 Good evening. Calling to me calling to order this meeting of the Arlington Select Board on Monday October 23rd. I am Select Board Chair Eric Helmuth. Tonight's meeting is being conducted in a hybrid format consistent with Chapter 2 of the Act of 2023 signed into law on March 29th 2023 further extending certain COVID-19 measures regarding remote participation in public meetings until March 31st of 25. Before we begin please note the following. First this meeting is being conducted both in Select Board Chambers and over Zoom. It is being recorded and simultaneously broadcast on ACMI. Second persons wishing to join the meeting by Zoom may find information on how to do so on the town's website. Persons participating by Zoom are reminded that you may be visible to others then if you wish to participate we ask you to provide your full name in the interest of developing a record of the meeting. If people in the chamber wish to participate we make the same request. Third all participants are advised that people may be listening who do not provide comment and those persons are not asked to identify themselves. Both Zoom participants and people watching on ACMI can follow the posted agenda materials found on the town's website specifically the Select Board agendas and minutes page. With that we move to our first agenda item which is the consent agenda. We have approval of the minutes of the meeting from September 11th. A approval of the Arlington Open Studios lawn signs through November 12th from the ACA Arlington Center for the Arts and a request for a special one-day beer and wine license on November 4th at the William and Robin's house for a private event from Donna Harmon. This time I will turn to the board. Second. Any discussion? All right. I have a motion to approve all three items in the consent agenda by Mr. Diggins and seconded by Mr. DeCorsi. All in favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed? It is unanimous. That takes us to item five. Licenses and permits. We have for approval a common modular license by the fat Greek 185 Mass Ave and I'm going to need some help with this name. We have Panayotis and I'm going to butcher this. I'm so sorry. Why did you come up sir and tell us how to pronounce your name and more importantly tell us all about your business. Good evening. Good evening. So my name is Panayotis Penergis. I go by Pano which is a lot easier. Welcome. We're delighted that you've chosen Arlington to do business. Please just give us a summary of what you hope to accomplish and anything you want us to know about your place. Well we're a fast casual Greek restaurant. Our first location is in Havreau, Massachusetts and we learned about the location being available from the Arlington Bakery because we use them to make our baklava. They do great over there and yeah that was we worked with the landlord and we came to Arlington. Arlington was one of the lists of places that we were kind of looking to open up a second location and it all came together. Thank you very much. Thank you. I'll turn to my colleagues for any questions or questions. Mrs. Mahon. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you. First I'd like to move approval. Got it. Thank you for not only expanding but coming to Arlington. I know a lot of people, there's been a lot of buzz on different lists, Facebook, old-fashioned email, things like that that people are already talking about your restaurant coming so that's exciting and I know how difficult we all do, how difficult the restaurant business is and the amount of time and effort you and your family family by marriage as well as family by employees have to contribute and put in. Absolutely. Thank you so much for choosing Arlington. I'm thrilled to hear that you're coming and I wish you nothing but great success. Thank you. Thank you for having us. Second. For the discussion, Mr. Gerson. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Just a quick question that there's been a lot of anticipation since the sign went up. I'm just wondering when the opening date is, assuming you receive a favorable vote this evening. Probably a little bit after the Thanksgiving, end of November. Great. Okay. Well, best of luck to you and the community is really excited to have you. I have to say I'm afraid to call someone like you anything other than big and hefty because if I use the F word you might like get upset at me, you know. I also could be taken out of context, but no. I live in East Arlington. I look forward to visiting a place. I mean, hopefully many times. I mean, just curious. I mean, why were you interested in Arlington? I'm sorry? Why Arlington? Yeah. Well, it fit our criteria. We did have a few towns that we were thinking about opening up a second location and we've always liked Arlington. Arlington was pretty high up on the list and we were excited to find the place. Great. Great. Well, not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. So thank you and welcome. Welcome to the town. Thank you so much. Any further discussion from the board? At this point, I'll invite, we'll make this a public hearing and invite any comments from the public about this application. First, we see anybody on zoom. Seeing none, Mr. Chair. And is anybody, and if you do, if you are on zoom, I forgot my spiel, if you are on zoom and wish to comment during public comment period, please raise your hand and zoom. We'll give people a moment to do that. Still seeing none. Anyone in the chamber wish to comment? All right. Here is the public hearing. We have a motion to approve for Mrs. Mahan and seconded by Mr. Herd. