WHC Minutes February 2, 2009
Present
Member: Arlene Cloutier, Jim Collins, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Christine Vezetinski
Absent
Member: Sharon Connors, Dora Millikin
Alternate: Bette DeVeuve, Tim Bryant,
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice Chair Jim Collins (JC) in the Town Hall basement. JC named Anne (Pete) Baker (AB) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) to act in place of the missing members. Others in attendance included:
Nathaniel Church Garner, Mass.
Joshua Duarte 1757 Drift Road, Westport
Ed Horky Westport Grange
Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT
Jenny O’Neil Westport Historical Society
A. General Business
1. Minutes of Previous Meetings. Jane Loos (JL) explained that the January 5, 2009 draft minutes had been circulated electronically. Arlene Cloutier (AC) moved and Geraldine Millham (GM) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as circulated. The motion was approved with five yeas, and two abstentions (AB and CV, as they had not attended that meeting).
2. JL explained that the January 12, 2009 draft minutes were circulated electronically, once initially and a second time with corrections. GM noted a number of further corrections. GM moved and Norma Judson (NKJ) seconded a motion to approve the minutes as revised. The motion was approved with six yeas, and one abstention (CV, as she had not attended that meeting).
3. Treasurer’s Report. Due to the absence of the Treasurer, there was no Treasurer’s Report. Betty Slade presented a bill of $35.80 for the cost of making extra copies of the keys for the locked WHC cabinets in Town Hall. JL moved, and GM seconded a motion to approve this reimbursement. The vote in favor was unanimous. GM presented two bills from Signature signs for a total of $90, for three historical plaques. JL moved and GM seconded a motion to approve this payment. The vote in favor was unanimous.
4. Letters. The following letters were read into the record:
(a) Sharon Connors (SC) January 13 response to Town Grants Manager (Attachment 1)
(b) GM’s January 28 response to Dorothy Tongue concerning amendment to recently approved Certificate of Appropriateness for 2048 Main Road (Attachment 2)
(c) SC January 15 follow-up letter to Robert Haines, Jr. re 1994 Main Road (Attachment 3)
(d) SC (undated) letter to Sean LaFrance (Attachment 4)
(e) SC January 14 letter to Town Building inspector re 874 Main Road (Attachment 5)
(f) January 14 letter to WHC from Executive Office of Transportation regarding resurfacing of Route #6. (Attachment 6). It was agreed that JL would investigate and prepare a recommendation for WHC consideration.
B. Public Hearing for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 1871 Main Road, 7:30 PM
1. Mr. Nathaniel Church and Mr. Joshua Duarte represented the owner, Mrs. Priscilla S. Church. They proposed to replace the existing wood shingles on the east facing gambrel roof with architectural asphalt shingles, to match the architectural asphalt shingles on other parts of the roof.
2. Several WHC members made a plea to consider continuing to use wood shingles on that very prominent façade, but acknowledged that WHC had no purview over shingle type under its current by-laws. AC moved, and GM seconded a motion to grant a Certificate of Non-Applicability for the proposed work. The motion was approved unanimously.
A. General Business Continued.
5. Proposal to CPC for Historic Preservation funding for Westport Grange. Mr. Ed Horky introduced the proposal to repair/remodel the 1924 building using CPC funds and showed pictures of the existing conditions. The property was repaired/remodeled several times in the past (including with Diman student inputs), but now is in need of further repairs to address issues with water intrusion and to make the building more useful for public and private functions. WHC members noted that the Grange deserves to be helped to continue as part of the central village fabric, but the proposal appears to be simply one of repair without attention to historic preservation. JC arranged for Mr. Horky to be provided with a copy of WHC guidelines and project materials check list, which show the type of issues and approach that could be considered as historic preservation. Betty Slade referred Mr. Horky to the CPC-financed work on the American Legion Hall, as an example of the type of work that could qualify for historic preservation support. JC also noted that this project could be used to introduce Diman students to older crafts and historic preservation approaches, and thus broaden their skills. Mr. Horky thanked WHC for its suggestions and said he would reconsider how to proceed.
6. Proposal to CPC for Historic Preservation funding for repairs to the Bell School House
Ms. Jenny O’Neill, Director of the Westport Historical Society, introduced the proposal to repair the foundation and stop a leak from the bell tower (Attachment 7). The building would also be repainted. WHC Members strongly supported the proposal’s objectives. JL moved and GM seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
7. WHC members had no suggestions about the approach to repair the foundation and sills
but raised some questions about that for the bell tower. Ms. O’Neill explained that the bell tower had been partially enclosed in the past, and now needed further work to stop leaks. WHC Members encouraged Ms. O’Neill to consider a more thorough repair/rehabilitation of the bell tower, including redesigning some of the previous enclosures and using more appropriate materials than in the previous repair. Ms. O’Neill thanked WHC for its suggestions and said she would reopen the planning for the bell tower to consider more substantial repairs. She would also develop a detailed budget for the proposed work.
