2009-11-10 West Street Historic District Commission Minutes

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Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 -2683 Phone: 781- 942 -6654 Fax: 781 - 942 =9071 Email: mschloth@ci.reading.ma.us West Street Historic District Commission WSHDC MINUTES Meeting Dated: No ember 10, 2009 Location: Berger Room, own ll II \ Lq-' T e: 7 0 PM Members Present: Richar Schub rt, i:hail(Stve ce Char Vi inia dams, Priscilla Poehler, and Everett Blod ett —� Associates Present: Ilene Bornstein, and Sharlene Reynolds Santos Also Present: Michael Schloth, Recording Secretary Mr. Schubert agreed to continue as temporary Chair but suggested now that the Commission has its full complement of members a formal election of officers should be held before the meeting adjourns. The Commission agreed. There being a quorum the Chair called the meeting to order. The Commission acknowledged its lack of institutional knowledge of its responsibilities, property- review procedures, and the District itself and proceeded to discuss how to change this situation. Mr. O'Shea said he had access to a member of Lexington's Historical Commission. Ms. Adams and Ms. Reynolds- Santos offered to look into compiling an inventory of structures in the District of historical or architectural significance. Mr. Blodgett informed the Commission that he was in possession of a card catalogue of Reading houses which was compiled by Ms. Miriam Barclay (deceased) of the Antiquarian Society. Ms. Adams and Mr. Blodgett presented a brief overview of an event they recently attended on the topic of writing legal decisions. A suggestion was made to schedule walking tours of the District. 215 West St The applicant was not present. The applicant proposes to replace shingles. Mr. Blodgett moved that as the proposed work constitutes ordinary maintenance, the Commission excludes it from review. Ms. Poehler seconded and the motion passed 5:0:0. The Commission directed the recording secretary to sign and issue a Certificate of Non- Applicability to the applicant. 266 West St The applicant was not present. In his application, the applicant proposed to replace a garage door on an historical structure (barn). Mr. O'Shea asked if he should recuse himself as he lives across from the applicant. The consensus of the Commission was that he should not have to as the Historic District By -Law itself states that the Commission should include at least one owner of property in the District. The Chair said he would ask the Town Manager to put the question to Town Counsel. Page 1 of 2