relations. The campaign was
designed to build anticipation and drive engagement across
local, national, and even international platforms, achieving
extensive visibility through a blend of traditional and digital
media.
Key highlights of the media outreach included:
• Widespread Media Coverage: The campaign generated
thousands of media mentions. Major regional outlets,
including The Boston Globe, WCVB-TV Channel 5, and
NBC10 Boston, provided in-depth stories, live broadcasts
from events, and feature segments that captured the
spirit of the commemoration. This was supplemented by
coverage in national publications and wire services that
carried the story across the country.
• Exceptional Digital Engagement: The digital footprint of
the celebration was massive. The official Lex250 website
became a central hub for information, attracting over one
million visits in April 2025 alone. Social media channels
saw exponential growth, with hundreds of thousands of
impressions, shares, and comments driven by compelling
video content, historical storytelling, and real-time event
updates.
• Strategic Branding: A consistent and powerful brand
identity was deployed across all materials, from street
banners and public signage to digital ads and official
merchandise. This created a cohesive and recognizable
presence that unified the year-long calendar of events and
amplified the campaign's message.
Fundraising and Financial Stewardship
Funding for the multi-year Lex250 programming was drawn
from a mix of public and private sources. Town Meeting
appropriated a total of $575,000, beginning with $75,000
for initial planning and followed by $500,000 in 2024. These
municipal funds were enhanced by a combination of grants,
sponsorships, and generous private donations. Key grants in-
cluded $75,000 from a state transportation earmark, $25,000
from America250, and $5,000 from Massport. Private donors
also made several signature events possible, underwriting the
Countdown Calendar, the Lex250 Drone Show, the VO250
Arch concept, and the Patriotic Picnic in the Park.
Monument Project
The proposed Monument at Belfry Hill to honor the 250th
Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, an initiative support-
ed by a private donor, will not be moving forward following
a review by the Historic Districts Commission. The Lex250
Commission's role was to facilitate the national artist selec-
tion process for the proposal. This outcome underscores the
importance of collaboration between community partners
and regulatory bodies in creating lasting public memorials.
Closing and Looking Ahead
This extraordinary year was made possible by Town staff,
dedicated volunteers, community partners, state and fed-
eral collaborators, and generous sponsors. Looking ahead,
Lexington will continue the VO250 volunteerism campaign
toward July 2026, welcome national storytelling through
America250 programming, and finalize preparations for the
250th Anniversary Battle of Lexington commemorations in
April 2026. As the nation marks the Semiquincentennial on
July 4, 2026, Lexington’s history, hospitality, and civic spirit
will continue to shine.
Sustainable Lexington Committee (continued)
Battle Green Rededication
173 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
SUSTAINABLE LEXINGTON COMMITTEE
ROLE: To advise the Select Board on proposals that affect
Lexington’s sustainability and resilience and to recom-
mend, develop, and monitor programs designed to enhance
Lexington’s long-term sustainability and resilience in re-
sponse to environmental, resource, and energy challenges.
The Committee focuses its efforts on Town, residential, and
commercial assets, programs, and activities.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Cindy
Arens (Chair), Todd Rhodes (Vice-Chair), Celis Brisbin,
Paul Chernick, Lin Jensen, Andy Joynt, Rick Reibstein,
Kavitha Venkatesan, and Dan Voss, with Joe Pato (Select
Board Liaison), and Mike Boudett (Capital Expenditures
Committee Liaison).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Supported the Department of Public Facilities (DPF) in
the design and installation of solar canopies and battery
storage for the Police Station.
• Worked with town departments to support Zero Waste
initiatives, including expanding the Town-sponsored
curbside food waste pickup program, supporting
food waste compost pilot at Hartwell, and conducting
community meetings surrounding waste reduction
strategies and collection program changes like Hybrid
Pay-As-You-Throw.
• Worked with the Sustainability & Resilience Officer
(SRO) and Peregrine Energy to adapt the Town’s
Community Choice program to include solar benefits for
low-income households.
• Assisted the Sustainable Lexington Youth representatives
in identifying potential advocacy projects for the group.
• Worked with the SRO, DPF and Clean Water Action to ac-
quire grant funding for installation and use of dishwasher
and reusable foodware at Harrington Elementary School.
• Supported Lexington High School students in proposing
and passing the Select Board and School Committee
Single-Use Plastic Bottle Phase Out Policy.
• Supported efforts to execute the Integrated Building
Design and Construction Policy with the Lexington
High School Building Project, the results of which are
expected to lower the overall cost, significantly reduce
operational costs, and increase the health and resiliency
of the building. Worked with town staff and the design
team to compile and evaluate Lifecycle Cost Analysis for
optimizing and selecting HVAC-related components and
solar and battery installations.
• Supported Town Meeting Articles to reduce pesticide use
and fund solar feasibility studies.
• Worked with the Recreation Committee and Board
of Health to evaluate the installation of a new plastic
turf field and provided methods to improve testing
and disposal documentation and guidelines regarding
resurfacing additional playing fields at Lincoln Park.
• Provided comprehensive public comments on deficiencies
of the Draft Environmental Impact Report for a Hanscom
airport hangar expansion proposal.
• Continued to identify actions that could increase solar
energy production systems in Town for all types of
properties, municipal, residential and commercial,
including assisting in the development of a new Capital
Solar Integration Policy (CSIP) aimed at evaluating and
moving forward with solar installation along with other
planned capital projects on town property.
• Contributed to an update of Planning Board Site
Plan Review Regulations, improving the collection
of information regarding building and development
strategies that would decrease waste and energy use,
increase solar energy production, and improve
occupant health and comfort.
TOURISM COMMITTEE
ROLE: To create economic opportunities through tourism
and foster an environment where the Town, attractions, or-
ganizations, and businesses collaborate to enhance the visitor
experience.
APPOINTED by Select Board for one year terms: Margaret
Coppe (Chair) Marsha Baker, Gardy Desrouleaux, Bebe
Fallick, Ting Fang, Pamela Fowler, Marie-Triste Rago, Melissa
Robbins, Elsie Xu, and Suzie Barry (Select Board Liaison), Fred
Johnson (Lexington Center Committee Liaison), Sandhya
Iyer, (Economic Development Director), Jay Abdella (Senior
Economic Development Coordinator).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Established FY25 goals to implement marketing plan,
complete outstanding capital projects and prepare for
Lexington's 250th Celebration, with the expectation that
in light of easing pandemic restrictions, visitation and
visitor spending will significantly increase.
• Continued to work with the Semiquincentennial
Commission to plan a commemorative monument.
• Voted on the 250th Celebration Monument.
174 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Supported the activities and planning of Lexington's
250th Celebration.
• Volunteered at the Lexington Visitors Center on April 19th
to support the high-volume of visitors on Patriots’ Day.
TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
ROLE: To plan and carry out the proper observance of April
19 and of all such holidays and special events as the Select
Board may designate from time to time.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for overlapping 3-year
terms: Geetha Padaki (Co-Chair), Glen Bassett (Co-Chair),
Lorain Marquis (Treasurer), Linda Dixon, Yifang Gong,
David Grabel, Mary Hutton, Cerise Jalelian, Sondra Lucente,
Julie Miller, Sandra Podgorski, and Sue Stering; Subcommittee
1 year term: Sudha Balasuryan, Bonnie Karshbaum, Steve
Cole, Jr., Ashley Rooney, Pamela Winters, Hong Xie, James
Jackson Lee III, Perla Walling-Sotolong, Steven Cole, Mirela
Vaso, Huma Wasim [Bob Tracey- Honorary member];
Veterans Service Officer: Karen Tyler; Select Board Liaison:
Doug Lucente.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Veterans Day Events,
Saturday Nov 2 and Monday, Nov 11, 2024
Town Celebrations Committee (TCC) held a Veterans
Breakfast and Ceremony on Saturday, Nov 2, at Knights
of Columbus Heritage Hall and a Veterans Car Parade
Monday, Nov 11 through the Town Center. 160 veterans
attended the Breakfast, and 38 veterans attended the
Car Parade. The Breakfast and Ceremony included a
recognition of all veterans attending. The Car Parade took
advantage of great weather and was well received by the
participating veterans. Lexington Minute Men, Scouts,
Police, William Diamond Jr Fife & Drum, Lions Club,
CAAL and Lexington High School Band participated in
the events.
• Patriots’ Day, Saturday, April 17, 2025
The 2025 Lexington Patriots’ Day Parade was one of the
largest in recent memory. We had 130 units with almost
3000 marchers and 100 vehicles. We received tremendous
support from 66 sponsors and donors. The parade
included the US Army and Navy, our sister city, Antony,
France, Revolutionary War reenactors, large marching
bands, horses, fife and drum corps, pipers, and numerous
musical groups.
• Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025
Committee members joined with Minute Men, Veterans,
Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts for wreath-laying ceremonies
at our war memorials as well as the Police and Fire
Departments, to honor the memory of those who died
in service to our nation and to our community. Later, the
committee hosted a patriotic ceremony at Emery Park,
featuring a musical tribute to our armed services and two
original poems written for the occasion by Lexington
High School students Svanaa Palaniappan and Jessica Wu.
Town Celebrations Committee (L-R): David Grabel, James Jackson Lee III, Pamela Winters, Sandy Podgorski, Yifang Gong, Geetha Padaki (Co-Chair), Glen Bassett (Co-Chair), Sudha Balasuryan, Linda Dixon, Ashley Rooney, Karen Tyler, Cerise Jalelian, Bonnie Karshbaum, Sue Stering, Lorain Marquis. Not in the picture: Gresh Lattimore, Steve Cole, Jr., Mary Hutton, Sondra Lucente, Julie Miller, Hong Xie, Perla Walling-Sotolong, Mirela Vaso, and Huma Wasim.
Tourism Committee: (L-R) Gardy Desrouleaux, Margaret Coppe, Pamela Fowler, Bebe Fallick, Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development), Marcia Baker, Marie-Tristan Rago, Ting Fang; Missing: Melissa Robbins.
Tourism Committee (continued)
(continued on next page)
Lexington Patriots’ Day Parade.
175 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Dance Around the World - March 8, 2025
The Town Celebrations Committee's Dance Around the
World event at Cary Hall was a spectacular highlight of
the Lexington's 250th Celebration. The evening came
alive with a dazzling array of cultural performances, each
showcasing the rich traditions and signature dances from
countries around the world. The celebration reached its
crescendo with an open dance floor finale, where guests
joined together in joyful movement reflecting Lexington's
multicultural heritage.
• Other Events Coordinated by
Town Celebrations Committee
TCC also provided budget oversight to the MLK Day of
Service on Jan 20, 2025.
TOWN REPORT COMMITTEE
ROLE: To compile, edit, and prepare reports and photo-
graphs for the Lexington Annual Report prior to the March
Town Meeting. The annual report contains summaries of the
activities of town departments, boards and committees, as
well as basic statistical, financial, electoral, and historic data
for the year.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for a 1-year term: Victoria
Sax (Coordinator and Layout Designer); with Gloria Amirault,
David Lawrence, Susan Myerow, Varsha Ramanathan, and
Karyn Zhao (Editors).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Collected, edited, and prepared an estimated
75 reports, with additional subreports, tables and photos
for the FY24 Annual Report.
• 500 copies of this report were printed by the Lexington
Public Schools Print Center and were made available for
town residents in the library, community center, town
hall, as well as the offices of the Town Manager, Town
Clerk, and Select Board. In addition, the FY24 Annual
Report was made available to Town Meeting members
prior to the Town Meeting in March 2024.
• A digital copy of this report was placed in the
public records section of the town website:
https://records.lexingtonma.gov/weblink/.
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ROLE: To help maintain and enhance public transit options
in Lexington and advise the Select Board, Planning Board,
and other town boards and committees on issues that con-
cern alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel. The
Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) works closely
on subjects related to Lexpress, the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority (MBTA), transit-friendly housing,
and other transportation options and policies, especially with
town staff, including Lexington’s Transportation Manager,
Susan Barrett.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year overlapping terms:
Kunal Botla (Chair), Pamela Lyons (Vice-Chair), Nishanth
Veeragandham (Secretary), Sally Castleman, James Luker,
Jeremy Bowman, Keshav Krishna, Mark Andersen (until April
2025), and Daniel Asta (until April 2025). Liaisons: Vineeta
Kumar (Select Board), Tina McBride (Planning Board), Tom
Shiple (Bicycle Advisory Committee), Sudhir Jain (Council
on Aging), and Sebastian Fairbairn (Student Representative –
Lexington High School).
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Oversaw the second year of Lexpress’ simplified fare
structure, with a $20 annual pass—the Limitless pass—
and $2 adult fare starting in FY24. The proposal was
approved by the Select Board and took effect
August 1, 2024.
• In the second year of the Limitless pass, 741 passes
were sold for a 7.39% increase over prior year and
ridership increased by 10.2%.
• In the first year of the Limitless pass 690 passes
were sold, ridership increased by 40%, and revenue
increased 80% over FY23.
• Supported town staff’s process of selecting and executing
a five-year contract for Lexpress operation. This contract
includes new vehicles, improved compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and options for
future service expansion.
• Advocated for increased MBTA service under the Bus
Network Redesign’s plan. Beginning August 24, 2025,
routes 62 and 76 are operating with expanded service
hours, Sunday service on route for the first time since
1972, and the elimination of combined Route 62/76 has
simplified schedules.
(continued on next page)
Town Report Committee: (L-R) Vicky Sax, Varsha Ramanathan, Susan Myerow, and Gloria Amirault. Missing: David Lawrence, Karyn Zhao.
