HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-26-EDAC-min.docxMarch 26, 2026, EDAC Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Rick DeAngelis, Mitch Tyson, Justin Fleming, Samuel Ang, Charlie Minasian
Town Staff: Sandhya Iyer, Jay Abdella
Select Board Liaison: Doug Lucente
Vote on EDAC February 4, 2026, Meeting Minutes
The Committee voted 4-0-1 to approve the minutes from the February 4 meeting. Steve
Kaufman abstained as he was unable to attend. Justin Fleming made one minor edit with his last
name being spelled with an additional M.
Discussion of Lexington's Business Toolkit
Senior Economic Development Coordinator Jay Abdella introduced the 2022 Business Toolkit,
provided a background on the document, and invited the Committee to weigh in on the
direction for updating the document. Members of the committee discussed ideas including:
• Creating individual "one -pagers" for different audiences/clusters (life sciences, defense,
small businesses, etc.). Is the Toolkit designed for a CEO vs. Facility Director?
• Focusing the toolkit on "selling Lexington" as a business destination rather than a
business who has already moved into Lexington.
• Emphasizing the "value of personal touch" from municipal staff through concierge -style
service. Lexington does a good job with having staff guide a person through permitting.
• Use resources to help direct and connect prospective entities to find the information
needed as fast as possible.
Chair DeAngelis requested Committee members to review the toolkit, and to come back with
recommendations. Economic Development and Tourism Director Sandhya Iyer asked the Chair
and Committee to keep an eye out for marketing materials from other municipalities as
examples to use in Lexington.
Discussion of Economic Development Annual Report
Senior Economic Development Coordinator Jay Abdella presented the FY25 Economic
Development and outlined how the department has framed the report. Economic Development
and Tourism Director Sandhya Iyer provided a background of the purpose of the Report.
Committee members asked about the following:
1) The intention of the report — what are the goals of the Economic Development Office,
and how did they do against them?
2) Connecting to accountability and economic development metrics and incorporating
stakeholders to help push those goals.
3) Include a section about the Economic Development Committee.
Chair DeAngelis asked a committee member to take ownership of a section for the Economic
Development Advisory Committee. Sam Ang and Mitch Tyson offered to spearhead the section.
EDO Update:
EDO staff reported on the poll conducted to the Committee and liaisons about a new time for
meetings. From a vote of 7-5, it was decided that the Economic Development Advisory
Committee's new meeting time would be 8:30am on the third Tuesday of the month. Senior
Economic Development Coordinator Jay Abdella left the meeting at 9:35am to represent the
Office at a different commitment. After brief discussion about timing, the group agreed for the
next meeting time to be Tuesday, April 21 at 8:30am on Zoom. Chair DeAngelis moved to
adjourn the meeting, Mitch Tyson moved to second the motion. Meeting was adjourned at
9:40a m .