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Is he unanimous? Congratulations. Thank you again for choosing Arlington. We look forward to so much. Thank you. This moves us to item six, determining days for signature events at the semi-quincentennial. Did I say that right, Mr. Herd? Semi-quincentennial. He's had a lot of practice. I want a semi-quincentennial song. That's what I'm waiting for. I got to say what I first started saying that word. I felt like it was a lot more difficult than it actually is. It was just me. I think it's just an intimidating on the page. So we have, well, we have two guests. You can all let you introduce yourself. We know you both well. Welcome. Thank you. My name is Katie Lusai. I'm your new economic development coordinator. It is today my two-month anniversary. So thank you for bearing with me. And this is Angela. Angela Olszewski. And I'm the co-chair of the semi-quincentennial committee, also known as Arlington 250. So I'm appearing tonight in that capacity, although I also chair ATED. Excellent. So feel free to tell us what you want us to know. Yes. So at our last semi-quincentennial committee, or also known as Arlington 250, which John sits on as well, we discussed the day and time in which we want to host our historical re-enactment. Yeah, go ahead. We had some slides in there. Did you want, can we put those on the screen just for the benefit of the public? Sorry about that. No, no, please. I should have caught that first. Give Ms. Mara, let me put that up so we have some time. In Ms. Mara's defense, I did not give her advanced warning of that request. It's okay. Nothing phases, Ms. Mara. It's kind of like when you're doing a hearing or a deposition and they're like, can you pull up page nine of exhibit three, the middle graph? I wish you told me. But you're like, of course. Or even in town meeting, where we're going to be going at eight o'clock tonight. Oh, that was promising. Well done. My apologies. No, no, please. Please continue. Feel free to start over. Yes. So we are focusing on 2025, not 2024, because that's going to be our official semi-quincentennial. There are a few different factors that we needed to consider when determining the day and time of the actual historical reenactment, primarily the historical reenactors who are completely volunteers, as well as public safety, and we have a few religious holidays. So just walking through day by day, the weekend, that Saturday is going to be Lexington and Concord's historical reenactment, which takes away all of our resources for historical reenactors. And we wouldn't want to be competing on that day, since it's going to be a very big day for Lexington and Concord in the area. Sunday, April 20th is both Easter, as well as the last day of Passover. And then Monday is Marathon Monday. And we wanted to bring this before the board, partially because John suggested we do so, but also just to make sure that we are all doing this in support of each other, because it's going to be a big public safety issue, as well as a big logistical issue that will affect the town. One of our primary considerations, aside from the historical reenactor availability, is the fact that it's taking place on a religious holiday. So here we just highlighted the route that Jacob, one of our committee members and who's organizing our historical reenactment, described to me as the ideal historical reenactment, which would start, and Angela, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong at any point in time, start at Route 60 and Mass Ave and go all the way down to Mountain Vernon Street with a bit taking place in front of the Jason Russell House. And I just wanted to highlight the various plate houses of worship. So right now, we do have a tentative day and time for the historical reenactment, which would be Sunday, April 20th at 2pm. They did look at, that was really the latest that the historical reenactors were able to do that. They looked at pushing it to four o'clock, but that would then conflict with another historical reenactment in Acton. So we do have this rough day and time, but just wanted to highlight some other considerations because we may get different amounts of audience depending on the day and since we would need to be closing some streets, that may affect the houses of worship since that will be Easter Sunday. So just a few things that we wanted to highlight before the board in case they had any questions or concerns at this point in time. Yeah, and I attended the meeting on Saturday with the reenactors and so there were three of us at that meeting who all attended Arlington 250. So there was Jacob, who's with the Minutemen, another reenactor, Ron from Maine, who had been on Zoom with us, who was very involved, and then I was there and they, I can say they did weigh, they weighed everything that came from the committee and all the dates and the ability to get the reenactors that they, Monday was going to be a problem because it's not a holiday for everyone. They really didn't want to do with the following weekend, which was