6. Proposed Amendment to Certificate of Appropriateness for 2048 Main Road. JC explained that the Conservation Commission had not agreed to the addition of a deck to the boat house, which had been approved under WHC’s recently issued Certificate of Appropriateness. JL moved that WHC consider the elimination of the new deck to be insubstantial, and that WHC notify abutters that it intended to approve the revision to the Certificate of Appropriateness without holding another Public Hearing, unless abutters inform WHC within 10 days that they wished to have a public hearing on the matter. GM
seconded the motion. The vote in favor was approved unanimous
7. CPC Report on Historical Preservation Projects under WHC auspices. Betty Slade summarized a report she prepared on all historic preservation projects supported by CPC. A copy of the full report is shown in Attachment 8.
8. Betty Slade also reported on two new proposals requesting historic preservation funding from CPC:
(a) Preservation of town records. The Town Clerk proposed a project to preserve historic town records, including de-acidification and special storage (about $19,000). GM moved and JL seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
(b) Completion of Westport Historic Inventory. GM moved and JL seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
9. New Products and New Technologies. GM raised the issue of the need for WHC to be: (a) current in its knowledge of new products and new technologies for building repair/restoration and new construction; and (b) have a clearly thought-through and reasoned policy for possible uses of such in the historic district. The meeting agreed to discuss this matter further at future meetings.
Adjournment. The next meeting will be on March 2, 2009. The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.
Drafted by Jane Loos, revised March 1, 2009, revised and approved March 2, 2009
Attachments:
1. SC Letter to Grants Manager
2. GM Letter re 2048 Main Road
3. SC Letter re 1994 Main Road
4. SC Letter to Robert LaFrance
5. SC Letter to Town Building Inspector re 874 Main Road
6. OET Letter to WHC re Route 6 project
7. WHS proposal
8. Betty Slade report on CPC Support for Historic Preservation
Member: Arlene Cloutier, Jim Collins, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker, Christine Vezetinski
Absent
Member: Sharon Connors, Dora Millikin
Alternate: Bette DeVeuve, Tim Bryant,
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice Chair Jim Collins (JC) in the Town Hall basement. JC named Anne (Pete) Baker (AB) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) to act in place of the missing members. Others in attendance included:
Nathaniel Church Garner, Mass.
Joshua Duarte 1757 Drift Road, Westport
Ed Horky Westport Grange
Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT
Jenny O’Neil Westport Historical Society
A. General Business
1. Minutes of Previous Meetings. Jane Loos (JL) explained that the January 5, 2009 draft minutes had been circulated electronically. Arlene Cloutier (AC) moved and Geraldine Millham (GM) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as circulated. The motion was approved with five yeas, and two abstentions (AB and CV, as they had not attended that meeting).
2. JL explained that the January 12, 2009 draft minutes were circulated electronically, once initially and a second time with corrections. GM noted a number of further corrections. GM moved and Norma Judson (NKJ) seconded a motion to approve the minutes as revised. The motion was approved with six yeas, and one abstention (CV, as she had not attended that meeting).
3. Treasurer’s Report. Due to the absence of the Treasurer, there was no Treasurer’s Report. Betty Slade presented a bill of $35.80 for the cost of making extra copies of the keys for the locked WHC cabinets in Town Hall. JL moved, and GM seconded a motion to approve this reimbursement. The vote in favor was unanimous. GM presented two bills from Signature signs for a total of $90, for three historical plaques. JL moved and GM seconded a motion to approve this payment. The vote in favor was unanimous.
4. Letters. The following letters were read into the record:
(a) Sharon Connors (SC) January 13 response to Town Grants Manager (Attachment 1)
(b) GM’s January 28 response to Dorothy Tongue concerning amendment to recently approved Certificate of Appropriateness for 2048 Main Road (Attachment 2)
(c) SC January 15 follow-up letter to Robert Haines, Jr. re 1994 Main Road (Attachment 3)
(d) SC (undated) letter to Sean LaFrance (Attachment 4)
(e) SC January 14 letter to Town Building inspector re 874 Main Road (Attachment 5)
(f) January 14 letter to WHC from Executive Office of Transportation regarding resurfacing of Route #6. (Attachment 6). It was agreed that JL would investigate and prepare a recommendation for WHC consideration.