Town Celebrations Committee (continued)
176 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
• Contributed feedback on transportation best
practices—including recommendations to install bus
shelters and unbundle parking—to all developments
proposed under the village overlay districts required
under the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for
MBTA Communities. Applications included 7 Hartwell
Avenue, 185–189 Bedford Street, 17 Hartwell Avenue,
217–241 Massachusetts Avenue, and 952 Waltham
Street. Commitments from new applicants include the
construction of bus shelters, funds to the transportation
stabilization fund, and separated parking costs from
housing costs. The first applications included 89 Bedford
Street, 231 Bedford Street, 5-7 Piper Road, and
331 Concord Avenue.
• Continued to provide input on transportation best
practices for the Town’s project to build 40 units of
100% affordable housing on Parcel 68-44, located on
Lowell Street.
• Continued to contribute to the Transportation Safety
Group through the TAC liaison.
• Worked with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to coordi-
nate transportation efforts through a liaison to TAC.
TREE COMMITTEE
ROLE: To concern itself with the care, management, and
planting of town trees. The committee partners with the
Forestry Department, under the Department of Public Works
(DPW), to carry out planning and oversight of Forestry’s tree
management. It is also, less formally, a vehicle for commu-
nication between Town residents and organizations, and the
DPW’s Forestry division.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Mark Connor (Co-Chair,
Patricia Moyer (Co-Chair), Gavin Grant, Gerry Paul, Nancy
Sofen, and Barbara Tarrh. Early in the reporting year, member
Jim Wood stepped off the committee and associate member
Rachel Noack Summers became a member. Associate mem-
ber Alicia Morris was joined later in the year by a second
associate, Ben Fein-Cole.
HIGHLIGHTS
The committee continues to be very motivated by the nega-
tive effects of climate change, and by knowing the mitigating
value of large trees on extremes of weather and on a healthy
environment. We remain concerned by the pace of develop-
ment and attendant tree removal in our town. With these in
mind, we accomplished the following:
• Appointed two members to liaise with Foresty in
choosing species and sites for the two town tree plantings
which take place yearly.
• Joined with the DPW to create a proposal to the state
for a grant with the purpose of creating an Urban Forest
Master Plan for our town. (This grant was approved in the
Spring of 2025).
• Partnered with the town’s Semiquincentennial
Commission, the town’s information officers, and with
the DPW, to offer, free of charge to residents, 250 healthy
2 gallon native trees to be planted in yards. The DPW
paid for the trees and cared for them until we held 2
pick-up days in May. All of the trees were enthusiastically
spoken for. We plan to do this again in the coming year,
in commemoration of Lexington's 250th Celebration.
• A subcommittee worked through the summer and fall to
create enforceable regulations for builders after a bylaw
amendment was passed in spring 2024. The biggest change
in the bylaw was the addition of the requirement for an
arborist very early in the development process to certify
tree protections and to accurately label hazard trees. These
regulations were approved in the fall by the Select Board.
A more easily digestible form was prepared for the Tree
Warden to review with developers. The full set of
regulations was placed in the Tree Management Manual.
(continued on next page)
Transportation Advisory Committee
Transportation Advisory Committee (continued)
177 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Tree Committee (continued)
• Members of the committee participated in a months-long
Bylaw Enforcement Working Group, set up by our prior
town manager. A report shall be forthcoming.
• A resident brought to our attention being forced to
remove some of her trees by her homeowners’ insurance
company (in order for her coverage to continue). Among
these were some town trees. We discussed with DPW,
who put forth information to help homeowners in such
situations.
• One committee member attended the majority of
Planning Board meetings, helping to ensure both proper
mitigation for trees removed and plans for native trees to
be included in specs for large developments beginning in
the aftermath of the Town Meeting vote for acreage for
the MBTA Communities Act.
• One member worked with the Chair of the Affordable
Housing Trust to create a proper perspective on both
housing and tree removals at their proposed three acre
site on Lowell Street.
• Committee members appeared at various public forums
(Sustainability Day at the Farmer’s Market, East Village
Fair, the Environmental Fair at the high school, and
Town Day) to spread the word about the care of trees, the
Town’s dependence on trees for people’s health, for the
sustaining of the natural world, for counter-balancing
harmful weather trends, and to spread the word about the
Town’s tree planting efforts.
• One member coordinated a second annual tree giveaway
to each graduating fifth grader, working with the DPW
to provide economical but higher quality trees than
previously. This year, two elementary school participated
enthusiastically. (Harrington and Bowman)
• Prepared questions for the representatives of the
University of Vermont’s Tree Canopy report (2021).
Unfortunately, those at the university were unable to
produce a more detailed report and the town may need
to start over with a new study.
• One member educated herself about the benefits of a
Miyawaki forest and worked with the head of DPW to
locate a site and make plans for creating such an entity in
the fall of 2025. She will lead a volunteer effort at that time.
• Strategized about other ways to engage town residents
in the Town’s bi-annual tree planting efforts.
• Arbor Day in April was carried out jointly with members
of the Tree Committee and members of Forestry.
Three trees were planted, and residents who contributed
significantly to the greening of our community were
honored together in a moving ceremony.
• The committee is excited about and committed to present
and future efforts to join with our Tree Warden and with
the Forestry division to care for and expand our urban
forest and its health.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC TRUSTS
ROLE: To administer, invest and disburse the funds of
145 trusts, plus three cemetery funds and two library funds
bequeathed or donated to the town for specific public purpos-
es. Since 1910, the Trustees purpose has been to encourage
and facilitate giving locally by Lexington citizens. We help
donors with their giving today and enable their generosity
to continue after their lifetimes, supporting causes they care
about and solving concerns we can’t now imagine. In this, the
114th year of the Trustees, we celebrate all that has and will be
accomplished by the foresight and generosity of the donors.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: Lester Savage (Chair),
Alexander Payne, and James Cavallo.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• The total market value of the 145 trusts, three cemetery
funds and the two library funds as of June 30, 2025 was
$22,491,328.13.
• Trustees distributed a total of $521,907 to the following
specific areas of need:
Beautification/Civic Improvement ..........................$25,801
Celebration ...........................................................................$0
Conservation ..............................................................$13,490
Discretionary ..............................................................$97,605
Human Services ..........................................................$17,000
Recognition ...................................................................$8,865
Scholarship ................................................................$183,517
Perpetual Care ..........................................................$175,629
Library ..................................................................................$0
• These trusts represent the love the donors and individuals
being honored have for Lexington and its citizens and their
wish to contribute to the Town’s betterment. Knowing that
a trust is in perpetuity, that gifts will be used locally and are
tax deductible, is most satisfying to donors.
(continued on next page)
178 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
• The Trustees of Public Trusts make giving easy and attrac-
tive, and make it easy to be philanthropic. Any person or
organization may create a named trust with a minimum
gift of $12,500. Additions may also be made to any
existing trust at any time. The Trustees can accept a wide
variety of assets and can accommodate a donor’s financial
and estate planning objectives. Establishing a fund in the
Trust is a simple, quick and economical procedure. The
Trustees take care of all the necessary paperwork at no
cost. Tax deductible donations may be made to any fund,
online, at the Town of Lexington donations page; lexing-
tonma.gov/523/Donate-to-Lexington-Charitable-Funds.
A brief description of each trust and a financial statement
follow. “Principal Balance” refers to the original gift and ad-
ditions plus realized capital gains. “Income Balance” refers to
unspent interest and dividends. Disbursements are the mon-
ey disbursed in FY25.
Cary Memorial Library Funds
Cary Memorial Library Unrestricted Fund—Established
2007. The income to be used to purchase books and other
material for the library’s collection.
Principal balance ........................................................$1,385,205
Income balance ................................................................$45,403
Cary Memorial Library Restricted Fund—Established 2007.
The income to be used to purchase books and other material
in accord with the terms of the named funds which comprise
this fund.
Principal balance ........................................................$1,991,079
Income balance ................................................................$70,004
Discretionary Funds
Alan S. Fields Community Enrichment Fund—Established
2019. To be used to fund, from time to time, projects or ini-
tiatives that the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem appro-
priate and beneficial to the Town of Lexington.
Disbursements .................................................................$20,000
Principal balance .............................................................$59,672
Income balance ..................................................................$8,610
Fund for Lexington—Established 1995. The income to be
used in three areas: assisting those in need, beautification,
and providing seed money for innovative ideas and projects.
Donations can be earmarked for any of the three areas.
Disbursements .................................................................$76,605
Principal balance ...........................................................$284,651
Income balance ................................................................$18,541
Genesis Community Fund—Established 1998. Three-
quarters of the income will be used for scholarships and
human services.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$159,979
Income balance ..................................................................$6,704
George L. Gilmore Fund—Established 1950. The income to
be used as the Trustees may from time to time vote; and if
at any time special use arises to which in the opinion of the
Select Board the principal of said fund may be applied, then it
may be applied upon the vote of the Town Meeting.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$160,882
Income balance ................................................................$26,667
Millennium Arts Fund—Established 2000. Three-quarters
of the net income shall be paid from time to time to orga-
nizations or individuals related to the arts in Lexington.
Appropriateness of each grant shall be made by The Trustees
of Public Trust.
Principal balance .............................................................$18,626
Income balance ..................................................................$2,678
Williams Family Fund for the Arts & Conservation—
Established 2022. To be used to fund Lexington arts and
conservation projects.
Principal balance ...........................................................$112,518
Income balance ................................................................$10,258
Civic Improvement/Beautification Funds
Rick Abrams ACROSS Lexington Fund—Established 2013.
Three-quarters of the income may be used for improvements
to the ACROSS Lexington System.
Principal balance .............................................................$85,779
Income balance ..................................................................$9,408
Nancy and Joel Adler Fund—Established 2021. Principal and
income may be used for the expansion and improvement of
the Lexington Community Center or projects and programs
deemed appropriate.
Principal balance .............................................................$20,679
Income balance ..................................................................$1,391
Battle Green Flag Pole Maintenance Fund—Established 2007.
The income to provide for the perpetual care of the flag pole lo-
cated in the center of the Battle Green Common of Lexington.
Principal balance .............................................................$53,601
Income balance ..................................................................$3,593
(continued on next page)
179 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
(continued on next page)
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
Geneva M. Brown Fund—Established 1947. The income is
to be used for improving and beautifying the common and
triangular parcel of land in front of the Masonic Temple.
Principal balance .............................................................$38,269
Income balance ..................................................................$7,265
Jack and Betty Eddison Blossom Fund—Established 1993.
Three-quarters of the annual net income to be used to help
preserve the character and green spaces of Lexington and its
Bikeway, through maintenance, new projects, and the plant-
ing of flowers and trees.
Disbursements ...................................................................$5,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$134,675
Income balance ..................................................................$6,229
Frederick L. Emery Fund—Established 1936. The income is
to be used by the Lexington Field and Garden Club for the
work of grading, grassing, and keeping in order grass borders
lying between sidewalks or footpaths and the driveways on
public streets; and in otherwise beautifying the public streets,
ways, and places in said Town, preference be given to said
objects in order stated.
Disbursements ......................................................................$380
Principal balance .............................................................$16,506
Income balance .....................................................................$307
Orin W. Fiske-Battle Green Fund—Established 1899. The
income is to be used for the maintenance of the Lexington
Battle Green or the monuments erected thereon.
Principal balance ...............................................................$3,440
Income balance .....................................................................$498
Hayes Fountain Fund—Established 1895. The income is to
be used for the perpetual care of the fountain and grounds
immediately around it.
Principal balance .............................................................$10,279
Income balance ..................................................................$1,491
Richard and Jeanne Kirk Fund—Established 2000. Up to
three-quarters of the net income earned, and, if necessary,
the principal each year may be used for the maintenance,
support, and improvement of the Theresa and Roberta Lee
Fitness Nature Path.
Disbursements .................................................................$20,100
Principal balance ...........................................................$764,860
Income balance ................................................................$12,333
Teresa and Roberta Lee Fitness Nature Path—Established
1990. The income, and, if necessary, the principal, are to
be used by the Town of Lexington Recreation Committee
through the Lincoln Park Committee for the work of grad-
ing, planting, beautifying, and maintaining the Teresa and
Roberta Lee Fitness Nature Path.
Principal balance ...........................................................$134,325
Income balance ..................................................................$8,897
Lexington Community Playground Fund—Established
1991. The income is to be used by the Lexington Recreation
Committee for the work of repairing and maintaining the
Lexington Community Playground.
Principal balance .............................................................$17,532
Income balance ..................................................................$2,332
Lexington Symphony/Trustees of Public Trusts Centennial Fund—Established 2010 by the Trustees of Public Trusts in
concert with the Lexington Symphony to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the Trustees of Public Trusts. Three-quarters of
the annual income may be paid to the Lexington Symphony
for general operating expenses, musician and staff compensa-
tion, facilities rental, marketing, and developmental expenses.
Principal balance .............................................................$85,020
Income balance ..................................................................$5,110
Everet M. Mulliken Fund—Established 1948. The income is
to be used, under the supervision of the proper town author-
ities, for the care of Hastings Park.
Principal balance .............................................................$82,925
Income balance ................................................................$15,030
Edith C. Redman Trust—Established 1928. The income only
is to be used and applied for the care and maintenance of the
Lexington Common; known as the “Battle Green.”
Principal balance ...............................................................$6,076
Income balance .....................................................................$880
George O. Smith Fund—Established 1892. The income is to
be expended by the Field and Garden Club in setting out and
keeping in order shade and ornamental trees and shrubs on
the streets and highways in Lexington, or the beautifying of
unsightly places in the highways.
