Select Board Member Doug Lucente’s failure to take a position on the Select Board’s Report to Town Meeting on the new high school project is a massive, disqualifying failure of leadership. Whichever position one takes, addressing the inadequacies of our present high school is the single most consequential issue now facing the town.
After hundreds of hours of public meetings — including sessions of the Select Board and joint meetings with the Appropriations Committee and Capital Expenditures Committee — reams of reports on the proposal’s development and details, and direct access to the town manager and the superintendent of schools, Lucente should be among the best-informed citizens on this significant issue. His indecision suggests either lack of diligence or political timidity. We deserve better.
Scott Burson
Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member
Doug Lucente was very clear at this week’s Special Town Meeting: he explained why he opposes Bloom in 4 minutes at https://drive.google.com/file/d/18fPDPvejpY5qVN03YugtrX9KEnf8c5vJ/view?usp=sharing.
Doug Lucente was also the only Select Board member out of 5 who opposed zoning 227 acres for MBTA developments in April 2023. He saw things more clearly than his 4 colleagues and than the majority of Town Meeting that passed article 34 in April 2023, which the Town then scrambled in March 2025 to reverse, having realized — a bit late — how terrible the April 2023 decision was that the other 4 Select Board members supported.
If Bloom is built, I predict that we will say the same about Doug and Bloom as is now fact about Doug and the 227 acres: Doug is/was right and his 4 colleagues is/were wrong. Aren’t we/they learning from their mistakes?
Patrick, you’re spot on!
I am so disheartened to see this letter to the editor. Aren’t we supposed to be the good neighbors? You may be not happy with Doug’s decision to vote NO or may be something you do not align with. BUT, it was his INFORMED decision and he was deliberate about that. Calling out in the public forum makes no sense at all. In this case, I would absolutely email Doug, call his office to ask him for a coffee chat at one of our various coffee joints and have a friendly chat and get to know him and his rationale for his decision. We should be obligated to be civil and not calling people out and belittling him on this public forum just because they have a difference of opinion! I am taking this opportunity to show my respect to Doug here for his lifelong dedication, his tireless service for this town and being at the Select Board to serve us, the citizens and common people like me!
Doug Lucente and his family have generously given countless hours dedicated to Lexington and it’s maintaining it’s traditions for decades. He recently late father was also a tireless Lexington volunteer. Doug is one of Lexington’s biggest advocates and the town is incredibly lucky to have him. To write such a disparaging letter about him is beyond the pale. You should apologize.
The writers misconstrue my letter. Doug Lucente did speak and vote against the High School Project on the floor of Town meeting. I believe his position is mistaken and against the Town’s interests, but I respect his right to articulate it and the democratic vote of the town, which will resolve the issue.
My letter concerns the report of the Select Board, issued just prior to Town Meeting, in which Lucente took no position. Changing position at the last moment, rather than at any of the multitude of earlier Select Board meetings, joint meetings with the Appropriations and Capital Expenditure Committees, and multiple additional public meetings is not constructive, and failure to raise his concerns earlier eliminated the opportunity for the process of building the proposal to address them. Whether one agrees with the ultimate position Lucente took or not, the progression of his views and the timing of his sharing them are, to me, poor leadership on the most consequential issue during his tenure as a Board member.
Scott – as another commenter inferred, you are barking up the wrong tree. Everyone is entitled to their own vote which may differ from yours. It’s America. The other 4 Select Board members have zero leadership abilities. They approve everything, sending our Town down a very dangerous path. Just wondering when they will install the sign that says, “Welcome to Lexington – home of multimillionaires and solar panels”.
Scott, as a former SC member you should be especially aware of how difficult it is to cast a vote in opposition to anything the majority has decided they want. I was in that position for a year of my tenure on the SC, and the number of hateful email I received exceeded even my worst nightmares. I always tried to find a reason to support the majority, but since I spent over 55 hrs/week doing analysis for all the issues on which we had to vote, I felt that I could not compromise my integrity by voting for something I determined was wrong.
For over a year, based on the questions Doug asked and the comments he made about the project, it was clear that he was uncomfortable with it. His lack of comfort was obvious to everyone who watched the SB meetings. If his colleagues were willing to address his discomfort (and that of many of us who Doug represents) they had ample opportunity to do so. Doug took every available minute to make a decision on how to vote. For that he should be praised not criticized.
If you wish to criticize anyone for their votes, I recommend that you look at how the SBC accepted and CONSIREDED (-not-) input from anyone who had any objections to Bloom. They voted in support of every step of the proposal from the start. Why? Because in 2022 three leading SBC members already decided (and posted publicly) to build new high school in the fields. I expect this was one of the reasons no budget was ever given to the architects. They did not want to see a less expensive design.
I applaud Doug Lucente for taking the time to consider the pros and cons of Bloom and voting his conscience rather than caving to pressure. Bravo Doug!!!
Doug has been volunteering his time for the town of Lexington since he was a student at LHS back in the early 90s. His love for our community is clearly evident. That being said, I applaud Doug for putting his ego aside and having the confidence and integrity to stand up for what he believes at this point in time to be what’s best for the financial health of our community.
Regardless of how you plan to vote on December 8, like Doug let’s have the courage to vote on what we believe is the best for the people of our community.
Commenting as a longtime resident of this magnificent town, the very proud mother of Doug, and also being open minded to all positive and negative comments, you will find that many do see Doug as a very loyal and trusting man of raw honesty. Sometimes the truth he presents is most basic, but always direct and truthful. He is usually very straightforward and has everybody’s interest at heart. We should all agree to disagree with community issues.