Tell us a little about yourself. You can include your personal background, family, outside interests that are important to who you are as a person and a candidate.
Our family moved to Lexington in March 1989 from New Hampshire. Both of our children went to Lexington Public Schools and graduated in 2002 and in 2004.
In 2008, the Youth Counseling Connection (YCC) (formerly LYFS) began as an after-school teen suicide nonprofit prevention program on the Green. I have been on the Board from 2008–2024 and now I am an Ambassador.
I was the founder of the LHS Landscaping Committee and a member from 2002–2017. In 2009, I became a Massachusetts Master Gardner, and in 2017, a Boston Architectural College Planting Designer. After joining the Lexington Field and Garden Club, I designed and installed the Hartwell Avenue Compost Facility Garden across from the DPW trailer as well as the rear entrance garden at Cary Memorial Library.
Why are you running for Town Meeting?
While living in Lexington, I have always been involved in the community. I have advocated for the schools and for housing for seniors and town employees. I have also worked on many Overrides and Debt Exclusion campaigns including the DPW Campaign Committee that successfully built the new Samuel Hadley Public Services Building (2000–2007); I was the Lexington High School PTA Co-President (2000–2003) and the Bowman PTA Co- President (1993–1994). While my children attended LHS, I also started the Academic Stress Committee to help reduce stress for LHS students.
How has your past experience — whether in your professional life, elected office, or as a community leader — prepared you for a role in Town Meeting?
I have been honored to represent Precinct 2 in Town Meeting since 2004. I have advocated for commercial growth and for increased commercial tax revenue, affordable housing proposals, and senior and town employee housing before the Select Board, the Planning Board and the School Committee. I am currently Housing Partnership Board (HPB) Vice Chair, having previously served as Chair (2003–Present); Community Preservation Act (CPA) Campaign Co-Chair (2005–2006). I served on the Community Preservation Committee for six years (2006–2012) and as chair for four years (2006–2010).
I listen to the diverse opinions of Precinct 2 residents and try to understand everyone’s point of view. Then I vote for what I believe is in the best interests of the Town and Precinct 2.
What is the most important issue in this election to you personally, and what ideas do you have about how to address this issue?
The number one issue is building a new high school. I support the Bloom Design on the athletic fields since it is the most compact design and uses the least amount of field space. The cost of Bloom is approximately the same as the new Revere and Waltham High Schools. Bloom will be approximately $553 million after the $100 million State Reimbursement and $9 million Mass Save funds, and $522 million if the $31 million Inflation Reduction Act funds are received. Bloom was picked out of 19 designs as being the most cost effective, time efficient, and least disruptive to students during construction. (three years to construct the building and one year for grounds’ construction). The School Department projection for Bloom is 2,395 students, with provisions to add another 850 students. Dr. Hackett’s January analysis of the four proposed MBTA developments which total 588 additional units of housing, is projected to create 79 additional LHS students. Elementary enrollments are declining now which is a factor.
The number two issue is that the pace of multifamily development applications has been much faster than anyone anticipated, but there was pent up demand for smaller, more sustainable, multifamily units. 59% (651 units) of the units proposed to date are studios and one-bedroom apartments where singles, retiring seniors and town employees may choose to live.
Article 2 was done quickly, so the Planning Director and staff did not have time to vet Article 2. It is unclear whether the two multifamily districts remaining under Article 2 will maintain Lexington’s compliance with the state mandate, and Article 2 has not been run through the EOHLC Pre-adoption Compliance Model. If Lexington does not comply, the Town may be ineligible for many Mass. discretionary grants such as for buying conservation land, historic funds, library grants, cultural grants, infrastructure funds, etc. The list of all these grants can be found on the Mass.gov site. Session Law – Acts of 2024 Chapter 238. Article 2’s 15 units per acre limit on MBTA projects will result in fewer, but larger and more expensive, units instead of smaller, more affordable units which is one of the 2022 Town’s Comprehensive Plan Housing Goals. Lexington’s five small commercial neighborhoods plus the Center could be revitalized by mixed use commercial and residential housing but are not included in Article 2. Therefore, I look to the Planning Staff and Planning Board to offer a revised alternative that will comply with the State MBTA mandate.
I learn about the articles and projects that Town Meeting (TM) is voting on by reviewing the proponents’ videos and regularly attending Select Board, Planning Board and School Committee meetings, as well as some Community Preservation Committee and Recreation Committee hearings to learn about articles and projects, so I can be educated and knowledgeable before I vote in TM.
I hope that I will receive one of your seven votes so I can serve Precinct 2 again. It would be an honor to serve in TM again.