Disbursements ......................................................................$321
Principal balance .............................................................$13,845
Income balance .....................................................................$254
180 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
George W. Taylor Flag Fund—Established 1931. The income
is to be used for the care, preservation, and replacement of the
flagpole on the Battle Green, or for the purchase of new flags;
any balance of income is to be used for the care of Lexington
Common.
Principal balance .............................................................$14,586
Income balance .....................................................................$544
George W. Taylor Tree Fund—Established 1931. The income
is to be used for the care, purchase and preservation of trees
for the adornment of the Town.
Principal balance .............................................................$15,400
Income balance ..................................................................$1,046
Albert Ball Tenney Memorial Fund—Established 1950. The
income is to be used to provide nightly illumination of the
Lexington Minute Man statue.
Principal balance .............................................................$52,535
Income balance ..................................................................$3,302
William Tower Memorial Park Fund—Established 1913.
The income is to be applied by the Town for the care, mainte-
nance, and improvements of Tower Park.
Principal balance ...........................................................$252,410
Income balance ................................................................$14,341
Celebration Funds
American Legion Celebrations Fund—Established 1982.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be used towards
defraying the town’s cost for the Patriot’s Day, Memorial Day,
and Veterans’ Day celebrations.
Principal balance .............................................................$31,572
Income balance ..................................................................$2,074
Leroy S. Brown Fund—Established 1940. The income is
to be used towards defraying the expense of an appropriate
and dignified celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of
Lexington.
Principal balance .............................................................$35,543
Income balance ..................................................................$2,409
Conservation Funds
Chiesa Farm Conservation Land Trust Fund—Established
2000. Three-quarters of the net annual income may be
spent for plantings, signage, maintenance projects, and land
acquisition of abutting land, to help preserve the character of
the Chiesa farm conservation area.
Disbursements .................................................................$56,950
Principal balance ...........................................................$191,745
Income balance ................................................................$13,686
Dunback Meadow Conservation Fund—Established 2000.
Three-quarters of the net income may be used to help preserve
the character of the Dunback Meadow conservation area.
Principal balance .............................................................$13,106
Income balance ..................................................................$2,442
Angela/Jere Frick Conservation Land Fund—Established
2012. Three-quarters of the annual net income to be used
by the Conservation Commission for planting, signage,
maintenance or any other project that focuses on the care and
enhancement of conservation land.
Principal balance .............................................................$22,879
Income balance ..................................................................$3,794
Gordon/Souza Juniper Hill Fund—Established 1993.
Three-quarters of the annual net income shall be used to help
preserve the character of Juniper Hill Conservation Land;
such income may be spent for plantings, signs, maintenance
projects, and land acquisition.
Principal balance .............................................................$96,053
Income balance ................................................................$12,792
Hayden Woods Conservation Fund—Established 1998.
Three-quarters of the annual net income shall be used to
help preserve the character of the Hayden Woods conser-
vation land; such income may be used for plantings, signs,
maintenance, projects and land acquisitions.
Principal balance ...........................................................$123,313
Income balance ................................................................$18,839
Lexington Nature Trust Fund—Established 1992. The income
and, if necessary, the principal, are to be used by the Town
of Lexington Conservation Commission for the acquisition,
promotion, management, and maintenance of its properties.
Disbursements ...................................................................$6,540
Principal balance ...........................................................$209,558
Income balance ................................................................$59,870
David G. & Joyce Miller Conservation Trust—Established
2004. Up to three-quarters of the net income earned shall be
used, when requested by the Conservation Commission, for
the promotion, beautification, and management of the Joyce
Miller Meadow.
Principal balance .............................................................$22,257
Income balance ..................................................................$4,081
Willards Woods Conservation Fund—Established 2000.
Three-quarters of the income may be used for plantings,
signage, maintenance projects, and land acquisition costs for
the Willards Woods conservation area.
Principal balance .............................................................$17,728
Income balance ..................................................................$3,174
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181 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
Human Services Funds
Artis Benevolent Fund—Established 2019. To assist resi-
dents at the Artis Senior Living Facility who may need finan-
cial assistance.
Principal balance ...........................................................$177,747
Income balance ..................................................................$9,893
Beals Fund—Established 1891. The income is to be expended
for the benefit of worthy, indigent, American-born men and
women over 60 years of age.
Principal balance .............................................................$17,075
Income balance ..................................................................$3,282
Bridge Charitable Fund—Established 1880. The income
is to be annually distributed among the deserving poor of
Lexington without distinction of sex or religion.
Principal balance .............................................................$84,878
Income balance ..................................................................$6,457
Friends of the Lexington Council on Aging, Inc.—
Established 1992. The income when requested, shall be used
to provide programs and services to benefit older adults in
Lexington. Principal may also be used for capital improve-
ments to the Senior Center.
Disbursements .................................................................$15,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$454,607
Income balance ..................................................................$2,542
Jonas Gammell Trust—Established 1873. The income is to
be used by the Board of Public Welfare and by two women
Appointed annually for the purpose by the Select Board in
purchasing such luxuries or delicacies for the town poor,
wherever located, as are not usually furnished them, and shall
tend to promote their health and comfort.
Principal balance ...............................................................$4,268
Income balance .....................................................................$621
Jack and Sally Gardner Fund—Established 2000. Up to
three-quarters of the annual income may be used to support
activities endorsed by the Friends of the Council on Aging.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$64,463
Income balance ..................................................................$1,374
Elizabeth Bridge Gerry Fund—Established 1885. The
income is to be distributed to the deserving poor of Lexington
without distinction of sex or religion.
Principal balance .............................................................$14,491
Income balance ..................................................................$2,476
Harriet R. Gilmore Fund—Established 1892. The income is
to be used for the benefit of poor people in Lexington.
Principal balance ...............................................................$8,070
Income balance ..................................................................$1,146
Lexington Human Services Fund—Established 1990 to be
funded by transfers from other funds administered by the
Trustees as well as private contributions, to provide funds for
the Lexington Human Services Committee in its mission to
help individuals in need.
Principal balance .............................................................$32,419
Income balance ..................................................................$3,958
Recognition Funds
Matt Allen Memorial Fund—Established 1944 and
reestablished 2004 to be used by the Athletic Department of
Lexington High School for annual awards to boys and girls
who have shown unusual faithfulness, effort, and sportsman-
ship in each of five major sports and also for a tablet to be kept
in the school as a record of these awards.
Principal balance .............................................................$20,670
Income balance ..................................................................$1,025
Jessica Bussgang Rosenbloom Skating Prize—Established
2018. The prize is available to a Lexington High School stu-
dent who is a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Association
and is engaged in competitive figure skating.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$12,975
Income balance .....................................................................$435
June Denk Memorial Book Fund—Established 2020. The
fund is intended to augment the Lexington High School
Library fund. Three-quarters of the net income shall be dis-
tributed in September, after a written request has been made;
one-quarter of net income is added to principal. Any income
amount not requested shall be retained as income. June Denk
was the first woman to receive a PhD in Chemical Engineering
from Tufts University. The books purchased should give pref-
erence, not limited, to women's issues.
Principal balance .............................................................$13,809
Income balance .....................................................................$731
(continued on next page)
182 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Ellalou Dimmock Prize for Vocal Excellence Fund—
Established 1997 by The Lexington Council for the Arts. The
award recognizes a Lexington High School student, selected
by the Lexington High School music faculty, who demon-
strates promising vocal ability and/or promotes vocal musical
performance in the community.
Disbursements ......................................................................$250
Principal balance .............................................................$11,793
Income balance .....................................................................$907
Charles E. Ferguson Youth Recognition Award Fund—
Established 1997 to fund monetary awards to the Lexington
High School students receiving the Lexington Youth Award at
each Patriot’s Day celebration. The recipients are selected by
the Youth Commission. The fund was established with mon-
eys left to the town by Charles E. Ferguson, Town Moderator
from 1949–1969.
Disbursements .....................................................................$500
Principal balance .............................................................$29,888
Income balance ..................................................................$1,751
The Michael Fiveash Prize—Established 2014. Three quar-
ters of the annual income shall be transferred to principal.
From time to time income may be used to fund a “prize” for
either a Lexington High School (LHS) Teacher or a senior
LHS student evidencing Michael’s passion for the classical
world.
Principal balance .............................................................$25,867
Income balance ..................................................................$3,166
Pat Flynn Youth Award—Established 2022. Net income and
capital gains shall be transferred to principal. Each year on
Patriot's Day, the Lexington Veterans Association shall make
an award to a high school student. This student shall demon-
strate patriotism and commitment to meeting the needs of
the under served as modeled by Pat Flynn in his service to his
community and country.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,500
Principal balance .............................................................$25,767
Income balance .........................................................................$6
Paul Foley Leadership Fund—Established 1990. This award
is made periodically to a member of the administration, facul-
ty, staff, or a volunteer in the Lexington Public School System
to recognize and reward his/her outstanding leadership in
facilitating a team approach to meeting the educational needs
of students, individually or as a group.
Principal balance .............................................................$12,822
Income balance ..................................................................$1,226
Alice Hinkle-Prince Estabrook Award Fund—Established
2004 to place and maintain a physical memorial honoring
Prince Estabrook, the African-American soldier and slave
who fought as a Patriot on the Battle Green and to fund
periodically the Alice Hinkle-Prince Estabrook Award.
Principal balance .............................................................$21,449
Income balance ..................................................................$1,351
Jeffrey Leonard Jazz Musician Fund—Established 2022. To a
graduating senior at Lexington High School who will study at
a 2-4 year college where music will be their major.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$20,934
Income balance .....................................................................$926
Lexington High School Music Endowment Fund—
Established 2006. Three-quarters of the income will be
distributed by Friends of Lexington Music, Art and Drama
Students (FOLMADS) to the Lexington High School Music
Department to be used at the discretion of the faculty to
benefit the students.
Disbursements ..................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$136,755
Income balance ..................................................................$6,448
Lexington Education Foundation Fund—Established 1989
to promote sound, innovative approaches to enhance excel-
lence in education by funding projects in areas of creative
program development, innovative materials, and instruction-
al resource.
Principal balance .............................................................$49,351
Income balance ................................................................$17,751
Rappaport Family Debate Fund—Established 2020. Each
year until principal is depleted, a $1,000 scholarship shall
be awarded to an exemplary Lexington High School (LHS)
senior that has been part of the LHS Debate Team, exhibits
leadership qualities, and has active community involvement.
Principal balance .............................................................$11,511
Income balance ..................................................................$1,119
Jacquelyn R. Smith Memorial Internship Fund—Established
1993. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be used to
help professionals gain valuable work experience and explore
career options within local government.
Principal balance ...........................................................$264,098
Income balance ................................................................$16,024
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
183 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
S. Lawrence Whipple History Fund—Established 1996 by
his many friends in honor of “Larry” Whipple. The prize
will be awarded to a Lexington resident currently attending
a public or private secondary school or college who has
demonstrated a genuine affinity for this community and has
made a significant contribution to a better understanding of
Lexington’s past.
Principal balance .............................................................$38,515
Income balance ..................................................................$4,263
Carl F. Valente and Maureen G. Valente Public Service
Fund—Established 2019 to be used for paid internships of
up to one year or to support graduate academic programs for
Lexington residents in Public Administration.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,615
Principal balance .............................................................$28,141
Income balance ..................................................................$2,830
Scholarship Funds
Brian Adley Scholarship Fund—Established 2019. Three-
quarters of the annual net income to be awarded to a
Lexington High School senior who was employed during the
school year and held a leadership position (sports, academic,
or other extracurricular).
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$51,120
Income balance ..................................................................$3,113
Sangwook Ahn Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
1998. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be
awarded to a Lexington High School senior whose life en-
compasses a joyful display of zest, a respect for all, a striving
for excellence, and service towards others.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,200
Principal balance .............................................................$48,682
Income balance ..................................................................$1,579
Charles D. Aker Family Memorial Scholarship Fund—
Established 1998. Three-quarters of the annual net income
to be awarded to a Lexington High School senior who must
have held a responsible position on a sports team (other than
a player) for at least two years.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$25,995
Income balance ..................................................................$1,034
Quinn Amsler Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
2016. To fund a scholarship for a graduate of Lexington High
School or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High
School who is financially challenged, impacted by cancer, a
medical condition, or mental disability.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$68,986
Income balance ..................................................................$2,883
Bass DiDomenico Scholarship Fund—Established 2002.
An award is to be made each year to a graduate of Lexington
High School who plans to major in music or music education.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$56,840
Income balance ..................................................................$1,898
Bathon Family Scholarship Fund—Established 2006. Three-
quarters of the annual income is to be used to fund a scholar-
ship(s) to a Lexington resident who graduates from Lexington
High School, Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High
School or Lexington Christian Academy. Recipients must
have strong technical skills and attend Villanova University
or a post-secondary school in the New England states.
Principal balance .............................................................$11,374
Income balance .....................................................................$480
Hallie C. Blake Fund—Established 1920. The income is to
be used annually in cash prizes, for example, a scholarship to
two seniors (a boy and a girl) of Lexington High School, who
by example and influence have shown the highest qualities of
leadership, conduct, and character and who possess, in the
largest measure, the good will of the student body.
Principal balance .............................................................$15,250
Income balance .....................................................................$634
B O L T—Established 2000. Three-quarters of the annual in-
come is to fund scholarships for graduating Lexington High
School students who have been on either the boys or girls
track teams.
Principal balance .............................................................$12,672
Income balance .....................................................................$896
Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize—Established 1990.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded to a
woman in the senior class of Lexington High School who has
demonstrated a commitment to the community.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$161,418
Income balance ..................................................................$4,178
(continued on next page)
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
184 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Evelyn T. Brega Foreign Studies Scholarship Fund—
Established 2017. To award a student of Lexington High
School who is intending to pursue an education in interna-
tional studies or foreign language and culture.
