Select Board — June 15, 2026
The meeting featured standard updates and approvals with minimal public comment and no internal disagreement.
Video still
Decisions logged
Topics discussed
▶ 00:30 Introductions, Consent Agenda, and Common Victualler's License
Board introductions, approval of consent agenda items including one-day liquor license and Historical Commission appointment; discussion and approval of common victualler's license for Commune All Day Cafe at 5 AM start time.
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Consent agenda included liquor license for Wolson Farms event, common victualler's license for Commune All Day Cafe, and Historical Commission appointment. Pato requested discussion of the cafe license due to new 5 AM operating hours enabled by zoning changes, noting need to notify other merchants for a level playing field. Board confirmed no prior notification to businesses had occurred.
Consent items 1 and 3 approved unanimously by roll call; cafe license approved unanimously after discussion, with request for staff to check on outreach to other businesses.
Staff to verify and possibly issue notifications to other center merchants about zoning change allowing earlier hours.
▶ 05:37 Update on Municipal Union Contracts
Town Manager Steve Bartha provided status update on union contracts, noting most settled with COLAs and market adjustments targeting 75th percentile compensation.
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Bartha explained four of five contracts expiring June 2025 settled (police, LMEA, LMA, crossing guards); fire contract in JLMC process. Three contracts expiring June 2026 (patrol, dispatch, library) with library recently settled. All include 2.5% COLA in FY26-27 and targeted market adjustments.
Board received update with no formal action; Pato clarified JLMC as Joint Labor Management Commission with next hearing July 13.
Ongoing negotiations with patrol and dispatch; fire JLMC process continues.
▶ 10:06 Writing Through History Art Installation Disposition
Discussion and approval of plan to retain four of seven decorated horses, auction three, and relocate the 'Illuminated' horse to the Community Center.
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Tung presented background on the seven-horse exhibit and proposed keeping four (Inn at Hastings Park, Monroe, Depot/Landmarks, Community Center/Illuminated) with identified stewards, auctioning three (LexArt, Post Office, Visitor Center), and using auction proceeds for maintenance plus a monuments fund. Extensive board comments supported the plan, noted public property disposition rules, and addressed visibility/vandalism concerns for the relocated horse.
Unanimous roll-call approval of proposal to extend installations, relocate lantern horse to Community Center (first-choice location), and authorize Town Manager to pursue auction of remaining three.
Town Manager to administer auction process (possibly via third-party) before October HDC/license expirations; temporary HDC extension may be sought if needed; History Museum sign-off required for Community Center site.
▶ 40:24 Cannabis Delivery Opt-Out Waiver Request
Board voted to request a one-year temporary waiver from the Cannabis Control Commission to prohibit retail recreational marijuana deliveries.
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Board revisited prior discussion on the state's opt-out provision for communities without retail cannabis sales. Members sought community input before permanent decision and discussed appropriate waiver length, with consensus around one year to allow survey and feedback without repeated requests.
Unanimous roll-call vote to request one-year waiver prohibiting retail recreational marijuana delivery; Town Manager authorized to submit letter.
Staff to develop community survey/input plan with Public Information Officer; decision to be made by end of waiver period.
▶ 49:23 Select Board Retreat Planning
Board discussed logistics for a half-day organizational retreat focused on communications and internal operations, to be held midweek in summer.
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Retreat intended as non-goal-setting session on efficiencies and communications; preference for midweek summer date to prepare for fall workload, using free local facilities and no-cost format.
Agreement to identify dates; Chair and Clerk to propose options after members submit unavailable weeks.
Dates to be circulated; self-facilitated format planned.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Writing Through History horse relocation
Cannabis delivery opt-out waiver
Community vs. board tension
Action items
Notable statements
The community center is the right location after lots of deliberation... it needs care and attention... I feel like the community center staff will make sure that that is well taken care of. — Douglas Lucente · Support for relocating Illuminated horse ▶ 23:35
The original intent of all of this with this project was to auction everything off... part of the funding for the two-fiftieth was this was one avenue potentially of revenue. — Mark Sandeen · Reminder of initial project goals ▶ 27:48
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
Public comment
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grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.