Westport Historical Commission Final Minutes, December 7, 2009
Present
Member: Sharon Connors, Janet Jones, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Bette DeVeuve, Chris Vezetinski
Absent
Member: Jim Collins, one vacancy
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker
Chair Sharon Connors (SC) called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall basement meeting area. SC named Alternates Betty DeVeuve (BDV) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) as voting members, for a total of seven votes. Others in attendance included:
David Hobart 711 Drift Road, Westport
Yvonne Barr 7A Windward Way, WPT
Betty Slade & David Cole 2037 Main Road, WPT
A. General Business.
1. Minutes of November 4, 2009 Meeting. Jane Loos (JL) explained that a draft was circulated by email. Geraldine Millham (GM) noted several corrections to the wording of the discussion re 2 Carter’s Way. GM moved and Janet Jones (JJ) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as revised. The motion was approved, unanimously with SC abstaining, as she had not attended that meeting.
2. Treasurer’s Report. GM presented the Treasurer’s Report as of 11/24/09
(See Attachment 1):
(a) WHC expense account had a balance of $940, but was reduced at the Special Town Meeting by $200. Revenue to date is $300.
(b) WHC Trust Account balance is $8,340.69. Wolf Pit School Trust balance is $6,326.74.
(c) Town Farm expense account had a balance of $2,816, but was reduced at the forthcoming Special Town Meeting by $500. The Town Farm Trust Account balance is $11,065.19. GM explained that the Town continues to have maintenance and upkeep responsibilities for the parts of the Town Farm buildings and facilities that have not been leased to the Trustees. GM is currently overseeing investigations of a possible septic line leak related to the north apartment.
CV moved, and JL seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The vote in favor was unanimous.
(a) Supplies. The meeting authorized the Clerk, Betty Slade (BS) to purchase another batch of envelopes, stamped and peel/seal.
(b) BS informed that the new 2010 calendar was distributed via email.
(c) SC noted a number of corrections/additions for the monitors list (Attachment 2).
(d) SC noted that two Certificates of Non-Applicability had been issued for roof reshingling for 1966 Main Road and 2004 Main Road. SC explained that GM and JL had signed off on these Certificates, as WHC does not have oversight of roof materials, but a Certificate is needed in order for the owners to obtain the necessary building permits.
(e) SC requested that, at the next inspection of the Handy House, GM arrange to have photos taken of the interior to document the existing conditions.
(f) SC informed that the owners of 1998 Main Road requested a Certificate of Non-Applicability for some changes to previously approved plans. The meeting determined that the nature of the proposed work requires a public hearing. Given the minimum 17 day lead time for a public hearing, the meeting noted that such a hearing would land in the middle of the holidays, and therefore agreed to take up this matter at the next regularly scheduled WHC meeting on January 4, 2010.
(g) The January 4, 2010 meeting will also include a discussion of WHC’s role in helping implement the Town’s Master Plan concerning development of central village.
B. Public Hearing for 2 Carter’s Way, 7:30 PM
1. David Hobart, contractor, represented the owners and presented plans to expand the first floor south deck. The plans were revised following the preliminary review in November. Mr. Hobart requested WHC to approve two options for the rail/bench along the west and east sides – one with the rail/bench and one without them. Their preferred option is without the rail/bench, which would be possible if the new grading results in a change of elevation of less than 30 inches -- a matter to be worked out with the Building Inspector
2. Two abutters noted their support of the proposed work.
3. JL moved and BDV seconded a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the enlarged south deck with two options for the rail/bench. The motion was approved unanimously. SC named JL and Janet Jones as monitors.
A. General Business, continued
4. Extension of Building Permit for 1813-1815 Main Road. The Building Inspector informed the owner that the Building Inspector could not act on the request for extension until the owner complied with the requirement for an engineer’s report on the new foundation under the corncrib. The Building Inspector received a report, and extended the building permit to December 2010. The Building Inspector also instructed the owner to backfill around the foundation before frost.
5. The Building Inspector determined that the foundation is 3 inches higher than approved (the original height) and requested WHC input on how to proceed. The sense of the meeting was to present the owner with two options ---(a) cut foundation down by 3 inches or (b) shingle down over the foundation so that the lowest course of shingles would be the same elevation from the ground as the original.
6. The meeting noted with concern the shredded protective tarps, and the likely damage from rain, snow and wind penetration. SC informed that she had discussed this matter with Town Counsel and the Building Inspector and they advised pursuing the matter as a code enforcement issue.
7. Monitor’s Reports.
(a) 21 Cape Bial Lane. GM and CV reported that, while the new cottage appeared much larger and higher out of the ground than in the approved drawings, it is built according to the approved plans. They reported that the architect admitted that the elevations probably did not fully take into account the slope of the land, but once the foundation is back-filled, the appearance will be softened.
(b) 1991 Main Road. JL reported that the gutter work is satisfactorily completed.
8. Storm Water. David Cole informed about a new effort to monitor the quality of water that rushes down Main Road at the Point, and into the river. The tests will help determine if the storm water poses pollution issues for the river, and if remedial steps should be taken. He noted that some properties at the Point direct their downspouts to dispatch water directly onto the road rather than into the yards where it could be better absorbed. There appear to be some sump-pumps also dumping their water onto the road. Mr. Cole suggested that WHC keep the desirability of pointing downspouts and outfalls into the yards (and not the road) when reviewing plans that include downspouts and other outfalls.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 pm. The next meeting will be at 7pm, Monday, January 4, 2010 at the Town Hall.