Principal balance .............................................................$14,451
Income balance .....................................................................$914
Pauline Briggs Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
2004. Three-quarters of the income may be used to fund a
need-based scholarship to graduates of Minuteman Regional
Vocational Technical High School.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$65,021
Income balance ..................................................................$3,213
James Cataldo Scholarship Fund—Established 2005. Three-
quarters of the income may be used to fund need-based schol-
arships to children of a Lexington Town Employee who have
graduated from either Lexington High School or Minuteman
Regional High School.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$19,254
Income balance .....................................................................$806
Robert and Edith Cataldo Family Scholarship Fund in
Memory of Jerie Cataldo DeAngelis—Established 2004. Up
to three-quarters of the set income shall fund scholarships
for a graduate of Lexington High School who demonstrates
financial need and is committed to teaching, especially those
with learning disabilities.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$75,907
Income balance ..................................................................$3,202
Robert Parker Clapp Fund—Established 1936. Income is
to provide two prizes for pupils of Lexington High School,
one for excellence in speaking and the other for excellence in
composition, or for scholarships.
Principal balance .............................................................$10,145
Income balance .....................................................................$641
Bettie Clarke Scholarship Fund—Established 1993.
Three-quarters of the annual net income to be awarded to a
Lexington senior at Lexington High School or Minuteman
Regional Vocational Technical High School, who joyously,
intelligently and creatively participates in community public
service, and has demonstrated a respect for all points of view.
Principal balance .............................................................$33,591
Income balance ..................................................................$2,915
Norman P. Cohen Scholarship Fund—Established 2002.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded to
a Lexington resident who is a graduate of either Lexington
High School or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical
High School and has shown evidence of financial need.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,500
Principal balance .............................................................$20,834
Income balance ..................................................................$1,110
Miller D Chandler Crocker Family Scholarship—
Established 1973. Three-quarters of the annual net income
is to be awarded to a Lexington High School senior, prefer-
ably one who graduated from Bridge School, has financial
need, loves family, and is involved in community and school
activities.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$14,476
Income balance .....................................................................$606
Nan and Ray Culler Scholarship Fund—Established 1998.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded
to graduates of Lexington High School who are residents of
Lexington at the time of their graduation.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$126,013
Income balance ..................................................................$5,948
Dailey Farm Scholarship Fund—Established 2017. To
fund scholarships to graduates of Lexington High School
or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School
(preferably) for students who are financially challenged, are
planning to further his or her education in the trades or ag-
riculture, is the child of a town employee, and might attend
University of Massachusetts at Stockbridge or the Peterson
School.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$40,806
Income balance ..................................................................$1,701
Scott Davidson Family Scholarship Fund—Established
2008. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be
awarded to a graduate of Lexington High School who plans to
attend a post-secondary accredited school/college; who has a
keen curiosity about science, history, or music and who has
made a positive contribution to his or her community, family,
and friends.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal Balance .............................................................$15,589
Income balance .....................................................................$652
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
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185 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
The Dean/Hughsted Scholarship Fund—Established 2012
to fund scholarships for graduates with financial need, who
are planning to further their education at an accredited junior
or community college, a college, or university.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$16,448
Income balance .....................................................................$686
June Denk Fund—Established 1994. Three-quarters of the
annual net income is to be used to award a scholarship and
book selected by the Principal of Lexington High School to
a graduating senior who either volunteered in the Student
Library or made extensive use of the Student Library.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,500
Principal balance ...........................................................$123,953
Income balance ..................................................................$5,249
Earl and Elsie Dooks Scholarship Fund—Established 2000.
Three-quarters of the income shall fund a scholarship(s) to a
Lexington High School graduate who is planning to study and
enter the field of teaching.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$34,774
Income balance ..................................................................$1,417
Dan H. Fenn, Jr. Scholarship Fund—Established 1998.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be used to fund
a scholarship to an individual pursuing the study of colonial
history, primarily Lexington.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$41,982
Income balance ..................................................................$1,753
Mickey Finn Scholarship Fund—Established 1996 by the
family and friends of Mickey Finn who was a President of
the Lexington Little League, a coach, and mentor of many
Lexington youth. The scholarship is to be awarded to a grad-
uating senior who participated in Lexington Little League or
Girls’ Softball.
Principal balance .............................................................$19,555
Income balance .....................................................................$815
William P. and Wilma “Billie” Q. Fitzgerald Scholarship
Fund—Established 1998 to be awarded to a Lexington High
School senior who has shown positive growth in his or her
athletic abilities and is recognized as a good person.
Principal balance .............................................................$41,287
Income balance ..................................................................$1,717
Charles E. French Medal Fund—Established 1905. The
income is to be used annually to purchase silver medals (or
a scholarship) to be distributed to pupils in the senior high
school for the best scholarship.
Principal balance .............................................................$13,701
Income balance .....................................................................$568
Robin S. Glabe Scholarship Fund—Established 2014. Three
quarters of the annual Net Income to fund scholarships for
graduate of Lexington High School to further their education
at an accredited junior or community college, a college, or
university. Financial need should be considered.
Principal balance .............................................................$17,914
Income balance .....................................................................$746
Nancy Gordon Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
2002. Three-quarters of the annual net income shall be
awarded to a graduate of either Lexington High School or
Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School who
demonstrates financial need and is going to pursue a degree
in education.
Principal balance .............................................................$13,007
Income balance .....................................................................$823
Mary P. Grace Scholarship Fund—Established 1998. Three-
quarters of the annual net income is to fund scholarships.
Principal balance .............................................................$22,576
Income balance .....................................................................$942
Harrington Memorial Fund—To be used by the School
Committee of Lexington to provide scholarships for needy
children.
Principal balance ...........................................................$113,015
Income balance ..................................................................$4,711
Diane Higgins Scholarship Fund—Established 2022. To a
woman graduate of Lexington High School who has financial
need and will major in business at a 4-year college or university.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$51,685
Income balance ..................................................................$2,042
Tabor Ansin Family Scholarship Fund—Established 1999.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded
to a Lexington High School graduate(s) who is a resident of
Lexington, has demonstrated financial need, and has done his
or her work conscientiously while not necessarily being in the
top ten percent of the class.
Disbursements ...................................................................$8,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$468,450
Income balance ................................................................$10,558
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
186 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Jacqueline Toye Hoiriis Scholarship Fund—Established
2001. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be
awarded annually to a Lexington High School or Minuteman
Regional Vocational Technical High School graduate, who is
a resident of Lexington, has been a member of the Haydenette
Precision Skating Team, and has been accepted at a college or
university.
Principal balance .............................................................$18,607
Income balance .....................................................................$774
Richard Isenberg Scholarship Fund—Established 1986.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded an-
nually to a member of the junior or senior class of Lexington
High School who has demonstrated excellence in sports
writing.
Principal balance .............................................................$49,441
Income balance ..................................................................$2,069
George E. Jansen Scholarship Fund—Established 2005.
Three-quarters of the income may be used to fund need-based
scholarships to graduate of Minuteman Regional Vocational
Technical High School.
Principal balance .............................................................$13,644
Income balance .....................................................................$569
Gladys & Arthur Katz Scholarship—Established 2005.
Three-quarters of the income may be used to fund need-
based scholarships to a graduate of Lexington High School
or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$44,405
Income balance ..................................................................$1,826
Lexington High School Class of 1938—Established 1998.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded
annually to two seniors of Lexington High School, (a boy and
a girl) with financial need who have shown high quality of
leadership and character.
Principal balance .............................................................$18,068
Income balance .....................................................................$381
Lexington High School Class of 1953/June Wilson Kennedy Fund—Established 2000. Beginning in 2003, three-quarters
of the annual net income shall be awarded to a student who
has demonstrated financial need and worked conscientiously
and to the best of his or her ability without necessarily achiev-
ing a high level of academic standing.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$220,356
Income balance ..................................................................$4,752
Lexington High School Class of 1954/Lawrence G.
Movsessian Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established 2000.
Up to three-quarters of the income shall fund need-based
scholarships to graduates of Lexington High School.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$47,082
Income balance ..................................................................$1,057
Lexington High School Class of 1976 Fund—Established
2006. Three-quarters of the income shall fund a scholarship
to a graduate of Lexington High School who contributed to
the well-being of the town or who served in a leadership role.
Principal balance .............................................................$17,001
Income balance ..................................................................$3,037
Lexington High School Class of 1996 Scholarship Fund—
Established 1996. Three-quarters of the income may be used
to fund need-based scholarships to graduates of Lexington
High School.
Principal balance .............................................................$12,525
Income balance .....................................................................$262
Lexington Outlook Club/Bessie and Gabriel Baker
Scholarship Fund—Established 1989. Three-quarters of the
annual net income is to be awarded to women in the senior
class of Lexington High School who are going to college.
Principal balance .............................................................$28,028
Income balance ..................................................................$1,191
Lexington Outlook Club Scholarship Fund—Established
1902. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be award-
ed to women in the senior class of Lexington High School
who are going to college.
Principal balance .............................................................$49,115
Income balance ..................................................................$1,036
Lexington Outlook Club/Maxine Francis Warnecke Scholarship Fund—Established 1986. Three-quarters of the
annual net income is to be awarded to women in the senior
class of Lexington High School who are going to junior college
or college, who need financial assistance, and who have made
a commitment to pursue a career in medicine or science.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance ...........................................................$421,659
Income balance ..................................................................$9,067
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
187 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Lexington Scholarship Fund—Established 1956 to give fi-
nancial awards to deserving Lexington students to be applied
to the cost of their post-secondary undergraduate education.
Disbursements .................................................................$22,992
Principal balance ...........................................................$413,506
Income balance ..............................................................$184,387
Lexington Police Children’s Scholarship Fund—Established
2000. Three-quarters of the income is to fund scholarship(s)
for children of currently active Lexington Police officers.
Principal balance .............................................................$16,096
Income balance ..................................................................$3,500
Lexington Police Scholarship Fund—Established 2000.
Three-quarters of the income may be used to fund need
based scholarship(s) to a graduate(s) of Lexington High
School, preferably those planning to enter the field of law
enforcement.
Principal balance .............................................................$19,779
Income balance ..................................................................$1,249
Christine Martin Scholarship Fund—Established 1999.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded to a
senior at Lexington High School who plans to pursue a career
working with children and has a history of volunteer work
and/or has been active in the fight to prevent drinking and
driving.
Disbursements ..................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$40,890
Income balance .....................................................................$756
Carolyn M. McCabe Memorial Scholarship Fund—
Established 1986. Three-quarters of the annual net income is
to be awarded to a woman in the senior class of Lexington
High School who was a varsity athlete and who demonstrat-
ed aspects of Carolyn’s character, i.e. good sportsmanship,
inspired competition, spirit, and fun. Nominations must be
made by a teammate or coach.
Disbursements ..................................................................$3,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$197,916
Income balance ..................................................................$7,974
Arlene and Claire McDonough Memorial Scholarship
Fund—Established 2010 to be awarded to a graduate of
Lexington High School planning to go into the field of educa-
tion and has evidenced financial need.
Principal balance .............................................................$44,061
Income balance .....................................................................$923
Robert & Mary McNamara Family Scholarship Fund in
Memory of Edward Joseph McNamara, Jr.—Established
2004. Three-quarters of the income may be used to fund need
based scholarships to a graduate of Lexington High School
who was a member of the football team and a resident of
Lexington.
Principal balance .............................................................$19,624
Income balance .....................................................................$415
Leo P. McSweeney Scholarship Fund—Established 2004 to
fund scholarships to a graduate of Lexington High School,
who must be a current resident of Lexington and have
demonstrated community involvement and preferably is a
direct descendant of an elected Town official, preferably a
Select Board Member. Up to three quarters of the annual net
income may be spent.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$15,585
Income balance .....................................................................$331
Srinivasu Meka Scholarship Fund—Established 1996 by
the family and friends of Srinivasu Meka, a member of the
Lexington High School Class of 1991 who died in 1994. The
recipient must have at least a 3.0 average, have been involved
in student council or sports, and is planning to attend a 4-year
college or university.
Disbursements ..................................................................$1,825
Principal balance .............................................................$47,666
Income balance ..................................................................$1,003
Richard "Dick" Michelson Scholarship Fund—Established
2018 by the family to honor Richard Michelson. Awarded to
a student of Lexington High School or Minuteman Regional
Vocational Technical High School, who has demonstrated a
respect for Lexington as a "community."
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$26,744
Income balance .....................................................................$661
Dominic and Assunta Modoono Family Scholarship Fund—Established 2000. Up to three-quarters of the income
earned shall fund scholarship(s) on a need-based basis to
graduate(s) of Lexington High School or Minuteman Regional
Vocational Technical High School. Recipients should have
selflessly, enthusiastically, and creatively served their school
and community.
Disbursements .................................................................$11,000
Principal balance ........................................................$1,216,469
Income balance ................................................................$25,594
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
188 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
William Stetler Nichols Fund—Established 2015. Three
quarters of the annual net income to be awarded to a gradu-
ate of Lexington High School with financial need who has a
knowledge and passion for literature and drama.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$19,898
Income balance .....................................................................$427
James H. Nolan, Jr. Scholarship Fund—Established 2011 to
be awarded to a female graduate of Lexington High School.
Principal balance .............................................................$14,329
Income balance .....................................................................$302
Amanda Payson Scholarship Fund—Established 1933.
