HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-11-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
December 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
convened in a hybrid format in the Select Board Meeting Room at the Town Office Building and
via Zoom video conference on Thursday December 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM by Mona Roy as
allowed by legislation (S.2475) extending the suspension of certain provisions of the
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Present in person:
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Chair
Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Kerry Dunne, LPS Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Melanie Lin, Community Representative
Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative
Dawn McKenna
Steve Cole, Lexington Minutemen
Present remotely:
Bridger McGaw, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Bebe Fa!lick, Tourism Committee Representative
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Absent:
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative
• The meeting was called to order at 4:32 by M. Roy
• Minutes
o Approval of minutes will be taken up at the next meeting.
• VO250
o Lit up 160,000 hours after the tree lighting, with some help from Santa.
Recognized Fred Johnson and Sue Rockwell for their service.
o The next arch lighting will be January 10, which will coincide with the night of the
Lex Lux event, and will feature speakers from the MLK Day of Service organizing
group.
• Signature Events
o Signature Events calendar has been updated as per comments from the last
meeting. More information is still needed for some events before the calendar
can be posted to the website.
• Patriots' Day 2026
o Another stakeholder meeting will be held in January to go over needs. Town
Celebrations Committee needs to meet with the Select Board and staff about
some logistical needs for the weekend.
• Communication Plans
o A meeting was held earlier today with JGPR and Town staff to consolidate and
coordinate communication and marketing plans, incorporating Town staff and
remaining within JGPR's contract.
o Next month's agenda will contain a discussion on the Commission's desires for
the website.
• Budget
o B. McGaw was able to get copies of Scopes of Work from the Patriots' Day
Weekend 2025 RFPs for event management, NV, and transportation in order to
determine a potential revised scope for 2026. Documentation regarding the
public safety barricades is still needed.
■ The DPW has received a $10,000 grant from MIAA for the purchase of
barricades. This would leave $4,000 needed to meet the total amount
previously mentioned for acquiring the necessary barricades..
o The Commission will pull together a working group, including relevant Town staff,
to work through revisions to the Scopes for 2026.
o The Town has acquired the video from the jumbotrons of Patriots' Day Weekend
2025.
o The need still remains to put together a proposed budget for additional
programming in order to potentially access other sources of funding.
• Riding Through History
o An artists' reception to honor artists that participated in the project is being
planned for after Patriots' Day 2026. Grant money has been secured for the
event, with a date to be finalized.
o The timeline for undertaking a public art project with funding from an auction of
the horses in April would have much of the project, and decisions involved,
occurring after the dissolution of the Semiquincentennial Commission. This
places into question the feasibility of the Commission continuing with the project
as currently planned.
o J. Tung will work with the HDC to seek additional extensions for the horses as
currently installed.
o Possibilities for funds from an auction include upkeep for the remaining horses,
funding an art project through another shepherding organization, donation to an
entity such as the Fund for Lexington, or put towards a future major anniversary.
• Member Updates
o LHS History Club is available to volunteer and support events during Patriots'
Day weekend and beyond.
• Chair Report
o M. Roy has been added to the State 250 commission; a presentation from the
Education Subcommittee regarding history will be shared around.
• Next meeting: January 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM in the Select Board Meeting Room and via
Zoom
• The meeting was adjourned at 5:28 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Noah Michelson