Drafted by Jane Loos, approved January 4, 2010
Attachments:
1. Treasurer’s Report
2. Monitors List
Member: Sharon Connors, Janet Jones, Norma Judson, Jane Loos, Geraldine Millham
Alternate: Bette DeVeuve, Chris Vezetinski
Absent
Member: Jim Collins, one vacancy
Alternate: Anne (Pete) Baker
Chair Sharon Connors (SC) called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall basement meeting area. SC named Alternates Betty DeVeuve (BDV) and Christine Vezetinski (CV) as voting members, for a total of seven votes. Others in attendance included:
David Hobart 711 Drift Road, Westport
Yvonne Barr 7A Windward Way, WPT
Betty Slade & David Cole 2037 Main Road, WPT
A. General Business.
1. Minutes of November 4, 2009 Meeting. Jane Loos (JL) explained that a draft was circulated by email. Geraldine Millham (GM) noted several corrections to the wording of the discussion re 2 Carter’s Way. GM moved and Janet Jones (JJ) seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes as revised. The motion was approved, unanimously with SC abstaining, as she had not attended that meeting.
2. Treasurer’s Report. GM presented the Treasurer’s Report as of 11/24/09
(See Attachment 1):
(a) WHC expense account had a balance of $940, but was reduced at the Special Town Meeting by $200. Revenue to date is $300.
(b) WHC Trust Account balance is $8,340.69. Wolf Pit School Trust balance is $6,326.74.
(c) Town Farm expense account had a balance of $2,816, but was reduced at the forthcoming Special Town Meeting by $500. The Town Farm Trust Account balance is $11,065.19. GM explained that the Town continues to have maintenance and upkeep responsibilities for the parts of the Town Farm buildings and facilities that have not been leased to the Trustees. GM is currently overseeing investigations of a possible septic line leak related to the north apartment.
CV moved, and JL seconded a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. The vote in favor was unanimous.
3. Administrative Matters.
(a) Supplies. The meeting authorized the Clerk, Betty Slade (BS) to purchase another batch of envelopes, stamped and peel/seal.
(b) BS informed that the new 2010 calendar was distributed via email.
(c) SC noted a number of corrections/additions for the monitors list (Attachment 2).
(d) SC noted that two Certificates of Non-Applicability had been issued for roof reshingling for 1966 Main Road and 2004 Main Road. SC explained that GM and JL had signed off on these Certificates, as WHC does not have oversight of roof materials, but a Certificate is needed in order for the owners to obtain the necessary building permits.
(e) SC requested that, at the next inspection of the Handy House, GM arrange to have photos taken of the interior to document the existing conditions.
(f) SC informed that the owners of 1998 Main Road requested a Certificate of Non-Applicability for some changes to previously approved plans. The meeting determined that the nature of the proposed work requires a public hearing. Given the minimum 17 day lead time for a public hearing, the meeting noted that such a hearing would land in the middle of the holidays, and therefore agreed to take up this matter at the next regularly scheduled WHC meeting on January 4, 2010.
(g) The January 4, 2010 meeting will also include a discussion of WHC’s role in helping implement the Town’s Master Plan concerning development of central village.
B. Public Hearing for 2 Carter’s Way, 7:30 PM
1. David Hobart, contractor, represented the owners and presented plans to expand the first floor south deck. The plans were revised following the preliminary review in November. Mr. Hobart requested WHC to approve two options for the rail/bench along the west and east sides – one with the rail/bench and one without them. Their preferred option is without the rail/bench, which would be possible if the new grading results in a change of elevation of less than 30 inches -- a matter to be worked out with the Building Inspector
2. Two abutters noted their support of the proposed work.
3. JL moved and BDV seconded a motion to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the enlarged south deck with two options for the rail/bench. The motion was approved unanimously. SC named JL and Janet Jones as monitors.
A. General Business, continued
4. Extension of Building Permit for 1813-1815 Main Road. The Building Inspector informed the owner that the Building Inspector could not act on the request for extension until the owner complied with the requirement for an engineer’s report on the new foundation under the corncrib. The Building Inspector received a report, and extended the building permit to December 2010. The Building Inspector also instructed the owner to backfill around the foundation before frost.
5. The Building Inspector determined that the foundation is 3 inches higher than approved (the original height) and requested WHC input on how to proceed. The sense of the meeting was to present the owner with two options ---(a) cut foundation down by 3 inches or (b) shingle down over the foundation so that the lowest course of shingles would be the same elevation from the ground as the original.
6. The meeting noted with concern the shredded protective tarps, and the likely damage from rain, snow and wind penetration. SC informed that she had discussed this matter with Town Counsel and the Building Inspector and they advised pursuing the matter as a code enforcement issue.
7. Monitor’s Reports.
(a) 21 Cape Bial Lane. GM and CV reported that, while the new cottage appeared much larger and higher out of the ground than in the approved drawings, it is built according to the approved plans. They reported that the architect admitted that the elevations probably did not fully take into account the slope of the land, but once the foundation is back-filled, the appearance will be softened.
(b) 1991 Main Road. JL reported that the gutter work is satisfactorily completed.
8. Storm Water. David Cole informed about a new effort to monitor the quality of water that rushes down Main Road at the Point, and into the river. The tests will help determine if the storm water poses pollution issues for the river, and if remedial steps should be taken. He noted that some properties at the Point direct their downspouts to dispatch water directly onto the road rather than into the yards where it could be better absorbed. There appear to be some sump-pumps also dumping their water onto the road. Mr. Cole suggested that WHC keep the desirability of pointing downspouts and outfalls into the yards (and not the road) when reviewing plans that include downspouts and other outfalls.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 pm. The next meeting will be at 7pm, Monday, January 4, 2010 at the Town Hall.
Drafted by Jane Loos, approved January 4, 2010
Attachments:
1. Treasurer’s Report
2. Monitors List
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