Three-quarters of the annual net income shall be awarded to
female graduates of LHS who demonstrates financial need.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance ...........................................................$536,894
Income balance ................................................................$11,277
Virginia M. Powers Scholarship Fund—Established 1995.
Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded to a
woman student with financial need who evidences a serious-
ness of purpose, a clear sense of responsibility, coupled with
humility and respect for others.
Principal balance .............................................................$27,722
Income balance .....................................................................$582
Joseph J. Quigley IV Scholarship—Established 2021. Three-
quarters of net income to Lexington Scholarship Committee;
one-quarter of net income and all capital gains transfer to
principal. Scholarship to be awarded to a Lexington High
School or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High
School graduate, one who shall major in STEM at a 2- or
4-year college, be passionate about mathematics, and prefer-
ence will go to a Lexington Math Club participant while in
existence.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$10,777
Income balance .....................................................................$682
Marcia Dane Award—Established 1933 by Marcia Dane.
The income to be used for awards to a member of the senior
class of the Lexington High School who has done school work
conscientiously and creditably and who, in the judgment of
the faculty, deserves public commendation for carrying on at
the same time, either in or out of school, a worthwhile activity
or employment which has not been given other recognition.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$14,839
Income balance .....................................................................$315
Phyllis E. Richardson Scholarship—Established 2022. To
be awarded to a graduate of Lexington High School who will
major in teaching, nursing or STEM.
Disbursements .................................................................$10,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$189,731
Income balance ..................................................................$2,268
Merion Ritter Scholarship Fund—Established 2016 by the
family of Merion Ritter. Three-quarters of the income to be
used to fund a scholarship to be awarded to a graduate of
Lexington High School or Minuteman Regional Vocational
Technical High School, who is planning to study Science/
preferably Environmental Science. Preference will be given to
a student attending or planning to attend Boston College or
Connecticut College.
Disbursements ...................................................................$3,000
Principal balance .............................................................$14,749
Income balance .....................................................................$309
Michael J. Robinson Scholarship Fund—Established 2023.
To be awarded to a Lexington High School or Minuteman
Regional Vocational Technical High School graduate, with a
preference to a student who has demonstrated a passion for
Chemistry, Math or Physics.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$22,007
Income balance .....................................................................$871
Morton L. Salter Scholarship Fund—Established 2000.
Three-quarters of the income shall fund need-based
scholarships.
Disbursements ...................................................................$8,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$292,495
Income balance ..................................................................$7,961
Dorothea Schmidt-Penta Memorial Scholarship Fund—
Established 1980. Three-quarters of the income to be awarded
to a Lexington High School senior planning to enter the field
of health service.
Disbursements ...................................................................$1,000
Principal balance .............................................................$14,600
Income balance .....................................................................$310
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
189 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Mary and August Schumacher Fund—Established 1988.
Three-quarters of the income is to be used annually to fund
two scholarships, of equal value, to seniors at Lexington High
School who have been accepted to an accredited college, have
worked diligently on academic studies while perhaps not be-
ing in the top ten percent of the class, and who have a need for
funds to obtain a college education.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$198,347
Income balance ..................................................................$4,261
Paul A. Serbin Scholarship Fund—Established 1982 to be
awarded to a graduate of Lexington High School who is an
all-around scholar, a definite achiever, well-rounded, worked
to earn money for college and could be called “an unsung hero”.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance .............................................................$57,492
Income balance ..................................................................$1,359
Foster Sherburne and Tenney Sherburne Fund—Established
1956. The net income from said fund is to be awarded an-
nually to assist in the education of deserving young men or
women living in Lexington.
Principal balance .............................................................$62,509
Income balance ..................................................................$4,047
Shire Scholarship Fund—Established 2009. Three-quarters
of the income shall fund a scholarship to be given to a
graduate of Lexington High School or Minuteman Regional
Vocational Technical High School. Recipient must be a resi-
dent of Lexington and major in, or planning to major in, one
of the Life Sciences.
Principal balance .............................................................$30,251
Income balance .....................................................................$672
George O. Smith Scholarship Fund—Established 1905 to be
used for “furnishing of a technical education to graduates of
the high school in Lexington, who were born in that town.”
The scholarship has been modified to those whose parents
were living in Lexington at time of birth and fields of study
broadened to engineering, physical science or related fields.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,000
Principal balance ...........................................................$655,400
Income balance ................................................................$13,250
Emily and Frank Smiddy Scholarship Fund—Established 2019.
To fund need based scholarships for students graduating from
Lexington High School or Minuteman Regional Vocational
Technical High School, intending to study in STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math).
Disbursements .................................................................$15,000
Principal balance .............................................................$12,242
Income balance ..................................................................$2,375
Howard A. and Elaine L. Smith Scholarship Fund—
Established 2017. Three quarters of the income to be award-
ed to a graduate of Lexington High School or Minuteman
Regional Vocational Technical High School who has shown
financial need, the skills, and initiative to merit higher educa-
tion which may be college or a technical school.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$32,442
Income balance .....................................................................$707
Mary Sorenson Memorial Fund—Established 1969. Three-
quarters of the annual net income to be awarded to graduat-
ing seniors in need of financial assistance.
Principal balance .............................................................$15,464
Income balance .....................................................................$346
Joseph and Carole Stavenhagen Scholarship Fund—
Established 2000. Up to three-quarters of the income earned
shall fund need based scholarship(s) to student(s) who will
attend nonprofit institutions of higher learning at the under-
graduate or graduate levels of education. Awards to individu-
als may be repeated.
Disbursements ...................................................................$4,500
Principal balance .............................................................$31,030
Income balance .....................................................................$701
Ellen A. Stone Fund—Established 1890. The accrued interest
to be paid to the school committee who are to employ it in
aiding needy and deserving young women of Lexington in
obtaining a higher education.
Principal balance .............................................................$15,064
Income balance .....................................................................$330
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
(continued on next page)
190 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Steven Teitelbaum Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
2000. Three-quarters of the annual net income to be award-
ed to a male senior, graduating from Lexington High School
planning to attend a two or four year college or university, and
planning to participate in post high school athletics. Recipient
must have been a member of varsity athletic teams in at least
two different sports, one of which must have been football or
hockey.
Disbursements ..................................................................$5,000
Principal balance .............................................................$78,804
Income balance ..................................................................$5,438
Richard S. Townsend Scholarship Fund—Established 1997
to fund scholarships for male graduates of Lexington High
School who have financial needs.
Principal balance .............................................................$12,462
Income balance .....................................................................$270
Michael Wagner Education Fund—Established 1999. Three-
quarters of the annual net income shall be awarded to a student
at Lexington High School who has done much to promote the
art of technology in the classroom, or has aided others in the
system to effectively utilize computer technology.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$17,953
Income balance .....................................................................$412
Charles Lyman Weld Fund—Established 1946. The entire
fund, both principal and income, are available upon a vote
of the town, for educational purposes, a chapel at Westview
Cemetery, or scholarships.
Principal balance .............................................................$24,604
Income balance .....................................................................$524
Williams Family Fund—Established 2002. Up to three-quar-
ters of the income earned shall fund need based scholarship
to students who have worked diligently and demonstrated
excellent community involvement and/or service.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance .............................................................$39,282
Income balance ..................................................................$2,195
Alan B. Wilson Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
2008. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be used to
award a scholarship to a graduate of Lexington High School
or Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Recipient must be a resident of Lexington, must demonstrate
financial need and may attend a one or two year technical
program school.
Disbursements ...................................................................$2,500
Principal balance ...........................................................$132,744
Income balance ..................................................................$4,906
Edwin B. Worthen Family Scholarship Fund—Established
2010. Shall be awarded to a graduate(s) of Lexington High
School who must evidence financial need and have demon-
strated an interest in Lexington History by performing com-
munity service work for the Lexington Historical Society or
for the town for at least two years.
Principal balance .............................................................$85,959
Income balance ..................................................................$1,815
Sevag Yazijian Memorial Scholarship Fund—Established
1995. Three-quarters of the annual net income is to be awarded
to a Lexington High School senior planning to become a phy-
sician, who has demonstrated consistent academic improve-
ment, possessed aspects of Sevag’s easy-going personality, is
dedicated to family, friends and community, evidences a desire
to see others happy, and shows pride in an ethnic heritage.
Principal balance .............................................................$15,674
Income balance .....................................................................$330
Cemetery Funds
Monroe Cemetery Fund—Income is to be used in the main-
tenance of Monroe Cemetery.
Disbursements .................................................................$18,616
Principal balance ...........................................................$551,101
Income balance ..................................................................$8,507
Westview Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund—Income is to be
used in the maintenance of Westview Cemetery.
Disbursements ...............................................................$157,013
Principal balance ........................................................$5,026,689
Income balance ................................................................$93,651
Charles E. French Colonial Cemetery Fund—Established
1905. The annual income to be devoted to the care of the old-
er part of the cemetery in which repose the remains of Rev.
John Hancock and wife.
Principal balance .............................................................$44,877
Income balance ..................................................................$1,970
Trustees of Public Trusts (continued)
191 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
VISION FOR LEXINGTON COMMITTEE
(formerly Lexington 20/20 Vision Committee)
ROLE: As a long-term strategic visioning group for the
Select Board, the Vision for Lexington Committee studies
trends and social issues that affect the community. It helps to
address questions regarding how changes in the community
affect how we govern ourselves, how services are affected, and
how we ensure that all voices are being heard. The Committee
seeks to engage the community to think about Lexington’s
long-term future. It works to identify and assess opportunities
and challenges that may shape the town’s future, and makes
recommendations on the topics studied. The Committee
meets monthly to discuss relevant topics and establishes sub-
committees and task forces as needed.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for 3-year terms: Sara
del Nido Budish, Margaret Coppe, Marian Cohen, Andrew
Dixon, Larry Freeman (School Committee), John Giudice,
Jill Hai (Select Board), Dan Joyner, Bhumip Khasnabish,
Tom Lin, Carol Marine, Shannon Murtagh, Robert Peters
(Planning Board), Michael Schanbacher (Planning Board),
Ambilu Sivabalan, Catherine Yan, Min Zhao.
Staff: Abraham Fofonah, Management Analyst, Town
Manager’s Office.
HIGHLIGHTS:• Subcommittee to study participation in local elections
continued its work. Through research and data-gathering
identify the factors that may be contributing to the compara-
tively low voter turnout in local Lexington elections; explore
evidence-based ways to increase participation in local
elections; and report findings and recommendations to the
Select Board with the objective of informing the decisions
and actions of the Select Board and other Town officials.
WATER AND SEWER ABATEMENT BOARD
ROLE: To review applications from ratepayers for abatement
or adjustment of water/sewer charges due to disputes, leaks
or error, and make recommendations to the Select Board on
abatements to be granted.
APPOINTED by the Select Board for staggered 3-year terms:
Loren Wood (Chair), James Osten and William Ribich.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Held six meetings to review and act upon staff recom-
mendations regarding 80 applications for adjustments
and abatements to water and sewer bills.
• Of those 80 applications, three were disputed and
21 were denied.
YOUTH COMMISSION
ROLE: To plan, promote, and participate in community
service activities with Lexington’s youth and teens. Members
will serve as youth leaders, volunteers, and role models for
the community by taking action on service projects that
enhance the quality of life in Lexington. This role provides
opportunities for teens to engage in meaningful community
service, while also fostering the development of leadership,
teamwork, and humanitarian skills—preparing them to be-
come future community leaders.
APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Debra Hankins (Chair),
Adult Advisors: Shannon DeGuglielmo, James Athens, and
Tom Romano.
School Resource Officer: Detective Kristina Hankins
APPOINTED by Lexington Youth Committee (LYC):
Sofia Saleeby (Co-Chair and Co-President), Jack Gehring
(Co-Chair and Co-President), Issabella Barbesino (Vice
President), Sarah Kochi (Secretary), Sadie Maloney (Social
Media/PR) and Meera Krishnan. Team Captains: Sophie Reed,
Owen Rosenthal, Kimly Nguyen, and Sarah Chen. Members:
Gabriella Costello, Arden Carey, Sophie Glavine, Victoria
Wu, Sonal Setty, Sara Beuttell, Eliza Babson, Keya Doshi, John
Kefaias, Ava Kieval, Sophia Glavine, Kimly Nguyen, Margot
Byers, Aaron Yu, Eva Benet, Eliza Babson, Carys Roberts,
Emma Kain, Amanda Quattlebaum, Samantha Quattebaum,
Rohan Banerji, Violet Clarke, Vivian Lou, Lucy Applegate,
Brooke Pan Khyal Das, Raghav Shrivastava, Barton Byers,
Bian, Avaariza Quadar, Blake St. Louis, Andrew Najarian,
Jayant Krishnan, Nethra Ramaiah, Brett Robinson, Henry
Kamich, Rohan Singh, and Alice Ma.
Vision For Lexington committee: Top Row (L-R) Daniel Joyner, Margaret Coppe, John Giudice, Jeri Zeder; Second Row (L-R) Marian Cohen, Vineeta Kumar, Tylor Galusha (Staff), Shannon Murtagh; Third Row (L-R) Sara del Nido Budish, Andrew Dixon,Catherine Yan, Tom Lin; Fourth Row (L-R) Abe Fofonah (Staff), Carol Marine, Bhumip Khasnabish; Absent: Larry Freeman, Michael Schanbacher, Min Zou
(continued on next page)
192 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN COMMITTEES
Youth Commission (continued)
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Plant, and maintain plants and bushes at the LYC Island (end
of Park Drive) by planting flowers and performing seasonal
spring and fall cleanups.
