Present
Member: Arlene Cloutier, Sharon Connors, Norma Judson, Jane Loos,
Geraldine Millham, Dora Millikin
Alternate: Betty DeVeuve
Absent
Member: Jim Collins
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Tim Bryant
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Sharon Connors (SC)). SC noted that one member was missing, and named Betty DeVeuve (BDV) to act, making a total of seven votes present. Others present included:
Mary Lou Boutwell, 2044 Main Road, WPT
Suzanne and Lyn Carter, 2041 Main Road, WPT
Susan Pineau & John P. Long, 2042 Main Road, WPT
Mark Mazza, contractor for 2018 Main Road, WPT
John McDonaugh, 1965 Main Road, WPT
Peter Streng, 1818 Main Road, WPT
A. General Business.
1. Minutes. At the request of the Chair, review/approval of the draft June 2, 2008 minutes was tabled, to be taken up at the next WHC meeting, to allow members more time for review.
2. Treasurer’s Report. Dora Millikin (DM) presented the revised version of the June, 2008 report and the July report (Attachments 1 & 2). The remaining balance of unused funds for FY08 is $282.00; hearing income for the full fiscal year is $800. The Historical Commission Trust Account balance is over $6,869.40. The Town Farm expense budget has been fully utilized, with a remaining balance of $0.16; the Town Farm Trust balance is about $12,443.59. The Wolf Pit School Trust balance is about $6,195. The Waite Potter Chimney Trust balance at $353.
3. SC explained that she had been unable to complete the necessary comparative shopping, etc. to pursue the idea raised at the June meeting to use some of the unspent balance to purchase equipment to improve conditions at meetings held in Town Hall basement, specifically microphone and speakers. Therefore WHC would be turning back about half of the FY08 budget of $539. She noted that the approved budget for FY09 is $940, an increase to help cover the costs of supplies, etc. currently being paid for by WHC officers from their own pockets.
4. Geraldine Millham (GM) moved and Jane Loos (JL) seconded a motion to approve the revised June 2, 2008 Treasurer’s report. The vote in favor was unanimous.
5. JL moved and Arlene Cloutier (AC) seconded a motion to approve the draft July 7, 2008 Treasurer’s report. The vote in favor was unanimous.
6. As required under the terms of the WHC Trust, DM read paras 2 through 9 of the Trust establishment document.
7. Status of Continuation of Public Hearing for 1953 Main Road. SC advised that she had received a letter dated July 3, 2008 from Barbara Koenitzer withdrawing the application which had been submitted earlier and which had been the subject of a continuation from the June to the July meeting. SC explained that meant the continuation has now lapsed, and that any further consideration of applications for this property would require a new application following all the requirements for notices, etc.
8. Cemetery Identification Group (CIG). SC read to the meeting the text of an award given by the Fall River Herald New to Andrew Isadoro, under its “Best and Brightest” promotion.
9. Status of 7-Up Machine at the Point. SC informed that she has not received any reply from the owners of the property on which this machine stands. However, she noted that the machine has now been covered in part by a wooden lattice.
10. Historic District Sign. SC noted that the sign at the corner of Main Road and Cape Bial Lane was obscured by vegetation. Norma Judson (NKJ) explained that she had requested her landscaper to trim back the bushes to ensure that the sign was visible. SC thanked NKJ for allowing the sign on her property and for undertaking this maintenance.
11. Update on 874 Main Road. SC briefed the meeting on the visit paid to the site by GM, SC and Pete Baker (PB). PB will prepare a more detailed assessment in writing. SC explained that the house is not very old, but it does have an old foundation. If the most recent additions were removed, there would remain a nice little house built on the old foundation; it is not a teardown. Both that building and the barn could be used or re-used and merit preservation.
12. Update on 1813 Main Road. SC briefed the meeting on the current status of the pending court case. The Town requested the court to find the owners in contempt of court for not fulfilling the Preliminary Injunction orders. The court allowed 90 days discovery for the owners, so nothing more will be done through the court until after that. The Building Inspector has been visiting the site regularly and providing notices about the need to re-install protective measures to preserve the house from the elements. SC sent a formal notice of denial of the applications from the May meeting, by certified letter. It does not appear that the owners have appealed that judgment as no appeal was filed by the deadline.
13. 1831 Main Road. SC read to the meeting the contents of the June 5, 2008 letter received from the owner, Mary Ellen Kennedy (Attachment 3).
14. Monitors. SC requested that JL update the list of monitors and circulate it to all members.
B. Public Hearing for 2044-2046 Main Road, 7:30 PM
1. Mary Lou Boutwell, owner, presented the revised plans which call for demolition of the existing shed, and building a new one on the same footprint. The new building would have a higher roof (planned for 12 feet high) and also a change in the roof pitch as shown in the revised drawings. The previously proposed new deck was removed. The building would be set about 6 inches off the ground on pilings and would have no changes to the existing grade level.
2. GM moved and NKJ seconded a motion to approve the demolition of the exiting shed and construction of a new shed according to the plans as submitted. The motion was approved.
