Westport News

Westport Historical Commission

Final Minutes, October 4, 2010

Present

Member: Jim Collins, Sharon Connors, Wendy Goldberg, Janet Jones, Jane Loos, Donna Lubell, Geraldine Millham

Alternate: Sean Leach, Christine Vezetinski

Absent Member: none

Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Norma Judson

Sharon Connors (SC), Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00pm in the Town Hall basement meeting area. SC confirmed that all seven voting members were present.

Others in attendance included:

Lin Beck & Bill Pardee 1875 Main Road, WPT

David Cole,2037 Main Road, WPT

Brenna Bounds & Peter Kelsey 1985D Main Road, WPT,

Greg Nowell 1907 Drift Road, WPT

Sib Reppert 199O Main Road, WPT

Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT

Bob Tripp 1834 Main Road, WPT

Kit Wise architect for 19875 Main Road, WPT

A. General Business

1. Minutes of Previous Meetings.

(a) September 13, 2010. Jane Loos (JL) explained that these draft minutes were prepared by Betty Slade (BS) as Acting Secretary, and had been circulated electronically to all members and alternates. Geraldine Millham (GM) moved and Wendy Goldberg (WG) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes. The vote in favor was unanimous, with one abstention (JL abstained, because she did not attend that meeting).

(b) June 7, 2010. SC explained that some wording in the June 7 meeting minutes was in error; she proposed revised wording concerning the Archeologist Report on the Waite Kirby Potter House and corrected spelling of an applicant’s name. WG moved and Janet Jones (JJ) seconded a motion to approve the minutes as revised. The vote in favor was unanimous.

3. Treasurer’s Report. GM presented the report as of October 4, 2010 (Attachment 1):

(a) WHC expense account had a balance of $711.01. Revenue to date is $150.

(b) WHC Trust Account balance is $9,254.02. The Wolf Pit School Trust balance is $6,366.90.

(c) The Town Farm expense account is $1,316.00. The Town Farm Trust balance is $11,135.40.

 4. JJ moved and Donna Lubell (DL) seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The vote in favor was unanimous.

5. Certificate of Non-Applicability for 1831 Main Road. SC informed the meeting that she had issued a Certificate of Non-Applicabililty for this property on September 24, 2010. The proposed work was "like for like" reshingling of the front façade of the house with white cedar shingles.

6. Mail.

(a) SC informed the meeting that she had been notified that the Hoyt Mill (on Historic Inventory) had been sold to a manufacturing firm. GM added that the new owners are primarily using the (new) back buildings and plan to protect the older front mill building and dam.

(b) 1813-1815 Main Road. SC read to the meeting the contents of the Building Inspector’s September letter to Mr. Furtado concerning the failure to protect the house, corn crib and materials, as required in the court order. SC informed that there would be a meeting with the Board of Selectmen on this matter in executive session on Monday, October 18.

(c) SC presented to JL, for filing, the return receipt of a certified letter to Mrs. Angie Furtado, which had been discussed at the September meeting.

7. Monitoring Report. SC requested JL to update the listing of ongoing projects and their monitors.

8. Public Hearing for 1818 Main Road. SC informed that the applicants requested that the continuation of the September 13 meeting to the October 4 meeting be continued a second time. SC noted that the continuation of this public hearing is now scheduled for November 1, 2010 at 7:30pm.

9. Preliminary Review of Plans for 1875-77 Main Road. Kit Wise, architect, presented revised plans for expansion of the Soule Store, which the owners now call "The Candy Store." Lin Beck & Bill Pardee owners were also present. Mr. Wise explained that he revised the plans in response to comments received at the August 2 Preliminary review, and moved the proposed expansion to a new octagonal tower building at the rear of the store. The WHC reiterated its original position that some expansion to the rear may be possible, but expansion upward would not be appropriate. It was the general sense of the meeting that their proposed changes, being placed only at the rear of the store, addressed some of WHC concerns about the previous plans, but that its mass and placement overpowered the store building. The applicants informed that they intend to proceed to a public hearing for a Certificate of Appropriateness at the next WHC meeting.

B. Public Hearing for 1985 D Main Road for a Certificate of Appropriateness.

1. Greg Nowell presented plans to remodel the existing stylized cape and add an ell to the south. The application included a List of Materials. The meeting took separate votes on each elevation as follows:

(a) North -- GM moved and DL seconded a motion to approve the plan as submitted. The vote in favor was unanimous. These plans call for the demolition of the garage, which will be specified on the Certificate of Appropriateness.

(b) West -- applicant agreed to revise plans to show a single 15 panel door instead of double doors on the west façade of the main house. JC moved and JJ seconded a motion to approve the plan as revised. The motion in favor was unanimous.

 (c) South -- applicant agreed to reduce the size of the scuppers on the second floor to 5" high (matching the usual shingle exposure line) and 15" wide. WG moved and GM seconded a motion to approve the plan as revised. The motion in favor was unanimous.

(d) East -- SC explained that this façade was not visible from a public way, and therefore was not under WHC purview.

2. Mr. Nowell confirmed that the drawings show the new cement foundation as it will be built, and that the historic house will be returned to its current elevation.

3. SC requested that the plans be revised before WHC members would sign them. Mr. Nowell agreed to bring revised plans to JL the next day. JL agreed to bring the plans to WHC members for their signatures.

4. SC named Chris Vezetinski (CV) and DL as monitors.

Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.

The next meeting will be November 1, 2010.

draft prepared by Jane Loos, approved November 1, 2010.

Attachments:

1: Treasurer’s Report as of 10/4/10