• Organize the “If You Have the Means, Give Us Some Beans”
Food Challenge, where the members collect and donate
over 2,000 pounds of food from residents donating it to the
Lexington Food Pantry in November to help with holidays.
• Hanging the balloons on merchants doors for the annual
Children Halloween Trick or Treat event on Halloween, in
conjunction with the Lexington Center Merchants.
• Partner with the Rotary Club to deliver Thanksgiving turkey
dinners to families in need.
• Handed out bells and candy canes, and lead Holiday
Caroling at Depot Square during the annual Tree Lighting
and Santa arriving on the fire engine.
• Collaborated with the Lexington Police Department in
support of the Toys for Tots campaign.
• Created personal, hand-written Valentine’s Day cards,
delivered with carnations to residents at local nursing homes
and the Lexington Senior Center.
• Partnered with the Lions Club to clean and sort eyeglasses
for donation.
• Participate in the Parade Day Parade, handing out
American Flags.
• Coordinated the Outstanding Youth Award to recognize
exceptional contributions by local teens.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
ROLE: In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws
(MGL) Chapters 40A, 40B, and 41 and by the Zoning Bylaw,
CH 135 of the Codes of the Town of Lexington, the Board has
the authority to: hear and decide applications when designated
as the Special Permit Granting Authority; grant, upon appeal
or petition, with respect to particular land or structures or to an
existing building thereon, a variance; hear and decide appeals
taken by any person aggrieved by their inability to obtain a
permit or enforcement action from any administrative officer
under the provision of MGL c. 40A §§ 8 and 15; and hear and
decide comprehensive permits for low- or moderate-income
housing by a public agency of limited dividend or nonprofit
corporation, as set forth in MGL c. 40B, §§ 20 to 23.
APPOINTED by the Select Board: five members for five-
year terms and six associate members for one-year terms:
Members: Ralph D. Clifford (Chair), Nyles N. Barnert, (Vice
Chair), Martha C. Wood, (Clerk), Norman P. Cohen, and
James A. Osten. Associate members: Patricia S. Nelson, Scott
E. Cooper, Kathryn A. Roy, Jeanne K. Krieger, Jennifer L.
Wilson, and Thomas Shiple. The Board of Appeals is staffed
by EmmaJean Anjoorian, Administrative Clerk.
This year, the Select Board appointed Thomas Shiple as an
alternate member.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• There were 34 applications for zoning relief heard
between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
• There were four Variance requests, of which one was
approved, three were withdrawn without prejudice.
• There were 34 Special Permit requests, of which 26 were
approved and eight were withdrawn without prejudice.
• There was one Major Special Permit Modification and
one Minor Special Permit Modification, both of which
were approved.
• There was one Administrative Appeal of a Zoning
Administrator determination, which was dismissed.
• There were two Special Permit Renewals, both of which
were approved.
Zoning Board of Appeals
Youth Commission
193 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Join an appointed Board or Committee
or run for Town Meeting or an elected Board.
Citizen participation in local government is a strong tradition in Lexington.
The issues and challenges faced by our local government, and their impact on
people’s lives in the community, are important and complex.
There are numerous opportunities to participate in Town affairs, to help shape policy,
to work with interesting people, and to assist in the growth and prosperity of the Town.
We hope you will share your skills and knowledge with us by volunteering for the Town.
The volunteer boards and committees in Lexington are vital to the running of our town.
They provide a rich source of knowledge and expertise, expand the town’s ability to research
issues and best practices, and enhance the communication between residents
and town staff and elected officials.
There are many ways to serve. Just a few shown here:
Youth Commission Transportation Advisory Committee
Recreation Committee Lexington Center Committee
More information is available on the Town website: lexingtonma.gov/serve
Volunteer Opportunities in the Town
194 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIXAPPENDIX
Account Revised Budget Expended Encumbrances Expended Balance
Education School
Personal Services & Expenses $140,508,367 $138,842,876 $306,181 $139,149,057 $1,359,310
Minuteman $3,406,395 $3,406,395 $- $3,406,395 $-
Sub-Total Education $143,914,762 $142,249,271 $306,181 $142,555,452 $1,359,310
Shared Expenses Contributory Retirement $10,743,076 $10,743,076 $- $10,743,076 $-
Noncontributory Retirement $- $- $- $- $-
State Assessment & Charges $- $1,254,659 $- $1,254,659 $(1,254,659)
Employee Benefits $37,433,895 $36,047,684 $- $36,047,684 $1,386,211
Unemployment $200,000 $46,568 $- $46,568 $153,432
Workers Compensation * $3,378,063 $421,690 $- $421,690 $2,956,373
Property and Liability Insurance $1,185,800 $1,183,127 $- $1,183,127 $2,673
Uninsured Losses* $1,166,346 $47,773 $44,365 $92,138 $1,074,208
Sub-Total Employee Benefits $54,107,180 $49,744,577 $44,365 $49,788,942 $4,318,238
Debt Service Principal $15,275,674 $15,275,674 $- $15,275,674 $-
Interest $6,809,574 $6,809,574 $- $6,809,574 $-
Issuance Costs $- $21,818 $- $21,818 $(21,818)
Interest Short Term $630,022 $14,308 $- $14,308 $615,714
Sub-Total Debt Service $22,715,271 $22,121,375 $- $22,121,375 $593,896
Reserve Fund Expenses $790,000 $60,000 $- $60,000 $730,000
Sub-Total Reserve $790,000 $60,000 $- $60,000 $730,000
Public Facilities Expenses - School $10,061,536 $9,664,340 $- $9,664,340 $397,196
Expenses - Town $2,984,423 $2,609,199 $- $2,609,199 $375,223
Expenses - Admin $1,519,896 $1,482,668 $- $1,482,668 $37,228
Expenses - Solar $390,000 $319,772 $- $319,772 $70,228
Sub-Total Public Facilities $14,955,854 $14,075,979 $- $14,075,979 $879,875
Public Works DPW Administration
Personal Services $776,496 $805,303 $- $805,303 $(28,807)
Expenses $40,700 $36,878 $- $36,878 $3,822
Engineering
Personal Services $955,313 $911,067 $- $911,067 $44,246
Expenses $216,800 $213,750 $- $213,750 $3,050
Street Lighting
Personal Services $8,000 $- $- $- $8,000
Expenses $168,500 $160,864 $10,000 $170,864 $(2,364)
Highway
Personal Services $969,227 $812,599 $- $812,599 $156,628
Expenses $715,200 $552,846 $15,960 $568,806 $146,394
Road Machinery
Personal Services $320,831 $315,756 $- $315,756 $5,075
Expenses $640,700 $691,143 $- $691,143 $(50,443)
Snow Removal
Personal Services $324,544 $535,072 $- $535,072 $(210,528)
Expenses $1,269,642 $1,130,436 $- $1,130,436 $139,206
Parks
Personal Services $1,258,228 $1,363,748 $- $1,363,748 $(105,520)
Expenses $500,100 $432,902 $- $432,902 $67,198
Forestry
Personal Services $351,520 $207,974 $- $207,974 $143,546
Expenses $204,400 $242,116 $- $242,116 $(37,716)
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations June 30, 2025
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195 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations (continued from previous page)
Account Revised Budget Expended Encumbrances Expended Balance
Cemetery
Personal Services $302,661 $337,815 $- $337,815 $(35,154)
Expenses $118,100 $107,021 $- $107,021 $11,079
Refuse Collection
Expenses $1,330,453 $1,376,116 $- $1,376,116 $(45,663)
Refuse Disposal
Expenses $744,577 $635,532 $10,000 $645,532 $99,045
Recycling
Expenses $2,004,953 $1,735,787 $10,000 $1,745,787 $259,166
Sub-Total Public Works $13,220,945 $12,604,725 $45,960 $12,650,685 $570,260
Law Enforcement Police
Personal Services $7,804,692 $7,644,140 $- $7,644,140 $160,553
Expenses $1,084,426 $1,065,792 $- $1,065,792 $18,634
Dispatch
Personal Services $748,434 $870,890 $- $870,890 $(122,456)
Expenses $40,523 $21,671 $- $21,671 $18,852
Dog Officer
Expenses $78,248 $56,233 $- $56,233 $22,015
Sub-Total Police $9,756,323 $9,658,726 $- $9,658,726 $97,597
Fire & Rescue Personal Services $8,402,956 $8,384,150 $- $8,384,150 $18,806
Expenses $886,944 $773,381 $47,256 $820,637 $66,307
Sub-Total Fire $9,289,900 $9,157,531 $47,256 $9,204,787 $85,113
Library Personal Services $2,845,471 $2,830,030 $- $2,830,030 $15,441
Expenses $712,094 $627,817 $- $627,817 $84,277
Sub-Total Library $3,557,565 $3,457,847 $- $3,457,847 $99,718
Humans Services Youth & Family Services
Personal Services $185,207 $160,360 $- $160,360 $24,847
Expenses $39,700 $29,725 $- $29,725 $9,975
Admin & Outreach
Personal Services $193,461 $193,090 $- $193,090 $371
Expenses $39,100 $33,526 $- $33,526 $5,574
Comm Service/Seniors
Personal Services $184,364 $181,948 $- $181,948 $2,416
Expenses $21,505 $14,899 $- $14,899 $6,606
Veterans Services
Personal Services $37,447 $36,339 $- $36,339 $1,108
Expenses $57,545 $20,141 $- $20,141 $37,404
Transport Services
Personal Services $150,137 $153,357 $- $153,357 $(3,220)
Expenses $605,473 $553,467 $- $553,467 $52,006
Sub-Total Human Services $1,513,939 $1,376,854 $- $1,376,854 $137,085
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196 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Land Use, Health and Development Building & Zoning Officer
Personal Services $664,842 $651,465 $- $651,465 $13,377
Expenses $42,840 $31,552 $- $31,552 $11,288
Regulatory Support
Personal Services $480,690 $457,630 $- $457,630 $23,060
Expenses $54,900 $34,296 $- $34,296 $20,604
Conservation Commission
Personal Services $241,328 $178,520 $- $178,520 $62,808
Expenses $30,961 $15,501 $- $15,501 $15,460
Board of Health
Personal Services $459,098 $458,485 $- $458,485 $613
Expenses $86,050 $52,769 $- $52,769 $33,281
Sub-Total Land Use $2,060,709 $1,880,218 $- $1,880,218 $180,491
Planning Board Personal Services $382,016 $333,544 $- $333,544 $48,472
Expenses $76,950 $48,693 $- $48,693 $28,257
Sub-Total Planning $458,966 $382,237 $- $382,237 $76,729
Economic Development Economic Development Officer
Personal Services $286,779 $281,296 $- $281,296 $5,483
Expenses $181,300 $162,878 $- $162,878 $18,422
Sub-Total Economic Development $468,079 $444,174 $- $444,174 $23,905
Select Board Select Board Office
Personal Services $156,709 $150,342 $- $150,342 $6,367
Expenses $216,761 $120,276 $- $120,276 $96,485
Law
Legal Fees $440,000 $378,976 $- $378,976 $61,024
Town Reports
Expenses $13,688 $12,773 $- $12,773 $915
Sub-Total Select Board $827,158 $662,367 $- $662,367 $164,791
Town Manager Organizational Dr. & Admin.
Personal Services $871,299 $854,307 $- $854,307 $16,992
Expenses $413,427 $147,937 $3,190 $151,127 $262,301
Human Resources
Personal Services $258,579 $268,891 $- $268,891 $(10,312)
Expenses $131,535 $147,548 $- $147,548 $(16,013)
Salary Adjustments *
Salary Adjustments $1,996,689 $359,000 $- $359,000 $1,637,689
Sub-Total Town Manager $3,671,529 $1,777,683 $3,190 $1,780,873 $1,890,656
Town Committees Financial Committee's
Personal Services $7,176 $- $- $- $7,176
Expenses $1,500 $374 $- $374 $1,126
Misc Boards & Commissions
Expenses $10,500 $6,000 $- $6,000 $4,500
Public Celebration
Expenses $53,734 $47,439 $- $47,439 $6,295
Sub-Total Committees $72,910 $53,813 $- $53,813 $19,097
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations (continued from previous page)
Account Revised Budget Expended Encumbrances Expended Balance
APPENDIX
(continued on next page)
APPENDIX
197 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations (continued from previous page)
Account Revised Budget Expended Encumbrances Expended Balance
Finance Comptroller
Personal Services $700,770 $729,655 $- $729,655 $(28,885)
Expenses $162,750 $162,776 $- $162,776 $(26)
Comptroller
Current Year PO's Closed $370,314 $- $- $- $370,314
Treasurer/Collector
Personal Services $380,902 $369,083 $- $369,083 $11,819
Expenses $113,755 $81,750 $- $81,750 $32,005
Assessor
Personal Services $566,246 $548,622 $- $548,622 $17,624
Expenses $258,755 $119,178 $450 $119,629 $139,126
Sub-Total Finance $2,553,492 $2,011,064 $450 $2,011,514 $541,977
Town Clerk Town Clerk Administration
Personal Services $357,461 $366,268 $- $366,268 $(8,807)
Expenses $30,622 $13,479 $- $13,479 $17,143
Registration
Personal Services $825 $825 $- $825 $-
Expenses $23,664 $21,521 $- $21,521 $2,143
Elections
Personal Services $156,114 $97,876 $- $97,876 $58,238
Expenses $73,056 $73,306 $- $73,306 $(250)
Records Management
Personal Services $40,370 $36,419 $- $36,419 $3,951
Expenses $13,661 $9,835 $- $9,835 $3,826
Sub-Total Town Clerk $695,772 $619,528 $- $619,528 $76,244
Management Information System M.I.S Administration
Personal Services $862,591 $861,924 $- $861,924 $667
Expenses $2,261,584 $1,566,366 $76,587 $1,642,952 $618,632
Sub-Total M.I.S $3,124,175 $2,428,290 $76,587 $2,504,876 $619,299
Sub-Total PEG Access $715,224 $658,632 $30,000 $688,632 $26,592
Total General Fund $288,469,753 $275,424,892 $553,989 $275,978,881 $12,490,873
*Continuing balance accounts, Revised Budget includes carry forward amounts but excludes transfers to other funds.