one of our options. They really want to do it on that weekend. They definitely considered the religious, you know, issue and somebody spoke who was, you know, obviously it's just their group, but someone who's, you know, very Catholic, somebody who's Jewish, they went all that. As Katie said, they said four o'clock would be historically accurate, but they couldn't do it because of a conflict. And then I also really noted from them, and I think one of the things that just struck me personally is that when they talked about this is 2025, this isn't, it's not the bicentennial, but it's the next thing to the bicentennial. And Page Street's Day isn't really celebrated nationally very often, but in 2025 it will be. And particularly when you listen to the stories and our theme is Untold Stories, somebody from Danvers, and so one of the people from Danvers, Jason Russell is sacred ground for them because they lost so many men that day. And so for the reenactors, this is a commemoration too. It's not just an event and a parade. And I think when we look at it that way, it's a very, very religiously significant day, but it's also, you know, it's, that's the thing. It's something else that day and it's Untold Stories and how Medford was there, somebody from Medford, he's like, when Revere came through, four riders went out and they went up to the North Shore and when they went up there, those men mustered and they walked all the way down here to participate in the battle. So I just wanted to say they just said it's not any Sunday to them. It's significant. Thank you very much. I will give the floor first to Mr. Herter, representative on the committee and then to the board. Thank you. Very well placed out presentation with the issues just for anyone in the public. And I think the board knows this, but the reason we're talking about 2025 right now is because, like you said, we're talking to reenactors and the other season towns. The plant is hard pressed right now to get all the planning for 2025 done in the next month or so. As we were in it, we have an inter municipal agreement with a few other surrounding towns. And we've talked about this celebration for a few years now and, you know, there was some talk about maybe pushing our reenactment to the following weekend, but we've really been targeting this weekend because this is when we're expecting a major influx of tourism. And Andrew and I have been on the tourism committee for a few years and we were always trying to spur some tourism in Allington, but we're always sort of the forgotten neighbor. And Lexington and Conker have their big events on Saturday. Monday has plenty of issues with it as it's presented. And the reason I recommended bringing it to the board is it was talking with amongst the community about whether or not there'd be an appetite to shut down the street and even have an event on Easter and the last day of Passover. But like we said, you know, where this is going to be really the weekend when everyone's there. There's going to be people, they're going to be there till Monday because there's events all the way through Monday. So they have to do something on Sunday. You know, the hotels will be busy, there'll be a lot of tourism. And this is while it's not ideal to do it on Sunday, it is really our opportunity to step in when, you know, the other season towns that are around us aren't doing their major events and say, come to Arlington and come, you know, check out Arlington's businesses and restaurants and Arlington's history and untold stories. So I mean, I was, I certainly am supportive of it. I think it's a unique situation where we could, you know, obviously we can give plenty of notice to anyone that's affected by it. Some of the details can get worked out. We don't have to sit here today and say, all right, this is going to be the exact timeframe. This is going to be the exact route. I think we just want to bring this to the board to say is there an appetite amongst the board to host a large event on this day that happens to coincide with a couple of religious holidays and just get the board's thoughts on that? I don't have a problem with it being on Sunday the 20th. But I'll put another idea out there because with respect to historical accuracy, for me, it isn't so much the number of the day of the month as much as it is where the event appears in the week. So for me, for instance, I mean, 9-11 is always the second Tuesday of September. I know the date moves through the week, but for me, it's like that was the second Tuesday of September. It's a weekday. And so I just kind of, regardless of what we're doing that day, I kind of just acknowledge it as having it happen on that day. And in the case of April 19th, that was the third Wednesday of the month. And so I just put it out there as an idea, because that would be the 16th. It would bring us ahead of everybody else. So weekday, we'd pretty much be leading off that set of celebrations. You could kind of build a program around that from Monday through Wednesday involved the schools in it. So I just put out there's another idea, but I'm totally fine with going to the 20th. I can just respond to that because we had discussed heading off some of the other big towns, but it all has to do with availability of re-enactors. And I think that wasn't, and it's also we want