HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-10-LCC-min Town of Lexington
Lexington Center Committee
Minutes ,n,'+nr for the meeting of December 10, 2020 held on Zoom
pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 order suspending certain provisions
of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18, and subsequent orders.
Committee members present: Richard Brown, Michael Boudett, Katherine Huang
(9:03 am) Frederic Johnson, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning, Jerold Michelson
(chair), Pamela Shadley
Liaisons: Jill Hai, Select Board, Bob Creech, Planning Board, Sandhya Iyer,
Economic Development Director, Casey Hagerty, Economic Development
Coordinator, Joe Pato, Select Board (informally), David Pinsonneault, DPW, Dawn
McKenna, Tourism Committee, Upsanan Chhabra, Artwalk Committee, Melanie
Tanionos, Business Collaborative, Erin Sandler-Rathe, Chamber of Commerce,
Sandra Shaw, Council On Aging, Stella Carr, Sustainability Director
We began with an update from Dave Pinsonneault concerning the Center
Streetscape Project. The 100% design plans are complete and the project is going
out to bid in January with construction to begin right after Patriot's Day. The first
phase running from the Police Station to Merriam Street will occur from April to
November 2021 and 2022. There will be construction inspection services working
directly for the Town to ensure the project is performed as the design requires.
Once the contractor is hired there will be public meetings with the Chamber of
Commerce and other stakeholders. An email list will be set up to push out
construction information and updates. Beta is the project engineer.
Casey let us know that she will be connecting with an architect regarding the bike
node (TM bought the property in 2020) to do some rechecks with relevant
groups. The Police Dept. will not enforce any parking meters when there is snow
blocking the meters. The SB will be discussing meters at an upcoming meeting.
The Visitors Center (including the bathrooms) will close for the months of January,
February and March, 2021. Were bathrooms to remain open staff would be
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needed to do contact tracing. StretchMed (in the old Goodfeet location) will open
in February. A bread bakery is looking for space in the Center.
The Hosmer House saga continues. An RFP went out in late summer requiring,
that house be relocated to an historic district, and preferably the one where it
now abides. Only one out of the two bids were qualified. That bid proposes that
Hosmer House be relocated to Harrington Street, where it could be used as
affordable housing. Dawn McKenna (speaking as a neighbor) noted that there is a
preservation restriction on that lot where a Witness House stood. She said that
the Hosmer House is from a different era and there is not enough frontage for a
house now.
Casey noted that Firefly has closed and a dry cleaner is looking at the Revolve
space.
Innessa gave us a detailed description of Artwalks three distinct planned art
installations of six weeks each to get us through this winter. inn at eN,p, ent. �^r
The committee consensus was that these were interesting and
imaginative installations, inviting public participation, that would brighten up the
Center during the winter months.
Stella Carr introduced herself as Lexington's new Sustainability Director. Mark
Sandeen of the Select Board, joined her to talk about the e-charging stations.
Mark noted that the meters had not yet been converted to require payment for
the charging but Town staff was working on this. Once some relevant information
is obtained, the Select Board will set the rate. The Center will have seven units
with 13 charging bays.
Dawn (now speaking on behalf of the Tourism Committee) let us know that the
Tourism Committee opposed closing the Visitors Center in January, February and
March of 2021. She noted that there are funds in the Town budget to support
businesses and that's what the VC does.
We discussed what the Committee's focus should be in 2021. Mike asserted that
the Streetscape Project is the key event. Anything we can do to help businesses
during the construction is the most important thing we can do. Ironically we will
finally start moving forward right when the pandemic is likely abating.
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Erin of the Chamber of Commerce will be doing more follow-up with businesses
and has been forming partnerships with landlords and other entities on how to
build out e-commerce. Also partnering with Human Rights Committee to offer
training to businesses. She noted that Concord and Burlington no longer have
COCs.
Jerry closed the meeting by thanking Town staff for all of their work and
encouraged us to shop safely in the Center. He also noted that Town Meeting
passed the Financial Services article. The Committee voted 8 to 0 to approve the
October minutes. The next meeting will be held on January 14th, 2021.
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