198 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Account Revised Budget Expended Encumbrances Expended Balance
Sewer Fund Operating Budget
Personal Services $464,858 $423,941 $- $423,941 $40,917
Expenses $536,400 $423,779 $1,125 $424,905 $111,495
MWRA $9,153,352 $9,153,352 $- $9,153,352 $-
Debt Service $1,569,746 $1,569,746 $- $1,569,746 $-
Total Sewer Operating $11,724,355 $11,570,818 $1,125 $11,571,943 $152,412
Water Fund Operating Budget
Personal Services $971,418 $923,588 $- $923,588 $47,829
Expenses $614,400 $434,565 $11,080 $445,645 $168,755
MWRA $8,432,204 $8,432,204 $- $8,432,204 $-
Debt Service $1,387,048 $1,368,116 $- $1,368,116 $18,933
Total Water Operating $11,405,070 $11,158,473 $11,080 $11,169,553 $235,517
Recreation Fund Operating Budget
Community Center PS $492,847 $422,902 $- $422,902 $69,945
Community Center Expenses $202,150 $176,462 $2,383 $178,845 $23,305
Personal Services $1,332,069 $1,246,058 $- $1,246,058 $86,011
Expenses $759,601 $553,236 $3,727 $556,962 $202,639
Pine Meadows Expense $678,000 $656,774 $114 $656,888 $21,112
Total Recreation Operating $3,464,667 $3,055,432 $6,224 $3,061,656 $403,011
*NOTE: The above amounts include carry forward activity but exclude transfers to other funds.
Enterprise Funds
As of June 30, 2025 FY2026 FY2027 FY2028-2050
Non-Exempt Debt Service
Library $- $- $-
Community Preservation $- $- $-
General Government
Public Safety $97,750 $93,500 $89,250
School - - $-
Public Facilities-School $650,118 $484,072 $1,321,000
Public Facilities-Municipal $1,014,050 $958,700 $5,796,200
Public Works $2,826,802 $2,272,616 $12,918,126
Subtotal: Non-Exempt Debt Service $4,588,720 $3,808,888 $20,124,576
Exempt Debt Service $16,100,441 $15,462,795 $161,054,689
Enterprise Fund Debt Service
Water $1,337,450 $1,301,015 $5,783,939
Sewer $1,473,109 $1,369,485 $5,295,369
Recreation $- $- $-
Subtotal: Enterprise Fund Debt Service $2,810,559 $2,670,500 $11,079,308
Totals $23,499,721 $21,942,183 $192,258,573
Debt Service Summary
199 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: June 30, 2025
Governmental Fiduciary Combined Totals Special Community Capital Expendable Memorandum Only General Revenue Preservation Projects* Trust 2025
Revenues:
Property Taxes 254,843,471 - 6,934,578 - - 261,778,048
Intergovernmental 21,046,844 15,715,823 1,234,313 159,054 9,400 38,165,434
Motor Vehicle & Other Excise Tax 8,298,304 - - - - 8,298,304
Departmental Fees & Charges 4,603,402 18,728,697 - - 1,298,594 24,630,693
Investment Income/(Loss) 6,279,974 152,999 594,971 - 7,254,001 14,281,945
Special Assessments 25,449 - - - - 25,449
Payments in Lieu of Tax 817,682 - - - - 817,682
Penalties & Interest 575,469 - 7,875 - - 583,344
Licenses & Permits 4,616,400 - - - - 4,616,400
Fines & Forfeits 111,599 - - - - 111,599
Total Revenues $301,218,595 $34,597,519 $8,771,736 $159,054 $8,561,995 $353,308,899
Expenditures:
General Government 23,226,216 4,191,196 5,700,374 5,772,260 1,491,385 40,381,430
Public Safety 20,242,919 2,510,624 - 3,668,349 - 26,421,892
Education 146,245,593 21,284,866 - 5,228,014 - 172,758,473
Public Works 10,908,687 2,917,530 - 11,713,117 175,629 25,714,964
Health & Human Services 1,901,500 962,464 - - 17,000 2,880,964
Culture & Recreation 5,329,042 491,180 - 975,606 7,708 6,803,536
State & County Assessments 1,254,659 - - - - 1,254,659
Debt Service 22,121,375 181,966 681,200 - - 22,984,540
Pension 10,743,076 - - - - 10,743,076
Insurance 38,446,842 - - - - 38,446,842
Total Expenditures $280,419,909 $32,539,826 $6,381,574 $27,357,345 $1,691,723 $348,390,376
Excess (Deficiency) of Rev over Exp $20,798,686 $2,057,693 $2,390,162 ($27,198,291) $6,870,272 $4,918,523
Other Financing Sources (Uses):
Proceeds of Bonds/BANS - - - 2,622 - 2,622
Repayment of Bonds/BANS - 14,473 - - - 14,472.83
Transfer from Reserve for Abatements - - - - - -
Transfer from other Funds 4,073,643 32,256,502 10,055,090 19,699,791 13,925,080 80,010,105
Transfer to other Funds (26,930,079) (38,198,298) (12,595,749) (961,342) (346,000) (79,031,469)
Total Other (Uses) ($22,856,436) ($5,927,324) ($2,540,660) $18,741,071 $13,579,080 $995,731
Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues Over Expenditures ($2,057,750) ($3,869,631) ($150,498) ($8,457,220) $20,449,352 $5,914,254
Fund Balance, Beg. of Year $61,881,178 $31,064,551 $16,942,117 $32,719,765 $81,592,743 $224,200,353
Fund Balance, End of Year $59,823,428 $27,194,921 $16,791,620 $24,262,544 $102,042,095 $230,114,608
*Capital Projects now includes Enterprise Fund Capital Projects.
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200 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: Special Revenue June 30, 2025
Balance Balance June 30, 2024 Revenues Expenditures June 30, 2025
School Lunch $3,212,451 $4,574,173 $4,889,808 $2,896,816
School Lunch Total $3,212,451 $4,574,173 $4,889,808 $2,896,816
Town Special Revenue
LEGACY TOWN FUNDS $356,491 $102,990 $- $459,481
PARKING RECEIPTS RESERVED $737,690 $467,852 $250,000 $955,542
SALE OF CEMETERY LOTS $835,024 $79,889 $123,000 $791,912
PEG TV RECEIPTS RESERVED $1,088,887 $490,494 $646,214 $933,167
TRANS NETWORK RRFA $31,277 $22,950 $13,234 $40,993
SALE OF REAL ESTATE - REC $12,690 $- $- $12,690
VISITORS CENTER/ TOURISM** $187,667 $638,025 $481,472 $344,219
BLDG RENTAL REVOLVING $968,862 $801,200 $428,970 $1,341,091
DPW TREE REVOLVING $328,075 $47,500 $47,179 $328,396
DPW COMPOST REVOLVING $883,458 $1,332,582 $846,784 $1,369,256
BURIAL CONTAINERS REVOLVING $332,178 $37,265 $24,021 $345,422
M.M. HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS $122,516 $180,869 $206,359 $97,025
HEALTH PROGRAMS REVOLVING $120,947 $144,108 $42,400 $222,655
SENIOR SERVICE REVOLVING $68,755 $43,178 $42,968 $68,965
INS. REIMB < 150K REV $898,817 $6,616 $- $905,432
FIREFIGHTER EXAM $12,872 $- $- $12,872
HUMAN SERVICES TAXI PROGRAM $60,181 $24,037 $14,906 $69,312
RRFA BOND/BAN PREMIUMS $100,616 $14,473 $- $115,089
ANIMAL PERMIT/INSPECTIONS $41,125 $63,085 $20,800 $83,410
LEXINGTON 250TH GIFTS $(6,059) $563,884 $254,944 $302,881
OFF DUTY DETAIL-POLICE $(425,553) $1,795,410 $1,747,225 $(377,369)
OFF DUTY DETAIL-FIRE $78,880 $93,617 $115,240 $57,257
OFF DUTY DETAIL-DPW $13,810 $61,952 $70,950 $4,813
HAZMAT MATL REIMB FUND $21,441 $38,162 $38,162 $21,441
TDM $ $342,533 $- $292,533 $50,000
LEX ANTONY SISTER CITY $5,210 $- $- $5,210
TOWN CELEBRATIONS GIFT $52,821 $65,956 $57,450 $61,327
MLK COMMEMORATION FUNDS $9,133 $1,560 $2,634 $8,059
COMMUNITY CTR GIFT ACCT $30,686 $21,370 $19,315 $32,741
LEXINGTON CENTER BENCHES $10,096 $8,077 $7,642 $10,531
NGRID COMM INITIATIVE GRANT $409 $- $- $409
HARTWELL AVE TRAFFIC S $5,000 $- $- $5,000
LEXINGTON CTR COMMITTEE GIFTS $2,013 $- $- $2,013
DFCU GIFT ACCOUNT $8,393 $18,031 $13,422 $13,003
FIRE DEPT GIFTS $41,610 $12,750 $10,385 $43,975
LEXPRESS GIFTS $9,406 $20 $452 $8,974
BOH - OUTSIDE CONSULTANT ACCT $4,085 $- $4,085 $-
CHNA 15 MENTAL HEALTH $2,913 $- $- $2,913
CHA HMCC $2,723 $- $- $2,723
HUMAN SERVICES FRIENDS $12,159 $21,810 $15,519 $18,449
C.O.A. GIFT FUND $23,732 $25,797 $16,402 $33,127
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201 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
SENIOR OUTREACH SVC GRANT $1,053 $- $- $1,053
RECREATION GIFT ACCOUNT $113,212 $31,000 $53,154 $91,058
H.A.T.S. $2,481 $- $- $2,481
MITIGATION ACCOUNT $3,680,258 $890,285 $700,858 $3,869,685
HARBELL BETTERMENT $2,911 $1,248 $1,000 $3,158
LIFE SAFETY DEV GRANT $3,647 $- $- $3,647
HEALTH INSURANCE HOLDING $878,774 $37,086,187 $36,872,189 $1,092,772
MINUTEMAN ATH CONSULTANTS $4,441 $232 $- $4,673
INN@ HASTINGS PARK $10,000 $- $- $10,000
STORMWATER PEER REVIEW $34,303 $133,438 $139,787 $27,954
TMOD GIFT $- $738,191 $- $738,191
FLEX SPENDING ADM FEES $40,589 $56,873 $41,459 $56,002
RETIREMENT ADMINISTRATOR $(48,218) $187,245 $198,014 $(58,988)
VSO SPLIT W/ BEDFORD $6,447 $99,103 $101,839 $3,711
FIREARMS RECORDKEEPING $7,200 $14,150 $12,475 $8,875
SHIRE/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT $145,142 $- $- $145,142
TRUST FUND DONATIONS $(4,983) $6,326 $721 $621
COMM ENDOWMENT OF LEX $2,011 $- $- $2,011
DESIGN INTERSECTION WOBURN $25,000 $- $- $25,000
MITIGATION PARK WOBURN $25,000 $- $- $25,000
LEX KNOX HOME BOX $642 $28,160 $7,618 $21,184
HARTWELL PEER REVIEW $300 $- $- $300
HUMAN SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND $2,874 $10,000 $11,353 $1,521
91 HARTWELL PEER REVIEW $2,801 $828 $- $3,630
SELECT BOARD MISC PROJECT $34,323 $100,750 $120,500 $14,573
WILLIARD WOODS GIFT FUND $37,264 $1,841 $- $39,105
ZBA EARTH FILL 10 LOCUST AVE $2,004 $- $1,000 $1,004
PLANNING SP FUND $(6,824) $- $- $(6,824)
N.O.I. FEES $147,265 $13,523 $- $160,789
440 BEDFORD STREET PEER REVIEW $1,061 $- $595 $466
PUBLIC RECREATION TRAIL DONATIONS $35,000 $- $- $35,000
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND $- $8,882 $- $8,882
LIBRARY GIFT FUND RENOVATIONS $1,075,630 $- $130,322 $945,308
KICKSTART MA GRANT $9,000 $25,000 $9,795 $24,205
149 OLD SPRING STREET PEER REVIEW $5,931 $- $4,203 $1,729
PAVING DONATIONS $884,445 $- $884,445 $-
ENGINEERING GIFT FUND $- $81,100 $56,171 $24,929
MASS SAVES ENERGY GRANT $- $7,608 $- $7,608
SENIOR SAFE GRANT $474 $2,600 $2,600 $474
GREEN COMMUNITIES GRANT $- $13,000 $1,040 $11,960
STATE 911 SUPPORT GRANT $- $61,653 $- $61,653
EFFIC & REGION GRANT $2 $- $- $2
COMPOST RDP GRANT $39,910 $11,340 $62,135 $(10,885)
MBTA GRANT $73,992 $81,933 $145,883 $10,042
DEA FORMULA GRANT $61,882 $135,120 $116,807 $80,195
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: Special Revenue (continued from previous page)
Balance Balance June 30, 2024 Revenues Expenditures June 30, 2025
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202 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
STATE AID TO LIBRARIES $300,704 $90,392 $129,538 $261,558
YOUTH SVC - PARENTING ED $2,060 $- $- $2,060
SAFE GRANT $(682) $7,200 $7,200 $(682)
MVP GRANT $5,000 $- $- $5,000
EMERGENCY MGMT PERF GRANT $(8,500) $8,500 $- $-
COVID 19 STATE GRANT $(22,320) $- $- $(22,320)
FIRE WASHER EXTRACTOR GRANT $(24,993) $25,000 $- $7
COVID CARES ACT $194,155 $- $- $194,155
COVID FEMA $37,631 $- $- $37,631
COVID TAXI & HACKNEY GRANT $27,911 $- $13,668 $14,244
MDOT SHARED STREET GRANT DPW $- $- $609,347 $(609,347)
MASSDOT COMM TRANSIT GRANT $- $200,000 $200,000 $-
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND $4,191,623 $- $2,560,274 $1,631,349
MASS CALL 3 GRANT $16,604 $(16,604) $- $-
LEX 250TH GRANT $(74,969) $75,000 $74,581 $(74,550)
MCC GRANT $4,628 $66,400 $68,325 $2,704
MOTT GRANT $490 $- $42,103 $(41,613)
MA REDO $19,760 $- $19,760 $-
MAEVIP $- $67,573 $116,673 $(49,100)
MA DCR GRANT $1 $- $- $1
