Apply to Serve on the Minuteman School Committee; June 14 Deadline

The Select Board seeks residents interested in serving as Lexington’s representative on the Minuteman School Committee. The current term for Lexington’s representative is expiring soon, and the Select Board is accepting applications through June 14.

The Committee represents the nine towns that make up the Minuteman district and is responsible for providing guidance and direction to the School Administration to support the regional district and educational achievement of its students.

The Minuteman School Committee meets at least monthly, with additional meetings scheduled as needed. Meetings typically are on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM.

To be considered for appointment to the Minuteman School Committee:

Fill out the application form
Return the form by June 14, along with a letter of interest or resume, either by email to SelectBoard@LexingtonMA.gov or mail to:

Lexington Town Office Building

c/o Select Board Office

1625 Massachusetts Avenue

Lexington, MA 02420

Note: paper copies of the application are available in the Select Board Office and Town Manager's Office at the Town Office Building.

Seasonal Restriction on Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Now In-Effect

A seasonal restriction on gas-powered leaf blowers is now in-effect, and their use is not allowed from June 1 until September 14.

The use of gas-powered leaf blowers will eventually be phased out:

Effective March 15, 2025, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers by commercial landscapers will not be allowed. An exemption allows the continued use of wheeled leaf blowers powered by four-stroke engines on lots larger than 1 acre.
Residents will be allowed to use gas-powered leaf blowers on their own property until March 15, 2026.

Article 10 of Special Town Meeting 2021-1 (PDF), "Reducing Noise From Landscape Maintenance Equipment," was passed by Town Meeting on November 18, 2021. It was affirmed by Lexington residents in a referendum vote on March 7, 2022 (PDF).

Learn more about this bylaw at LexingtonMA.gov/LandscapeNoise

Join us for Java with Jim - Meet with the Town Manager June 13

Join Town Manager Jim Malloy for ‘Java with Jim’, a series of quarterly community meetings where he will share updates on what’s happening in town, and hear from members of the community. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about Town projects, programs, and/or services, or to share compliments or concerns directly with the Town Manager.

Tuesday, June 13, 6 until 7 PM

Via Zoom

Jim encourages anyone and everyone in the community to meet him and join in on the conversation!

Note: to ensure as many community members as possible are able to attend a 'Java with Jim', future meetings will rotate between being in-person and virtual, as well as being in the morning and the evening. The March 'Java with Jim' was in-person in the morning.

Share Your Feedback on on Comcast’s Performance as a Cable TV Provider in Lexington

Comcast is one of three operators licensed by the Select Board to provide Cable TV service in Lexington. Comcast’s license is up for renewal next year. As part of the license renewal process, the Communications Advisory Committee is seeking public comment on Comcast’s performance to determine how well Comcast is meeting the needs of our community.

To comment, you can:

Attend the meeting of the Communications Advisory Committee on Thursday, June 15 at 6:30 PM, either via Zoom or in person in the Parker Room on the lower level of the Town Office Building, (meeting details to be provided on the Public Meeting Calendar closer to the meeting).
Send email to communicationscmte@lexingtonma.gov, with a copy to selectboard@lexingtonma.gov .
Send postal mail to the Select Board at 1625 Mass. Ave., Lexington, MA, 02420, or leave a copy of your written comments at the Select Board Office.

If you‘d like to comment, you should know that:

The Town‘s license with Comcast is for Cable TV service only. The Town does not license or in any way regulate Comcast’s Internet or Telephone services.
The Town does not regulate the prices Comcast charges.

Come to the meeting or send your comments and let us know what you think of Comcast’s Cable TV service in Lexington!

Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Community Meeting on June 8

Do you bike or walk around town? Do you wish there was a bike lane or sidewalk that would make your trip safer? The Town of Lexington is developing a Town-wide bicycle and pedestrian plan to:

Identify the needs and gaps in our biking and walking network.
Prioritize future improvements to the streets, sidewalks, shared use paths to provide meaningful connections that gets people where they want to go.

This plan will be an important tool as the Town makes future capital and operational investments. For more information on the plan, visit our website.

June 8 Community Meeting; We Want Your Ideas

Join Town staff and consultants for the second of three community engagement meetings to review draft recommendations of the bicycle and pedestrian plan. There will be a brief presentation, followed by an opportunity for the community to weigh in on the recommendations.

June 8 at 7 PM

Cary Memorial Building

1605 Massachusetts Avenue

Take the Bike and Ped Survey

Please take the bicycle and pedestrian plan survey, where you can map your ideas and areas of concern for cyclists and pedestrians around town.

