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Select Board Seeks Public Feedback on Policing in Lexington
Over the past several years, the Town of Lexington has been planning for the construction of a new police station. The Select Board has paused design development on the police station project to conduct public outreach on policing in Lexington.

Select Board Members have been meeting with cultural, ethnic, and social groups within the Lexington community to discuss this topic in small group settings. In the next step of this public outreach process, we are looking for the broader public to share their thoughts or concerns with members of the Select Board directly. 

We are seeking feedback on the following questions: 

  • What has your experience been with the Lexington Police Department? (Positive and/or negative experiences) 
  • Do you have concerns about the current Police Department operations that might impact how we would build a new police station?
  • Any other thoughts you might want to share about policing in Lexington?

How to share your feedback:
  • For an individual meeting with two Select Board Members (Joe Pato and Doug Lucente), please email selectboard@lexingtonma.gov or call 781-698-4580 to schedule a time. This feedback would be kept confidential.

  • If you would like to share feedback electronically, please fill out this online form. Please write “Police Station Project Feedback” in the Comment Section. Feedback submitted electronically cannot be kept confidential and would become part of the public record.

The deadline to submit feedback is June 15.
COVID-19 Restrictions to be Lifted Effective May 29
The Town of Lexington will be following the State’s new COVID-19 guidelines.

  • As of May 29, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted, and all industries in Massachusetts will be permitted to open at 100% capacity

  • Also as of May 29, the face covering order will be rescinded and replaced with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance (more information below).

  • As of June 15, the State of Emergency will be lifted.

The Lexington Board of Health emphasizes that all unvaccinated individuals, including children under the age of 12, are at increased risk of exposure to the virus whenever they are in settings with unmasked individuals.  

Vaccination and continued mask wearing whenever in close quarters with others, remain our only effective path to continued reduction in COVID case numbers.

Town leadership is developing plans to safely reopen Town buildings and allow for in-person public meetings; that information will be shared in the near future.

Face Coverings
In line with updated CDC face covering guidance, the State will rescind the current face covering order and issue a new face covering advisory effective May 29. Face coverings will still be required in the following places:

  • Public/private transportation systems (MBTA, Lexpress, Uber/Lyft, etc.)
  • Healthcare facilities and providers, congregate care settings and health and rehabilitative day services.
  • Indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early education providers
Memorial Day Information: Town Offices Will Be Closed; No Trash/Recycling Collection; Holiday Programming
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, Town offices will be closed on Monday, May 31.

  • There will be no curbside trash and recycling collection on May 31, and the rest of the week will be on a 1 day delay. So, if your trash is normally picked up on Monday, it will be picked up Tuesday, etc. Friday trash will be collected Saturday

  • No board/committee meetings


Memorial Day Programming
The Town Celebrations Committee will present a video to commemorate Memorial Day:

Monday, May 31 at 10 AM & 1 PM
LexMedia Public Channels
RCN3, RCN-HD 613, Comcast 8 and Verizon 35
 
This year marks the 160th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and the video that will air will highlight that war and its veterans, as well as veterans of wars since.

  • Visit our website to learn about the interesting story of Lexington’s Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Thomas Cosgrove.
Lt. Dunbar and Officer Severe Complete Fair and Impartial Policing 'Train the Trainer' Course
On May 26, Lt. Colleen Dunbar and Officer Christiana Severe successfully completed the 'Train the Trainer' course for Fair and Impartial Policing (FIP) hosted by the Municipal Police Training Committee. With the successful completion of the course, they will be able to teach members of the Lexington Police Department the most updated information and best practices on FIP and allow them to instruct in police academies and other departments as needed. 

