HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-09-TOUR2-minLexington Tourism Committee
MEETING MINUTES
April 9, 2007
Present Dawn McKenna (chair), John Ott, Susan Bennett, Mary Jo Bohart, Kerry Brandin, Paul
O'Shaughnessy, Lou Sideris. Absent: Bebe Fallick
Staff: Masha Traber (Liberty Ride Coordinator),
The meeting was called to order at 4:20 p.m.
Minutes from the 3/12/07 meeting were reviewed, amended as necessary, and individually
approved by those present.
Chairman Dawn McKenna directed people's attention to the "draft" separate Liberty Ride ticket
layout for the Historical Society houses. Ms. Susan Bennett had several suggestions and offered
to mark up a copy of the draft layout which will ultimately be given along with the Liberty Ride
tickets. Ms. McKenna encouraged everyone to similarly mark up the draft version with whatever
changes they feel are needed. The concept of whether or not such a "combined" ticket including
both the Liberty Ride and the Historical Society's attractions /houses was discussed.
Regarding the bus /trolley contract for the Liberty Ride, Ms. McKenna stated that three (3)
prospective vendors attended the pre -bid meeting recently. She noted that M & L Transportation
was not among those attendees. Ms. McKenna added that the deadline for bids being submitted
for the Liberty Ride's bus /trolley contract will be within the next couple of weeks.
The 2007 operation of the Liberty Ride will, once again, include the Quality Inn & Suites (on
Bedford St. in Lexington) as an advertiser in the brochure. It was decided not to allow
Concord's Colonial Inn to participate in this capacity since they are located in Concord rather
than Lexington, and we have traditionally made that space available only to Lexington hotels.
The payroll for FY08 includes an assumption for new wage rates for the guides. Ms. McKenna
then proposed implementing a wage increase in April/May rather than at the July 1, 2007 start of
the town's fiscal year. A motion was made by Mr. John Ott to implement the new wage rates for
Liberty Ride guides effective 4/14/07. This motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously.
Ms. McKenna then addressed the continuing the Liberty Ride ticket coupon program. She said
that, typically, businesses offer a simple percentage off through this coupon to cross - promote
local businesses to Liberty Ride customers. Ms. Mary Jo Bohart offered to email information on
the Liberty Ride coupon program to her Lexington -based restaurant, lodging & retail member
businesses. Ms. McKenna stated that she would provide Ms. Bohart with some information to
share with these businesses as an outreach effort. Ms. McKenna also said that she will handle
getting outreach materials to Concord businesses, with a $50 "opt in" fee for them to participate
in the coupon program.
Ms. McKenna asked the group for their sentiments regarding a donation letter aimed at the
business community and other longtime Liberty Ride supporters, to acquire additional funds
which could supplement what is presently in the Selectmen's gift account. Overall, the group
felt that, since the Liberty Ride concluded last years' season in a profitable position, it was not
needed to solicit further contributions or donations at this time. Ms. McKenna stated that instead
of sending out the traditional solicitation letter, it would instead be appropriate to send out a
"thank you" letter to those same longtime supporters of the Liberty Ride program.
Ms. McKenna provided an update on Town Meeting relative to the Tourism Committee. She
announced that the various Community Preservation Committee (CPC) items which the Tourism
Committee voted to support at a prior meeting will now being coming up for a vote of Town
Meeting tonight (4/9/07). Ms. McKenna noted that the committee had not yet voted to take a
formal position on the town's proposed Demolition Delay By -Law (Article 15), but she said that
the proponents of that item have now modified their request to include a demolition delay of 12
months rather than the initial 18 months proposed. The sentiment of the Tourism Committee
was to not take a position on this article. With regard to Article 21, the town's Operating Budget
article, Ms. McKenna noted that 4/23/07 will be the first night of Town Meeting presentation and
discussion on that item.
Moving on to other tourism related activities, Ms. McKenna mentioned that she and Ms. Bennett
will be stopping by the Lexington Visitors Center building, to view the existing materials and on
the interior walls and to determine if new signage could better promote the Historical Society's
attractions. Ms. Bohart encouraged then to investigate this, but she also cautioned that,
presently, the Visitors Center's interior walls are filled with several large, permanent displays on
the U.S. S. Lexington battleships. Ms. Bohart stated that there presently is one large wall display
featuring "Lexington Historical Society" photographs and descriptive text, however she felt that
possibly that material needed to be refreshed and updated.
Ms. McKenna then reported that there has been progress with the widespread removal of
duplicative signage within Lexington Center and its historic district. She stated that the Tourism
Committee worked closely with Mr. Bill Hadley of the town's Dept. of Public Works (DPW)
and with Mr. Paul Jenkins of the Lexington Police Dept. on this effort.
Mr. Lou Sideris and Mr. Paul O'Shaughnessy reminded the group that this upcoming Saturday
(April 14 ") will be the Battle Road Re- enactment festivities in Lexington, Lincoln & Concord.
Ms. Susan Bennett also noted that Sunday, April 15 is the special "In Their Own Words" event
taking place at the Lexington Depot building to lead into Patriot's Day activities.
The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Mary Jo Bohart
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