to do it when this massive influx. We want to have an audience. It's like the first time that we're going to have this opportunity to have this major audience. And we don't know when people are coming in, but I think they're going to be there more on the weekend. And then a lot of the re-enactors are local. Some of them come in, but they also are CPAs and lawyers. And so depending, yeah. So if you do it, you know, in an off on a day that they're not, you know, looking to, you know, it's a pretty big event that we're trying to do. So I think just availability of re-enactors and resources would be hot. While I appreciate the sentiment, I think would be difficult if we didn't do it within that kind of timeframe of the weekend. Yeah. I'm fine with your current plan. Just put out the idea. Were you going to make a motion for April 20th, 2025? Or is this just FYI to the board? I think we can move that we're supportive of that date. I don't think we're going to I wouldn't, I think we'd have to have more detailed plan to approve. And it's going to go back to the committee for more discussion. This was, I had really recommended this to be put in front of the board just so we can go back to the board and tell the committee, you know, the board is amenable to have it on that date if that's the date that the committee chooses to put forth once plans are finalized. Okay. And I'm definitely in support of that. And are we going to, since there will be lots of tourists around, and I remember when I first was approaching Lexington 20 years ago, asking them, you know, how do you get all these tourists here? And they're like, how do you get all these restaurants in Arlington, you know, so there was friendly competition there. And the big thing that they highlighted was the bus companies, tour companies, places they could go and turn around. And the only place in Arlington at the time and probably still was Schwarmill. But I'm just wondering if I could just, I'm sure you've had conversation around this that we'll have this particular reenactment from Route 60. But will we also be highlighting, I'm not sure where foot of the rocks will be at that point, if that will be done over Prince Hall Cemetery, of course, Jason Russell, Schwarmill, David Lansomway, like so for those tourists that and the big thing that Lexington would say to me besides the bus turnarounds and places for the tour, the buses to go, the other thing they said that they found through all their studies of marketing and things that work with tourists is people like to take pictures in front of things. And lots of our historical markers that literally they were at the time that I hate to say headstones, but but but I know there was and I'm assuming someone from the committee would follow up on, I know we voted, I think it was last year, maybe two years ago, five or six of the historic signs in Ellington that kind of fell to the wayside like ones on the corner of Masson and I think Water Street that were designed and Ms. Rowe was also involved in this. So I'm sure you're going to also do that part to highlight people where they can go because those are good things. And then the other thing is which I'm sure you've done this or maybe planning to do it and I also don't know if it's an avenue that's available, but maybe sending a memo or information to I'm not sure how active the interfaith committee is still in Ellington. I know they were very, very active years ago when I was involved with it and it does and I know around certain issues like when the Rabbi and his wife his family home and was subject to a fire that group got revitalized came together and had a community event. So I don't know if that is in terms of you know getting the word out on that day for whatever worship services and I know in the past I'm first Baptist on Mass Ave right over here that whenever things have occurred I've never seen any of the houses of worship that do anything but try to help. But the big thing is getting the information. So I don't know if the interfaith committee is still coalesced and organized as it is but it might be something you want to move around. And at this point I think getting a sense of the board about April 20th, 2025 and then when it's more firmed up that that's the date whenever you Mr. Herd I think it's appropriate. I'd be excited to hear about it. So thank you. Can I, oh, of course, please. Well one, Angela's, I know you're very excited to hear you mentioned historical markers that's something we've been talking about and trying to make them a little more engaging if you will. And secondly we haven't spoken to that specific committee but we'll be doing our due diligence and engaging the different community stakeholders to make sure that we're doing a thorough job making sure everyone's on the same page for such a big event. I'll also note that today I spoke with Captain Flynn to get started on an operations plan even though it may be a little early but we'll have that soon. So I just wanted to add so we can't remember exactly which year it was but I looked back it might have been 2016. We did do the reenactment on Easter Sunday several years ago and that was a thing there was communication to the churches and making sure that it was timed so that everybody could be out of the churches and out of the area. So we'll definitely be