Take the survey.

Town Engineer Named National Professional Manager of the Year in Engineering & Technology

Town Engineer John Livsey has been named National Professional Manager of the Year in Engineering and Technology by the American Public Works Association (APWA).

The Professional Manager of the Year Award in Engineering and Technology recognizes outstanding achievements in the area of engineering and technology within the public works field and to inspire excellence, leadership and dedication to the public good.

Congratulations to John on this outstanding accomplishment!

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 2

Every day, more than 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 17,000 gun homicides every year.

This Friday is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The Select Board renews its commitment to reducing gun violence and pledging to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe. Anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 2, the first Friday in June in 2023, to help raise awareness about gun violence.

Read the proclamation.

School Vaccine Clinic - Final Clinic of the School Year on June 9

The Lexington Public Schools will be hosting their final vaccination clinic of the year. Get vaccinations for COVID and Flu, as well as "catch up" vaccinations — TDAP, MMR or Meningitis.

The clinics are available to anyone in the Lexington community.

The clinics will be held at the Lexington Public Schools Central Administration Office, 146 Maple Street (enter via Lowell St.)

June clinic:

Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Visit our website for more information, including registration information and frequently asked questions.

Upcoming Conservation Walks

Nature Journaling, Sutherland Woods

DATE: June 3

TIME: 9 – 11 AM

Accompany Arlington artist and naturalist Jan Ford on an inspirational walk around Sutherland Woods. She will work with you to establish what a nature journal can look like. Tree variety and leaf shapes will be the theme. Artists of all skill levels are welcome to share ideas and techniques. Please bring a drawing pad with a sturdy back, and several pencils with erasers.

Park along the west side of Sutherland Rd and meet at the entrance to the ball field/playground area. More than light rain cancels.

Leader: Jan Ford - ford.jd@gmail.com

Wild Edibles of Lexington’s Waysides

DATE: June 14, 2023

TIME: 6 – 8 PM

Lexington is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, both native and non-native, including plants considered to be weedy or invasive. Some are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, on a two-hour ramble in and around Lincoln Park to learn about at least eighteen edible species. Russ will present information on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. Steady rain cancels.

Meet at the Lincoln Park Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk on Worthen Road across from the Lexington High playing fields.

Leader: Russ Cohen ~ 781-646-7489, eatwild@rcn.com

EQUITY OFFICER UPDATE

Updates and information from the Town's Chief Equity Officer

Lexington Celebrates Pride Month

This month, Lexington celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, its rich history, and its ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance during Pride Month. At their June 5 meeting, the Select Board will be voting on a proclamation for Pride Month.

Pride Month is a time to honor the bravery, resilience, and love of those who have paved the way for progress, while acknowledging that there is still work to be done. We recognize that everyone deserves to live authentically and without fear of discrimination or prejudice. We celebrate the beauty of diversity and acknowledge the valuable contributions that LGBTQ+ individuals make to our community.

During this month, we encourage the community to learn more about LGBTQ+ issues, engage in meaningful conversations, and promote understanding and acceptance. Please check out the following Pride Month events:

Gender Equality & The Carter Administration with the Carter Presidential Library — June 6

Explore the state of Women's Rights issues in the 1970s, the Equal Rights Amendment of 1972, and the Constitutional means the Carter administration embraced to address gender inequality. The discussion will be guided by relevant primary sources of the National Archives and the Carter Library, with opportunities for attendees to weigh in with their perspectives. Led by Joshua Montanari, Education Specialist at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.

Tuesday, June 6, from 2 until 3 PM. Please register to receive zoom link for this virtual program offered by Cary Library.

LGBTQ+ Terminology 101 — June 12

Join Emily Lunardi for a program that is for anyone looking for clear explanations of LGBTQIA+ lingo, presented in a personable and attainable way. Do you feel confused or overwhelmed by LGBTQIA+ terminology? Do you ever get worried you’ll say the wrong word or pronoun? Then this workshop is for you!

Emily Lunardi (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Drama Therapist specializing in LGBTQIA+ mental health. She is committed to empowering individuals and communities to be strong allies, in an effort to make the world a safer and more supportive place for queer and trans people.

Monday, June 12, from 7 until 8 PM. Please register to receive zoom link for this virtual program offered by Cary Library.

JOBS

CALENDARS

Town Calendar

Library Events

Recreation Programs

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