Ch-ch-Changes: All 'Ayes' on Climate Change, Solar, Electronic Voting

In its second session Lexington’s annual Town Meeting on Wednesday voted to adopt a climate change resolution, allow for municipal solar installations, update a bylaw and introduce electronic voting as an option.

For a town well known for its rich history, Lexington’s annual Town Meeting was fairly forward thinking Wednesday night, approving a handful of articles that could impact the town and its government for years to come. In four separate votes, Town Meeting approved warrant articles 33, 29, 34 and 32, which deal with climate change, solar energy, zoning and electronic voting, respectively. ARTICLE 33: Climate Change Resolution Sustainable Lexington’s Mark Sandeen asked, How many 100-year storms will Lexington have over 18 months? The question was rhetorical, of course, and Sandeen went on to click through slides showing damage from Hurricane Irene, Snowtober, Superstorm Sandy and the Winter Storm Sometimes Known as Nemo. And then, for good …

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You Ask, Patch Answers

What’s On Tap Tonight at Town Meeting?

Lexington’s 2013 annual Town Meeting resumes at 7:30 p.m. tonight, March 20, at Cary Hall. Climate change, solar energy, zoning and, if there’s time, electronic voting are on the agenda.

  If opening night was special, then the second session of annual Town Meeting might just be thoroughly modern. Articles on the agenda for tonight deal with a climate change resolution, solar energy purchasing, updating a zoning article and, if they get to it, electronic voting. That’s according to Town Moderator Deb Brown, who set the second session’s agenda before adjourning the opening meeting on Monday. Tonight's meeting, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall, will open with the report from Town Manager Carl Valente, per Brown's plan. Climate change and energy are next up on the agenda, in the form of Article 33, which asks the town to consider climate change in all of its decisions and planning processes, and Article 29, which seeks …

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APPROVED: Town Meeting OK’s $10.95M Bid for Scottish Rite Property

It’s now up to the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry’s building committee to decide whether to sell to the town what could be the future home to a Lexington community center.

It was a special start to Lexington’s 2013 annual Town Meeting on Monday night at Cary Hall. In the most basic sense, it was special because a large portion of the night was spent on a special Town Meeting, which ultimately—and by a rather anticlimactic roll call vote—authorized the Board of Selectmen to purchase a portion of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry’s land off Marrett Road for $10.95 million. The land purchase is not a done deal, however, as the bid still has to go before the Scottish Rite’s building committee, which is expected to take up the matter today. A decision could be made in time for a public announcement when Town Meeting reconvenes tomorrow, March 20, officials have said. According to Monday night’s …

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Annual Town Meeting Starts Tonight

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on March 18 in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting Starts Tonight: Lexington's annual Town Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall. To review the warrant once more before the start, click on the PDF posted to your right. 2. Babe Ruth Registration is Open: The Lexington Babe Ruth League is conducting online registration for the Spring 2013 season for 13 to 15-year-old players. To register a player or to request to manage, coach or otherwise volunteer, visit: http://lexington.baberuthonline.com. 3. Looking Back on LexCelebrate! Incorporation Weekend: Lots of great things over the weekend as Lexington celebrated its tercentennial with demonstrations, arts and sports displays, dancing, music, a mock Town Meeting and more. You can check out some of Patch's coverage …

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UPDATE: BOS Will Discuss $10M-Plus Bid for Scottish Rite Property March 14

Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday evening at Cary Hall.

Less than 48 hours after its negiotiating team made public the town's $10 million-plus third and final bid for 10 acres of the Scottish Rite property off Marrrett Road, the Board of Board of Selectmen will discuss and vote to approve the offer at 6 p.m. tomorrow, March 14, at Cary Hall. The property in question is approximately 10 acres of the Scottish Rite’s land behind the National Heritage Museum, including the carriage house and annex, which the selectmen are identifying as a possible location for a community center. The selectmen's negotiating team publicly announced the bid, which is contingent upon approval by the Board of Selectmen and a special Town Meeting vote, in an email to Town Meeting members Tuesday, March 12, the same day …

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Interested in Municipal Government? Town Meeting Candidates Needed

According to Town Clerk Donna Hooper, a few precincts have more positions to be filled than declared candidates.

With just days remaining for residents to declare candidacy to represent their precincts as Town Meeting members, five of Lexington’s nine precincts still have more positions available than candidates, according to Town Clerk Donna Hooper. Residents interested in seeking election to Town Meeting have until 5 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 11 to obtain nomination papers. Meanwhile, the deadline for incumbent Town Meeting members to indicate their intent to seek reelection as a candidate for Town Meeting in the 2013 annual Town Election was Monday, Jan. 7. As of Tuesday morning, “a few precincts have more candidates seeking election than positions to be filled at the election. However, a number of precincts have more positions to be filled than …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: May 16

Town Meeting, a plant sale today, a program about boys and more today in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting to Take Up Wright Farm: Articles 9 and 10 -- proposals for the town to purchase most of the Wright Farm property -- are left on the warrant as annual Town Meeting looks to conclude its business at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall. 2. Lexington Field & Garden Club's Annual Plant Sale: The Lexington Field and Garden Club's annual Plant Sale opens at 8 a.m. this morning at the National Heritage Museum on Marrett Road. Perennials from club members' own gardens will be featured items for sale, along with an array of herbs, flowering annuals and hanging plants provided by local nurseries, plus gently used gardening books and tools and more.Proceeds from the Sale will be used to purchase the trees, bushes, and flowers that Club …

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Wright Farm Letter of Intent Almost Inked

The Selectmen took some time to assure Lexington that they are nearing a position to sign a letter of intent between the Town and the owners of Wright Farm for its sale.

  Thursday night at their board meeting, the Selectmen expressed that they have a letter of intent completed between the Ttwn and the seller of Wright Farm on 241 Grove Street, Kathleen Wright. The major understanding of the night that was recently added to the letter of intent was that the property will not be subjected to any back taxes if purchased by the Town. A bid to purchase a large portion of the Wright Farm property will go before annual Town Meeting with support from the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission and, as of April 20, the Community Preservation Committee. The parcel not included in the proposed purchase only 43,446 feet, but contains the historic old farm steads. The Selectmen had a very short discussion about …

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POLL: What's Your Take on Concord's Bottle Ban?

Take our poll or share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Those crazy cats in Concord have gone and fired another shot heard 'round the bottled beverage world. By 39 votes, the third session of Concord's annual Town Meeting last night voted to approve a bottled water bylaw that bans the sale of unflavored, nonsparkling drinking water in single-serving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles of less than 1 liter (34 ounces).  The town's been down this road before. In 2010, Concord Town Meeting voted in support of a similar ban, but that one was tossed out by the Attorney General because it was written as a resultion and had no teeth to it. Petitioner Jean Hill's second attempt to ban bottled water, in 2011, failed by seven votes. This time around, enforcement provisions were written into …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 25

No Town Meeting, but news about Town Meeting and more today in Lexington.

1. Dana Home/Inn at Hastings Park at Planning Board: The Planning Board is meting at 6 p.m. this evening at the Town Office Building and its agenda includes Article 34.  2. BOS to Discuss Wright Farm, Inn at Hastings Park: The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the Town Office Buiding and its agenda includes a temporary bicycle parking pilot program, a Wright Farm discussion and considering an Inn at Hastings Park memorandum of understanding. 3. Free ACT Test: There's a free ACT practice test being offered at 5:30 p.m. today at Lexington High School. Bring a calculator, a few number 2 pencils and a snack!  Sign up at www.kaptest.com with event code AKKA9200. 4. Get Patched In: Did you know you can receive daily headlines …

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