B. Public Hearing for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 1871 Main Road, 7:30 PM
1. Mr. Nathaniel Church and Mr. Joshua Duarte represented the owner, Mrs. Priscilla S. Church. They proposed to replace the existing wood shingles on the east facing gambrel roof with architectural asphalt shingles, to match the architectural asphalt shingles on other parts of the roof.
2. Several WHC members made a plea to consider continuing to use wood shingles on that very prominent façade, but acknowledged that WHC had no purview over shingle type under its current by-laws. AC moved, and GM seconded a motion to grant a Certificate of Non-Applicability for the proposed work. The motion was approved unanimously.
A. General Business Continued.
5. Proposal to CPC for Historic Preservation funding for Westport Grange. Mr. Ed Horky introduced the proposal to repair/remodel the 1924 building using CPC funds and showed pictures of the existing conditions. The property was repaired/remodeled several times in the past (including with Diman student inputs), but now is in need of further repairs to address issues with water intrusion and to make the building more useful for public and private functions. WHC members noted that the Grange deserves to be helped to continue as part of the central village fabric, but the proposal appears to be simply one of repair without attention to historic preservation. JC arranged for Mr. Horky to be provided with a copy of WHC guidelines and project materials check list, which show the type of issues and approach that could be considered as historic preservation. Betty Slade referred Mr. Horky to the CPC-financed work on the American Legion Hall, as an example of the type of work that could qualify for historic preservation support. JC also noted that this project could be used to introduce Diman students to older crafts and historic preservation approaches, and thus broaden their skills. Mr. Horky thanked WHC for its suggestions and said he would reconsider how to proceed.
6. Proposal to CPC for Historic Preservation funding for repairs to the Bell School House
Ms. Jenny O’Neill, Director of the Westport Historical Society, introduced the proposal to repair the foundation and stop a leak from the bell tower (Attachment 7). The building would also be repainted. WHC Members strongly supported the proposal’s objectives. JL moved and GM seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
7. WHC members had no suggestions about the approach to repair the foundation and sills
but raised some questions about that for the bell tower. Ms. O’Neill explained that the bell tower had been partially enclosed in the past, and now needed further work to stop leaks. WHC Members encouraged Ms. O’Neill to consider a more thorough repair/rehabilitation of the bell tower, including redesigning some of the previous enclosures and using more appropriate materials than in the previous repair. Ms. O’Neill thanked WHC for its suggestions and said she would reopen the planning for the bell tower to consider more substantial repairs. She would also develop a detailed budget for the proposed work.
6. Proposed Amendment to Certificate of Appropriateness for 2048 Main Road. JC explained that the Conservation Commission had not agreed to the addition of a deck to the boat house, which had been approved under WHC’s recently issued Certificate of Appropriateness. JL moved that WHC consider the elimination of the new deck to be insubstantial, and that WHC notify abutters that it intended to approve the revision to the Certificate of Appropriateness without holding another Public Hearing, unless abutters inform WHC within 10 days that they wished to have a public hearing on the matter. GM
seconded the motion. The vote in favor was approved unanimous
7. CPC Report on Historical Preservation Projects under WHC auspices. Betty Slade summarized a report she prepared on all historic preservation projects supported by CPC. A copy of the full report is shown in Attachment 8.
8. Betty Slade also reported on two new proposals requesting historic preservation funding from CPC:
(a) Preservation of town records. The Town Clerk proposed a project to preserve historic town records, including de-acidification and special storage (about $19,000). GM moved and JL seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
(b) Completion of Westport Historic Inventory. GM moved and JL seconded a motion to inform CPC of WHC endorsement of this proposed project.
9. New Products and New Technologies. GM raised the issue of the need for WHC to be: (a) current in its knowledge of new products and new technologies for building repair/restoration and new construction; and (b) have a clearly thought-through and reasoned policy for possible uses of such in the historic district. The meeting agreed to discuss this matter further at future meetings.
Adjournment. The next meeting will be on March 2, 2009. The meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.
Drafted by Jane Loos, revised March 1, 2009, revised and approved March 2, 2009
Attachments:
1. SC Letter to Grants Manager
2. GM Letter re 2048 Main Road
3. SC Letter re 1994 Main Road
4. SC Letter to Robert LaFrance
5. SC Letter to Town Building Inspector re 874 Main Road
6. OET Letter to WHC re Route 6 project
7. WHS proposal
8. Betty Slade report on CPC Support for Historic Preservation
« WHC Minutes March 12, 2009 | Main News Page | Westport Home Page | COA May 2009 Evergreen Newsletter »