WHC Minutes, June 12, 2009
Present
Member:, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker
Absent
Member: Arlene Cloutier, Jim Collins, Sharon Connors
Alternate: Tim Bryant, Bette DeVeuve, Chris Vezetinski
1. The meeting was called to order at 2PM pm by Acting Chair Geraldine Millham, in the Town Hall basement meeting area. GM informed that she called this special meeting to address the application for demolition at 1380 Drift Road. In addition to the three members present, GM named Anne (Pete) Baker (APB) as voting, establishing a quorum for the meeting. GM clarified that for a motion to be approved, it would require three votes in favor; this is unlike the rules for approving a Certificate of Appropriateness, which require at least four votes in favor under Ch. 40 C provisions.
Others in attendance included:
John Colletti 1380 C Drift Road, Westport
Sean Leach 521 Division Road, Westport
Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT
2. GM summarized the gist of the demolition bylaw. WHC can invoke a delay of demolition if it finds that a property on the Town’s Historic Inventory is a Preferably Preserved Significant Building, whose demolition would be detrimental to the historical and/or architectural resources of the Town. WHC has 30 days to act.
3. GM read to the meeting three letters, all dated June 4, 2009
(a) from Fred and Gerri Schiffman, owners (Attachment 1)
(b) Sean Leach (SITEC) (Attachment 2)
(c) Scott Weymouth, Schiffman architect (Attachment 3)
4. GM explained that she and Jane Loos (JL) visited the site on Friday June 5, 2009 and Anne (Pete) Baker (APB) and David Hobart inspected the buildings on Thursday June 11, 2009. In addition, GM researched the files and background documents to verify any connection to Paul Cuffee.
5. GM explained that the numbering on the subdivided plots is not always consistent, and that, in this case, 1380 Drift is shown on the Historic Inventory as 1380D, with the D inserted in the records some time after they were first filed. However, the descriptions and photos are of the house now called 1380 Drift Road, but the photo is of 1380K. GM explained that the Schiffmans now own both 1380 and 1380K Drift Road, adjacent properties.
6. History. GM explained that she could find no evidence that 1380 had been owed by or associated with Paul Cuffee. Both properties come out of the Lemuel Sowle lands in 1801--1380 sold to Daniel Tripp and 1380K sold to Raiman Castino (a soldier with General Lafayette). 1380K was purchased by Humphrey Hitt from Castino in 1852, and the same Humphrey Hitt purchased 1380 from the Daniel Tripp family (date not certain—family sources say 1820’s ). Humphrey Hitt was a mariner who settled in Westport as a cobbler, and had 14 children.
7. Architecture. APB reported on her and David Hobart’s inspection. The house at 1380 has three parts – western-most buildiing, middle room, and a large new house/addition built in 1969. APB concluded that there is no way to date the western-most building. The structure appears to have been moved to its current location and was so reworked that there is little evidence of what could have been there earlier. The floor boards on the second floor appear to have come from elsewhere. The ceiling on the second floor is a hodgepodge and the whole upper layer of rafters was replaced. There is evidence of circular and band saw cutting of lumber. The chimney is of recent vintage. APB’s opinion is that the western-most building was something else, came from somewhere else and was moved to this site, at a date hard to determine.
8. The half cape at 1380K is another story. It is in good shape and has survived without major changes. There is documentation that 1380K was associated with the Cuffee family.
9. Conclusion. JL moved and APB seconded a motion to determine that 1380 Drift Road (only) is not a Preferably Preserved Significant Building, and that WHC inform the Building Inspector that he has WHC approval to proceed with his consideration of the demolition permit for 1380 Drift Road. The motion was approved.
Votes in Favor: APB, JL, GM
Votes Against: Norma Judson
Abstain: none
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 2:50 pm.
