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Home My WebLink About2026-03-16 SB-minSELECT BOARD MEETING Monday, March 16, 2026 A meeting of the Lexington Select Board was called to order at 6:30p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026, via a remote meeting platform. Ms. Hai, Chair; Mr. Pato, Vice Chair; Mr. Lucente, Ms. Kumar, and Mr. Sandeen were present, as well as Town Manager, Mr. Bartha; Deputy Town Manager, Ms. Axtell; and Executive Clerk, Ms. Katzenback. EXECUTIVE SESSION 1. Exemption 10: Discuss Trade Secrets or Confidential, Competitively Sensitive or Other Proprietary Information - Community Choice (Electricity) Aggregation 2. Exemption 2: To Conduct Strategy Session in Preparation for Contract Negotiations with Nonunion Personnel - Town Manager 3. Exemption 6: To Consider the Purchase, Lease, Exchange, Value of Real Property - 3,4,5 Militia Drive and 475 Bedford Street Mr. Lucente noted that he would recuse himself from discussion on item3. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, by roll call, the Select Board voted 5-0 at 6:00 pm that the Select Board go into Executive Session for the following Exemptions: Exemption 10: Discuss Trade Secrets or Confidential, Competitively-Sensitive or Other Proprietary Information - Community Choice (Electricity) Aggregation; Exemption 2: To Conduct Strategy Session in Preparation for Contract Negotiations with Nonunion Personnel - Town Manager; Exemption 6: To Consider the Purchase, Lease, Exchange, Value of Real Property - 3,4,5 Militia Drive and 475 Bedford Street; and to reconvene in Open Session. Further, it was declared that an open meeting discussion may have a negative impact on the negotiating position of the Town. The Board returned to open session at 7:15pm. PUBLIC COMMENTS Leah Rochbert, 33 Fremont Street, thanked the Board for the resolution approved on March 9, 2026. Olga Guttag, Emerson Road,stated that today on the Town Meeting Member website, there was a post that the State has cut a large amount of money out of the reimbursement fund for smart energy implementation. She asked for additional information on the impact of the collapsing economy in terms of the budget for the high school project. SELECT BOARD MEMBER CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS 1. Select Board Member Announcements and Liaison Reports Mr. Sandeen explained that an airline is proposing scheduled service out of Hanscom Airfield. There will be an announcement about this and a presentation from Massport at the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission meeting tomorrow night, March 17, 2026 at 7 p.m. Mr. Pato noted that there will be a listening session for the Ad Hoc Crematory Study Committee on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6 p.m. 2. Lexington High School Project Update to Board No updates at this time. TOWN MANAGER REPORT 1. Town Manager Weekly Update No updates at this time. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve: Parade and Massachusetts Avenue Road Closure Request – Lexington Little League Annual Little League Parade - Saturday, May 2, 2026 To approve the Lexington Little League request for the Annual Little League Parade and the road closures request for Massachusetts Avenue from Muzzey Field to Muzzey Street and then Muzzey Street to Lexington High School be closed to all but resident emergency traffic from 8:30am on Saturday, May 2, 2026 to no later than 11:00am. DOCUMENTS: Lexington Little League Parade Request 2026_Redacted.pdf 2. Approve: Discovery Day Street Fair 2026 Request - Lexington Retailers Association To approve restricting vehicular access in the following areas for the 2026 Discovery Day Street Fair to be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 6:00am to 5:00pm:Massachusetts Avenue - North-side sidewalk, from Edison Way to Waltham Street Massachusetts Avenue - Waltham Street to Meriam Street (both sides) Depot Square Muzzey Street - Massachusetts Avenue to the first private driveway To approve Temporary Signs on Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, Emery Park, and Center Business District. To approve free parking at the Central Business District parking meters, and not charge for parking in the Depot Lot on Discovery Day. DOCUMENTS: 2026 Discovery Day Request Letter.pdf 3. Approve: One-Day Liquor License - Galaray House, 1720 Massachusetts Avenue 'Spring Refresh' Event - Thursday, March 26, 2026 To approve a One-Day Liquor License for the Galaray House, 1720 Massachusetts Avenue, to serve sparkling wine from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, March 26, 2026, for their 'Spring Refresh' Event. 4. Approve: One-Day Liquor License(s) - LABBB Collaborative, 1557 Massachusetts Ave Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Saturday, May 30, 2026 & Sunday, May 31, 2026 To approve two One-Day Liquor Licenses for LABBB Collaborative to serve beer and cider at Fletcher Park, 1557 Massachusetts Ave, for the purpose of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival on the following dates: Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm DOCUMENTS: LexBBQFest_2026_Diagram.pdf 5. Approve: Entertainment License - LABBB Collaborative, 1557 Massachusetts Ave Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Saturday, May 30, 2026 To approve an Entertainment License for LABBB Collaborative for the purpose of providing live musical performances for patrons of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival to take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 12:00pm - 6:00pm at 1557 Massachusetts Ave. 6. Approve: Sunday Entertainment License - LABBB Collaborative, 1557 Massachusetts Ave Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival - Sunday, May 31, 2026 To approve a License for Public Entertainment on Sunday for LABBB Collaborative for the purpose of providing live musical performances for patrons of the Lexington Battle Green BBQ Festival to take place on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Fletcher Park, 1557 Massachusetts Ave from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. 