HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-18-SBFRC-minAd Hoc Stone Building Feasibility/Reuse Committee
March 18, 2021 8:00 AM
Town of Lexington, MA
MINUTES
The meeting began at 8:05 with a roll call, and statement on use of virtual meetings for
fulfilling the open meeting requirement, followed by committee member online roll call.
Attending: Jill Hai (Select Board Liaison), Cristina Burwell, Devan Marks, Lester Savage,
Anne Grady, Melinda Nasardinov, Mark Manasas, Paul Smyke, Carolyn Goldstein, Jeff Howr y
(Chair), Meg Muckenhoupt (Appropriations Committee Liaison), Claire Feingold Thor yn (Cary
Librar y Trustees Liaison)
Absent: None
Recording Secretary: Cristina Burwell
Community Obser vers: Elaine Ashton
1.Approval of minutes from last meeting (March 4, 2021)
A motion to approve minutes was made by Anne, seconded by Mark, with unanimous
approval.
2.Guest speaker: Lynne Spencer, one of the authors of the 2009 Historic Structure
Report & Recommendations for Rehabilitation & Reuse,provided an over view and
remembrances of the building from the report. She began her involvement when a
steam heating problem caused a substantial leak in this branch of Cary Library, which
ser ved as a catalyst to rethink what was happening in the building.
Lynne’s discussion touched upon several interesting points such as code changes since
the time of the report, business vs. assembly use,structural capacity, possible
continued deterioration, and why the Lexington Historical Society has not pursued a
similar solution akin to the other three historical buildings of note in town.
3.Open issues
a.Planning of Public Forum -Cristina was assigned with providing forum
oversight and will collect information to propose a recommendation for a forum
date at the next meeting (suggested for later in April after Town meeting and
school vacation week). Mark was assigned with putting together an outreach
contact list, and will have a finalized list ready by the next meeting. Carolyn
was assigned with finalizing the press release and will coordinate with Sean
Dugan (Lexington PIO) for review, and will have it finalized for committee vote
at the next meeting. The Colonial Times publisher is interested in featuring the
Stone Building committee work. They will be part of our media outreach.
4.New business
a.Building plans - Jeff repor ted that there are not any plans with definitive
measurements, and he will be going to the building to take measurements so
that we know the scale.
b.Historical essays - Melinda referenced research papers written about women’s
histor y in Lexington that can be found in Bold Women of Lexington,
1790-1865**which are par ticularly relevant.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Anne, seconded by Paul, and approved unanimously.
Meeting ended at 9:26 am.
** T hese papers can be found at https://www.lexingtonhistor y.org/exhibits.html.T he papers
are labeled #2 and #3, and when asked whether there was a paper #1 it seems there is one
about spinners, but the author is considering publishing so it is not available on the web.
2 -Ad Hoc Stone Building Feasibility/Reuse Committee