MA EOHED GRANT $(77,020) $10,000 $51,518 $(118,538)
FDA GRANT $852 $10,000 $500 $10,352
MA PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY $395 $- $- $395
MA EO OF ADMIN & FINANCE $29,141 $50,000 $29,141 $50,000
Town Special Revenue Total $19,393,284 $47,646,585 $49,453,258 $17,586,611
School Special Revenue
LEGACY SCHOOL FUNDS $1,071 $- $- $1,071
LOST BOOKS - REVOLVING $37,669 $1,029 $15,000 $23,698
ATHLETICS - REVOLVING $338,898 $505,868 $716,763 $128,003
EARLY CHILDHOOD - REVOLVING $(63,731) $397,701 $291,778 $42,192
COLLEGE TESTING - REVOLVING $62,313 $316,669 $317,396 $61,586
ESTABROOK MORNING CLUB REVOLV $2,883 $- $- $2,883
PERFORMING ARTS REVOLVING $25,878 $30,162 $16,635 $39,405
WORLD LANGUAGE WKBK-REVOLVING $370 $- $- $370
ADULT EDUCATION REVOLV $350,467 $1,241,088 $1,256,789 $334,766
TRANSPORTATION REVOLV $1,399,928 $621,482 $1,097,616 $923,795
CMA FOUNDATION MUSIC $776 $- $- $776
BOWMAN LIBRARY GIFT ACCOUNT $5,863 $887 $- $6,750
SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $42,066 $6,290 $- $48,356
HARRINGTON SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $4,187 $985 $698 $4,474
BRIDGE SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $8,165 $906 $- $9,071
DIAMOND SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $12,287 $13,044 $12,000 $13,331
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: Special Revenue (continued from previous page)
Balance Balance June 30, 2024 Revenues Expenditures June 30, 2025
(continued on next page)
APPENDIX
203 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX
FISKE SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $14,147 $9,088 $1,160 $22,075
CASIT ITALIAN LANG GIFT ACCT $61 $- $- $61
ATHLETIC GIFT ACCOUNT $1,174 $- $- $1,174
HASTINGS GIFT ACCOUNT $14,799 $2,042 $530 $16,311
ESTABROOK GIFT ACCOUNT $8,181 $728 $- $8,909
CLARKE SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $21,885 $1,211 $1,938 $21,158
TAPPLY WRITING PROJECT $10 $- $- $10
ASIA SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP $15,296 $- $950 $14,346
SCIENCE GIFT ACCOUNT $21,742 $6,385 $(2,904) $31,031
MST GIFT ACCOUNT $125 $- $- $125
Lexington High School CHINESE EXCHANGE GIFT $8,550 $- $- $8,550
SUPERINTENDENT HLTH $6,810 $- $- $6,810
MENTAL HEALTH TASK $6,247 $- $- $6,247
BU WHEELOCK GHANA $- $9,600 $8,280 $1,321
METCO GIFT FUND $- $11,000 $4,000 $7,000
FOOD SERVICE CEL GRANT $- $10,000 $- $10,000
SEAL BY LITERACY GRANT $- $2,720 $1,540 $1,180
BOSTON UNIV BOWMAN $1,437 $- $- $1,437
LEGACY FUND 250 $(6,388) $- $- $(6,388)
CIRCUIT BREAKER $5,859,645 $7,029,402 $6,246,418 $6,642,629
METCO $(30,654) $970,782 $1,927,822 $(987,693)
ENHANCED SCHOOL HEALTH $72 $- $- $72
COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH $59,363 $100,000 $90,104 $69,259
MDOT EV GRANT $350,000 $- $- $350,000
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT $(55,131) $645,858 $709,450 $(118,723)
FINANCIAL EDUC CREDIT FOR LIFE GRANT $1,430 $- $1,430 $-
RESERVE RELIEF GRANT $642,856 $- $642,856 $-
CVRF SCHOOL REOPENING GRANT $14,202 $- $- $14,202
ESSER SCHOOL GRANT $63,856 $- $- $63,856
ESSER III SCHOOL GRANT $(722,719) $847,810 $125,091 $-
TITLE IIA $4,994 $59,417 $84,055 $(19,644)
TITLE III $(27,073) $83,833 $95,760 $(39,000)
ELS CERTIFICATION GRANT $(1,873) $- $- $(1,873)
SPED 94-142 IDEA $(232,005) $1,352,222 $2,158,035 $(1,037,818)
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPED $1,262 $- $41,094 $(39,832)
SPED PROG IMPROV $1,295 $6,219 $11,167 $(3,653)
TITLE 1 $9,058 $136,203 $206,413 $(61,152)
TITLE IV $1,680 $2,185 $14,668 $(10,803)
MULTILINGUAL NEW & HOMELESS $- $10,000 $25,000 $(15,000)
School Special Revenue Total $8,283,425 $14,432,816 $16,119,532 $6,596,709
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: Special Revenue (continued from previous page)
Balance Balance June 30, 2024 Revenues Expenditures June 30, 2025
(continued on next page)
204 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIXTOWN GOVERNMENT
Lexington Education Foundation
LEF GRANTS FY17 $23,869 $- $- $23,869
LEF GRANTS FY18 $20,996 $- $- $20,996
LEF GRANTS FY19 $7,571 $- $- $7,571
LEF GRANTS FY20 $615 $- $- $615
LEF GRANTS FY21 $(10,132) $- $- $(10,132)
LEF GRANTS FY22 $(325) $- $- $(325)
LEF COVID GRANTS FY21 $(21) $- $- $(21)
LEF GRANTS FY23 $9,328 $- $7,898 $1,430
LEF GRANTS FY24 $40,601 $- $8,000 $32,601
LEF GRANTS FY25 $- $137,985 $118,768 $19,217
BOWMAN COMMUNITY GRANT $(3,468) $3,900 $3,900 $(3,468)
BRIDGE COMMUNITY GRANT $4,529 $4,831 $6,432 $2,928
ESTABROOK COMMUNITY GRANT $6,982 $5,250 $4,460 $7,772
FISKE COMMUNITY GRANT $4,003 $5,250 $7,493 $1,760
HARRINGTON COMMUNITY GRANT $99 $- $- $99
HASTINGS COMMUNITY GRANT $4,325 $5,550 $9,710 $165
CLARKE COMMUNITY GRANT $8,020 $- $- $8,020
DIAMOND COMMUNITY GRANT $198 $- $(225) $423
Lexington High School COMMUNITY GRANT $1,714 $- $- $1,714
EARLY CHILDHOOD COMM GRANT $1 $- $- $1
LPS SCHOOL GIFT ACCOUNT $56,488 $52,154 $109,090 $(448)
Lexington Education Foundation Totals $175,391 $214,920 $275,526 $114,785
Special Revenue Fund Total $31,064,551 $66,868,493 $70,738,124 $27,194,921
* State and Federal Grants may be funded on a reimbursement basis, and therefore may reflect a negative year-end balance due to timing of grant revenue. ** Visitors Center and Liberty Ride Revolving Funds have been consolidated into one Tourism Revolving Fund.
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances: Special Revenue (continued from previous page)
Balance Balance June 30, 2024 Revenues Expenditures June 30, 2025
APPENDIX
205 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
FY24 FY25
Population 32,952 31,001
Public School Enrollment (PK-12) 6,815 6,748
Town-owned Conservation Land, Acres 1,403 1,403
Total Revenue Sources $322,339,606 $337,274,164
Total Operating Expenses $317,964,905 $338,595,637
Property Tax Bill for Home of Average Value (excludes CPA surcharge) $18,297 $19,306
Typical Annual Residential Water/Sewer Bill (120 HCF per year) $2,122 $2,201
Solid Waste Trash (tons) (curbside only) 7,923 7,763
Recycled Materials (tons) (curbside only) 3,407 3,296
Curbside Yard Waste (tons) 2,000 1,185
Food Waste diversion from curbside services provided to Residents by Black Earth,Lex public schools, and LexSORT drop-off program (tons) 978 +/- 929
Home of Average Value (single-family home) $1,494,000 $1,579,000
Home of Median Value (single-family home) $1,354,000 $1,416,000
Single-family homes sold 301 313
Single-family homes demolished 54 53
Permits issued for new single-family homes 83 87
Town of Lexington Moody’s Credit Rating Aaa Aaa
LEXINGTON BY THE NUMBERS
Town of Lexington
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781-862-0500 lexingtonma.gov
Settled 1642,
incorporated as Town of Lexington 1713
Latitude 42.26N
Longitude 71.13W
Area of Town Acres 10,650.42
Area of Town in Square Miles 16.64
Extreme Length in Miles 5.80
Extreme Width in Miles 4.85
Highest Elevation (feet above MSL) 374
Lowest Elevation (feet above MSL) 110
206 TOWN OF LEXINGTON 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
APPENDIX APPENDIXINDEX
A
Affordable Housing Trust 146
Annual Town Election: March 3, 2025 24
Annual Town Meeting: March 2025 Abbreviated Minutes 42
Antony Working Group 146
Appendix-Financial Data 194
Appropriation Committee 147
Assessor 94
B
Bicycle Advisory Committee 148
Building and Zoning 104
C
Capital Expenditures Committee 149
Cary Lecture Series Committee 150
Cary Memorial Library 91
Commission on Disability 151
Communications Advisory Committee 151
Community Preservation Committee 152
Comptroller 95
Comptroller Schedule of Appropriations 194
Conservation Office and Conservation Commission 105
Council on Aging 153
D
Debt Service Summary 198
Design Advisory Committee 154
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 12
E
Economic Development 109
Economic Development Advisory Committee 154
Elected Town Officials 86
Engineering Division 124
Enterprise Funds 198
Environmental Services 126
F
Fence Viewers 155
Finance 94
Fire and Rescue 96
Fund for Lexington Board 155
G
Greenways Corridor Committee 156
H
Hanscom Area Towns Committees (HATS) 156
Hanscom Field Advisory Commission 157
Highway, Equipment and Drains Division 127
Historic Districts Commission 157
Historical Commission 158
Housing Partnership Board 158
Human Services 98
I
Innovation and Technology 102
L
Land Use, Housing and Development 103
Lexington by the Numbers 205
Lexington Center Committee 159
Lexington Council for the Arts 160
Lexington Human Rights Committee 161
Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB) 162
Lexington Housing Authority 161
Lexington Scholarship and Education Fund Committee 163
M
Minuteman Regional High School 113
Moderator 88
Monuments and Memorials Committee 163
N
Noise Advisory Committee 164
P
Permanent Building Committee 164
Planning Board 110
Police 114
Public Facilities 118
Public Grounds (Parks/Forestry/Cemetery) 128
Public Health Department/ Board of Health 121
Public Works 123
R
Recreation and Community Programs 132
Recreation Committee 165
Regional Planning Agencies 166
Regulatory Support 112
Retirement Board 137
Revenues/Expenditures and Fund Balances 199
S
School Committee 138
Select Board 1
Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) 167
Senators and Representatives 87
Senior Services 99
Special Town Meeting: Feb. 2025 Abbreviated Minutes 36
Special Town Meeting: Nov. 2024 Abbreviated Minutes 28
State Primary Election: Sept. 3, 2024 16
State (Presidential) Election: Nov. 5, 2024 21
Street Light Maintenance Program 130
Superintendent of Schools 139
Sustainable Lexington Committee 173
Sustainability and Resilience 13
T
Tie Runoffs 27
Tourism Committee 173
Town Celebrations Committee 174
Town Clerk/Board of Registrars 14
Town Counsel 144
Town Manager 9
Town Meeting Members Association (TMMA) 88
Town Report Committee 175
Transportation Advisory Committee 175
Transportation Safety Group 112
Transportation Services 99
Treasurer Collector 95
Tree Committee 176
Trustees of Public Trusts 177
V
Veterans Services 100
Vision for Lexington Committee 191
W
Water and Sewer Abatement Board 191
Water/Sewer Divisions 130
Y
Youth and Family Services 101
Youth Commission 191
Z
Zoning Board of Appeals 192
PATRIOTS' DAY PARADE
APRIL 19, 2025
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Town of Lexington, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420
781-862-0500 lexingtonma.gov Facebook @Townoflexingtonma Instagram @Townoflexingtonma
The Town of Lexington marked the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington
with a series of events honoring the enduring legacy of April 19, 1775.TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTSANNUAL REPORT 2025