7. Approve: Select Board Meeting Minutes To approve and release the following minutes: January 28, 2026 Financial Summit February 2, 2026 Select Board February 9, 2026 Select Board DOCUMENTS: DRAFT 01282026-Summit.doc; DRAFT 02022026 Select Board.doc; DRAFT 02092026 Select Board.doc 8. Approve: Proclamations Tuskegee Airman Commemoration Day: March 26, 2026 Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month: April 2026 National Library Week: April 6-12, 2026 National Public Health Week: April 6-12, 2026 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: April 12-18, 2026 Arbor Day: April 24, 2026 To approve and sign a proclamation to recognize Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day on Thursday, March 26, 2026. To approve and sign a proclamation to annually recognize the month of April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. To approve and sign a proclamation to annually recognize National Library Week from April 6, 2026 to April 12, 2026. To approve and sign a proclamation to recognize National Public Health Week from April 6, 2026 to April 12, 2026. To approve and sign a proclamation to annually recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week from April 12, 2026 to April 18, 2026. To approve and sign a proclamation to commemorate Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, 2026. DOCUMENTS: 2026 Tuskegee Updated Proclamation.pdf; 2026 Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month Proclamation.pdf; 2026 National Library Week Proclamation.pdf; 2026 National Public Health Week.pdf; 2026 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Proclamation.pdf; 2026 Arbor Day Proclamation.pdf 9. Accept: Select Board Committee Resignation Communications Advisory Committee - Smita Desai To accept the resignation of Smita Desai from the Communications Advisory Committee, effective immediately. DOCUMENTS: 2026.03.06 Smita Desai - Communications Advisory Committee_Redacted.pdf 10. Approve: Select Board Committee Appointments Town Celebrations Subcommittee - Samuel Ang, Barry Cunha, and Subhrangshu Datta To appoint Samuel Ang, Barry Cunha, and Subhrangshu Datta to the Town Celebrations Subcommittee to fill a term ending on June 30, 2027, effective immediately. DOCUMENTS: Town Celebrations Subcommittee - Ang, Samual - Application & Resume_Redacted.pdf; Town Celebrations Subcommittee - Cunha, Barry - Application_Redacted.pdf; Town Celebrations Subcommittee - Datta, Subhrangshu - Application & Resume_Redacted.pdf 11. Approve: Letter of Support for the Lowell Street Affordable Housing Project Financing Application to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) To approve and sign the Select Board letter of support for the Lowell Street Affordable Housing Project Financing Application to Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). DOCUMENTS: Select Board letter of Support Lowell Street Affordable Housing Project Financing Application to EOHLC.pdf VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. 2026 Annual Town Meeting Select Board Article Discussion and Positions Financial Articles Overview Consent Agenda Ms. Axtell reviewed the Draft Consent Agenda for 2026 Annual Town Meeting She also reviewed the proposed list of articles to be included on the 2026 ATM Consent Agenda. There was agreement to remove Article 6 from the Consent Agenda at this time, as the motion has not yet been posted. Ms. Kosnoff provided a topline overview of the following 2026 ATM Financial Articles: 4 Appropriate FY2027 Operating Budget, 5 Appropriate FY2027 Enterprise Funds Budgets, 13 Appropriate For Water System Improvements, 14 Appropriate For Wastewater System Improvements, 17 Appropriate To Post Employment Insurance Liability Fund, 18 Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations, 19 Establish, Amend, Dissolve And Appropriate To And From Specified Stabilization Funds and 20 Appropriate For Prior Years’ Unpaid Bills. Ms. Kosnoff explained that Article 23 is a capital appropriation for the trash and recycling wheeled carts. This purchase will need to be made during the upcoming fiscal year, in order to be able to move to an automated trash collection in FY28. VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda for the 2026 Annual Town Meeting articles as proposed, aside from Article 6. The Board discussed Article 31. Mr. Lucente stated that he would like to see the language change to denote a guarantee for a no-fee baseline for residents. He would like to see the bylaw change match what has been discussed publicly on this topic. It was agreed that all Board members would wait to take a position on this item until Mr. Lucente’s proposed language was submitted. Mr. Pato noted that Article 23 is separate from Article 31. Article 23 is for a contract in the next approximately 1.5 years, when it is expected that there will not be any manual collection alternatives or, if there are, they may be more expensive than the automated option. This allows the Town to purchase carts for an automated collection and take advantage of State reimbursements in order to not have to roll the cost of carts into the contract. The carts would give the Town flexibility and leverage moving forward with the trash contract negotiation. The Select Board took the positions for the following 2026 Annual Town Meeting Articles: Article 8 Appropriate for Vision for Lexington Survey: all Board members were a ‘yes.’ Article 23 Appropriate for Trash/Recycling Bins: Ms. Hai, Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Kumar were ‘yes’. Mr. Lucente was a ‘wait’ Article 24 Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Fund & Committee: all Board members were a ‘yes.’ Article 25 Surcharge on Specific Residential Development (Citizen Petition): Ms. Hai, Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Kumar were ‘wait’. Mr. Lucente was a ‘no.’ Article 26 Oversee Financial Expenditures Lexington High School Project (Citizen Petition): Ms. Hai, Mr. Pato, Mr. Lucente, and Ms. Kumar were ‘no’. Mr. Sandeen was a ‘wait.’ Article 27 Procurement for Online Capital Project Platform (Citizen Petition): Ms. Hai, Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, and Mr. Lucente were ‘no.’ Ms. Kumar was a ‘wait.’ Article 28 Speed Humps - Walnut Street (Citizen Petition): Ms. Hai was a ‘no.’ Mr. Pato and Mr. Sandeen were ‘yes.’ Mr. Lucente and Ms. Kumar were ‘wait.’ Article 30 Amendment to Annual Meeting Date (Election) Provisions in Town Bylaw: Ms. Hai, Mr. Pato, Mr. Sandeen, and Ms. Kumar, were ‘yes.’ Mr. Lucente was a ‘wait.’ Article 31 Amendment Chapter 90, § 9 "Regulation of Refuse Disposal": all Board members were a ‘wait.’ Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, suggested holding a Town-wide vote on whether ‘free’ should be removed or not from Article 31. In terms of Article 23, she suggested that the money could be authorized but not spent until the contract is reviewed and approved by the Board. DOCUMENTS: Art_4_budget; Art_5_enterprise; Art_13_water; Art_14_wastewater; Art_17_opeb; Article 18 rescind motion posted 3.12; Art_19_stabilization_funds; Art_20_unpaid_bill; Revised Motion Art_23_bins; Working Document - Select Board Positions; DRAFT_consent_2026.3.13.26_sb_review_updated.pdf 2. Review: Proposed Local Voter Turnout Task Force Charge Jeri Zeder, Vision for Lexington Committee Chair, presented a draft charge for a proposed Local Voter Turnout Task Force for the Board’s feedback. Ms. Kumar volunteered to sit on the Local Voter Turnout Task Force as the Board’s representative. DOCUMENTS: DRAFT.Proposed Local Voter Turnout Task Force Charge.pdf; Copy of 11.10.2025 Lex.Voter Turnout Presentation 3. Update: Affordable Housing Trust's Proposed Rental Assistance Pilot Program Elaine Tung, Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) Chair, presented the Trust's proposal for a Rental Assistance Pilot Program. This proposal aligns with one of the AHT's goals to assist current and future Lexington Residents in accessing and maintaining housing strategies: develop a housing assistance program. The presentation outlined the proposed program structure, eligibility criteria, funding approach, and administrative process. The program would offer up to 6 months of rental assistance, with a proposed budget of $117,000, and would be administered by Metro West Collaborative Development. There was discussion regarding the six-month pilot program proposal and the lottery selection process. It was explained that the focus of this program is on short-term rent stabilization for the most cost-burdened households that may not qualify for RAFT or may have exceeded the amount of the LEAF program through Human Services. If the lottery process does not make sense based on the number of residents applying, then the program can be made first-come, first-serve. The program is being proposed as a six- month pilot because it is unknown how many people will apply. DOCUMENTS: AHT Memo to Select Board - Rental Assistance pilot program.pdf; Presentation; Rental Assistance pilot program Comparison Chart; Land Use Dept Memo of Support for AHT Rental Assistance proposed program 4. Discussion: Committee Appointment Process Ms. Kumar presented on the topic of committee appointment process. This includes a proposal to change the reappointment process by requiring sitting members to reapply alongside new applicants, rather than automatically reappointing incumbents. The Board agreed to implement this new process before the next recruitment cycle, which will involve evaluating approximately 180 positions annually. The Board also discussed potential improvements to the application process, including requiring committee chairs to provide feedback on applicants and adding questions about meeting attendance and committee knowledge. Dawn McKenna, 9 Hancock Street, suggested adding a question to the committee application regarding how much one knows about the work a committee does. Bob Pressman stated that the Board should not exclude those who have shown interest in the Town over the years and have expertise on the committees. DOCUMENTS: Presentation 5. Review: Initial Draft Select Board Report to Town Meeting The Board reviewed the draft Select Board report to Town Meeting. The Board made minor edits including adding information about commercial growth challenges and bulky item pickup fees. There was agreement to adjust the language in the Stormwater Enterprise section to avoid implying active consideration of the topic. DOCUMENTS: Draft Report ADJOURN VOTE: Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Select Board voted 5-0 to adjourn at 10:02p.m. A true record; Attest: Kristan Patenaude Recording Secretary