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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-20-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) November 20 2024 Meeting Minutes Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250) convened in a hybrid format in the Parker Room at the Town Office Building and via Zoom video conference on Wednesday November 20, 2024 at 4:30 PM by Ms. Barry as allowed by legislation (S.2475) extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Present in person: Suzie Barry, Select Board Member, Chair Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative Barry Cunha, Business Representative Bebe Fa!lick, Tourism Committee Representative Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative Present remotely: Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative Doug Lucente, Select Board Member Bridger McGaw, Community Representative Paul O'Shaughnessy, Historical Organization Representative Ashley Rooney, Community Representative Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative Chief Mike McLean, LPD Cpt. Chris Barry, LPD Sgt. David Bresnihan, LPD Asst. Chief Don Chisolm, LFD David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works Joanne Belanger, Director of Public Health Pat Moyer, Co Chair Tree Committee Rachel Van Emon Sarah McDonough, Lexington Historical Society Staff from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR) • The meeting was called to order at 4:33 by Ms. Barry • Across Lexington Line of March Signage o The Greenways Corridor Committee is looking to mark the British line of march incorporating Across Lexington signage. o Organizers have already coordinated with DPW about downtown. o A small budget is needed, just for marking tags and a possible ribbon cutting. ■ The Committee has been directed towards the Fund for Lexington and/or private donations. o Mr. O'Shaughnessy is working with the Tree Committee and Historic Districts Commission chair to obtain administrative approval for the installation of tags. • Tree Committee 250 Trees o The Tree Committee has already worked with DPW to get a quote for 250 various native young trees to distribute. DPW is supporting this with the Tree Fund as well as caring for the trees prior to distribution. o The Tree Committee anticipates a few events before Memorial Day where trees can be distributed, staffed by members of the tree committee/volunteers o The Committee is asking for help with information distribution and publicity. Trees will come accompanied with planting and care information and FAQs. ■ A link will be created on the Lex250 website, and a Lex250 column in the Lexington Times will cover the project. • Patriots' Day Afternoon Parade Chief Marshall o The Town Celebrations Committee has a name to consider as Chief Marshall: Charlie Price ■ Charlie is a longtime resident, long time Lexington Minuteman, and worked for the Parks Service. ■ No objections from the Commission. • Publicity o Partnering with the Lexington Historical Society to help promote, with JGPR help, events between now and April. ■ The first event is the Tea Burning reenactment on December 14. Historical Society is working on a plan given current fire safety conditions. Buckman Tavern will be open with 17th century music and drop in historical programs, a CAAL display of Chinese teaware, and the Lexington Minutemen drilling. o The Commission has committed to running 1 advertisement in each Lexington Times issue. The current ad has one half dedicated to fundraising and the other half to volunteering. ■ Julie and Melanie will co chair handling volunteering. • Fundraising o The Goal of the fundraising small group is to do a town wide mailing. This may not go out until after the first of the year in order to avoid late December. • Witness House Banner Project o Banner design has been completed and is at the printers for proof o The logistics of payment are still being worked on. o Banners should be received by the end of january, with the plan for launch party / distribution event in February. • Invitations o Invitations small group has been working on obtaining addresses and finalizing language. Current timeline anticipates sending out the first week of December. • Monument o Bebe and Barry met with the Commission on Disability, which unanimously approved the project. They will meet with the Monuments and Memorials Committee and the Tourism Committee one more time each; these groups were waiting on approval from the Historic Districts Commission. o HDC was unable to reach a decision on the project. HDC legislation has default approval after 60 days after no decision was reached; this will be forthcoming. o Following approval, a broad publicity campaign is needed to advertise the monument plans to the town and receive feedback. Some public comment has come into the Select Board and been / will be forwarded to point person. o The monument still needs to come before the Select Board for final approval. • Logistics o Suzie, Bridger, and Doug have been working with staff from public safety in a small group to work on logistics. o The group is working on identifying information to create an RFP. The group is looking at the midnight ride, reenactment, 11 AM event, Army program, and parade. They are focusing on securing the site and securing enjoyment along with Audio/Visual needs and overflow and transportation, food, etc. o Parade will start at Mass Ave. and Maple St., continuing along Mass Ave. before going left at the Minuteman statue. The reviewing stand and media stations will be on the BattleGreen. o Commission members should note January 11, 2025 for a MEMA training. There will be two separate 4 hr sessions. • Loose Ends o Voices on the Green ■ Event on Friday November 22. o Midnight Bike ride ■ There is interest in a midnight bike ride, along working on bike corrals for the weekend. o Website ■ Some confusion has arisen as to correct website (main Town Site, Tourism site, Lex250). o State ■ A $325,000 earmark for transportation for the IMA towns has been pulled from the budget by Senator Barrett. There is still some money potentially available in the bond bill for capital projects, but this money may not be usable. o Schools ■ Lexington Education Foundation and FOLMADS have partnered with Concord/Carlisle schools for a "Battle of the Bands" including commissioning a composed piece. o US Army ■ Due to visit in December for a site visit and go over plans for possible performance of band and/or Golden Knights at 11 AM on April 19. o Volunteering Project ■ Volunteer challenge small group met; will have more formal update to Commission soon. Looking to have program kick off the weekend of April 19 2025 and last a full year. o Other Lexi ngtons ■ Lex250 shot glasses have been delivered to Lexington SC. o Garden Club ■ The Garden Club has procured 13,000 red, white, and blue bulbs and planted them throughout the Center. • Next meeting: December 4 • The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 Respectfully Submitted, Noah Michelson