doing that and then they do want to do as a dress rehearsal in 24 they'd like to do the reenactment at 2 on Sunday also so that'll give us another opportunity you know to time that and probably be a little different on Easter Sunday but to do that too. Just one more thing and I know this won't be a a new plea but just thinking ahead for the funding opportunities available to us we're already tapping into the resources available on the state and federal level but we definitely will need you know funding put available so we can really safely do this event at the level and scale that really we really want to. Yeah they'll be looking for the the committee in the town to definitely be a very active participant to help do this and that's what they know you know you're planning for the public safety. I just want to mention too to Diane's point too so you know we're talking about the markers but we'll be planning we're trying to get to work on having a full calendar for events in 24 and 25 and some of them will be community and some of them will be more driven I think toward people coming into town. Great any other comments from the board? Mr. DeCourson. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you for all the work looking into the different options and you know as I look at I see the dilemma you have because the afternoon of the 19th to me would be ideal but you've looked into that and there's not an option so I'm open to hearing more on the 20th and it seems like you've really thought it out and I just want to encourage you whatever support you need from us we're here for that. Thank you. Thank you and say that the Patriots were pragmatic and so are we. I just want to check in with our town managers to see if you had any comments or observations. On a related note Mr. Hurd mentioned earlier the potential for an inter-municipal agreement. I did meet with what I'll call the other battle road managers last week conquered Lexington and Lincoln and we are advancing we're sort of ironing out the details of an inter-municipal agreement that would require this board's ratification so if we can come to agreement on a number of items it's largely geared towards shared consultancy so that we would be engaging the same consultant to work on like public relations marketing events management and planning so that we have a more coordinated effort amongst the four communities obviously this what you're hearing tonight is sort of the first step of that of understanding who's doing what and when so you're not actively competing for not only the same eyes and ears but the same reenactors so I do expect uh in one of the upcoming meetings for that to be back before the board for consideration thank you thank you I think that battle road managers should at minimum be a t-shirt possibly a rock band I will note um we are going to be hosting the next regional meeting amongst all four towns and that's going to be on Thursday December 7th and we'd love to have you guys attend very good thank you Mr. Herper yeah I'll just I know we all have to go down and see us but just as a to Mrs. Mahan point about point Mr. Mahan's point about events I mean the event we're talking about is kind of our it's called our marquee event that we're really trying to get people but we have an events committee as part of our you know a subcommittee of our semi-quincentennial committee and we are coming up with different ways to highlight certainly the Prince Hall Cemetery is something that's very unique to Arlington and the other event and it's my understanding that for the rocks will be done but it's going to be close um close enough but we are going to have a number of events so we're not just trying to get people in for that one afternoon we're trying to draw the crowds that whole few-day period that the crowd will be here and get them into our our local businesses so stay tuned on that well I'm I'm glad for this discussion I think it's it's important just for the board but also the public's awareness of Arlington's place in history and what we're about to do to really bring that to the forefront so thank you all all right thank you thank you our next final item is correspondence received we have a stop signs request at the intersection of Sunset Road in Blossom Street by Leo Fu Mr. Dickens' receipt of that and send it to the town manager second discussion with a motion to receive and refer to the town manager by Mr. Dickens and seconded by Mr. Hurd on favor I post unanimous in that all right I do want to briefly check in with the board about our November 6th meeting and this is really just a question Mr. Dickens and I am a do you have a conflict potential conflict that evening I guess my question the board is and to our staff about the potential of rescheduling that meeting to the following Wednesday the 8th and if that would create any conflicts I'm okay with that I don't know how the gentleman to my left you don't have any I think that's fine anything with a thumbs up from the I'm good all right Ms. Maher all right to be determined but I just wanted to get that input so all right thank you any brief announcements from the board and the staff no okay I will entertain a motion to adjourn mood to adjourn second motion to adjourn by Mrs. Maher seconded by Mr. Hurd all in favor please say aye I pose unanimous we are adjourned