Drafted by Jane Loos, approved August 3, 2009
Attachments:
1. June 4, 2009 Letter from Fred and Gerri Schiffman, 1380 Drift Road, Westport
2. June 4, 2009 Letter from Sean Leach (SITEC) to Gerri Schiffman
3. June 4, 2009 Letter from Scott Weymouth, Schiffman architect, to WHC
Member:, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker
Absent
Member: Arlene Cloutier, Jim Collins, Sharon Connors
Alternate: Tim Bryant, Bette DeVeuve, Chris Vezetinski
1. The meeting was called to order at 2PM pm by Acting Chair Geraldine Millham, in the Town Hall basement meeting area. GM informed that she called this special meeting to address the application for demolition at 1380 Drift Road. In addition to the three members present, GM named Anne (Pete) Baker (APB) as voting, establishing a quorum for the meeting. GM clarified that for a motion to be approved, it would require three votes in favor; this is unlike the rules for approving a Certificate of Appropriateness, which require at least four votes in favor under Ch. 40 C provisions.
Others in attendance included:
John Colletti 1380 C Drift Road, Westport
Sean Leach 521 Division Road, Westport
Betty Slade 2037 Main Road, WPT
2. GM summarized the gist of the demolition bylaw. WHC can invoke a delay of demolition if it finds that a property on the Town’s Historic Inventory is a Preferably Preserved Significant Building, whose demolition would be detrimental to the historical and/or architectural resources of the Town. WHC has 30 days to act.
3. GM read to the meeting three letters, all dated June 4, 2009
(a) from Fred and Gerri Schiffman, owners (Attachment 1)
(b) Sean Leach (SITEC) (Attachment 2)
(c) Scott Weymouth, Schiffman architect (Attachment 3)
4. GM explained that she and Jane Loos (JL) visited the site on Friday June 5, 2009 and Anne (Pete) Baker (APB) and David Hobart inspected the buildings on Thursday June 11, 2009. In addition, GM researched the files and background documents to verify any connection to Paul Cuffee.
5. GM explained that the numbering on the subdivided plots is not always consistent, and that, in this case, 1380 Drift is shown on the Historic Inventory as 1380D, with the D inserted in the records some time after they were first filed. However, the descriptions and photos are of the house now called 1380 Drift Road, but the photo is of 1380K. GM explained that the Schiffmans now own both 1380 and 1380K Drift Road, adjacent properties.
6. History. GM explained that she could find no evidence that 1380 had been owed by or associated with Paul Cuffee. Both properties come out of the Lemuel Sowle lands in 1801--1380 sold to Daniel Tripp and 1380K sold to Raiman Castino (a soldier with General Lafayette). 1380K was purchased by Humphrey Hitt from Castino in 1852, and the same Humphrey Hitt purchased 1380 from the Daniel Tripp family (date not certain—family sources say 1820’s ). Humphrey Hitt was a mariner who settled in Westport as a cobbler, and had 14 children.
7. Architecture. APB reported on her and David Hobart’s inspection. The house at 1380 has three parts – western-most buildiing, middle room, and a large new house/addition built in 1969. APB concluded that there is no way to date the western-most building. The structure appears to have been moved to its current location and was so reworked that there is little evidence of what could have been there earlier. The floor boards on the second floor appear to have come from elsewhere. The ceiling on the second floor is a hodgepodge and the whole upper layer of rafters was replaced. There is evidence of circular and band saw cutting of lumber. The chimney is of recent vintage. APB’s opinion is that the western-most building was something else, came from somewhere else and was moved to this site, at a date hard to determine.
8. The half cape at 1380K is another story. It is in good shape and has survived without major changes. There is documentation that 1380K was associated with the Cuffee family.
9. Conclusion. JL moved and APB seconded a motion to determine that 1380 Drift Road (only) is not a Preferably Preserved Significant Building, and that WHC inform the Building Inspector that he has WHC approval to proceed with his consideration of the demolition permit for 1380 Drift Road. The motion was approved.
Votes in Favor: APB, JL, GM
Votes Against: Norma Judson
Abstain: none
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 2:50 pm.
Drafted by Jane Loos, approved August 3, 2009
Attachments:
1. June 4, 2009 Letter from Fred and Gerri Schiffman, 1380 Drift Road, Westport
2. June 4, 2009 Letter from Sean Leach (SITEC) to Gerri Schiffman
3. June 4, 2009 Letter from Scott Weymouth, Schiffman architect, to WHC
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