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Town of Reading <br />0 Meeting Minutes <br />Board - Committee - Commission - council: <br />Historical Commission <br />Date: 2021-09-01 Time: 7:00 PM <br />Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room <br />Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session <br />Purpose: General Business Version: Final <br />Attendees: Members - Present: <br />Virginia Adams, Associate (VA) <br />Jonathan Barnes, Member (JEB) <br />Samantha Couture, Chair (SC) <br />Amelia Devin Freedman, Secretary (ADF) <br />Christine Keller, Associate (CK) <br />Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Treasurer (SRS) <br />Members - Not Present: <br />Pino D'Orazio, Member <br />Others Present: <br />Lois Garneau, abutter of 40 Grove Street (LG) <br />Brian Kelly, abutter of 40 Grove Street (BK) <br />Michael Santullo, owner of 40 Grove Street (MS) <br />Scott Simpson, abutter of 40 Grove Street (SS) <br />Corrin Wolf, abutter of 40 Grove Street (CW) <br />Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amelia Devin Freedman <br />Topics of Discussion <br />RECEIVED <br />TOWN CLERK <br />READING, MA. <br />2921 OCT 14 PH 4: 09 <br />SC called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. She made VA a voting member for the evening. <br />40 Grove Street: SC opened the demolition delay hearing. She read the architectural and historical <br />descriptions from the Form B. <br />The owner, NIS, described the project. The lot has been subdivided and he is already building one <br />new house on it. I le seeks to demolish the historic structure and erect a second new house in its <br />place. <br />SRS asked why MS did not plan to rehabilitate the house. MS is said that the house has serious <br />structural problems, including the following: a crumbling foundation; an improperly supported roof; <br />a bulging exterior wall. JEB asked if MS had engaged a structural engineer to assess the condition of <br />the house before deciding to demolish it. MS said no. JEB said he would like to sec a professionat <br />report rather than rely solely on the owners own assessment. <br />JEB told MS that the Commission's charge is to do everything possible to preserve the historic <br />home. JEB asked MS if he would be amenable to the RITC seeking another buyer for the historic <br />home who would rehabilitate it instead of demolishing it; MS said yes. SEB said the RHC could <br />advertise the house, as the Commission did with 24 Grove Street, VA suggested MS might sell the <br />Page 1 1 <br />