Present
Member: Jim Collins, Sharon Connors, Janet Jones, Norma Judson, Jane Loos,
Geraldine Millham
Alternate: none
Absent
Member: one vacancy
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Bette De Veuve, Christine Vezetinski
Sharon Connors (SC), Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm in the Town Hall basement meeting area. SC noted that there would be a total of only six votes, with no alternates attending. Others in attendance included:
Leo Brooks 2001 Main Road, WPT
Elizabeth Collins 27 Kelly Avenue, Westport
Tony Connors 2032 Main Road, WPT
Kathy & Ron Flener 1798 Main Road, WPT
Chip Gillespie 1634 Main Road, WPT
Ed Jackson 1806 Main Road, WPT
Lucy Keefe 1371 Main Road, Westport
Claire Kenney 427 Cornell Road, Westport
Albert Lees 2065 Main Road, WPT
Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT
Peter Streng 1818 Main Road, WPT
David Wallace 31 Quail Trail, Westport
Catherine Williams 42 Riverview Drive, Westport
James Whitin 462 River Road, Westport
A. General Business.
1. Minutes of January 4, 2010 Meeting. Jane Loos (JL) explained that a draft was circulated by email. SC suggested several corrections. Geraldine Millham (GM) moved and Janet Jones (JJ) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as revised. The motion was approved, unanimously.
2. Treasurer’s Report. GM presented the Treasurer’s Report as of 1/29/10 (see Attachment 1), showing no changes from last month’s report, with the exception of small increases in Trust balances due to accruing interest.
(a) WHC expense account had a balance of $740. Revenue to date is $350.
(b) WHC Trust Account balance is $8,439.78. Wolf Pit School Trust balance is $6,345.40.
(c) Town Farm expense account had a balance of $2,316. The Town Farm Trust Account balance is $11,097.82.
CV moved, and JL seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The vote in favor was unanimous.
3. Fees. SC read to the meeting a request from the Board of Selectmen (BOS) for inputs from Town Departments and Boards/Commissions for any proposed fee increases. The consensus of the meeting was that no fee increase is warranted for WHC applications. JL noted, however, that the procedures for fines and penalties are still unresolved and that WHC is awaiting clarifications from the BOS. The meeting agreed that SC should bring this matter to their attention in WHC’s response to the announcement. It was agreed also that the response should remind BOS that WHC fees in the past have brought in to the Town General Fund more than is provided for WHC’s budget.
4. Westport Affordable Housing Trust. SC informed that there will be an information meeting of this Trust on February 10, for those who may be interested in working with that group. In response to a question, Elizabeth Collins explained that the Trust itself did not have funding, but planned to work with funding sources like CPC and the Community Building Development Grant office.
5. 1813-1815 Main Road. SC read to the meeting her letter to the owners of this property (See attachment 2). When asked what WHC could do to address the continuing failure of the owners to protect the buildings from the elements, SC responded that there is nothing WHC can do on its own to address this matter.
6. Monitors’ Reports.
(a) 1998 Main Road. SC reported that the owners had informed her that repairs of the south chimney would be impossible without taking down the stack above the roof line, and therefore requested permission to remove the stack before building a new one. SC confirmed with them that they would use bricks and construction style to match the other two chimneystacks. The monitors (SC and JL) agreed that owners could proceed with the repairs without requiring another hearing. In response to a question, SC informed that she did not know what they would do to the original chimney parts that are inside the building and not subject to WHC oversight.
(b) 1878 H Drift Road. Sc reported that the storage garage and cement pad had been removed according to the terms of the Certificate of Appropriateness.
(c) SC advised that Monitors for all on-going projects should be prepared to report on the status of work at the March WHC meeting.
7. Preliminary Review for 1985 D Main Road. SC welcomed Drs Peter and Brenna Kelsey, the new owners of this property, to the Point. The new owners explained that before formulating plans for the house, they wished to live in it for a while and get to know their neighbors and the district better. They explained that the septic system upgrade was approved by the Board of Health in December 2009 as part of the sale agreement, but they are not proceeding with the work yet to make sure that the layout of the work will maintain the landscape as is and not compromise potential uses of the site. They informed that, while the Real Estate agent had not provided them with the WHC guidelines, they have the guidelines now and are aware of WHC’s mandate.
8. Award. Betty Slade informed that she is working with others to nominate Anne Pete Baker for a Massachusetts Historical Commission Lifetime Achievement Award. JL moved and Janet Jones seconded a motion that WHC wholeheartedly support this effort, with gratitude for Ms. Baker’s contributions to Westport and commendation for her work across the Commonwealth and region. The motion was approved unanimously.
B. Westport Master Plan. Elaine Ostroff, David Wallace and James Whitin presented materials about the Master Plan and some current development activities in Central Village. The meeting thanked them for informing WHC and the large general audience about these matters, including a possible overlay district for Central Village. WHC offered to help formulate guidelines for the overlay district to help maintain the village’s character and encourage desired kinds of developments.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm. The next meeting will be at 7pm, Monday, March 1, 2010 at the Town Hall.
Drafted by Jane Loos, approved March 1, 2010
Attachments:
1. Treasurer’s Report
2 SC’s January 15, 2010 letter re 1813-1815 Main Road