HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-15-LCC-min.pdfPage 1 of 3
Town of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Submitted by Upasna Chhabra
Minutes for the meeting held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 beginning at 8:30 am in the
Parker Room, Town OCice Building, Lexington, Massachusetts
Members present: T. Eric Ballard, Upasna Chhabra, Mike Harris, JeCrey Lyon, Kat
MacDonald, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson (Chair), Danit Netzer, Jon Wakelin
Liaisons present: Capt. Christopher Barry, Lexington Police Department; Doug Lucente,
Select Board; Tina McBride, Planning Board; Dave Pinsonneault, DPW
Guests present: Betty Gau, Fred Johnson, Pamela Lyons, Carol Sacerdote
===================================
DPW Update
• Question about trash bags and restaurants providing utensils automatically vs.
upon request
• Is it possible/appropriate to ask local restaurants to take care of emptying barrels
adjacent to their establishments?
Economic Development Update
• Lots of oCice space available in the Center
• Upcoming Events:
o Chinese New Year Celebration – parade and lanterns
o MLK Day – week of activities – diCerent model from prior years
o Waste -related Event
§ January 26th
§ Highlights Zero to Go Program (Royal India Bistro, Revival, Beijing
Chinese Restaurant)
Updates on Information Gathering on Committee Priority Items
1. TraCic and Transportation Study (Innessa M)
o Innessa will ask EDC to collaborate with her to obtain any previous studies.
o Work with EDC to see if there is any grant funding available for a
transportation/traCic study.
Page 2 of 3
2. Parking Lot: Muzzey Street Lot Re-design (Jon W)
o Solar is the main issue delaying this project. Should solar be included in this
parking lot?
o Earliest design would be Spring 2027
o Any short-term design options?
LCC Position on Solar in Parking Lots
• LCC decided not to make a recommendation regarding solar in parking lots
at this time.
• LCC will attempt to get all interested parties to meet to understand logistics
and requirements of parking lot usage as well as how solar would impact
current usage.
• No vote was taken at this meeting but there is still much concern about solar
installation in the Muzzey Street Lot.
Liaison Updates
Tourism Committee (Kat M)
• Timely issue is the continuation of the Liberty Ride
• Last 2 meetings did not have a quorum so vote on continuation has been delayed.
• Deficits of $75k in 2023, $100k 2024, $45k 2025 with additional expenses and rides
being added in later years.
• Question about how much of marketing budget allocated to Liberty Ride is related to
the Ride v general marketing of Town of Lexington
• Contract with provider technically ended this year but we are on a one year
extension through March 2027.
• Previous years of RFP’s (Requests for Proposals) have had NO companies, other
than current provider, submit a bid.
• Tours exist in addition to the Liberty Ride
o Tour guides get on large tour buses
o Tours on foot out of the Visitor Center
• The trolley itself is beyond its useful life. Desire for any future trolley/vehicle to be
electric.
• Concern that Liberty Ride highlights Concord venues more heavily than Lexington
sites.
• LCC suggested the following:
o Possible combined trolley/joint venture with Concord
o Use LexPress buses for tours
Page 3 of 3
o Combine tickets with coupons for local businesses
• Next meeting, when vote will (likely) be taken, is Monday 1/26 at 3p – both Zoom and
in-person). Vote will be a proposal to the Select Board to either extend the Liberty
Ride or to propose discontinuing trolley tours. Kat will attend and encouraged
others interested to also participate.
• Depending on Tourism Committee Vote, LCC may want to make its own
recommendation to the Select Board.
Meeting adjourned 10:00
Next Meeting: February 12th 8:30-10:00