Those completing the course are able to:

  • Understand the social-psychological research on implicit bias and its implications for both patrol officers’ and first line supervisors’ actions;
  • Discuss the impact of biased policing on community members and the law enforcement organization;
  • Discuss the knowledge and skills that patrol officers and supervisors need to promote fair and impartial policing; and
  • Demonstrate proficiency in using appropriate adult learning methods to support the training objectives and effectively present and debrief problem-based scenarios.
MWRA Testing on Lexington's Drinking Water Shows Favorable Results
In fall 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published a new public drinking water standard regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (together abbreviated as PFAS). PFAS are a family of chemicals used in stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick products, as well as firefighting foams.

Lexington’s water comes from the Mass. Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and a recent test using extremely sensitive testing methods for PFAS found no more than trace amounts detected, too low to be quantified. The sum of the six regulated PFAS compounds in the MWRA’s test was zero, below the new MassDEP standard of 20 parts per trillion.

“The Town works closely with MWRA to ensure the water that they supply for our residents is safe,” said David Pinsonneault, Director of Public Works (DPW). “Additionally, the Town works with MassDEP to test our water on a weekly basis at different sampling locations throughout the system. The DPW’s Water Division continues to be diligent in its practices and procedures, so that the water quality meets all safe drinking water standards,” he added. 

Massachusetts has one of the strictest PFAS limits in the country at 20 parts per trillion, which is considerably lower than the US Environmental Protection Agency's Health Advisory of 70 parts per trillion.

The MWRA began testing for PFAS in 2019, and has recently begun testing quarterly as part of DEP’s regulation in January 2021.


To learn more about PFAS, visit the Mass DEP website.
Pride Week Events and Activities in Lexington
Pride Week in Lexington is June 6 – 13, as declared by a proclamation of the Lexington Select Board on May 6, 2019.





  • June 13, 2:30-3:30pm – Car Parade by LexPride & Lexington Human Rights Committee

Why We Celebrate Pride
Every year we celebrate Pride month in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York. Led by transgender women of color, the Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. It helped energize the ongoing pursuit of equality.

Pride month is also a time to recognize the impact that LGBTQIA+ people have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Pride means using our rights and resources to encourage all residents to participate fully in the vibrant life of our community.
East Lexington Local Rapid Recovery Grant Update Event June 8
The towns of Arlington, Bedford and Lexington were jointly awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Rapid Recovery Plan (RRP) Program. The RRP program is aimed at assisting communities develop actionable plans to aid commercial areas recover from COVID-19. 

The idea is to create a plan to help revitalize Arlington Heights, Bedford Center and East Lexington Village with a particular focus on a common asset – the Minuteman Bikeway.

The three communities have been working together with a consulting team to assess the situation, conduct research, and start to develop some ideas. The towns are just finishing up Phase 1 of three phases:

  1. Diagnostic
  2. Project Recommendations
  3. Plan.

Join us to hear about the findings from the assessment, business survey and focus groups. Most importantly, we hope you will share your ideas and priorities for possible projects and action steps.

Tuesday, June 8, 6-7:30 PM

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
COVID-19 Data
Our Office of Public Health compiles COVID-19 data for our community and it is available on our website at LexingtonMA.gov/COVID19data
SCHOOLS
Staying connected to the Lexington Public Schools
LHS National Science Bowl Team
Lexington High School (LHS) placed first in the National Science Bowl and earned a spot to compete in the National Finals, at which they placed first place again! This year’s first place win marks the fourteenth win in a row for LHS. Way to go! View the list of all students.

National Oceans Sciences Blue Lobster Bowl
In March 2021, LHS took first and second place at the annual Regional Ocean Sciences Blue Lobster Bowl. Team A went on to compete at the National Sciences Bowl from May 8-16 and took second place! Students who compete on these teams study all aspects of oceanography, including geology, marine biology, technology, and policy, history and social sciences, physical and chemical oceanography. View the March announcement and the list of all students.

Also in this edition of the Superintendent's Report, read about:

  • DEI Student Advisory Council
  • COVID-19 Update
  • Community Input Team for Full Return Update
  • Planning Update on Elementary Sections and Staffing
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