For: 6 AC, SC, BDV, NKJ, JL, GM
Against: 1 DM
Abstain: 0
A. General Business, continued.
15. Certificate of Non-Applicability for 2018 Main Road. Mr. Mark Mazza represented the owner, Leo Marshall, and explained that they are in the midst of reshingling the north and east walls of the complex of buildings, like for like, and had been notified by the Building Inspector that they need a Building Permit. Therefore, they also need to have a Certificate from the WHC. The owner is not in town, and is not available to explain why this work was begun without the proper permits. Mr. Mazza confirmed that no other changes were planned. SC clarified that, as this is a Certificate of Non-Applicability, WHC can handle it without a public hearing, and at no application fee cost.
GM moved and DM seconded a motion to grant a Certificate of Non-Applicability for reshingling the north and east walls of the complex of buildings and making no other changes. The motion was approved unanimously.
16. Library Renovation and History Room. Pauline Dooley, Chair of the Library Board, made a presentation to the meeting about the current plans for renovation, expansion and upgrading services at the Library and their request for support from CPC for the history room. Also attending were Jennifer O’Neil and Tony Connors, Westport Historical Society. Ms. Dooley explained that the history section is valuable to the town, but is now spread out in various parts of the building; it needs better conditions to ensure its appropriate use and preservation. The Library committee working on the overall renovation had consulted a preservation specialist to learn what would be required to ensure appropriate preservation. Ms. Dooley explained that top priorities would be a separate HVAC system to maintain 65 degree temperature and 40% humidity (about $15,000) and ultraviolet film filtered lights (about $5,000), for the proposed 450 square foot history room. Ms. Dooley noted that there are now no plans for staff to tend the room, and that they do not yet have a “policy” to guide how the room will be used.
Representatives of the Westport Historical Society explained that they support the conclusions that the valuable materials need appropriate protection and that appropriate and user-friendly conditions and methods should be used to make these resources available to potential users.
WHC members raised various questions about the planning assumptions for this endeavor, such as (i) expected volume of materials to be assembled from various sites in town not now in the Library; (ii) types of materials and arrangements to solicit possible additional resources; (iii) conditions appropriate for copied as opposed to original materials and the relative shares of each; (iiv) possible separation of the materials requiring special conditions from the public access areas of the history room; (v) fireproofing standards; and (vi) possible longer-term plans for on-line access.
The general consensus of the meeting was: (i) WHC supports the establishment of a history room at the Library to better secure and make available the valuable historical materials now at the Library; (ii) WHC supports the remodeling of a space in the library for this facility to provide the appropriate physical conditions – HVAC, filter lights and fireproofing; and (iii) WHC recommends that the physical plans be guided by the (to be established) Library Board policy for the historical collection and approaches to address the different objectives of the expercise. – physical safety of precious materials, storage and handling areas, tradeoff between on-line access and hands-on access, consolidation of materials for easy reference, and user friendly spaces for use by above-school-age researchers. SC undertook to convey Why’s views in support of the History Room to the CPC.
17. Letters of Thanks. SC read to the meeting the contents of WHC June 6, 2008 letters of thanks to Barbara Koenitzer, upon her resignation from WHC after many years of service, and to Jim Soule of the Preservation Society of Fall River for his article in support of the Town’s efforts to preserve 1813 Main Road (Attachments 4 & 5).
18. 2028 Main Road. SC recused herself as an abutter. GM assumed the chair, and invited DM and AC to report on the current situation. DM and AC explained they had requested Mr. Kelly to attend the July 7, 2008 WHC meeting, but his lawyer had responded that neither Mr. Kelly nor she would be available that date, and suggested the August Meeting. AC informed that she had notified Mr. Kelly that WHC was reserving the 7:30 time slot of the August 4 meeting for this meeting. AC explained that she had learned from the Building Inspector that he had met with Tim Sawyer, the architect for the project, as well as with Mr. Kelly himself. The Building Inspector confirmed that he had told them both that they should have come back to WHC when they started to deviate from the approved plans. DM also explained that there remain issues in getting the “ticketing” process to function across the various Town offices involved. GM advised that WHC should prepare a set of talking points and detailed agenda for this part of the August meeting. SC resumed the chair.
19. Wolf Pit School Maintenance. SC reported that she had informed Mr. Hopkinson about the kind offer from Tim’s Lawn Service to take care of mowing around the school. NKJ inquired about the issue of the triangle in front of the school, and undertook to check again with Mike Coughlin about what could be done.
20. Restoration at Giblin Property. NKJ noted that the owners appear to be doing a good job in repairing and restoring the house on this property. She reminded that the owners had once considered demolition, and that Pete Baker had been helpful to them to learn more about the history of the house and to appreciate what was there to be preserved. SC undertook to write a letter to the owners congratulating them on good work.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm. The next regular meeting is August 4, 2008 at Town Hall.
prepared by JL
approved August 4, 2008
Attachments:
1 & 2. Treasurer’s Reports – June and July, 2008
3. June 7, 2008 letter from ME Kennedy
4. June 6, 2008 letter to Barbara Koenitzer
5. June 6, 2008 letter to Jim Soule
