Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 14

A School Committee executive session to discuss challenging the AG's ruling on an Open Meeting Law violation, summer concerts and more today in Lexington.

1. School Committee Could Challenge OML Ruling: According to the town website, the School Committee has an executive session scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight at the Central Adminstration Building at which it is expected to "discuss strategy with respect to a possible appeal of the July 26, 2012, Open Meeting Law ruling by the Office of the Attorney General." According ot that ruling,  the AG's office determined the School Committee violated Open Meeting Law when voted in an executive session to extend the contract of the superintendent of schools. 2. Also Meeting Today: The 2020 Vision Subcommittee on Demographic Change is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. this evening at the Town Office Building. 3. Summer Concerts: At 7:15 p.m. tonight, you can…

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AG: Lexington, Minuteman School Committees Violated Open Meeting Law

One town, two school committees, two Open Meeting Law Violations.

Both the Lexington School Committee and Minuteman Regional School Committee have violated Open Meeting Law in the past two years, according to determinations released last week by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office. The Lexington School Committee ran afoul of the law during the 2010-2011 school year, when it voted to extend the contract of Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash in an executive session. The AG’s office received two complaints stemming from that situation, filed by Lexington residents Eric Eid-Reiner and Dawn McKenna.  This finding does not void Ash’s contract.  The Minuteman School Committee’s complaint, filed earlier this year by David Manjarrez, a former member of the board, and dealt with emails to a quorum of school …

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Week in Review: Sept. 11 to 17

From 9/11 ceremonies to the Lexington Symphony.

This week was bookended with busy-ness. Things started on Sunday, with a couple of stunning 9/11 ceremonies to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists used planes to attack America. In the morning at Lexington Fire Headquarters, speakers reflected on how the heroism of first responders that day galvanized a nation and carried it though crisis – and how the country would do well to remember that now. Sunday evening brought an interfaith ceremony on the Battle Green, where more than 500 attendees gathered in hope and unity. Monday began meter readings, according to an announcement from the Department of Public Works, and was the official, public unveiling of the town’s new Code Red emergency notification …

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UPDATE: OML Issues Still Unsettled

The School Committee's response to Open Meeting Law complaints about the superintendent's contract extension did not satisfy one of the complaintants, who has asked the Attorney General's Office to intervene.

In June, the School Committee received a pair of complaints alleging Open Meeting Law violations after a meeting at which the committee told an overflowing audience that it voted to extend the superintendent’s contract during an executive session a week earlier. At the time, School Committee Chairwoman Mary Ann Stewart asked counsel to prepare a response, which concluded that neither the School Committee Counsel nor town Counsel believed the School Committee violated any Open Meeting Laws.   Apparently, that wasn’t good enough.  Eric Eid-Reiner, one of the complaintants, has filed with the Attorney General's Office an appeal of the School Committee's response to his Open Meeting Law Complaint.  According to Eid-Reiner and his complaint, he…

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Week in Review, June 26 to July 2

Estabrook access, an Open Meeting Law response, a retiring fire chief and a Fourth of July carnival made headlines this week in Lexington.

The week started with a Monday morning story about the Center Streetscape Project, which has been whittled down to two options.  That night, the ad hoc task force fleshing out access options and issues at Estabrook School, held its first meeting.  We brought you that story on Tuesday, which was a busy one that also saw the School Committee announce its response to a pair of Open Meeting Law Complaints and officials hold a summit to discuss planning construction on the Estabrook and Bridge and Bowman schools. On Wednesday, news broke that Lexington teen faced alcohol-related charges after his arrest in Sudbury the previous night. And, that evening, Lexington formally bid farewell to former Fire Chief William Middlemiss, who retired July 1. …

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School Committee Responds to OML Complaints

The School Committee has responded to Open Meeting Law complaints from a pair of residents.

The School Committee has filed its response to two Open Meeting Law complaints with the Attorney General's Office, according to Chairwoman Mary Ann Stewart.  After the filing occurred yesterday afternoon, hard copies were sent to the complaints, as well as Schoool Committee members, the Town Clerk and Town Counsel, according to Stewart, who indicated the responses will be posted ot the Lexington Public Schools website later this week. "Both School Committee Counsel and Town Counsel agree that the School Committee did not violate any Open Meeting Laws," Stewart wrote in the email. The filing comes after the School Committee met Friday, June 24, to meet with town and school counsel to strategize the committee’s response to Open Meeting Law …

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Week in Review, June 19 to June 25

An anti-texting program came to Lexington, the school year ended, oh yeah, and Whitey Bulger was arrested.

This week began with Middlesex District Attorney's office and other dignitaries dropping by Lexington High School on Monday, for the "It Can Wait" program, which encourages teens not to text while driving. That evening, the Board of Selectmen heard about the Leary Report, approved a Lexpress-LHS pilot program and approved sale of bond anticipation notes, among other things. On Tuesday, Patch introduced a new feature that profiles vendors at the Lexington Farmers' Market and columnist Audra Myerberg kicked-started a conversation about cafeteria food and chickens.  Also, officials confirmed an investigation into a possible attempted arson on Wood Street.  On Wednesday, a business feature on Help Around Town, introduced resident Reem Yared's …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: June 24

School Committee addresses Open Meeting Law complaints, Estabrook's out and more today in Lexington.

1. The School Committee meets this morning at 10 a.m. in the School Administration Building and its agenda includes voting to release approved executive session minutes and then going into executive session to discuss a response to a pair of Open Meeting Law complaints. 2. Summer starts this afternoon for students at the Estabrook School, which had an altered schedule this year due to the discovery of PCBs. Other LPS schools completed their 2010-2011 school years on Wednesday, June 22.  3. Both red and white wines will be on display from 4 to 6 p.m. at Busa Wine & Spirits, as Elios offers a taste of the red and white wines. 4. On this day in history: in 1322, Jews were expelled from France for the third time; 1963, Zanzibar was granted …

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School Committee Still Crafting Response to Open Meeting Law Complaints

The Lexington School Committee will meet again tomorrow morning to consult counsel about its response to a pair of Open Meeting Law complaints.

The School Committee plans to meet tomorrow morning to vote to release several batches of executive session minutes and then go into an executive session to meet with town and school counsel to strategize the committee’s response to Open Meeting Law complaints and litigation filed by two residents. The School Committee has received a pair of complaints alleging Open Meeting Law violations – from residents Eric Eid-Reiner and Dawn McKenna, a former selectwoman – related to a June 7 meeting at which committee told an overflowing audience it voted to extend the superintendent’s contract in a June 1 executive session. “As School Committee Chair I have asked Counsel to prepare a response to the Open Meeting Law complaints in accordance with the…

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About Town

Updated About Town: Government 101

Navigating through meetings and committees.

This morning I promised more information about the Boards and Committee Training Program held on June 7 and last night in the Board of Selectmen's meeting room.  Selectman Chair Hank Manz attended the first on June 7 and was at the beginning and end of last night's meeting. Hank said he got a lot out of the meetings and it dovetailed into his ideas of a chairman. One lesson: "Sometimes participation has to take a back seat to your role as facilitator," Hank said. "If you contemplate a hughe participatory role you may want to turn the chair over to someone else and do the facilitation part," Hank said of Wendy Rundle's message. Hank was impressed with Town Council Kevin Batt's lessons on Open Meeting laws.  "That's the stuff you can't mess …

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