Lexington Select Board reaffirms high school land transfer in unanimous vote

LEXINGTON -- December 15, 2025, Lexington Select Board votes 5-0 to advance high school Article 97 Home Rule petition and resets affordable housing surcharge talks. Chair Jill Hay led the December 15 board through a unanimous reaffirmation of its support for transferring center athletic field parcels to the School Committee, a procedural step required to file the Home Rule petition after voters backed the high school debt exclusion with 62 percent support. The board also cleared two 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant articles: a non-binding universal design resolution from the Commission on Disability, and a $75,000 appropriation for Vision for Lexington's 2027 town-wide resident survey, up from $50,000 in 2022. On the commercial development surcharge meant to fund affordable housing, Town Manager Steve Bartha warned the January 5 vote is "not just a hope, but a have to" given a January 8 legislative deadline; staff will circulate a draft implementation policy before that meeting. The board also approved reversal of a stalled liquor license transfer at 55 Bedford Street, returning the all-alcohol package store license to the original owner doing business as Whiskey and Wine.