[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Lexington

First Fridays

2009-2010

DateTimePlaceDescription
Friday, April 2, 2010 9:30AM Selectman's Meeting Room
Second Floor
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420		 Impasse on Historic Buildings: What to Do? (or, Why Can't They Just Throw a Coat of Paint on it?). It's not news to our residents that Lexington is a historic town. We honor our history and value historic artifacts that help tell the story of our town and our nation. Because of our special status, the Town is frequently confronted with decisions regarding the preservation and use of potentially historic structures, both publicly and privately owned:
  • Which structures are truly historic and/or architecturally and culturally significant?
  • Does age alone qualify a structure for preservation, and if not, what other qualifications should there be?
  • What is the appropriate standard of materials and workmanship for historic preservation?
  • How much money is the Town prepared to commit to the cost of historic preservation?
  • What should the Town properly require of private owners of historic structures?
  • Who decides?

The April 2 First Friday Forum of the Lexington League of Women Voters will be an open discussion of these issues, specifically addressing four buildings that are currently at issue:
  • The "White House" (former School Administration Building)
  • The Stone Building (former East Lexington Library)
  • The Munroe School (housing the Munroe Arts Center)
  • The residence on the grounds of St. Brigid's Church.

Representatives of the Lexington Historical and Historic Districts Commissions, as well as representatives of St. Brigid's Parish and the Munroe Arts Center are invited. Pat Goddard, the Town Director of Facilities, will provide information on the varying status of the municipal buildings and the projected cost of different levels of preservation, repair and restoration. While the First Friday Forum is intended to be a frank discussion, not a debate, we will hear from those who favor preservation of particular buildings and those who believe that they are either too expensive or too deteriorated to preserve. How can the Town develop a fair, wise and open policy going forward?

This is the eighth in a series of 2009-2010 First Friday Forums hosted by the League of Women Voters of Lexington to promote awareness and understanding of public policy issues. Coffee will be available at 9:30 a.m. and presentations will begin at 9:45 in the Selectman's Meeting Room on the second floor of the Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. The building is easily accessible by Lexpress and from the Minuteman Bikeway. For more information or to carpool, contact the League at 781-862-6435. All League forums are open to the public at no charge.

Friday, May 7, 2010 9:30A Estabrook Hall
Cary Memorial Hall
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420		 The State of the State's Budget. How much is Massachusetts getting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and how are these funds being used to help balance the state budget?

For answers, the League of Women Voters of Lexington has invited Mary Tittmann, Policy Analyst with the Massachuetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) to present the Commonwealth's budget and revenue policy at its First Friday Forum on May 7. Rep. Jay Kaufman, Chair of the Legislature's Committee on Revenue, has also been invited to talk about sources of revenue.

State and local governments are the main source of funding for K-12 education, public colleges and universities, health care, transportation, public safety, and many other services. They finance these services mostly through taxes and fees, primarily income and sales taxes. Unlike the federal government, states must balance their budgets on an annual basis. Most people don't know that Massachusetts ranks in the bottom third of all states in terms of the share of income paid in state and local taxes - 37th out of 50 states.

Like the League, MassBudget works on the premise that to participate effectively in our democracy, people need clear and reliable information about policy choices facing the Commonwealth. MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues and makes that information available to everyone.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: June 15, 2010 21:05 PDT.

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