Westport News

Present
Member: Jim Collins, Janet Jones, Donna Lubell, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Norma Judson, Christine Vezetinski

Absent
Member: Wendy Goldberg, Ted Kinnari
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Sean Leach

Others in attendance:
Tom Braxton 86 Hillcrest, Westport
Dayrl Breda & Bill Russell 218 Horseneck Road, Westport
Michael Greaney 1991 C, WPT
Michael McKinley Architect for 1991 C, WPT
Rob Russell 417A Hix Bridge Road, Westport
Beverly Schuch 1963 Main Road, WPT
Dennis Talbot Contractor for 1963 Main Road, WPT

Acting Chair Geraldine Millham (GM) opened the meeting at 7:00 pm in the basement meeting area at Town Hall. GM named Alternates Norma Judson (NKJ) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) to act as the sixth and seventh votes.

A. General Business
1. Minutes of November 7, 2011 Meeting. Jane Loos (JL) explained that the draft minutes had been circulated via email to all members/alternates. JL proposed several corrections to the draft minutes. Janet Jones (JJ) and GM seconded a motion to approve the minutes as revised. The vote was four in favor (Jim Collins (JC), JJ, JL and GM), with three abstentions due to their absence from the November 7 meeting (NKJ, Donna Lubell (DL), and CV).

2. Treasurer’s Report. GM presented the Treasurer’s reports as of December 5, 2011 (Attachment 1). The balances were:
(a) WHC expense account had a balance of $710 Revenue balance is $100.
(b) WHC Trust Account balance of $10,099.52. The Wolf Pit School Trust balance is
$6,506.12.
(c) The Town Farm expense account balance is zero, meaning that all funds budgeted for this FY have been spent. The Town Farm Trust balance has been reduced by about $2,700 for work on the gutters, fascia, and corner boards, as well as partial replacement of one corner post and sill; this reduces the balance to $8,681.35.

3. JJ moved and JL seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The motion was approved unanimously.

4. Mail.
(a) GM read a reminder from the Board of Selectmen’s office that the annual report is due by January 27, 2012.
(b) GM showed to the meeting two newspaper clippings that had been forwarded to Wendy Goldberg (WG) by Marlene Sampson, Westport Town Clerk, which had been sent to Ms. Sampson by Mrs. Beverly M. Glennon. They concern the sale at auction of two properties in Westport – The Bell School House and the Handy House. The article on the sale of the Handy House is dated October 1911 and included many details about the house and its history. (See attachment 2)

B. Public Hearing on Amendments to Certificate of Appropriateness, 1963 Main Road

1. Ms. Beverly Schuch (owner) and Mr. Dennis Talbot (contractor) presented proposals to change the design and placement of several windows, compared to the plans approved by WHC on September 6, 2011. Mr. Talbot explained that the plans were changed to reflect a decision to put the kitchen in a different location, leading to the need to raise the lower sills of windows in the southeast corner of the western-most part of the house. He also noted that with the removal of the former “not original” chimney (approved under Certificate issued October 24, 2011), the north wall could accommodate more windows.

2. DL moved and CV seconded a motion to approve the requested changes shown in drawings of the north elevation (dated October 27) and those of the east and south facades (dated October 25). The vote in favor was unanimous.

A. General Business, Continued

5. Preliminary Review for 1991 C, Main Road. Mr. Michael Greaney (owner), Mr. Michael McKinley (architect), and Mr. Tom Buxton (contractor) presented plans for the story and a half cottage behind the main house at 1991 F. The house is derelict and they propose to demolish it and build a new two-story cottage using traditional shapes and materials. The meeting confirmed that the proposed new building would be visible from a public way. WHC members asked questions about how the proposed plans would fit into the historic district in light of the guidance given in WHC guidelines. In particular the meeting asked about the rationale for the following proposed design parameters: (a) the significant grade change; (b) 10 foot ceiling heights for a summer cottage; (c) wing-shaped roofline over the west building/porch; and (d) scale of the building vis a vis its neighbors.

6. The meeting suggested that the owner and architect spend more time looking at other story and half cottages and simple two story houses in the historic district. The owner indicated that they would likely return for another preliminary review before submitting an application.

7. Demolition Request for 98 Horseneck Road (Attachment 3). Messrs Bill Russell and Robert Russell joined the meeting to answer questions about their report on the current status of seeking alternatives to demolition of this property. GM thanked them for sending this report, and explained that it had been sent to all WHC members in advance of tonight’s meeting. Mr. Bill Russell clarified/amplified his responses to some points raised in Wendy Goldberg’s (WG) email, and JL undertook to use that information to compose an information bulletin to be posted on the Massachusetts Historical Commission list serve. It was agreed to take stock again in February to determine the prospects for finding alternatives to demolition.

8. Subcommittee Reports.
(a) Oscar Palmer Farm. JJ reported that the grant agreement between the Board of Selectmen and the owners was signed on November 28, 21011. JJ informed that arrangements for transfer of funds had been streamlined, with the funds to be disbursed in future directly to the owners, but only for repairs/restoration work approved by WHC and the owners’ architect, to ensure that the terms of the preservation restriction are followed.

(b) Town Farm. JL explained that the terms of the lease for the Town Farm did not contain provisions for Town engagement in decisions about how the site and the buildings would be handled in future, beyond the initial restoration of the main house that WHC had worked on with TTOR over the past several months. GM confirmed that the subcommittee hopes to collaborate with TTOR and WLCT to assure preservation of this historic property.

(c) Handy House. GM noted that there was nothing to report at this time.

Adjournment. The Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm. The next meeting will be January 3, 2012 at 7pm.

Draft prepared by JL

Attachments:
1. Treasurer’s Report –December 5, 2011
2. Newspaper Articles on Auctions
3. WG email re 98 Horseneck Road and reply from Bill Russell