2006-04-12 Historical Commission Minutes

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Reading Historical Commission Minutes April 12, 2006 Attending: Lt. Col. Wilbar Hoxie Virginia Adams - Chairman Clay Jones _ Mark Cardono - Secretary Sharlene Reynolds Santo Kathy Greenfield Roberta Sullivan Call to order 7:39 pm Past Minutes Review: Review of the minutes from January 3, 2006. Sharlene moved that the Commission accept the minutes from January 3, 2006, as amended. Roberta seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0-0. Review of the minutes from January 17, 2006. Sharlene moved that the Commission accept the minutes from January 17, 2006, as amended. Roberta seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0-1. Review of the minutes from February 7, 2006. February 7, 2006 minutes tabled. Review of the minutes from February 21, 2006. Sharlene moved that the Commission accept the minutes from February 21, 2006, as amended. Roberta seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0-1. Review of the minutes from March 17, 2006. Roberta moved that the Commission accept the minutes from March 17, 2006, as amended. Wilbar seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0-0. Treasurer's Report: Paid $50 to Preservation On Mass Sharlene moved that the Commission will pay $80.11 for the legal notice of the Demolition Delay Public Hearing on 30-32 Elliott Street/100-102 Green Street and to reimburse Virginia $3.77 for photographs. Wilbar seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0-0. 420 Franklin Street: Received email from Fran Fink on the difference between the state and local position on wetlands. Virginia read an email she sent to and the response from the Building Inspector, Glen Redmond. The reply stated that additions can be put on old house as long as the addition is conforming. Virginia received a call from Shirley Day to see if she should come to this meeting. Virginia told her that she does not need to come, but she is welcome to come to it. Peter Reinhart of the Reading Engineering Department came up with an idea that may work to fit a second house on the property. It could be presented as an ANR (Approval Not Required) to put in front of CPDC. It needs to be drawn by an engineer. The Commission discussed possibilities. Clay suggested having old. home renovators look at the house to see what could be done with it. Virginia asked how get the preservation restrictions on the house. She added that The Commission should get preservation restrictions in exchange for our saving the house. The Commission discussed going to Shirley Day with a proposal. Clay suggested having a local appraiser, who knows historic houses, do an appraisal. He does appraisals on antique houses. The Commission came up with the following list to do to help save the house. 1. Bring the new plot to the Building Department and get it okayed. 2. Run this by Brad Latham and Shirley Day. 3. Run it by Karen and other realtors for a marketing analysis. 4. Ask the Town for engineering work on the plan. It may be possible to get Larry Sorli or others like Les Brown, David O'Sullivan, and Michael Steinitz, from Mass Historic. The Commission needs access to the house to have these people look at it. Shirley Day will probably allow access. Town common: Peter Hechenbleikner wants the sign approval done in next couple of weeks. Virginia asked if The Commission should write a letter to the Selectmen and/or Peter about The Commission's thoughts on the signs. Sharlene asked about where the signs would be located and if we could have a sketch showing it on the Common. The Commission agreed to recommend that they not consider the signs until the downtown is finished. Sharlene suggested writing a letter to suggest delaying the signs until the downtown is finished. Virginia handed out a synopsis of On Common Ground, a comprehensive book on New England Town Commons. Miscellaneous: Sharlene stated that a copy of the CD with the Inventory and Archives has been given to the Library. Town meeting starts April 24, 2006 and Demolition Delay Bylaw changes we will be in the second or third session. The Commission will need to have a preplanning session for Town Meeting. Friends and family day -10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on June 17. Virginia filled out the application. Membership - Wilbar and all associate members are up for reappointment this year. Mark handed in a CD of the video from 572 Haverhill Street. Roberta moved that The Commission notify Peter Hechenbleikner and the Selectman that a decision on the signs on the Common be delayed until the Downtown Revitalization is complete, so that a proper evaluation of the signage can be made. Only then can The Commission evaluate whether the signage meets the requirements of the "Guidelines for Evaluating Changes to the Common", adopted by the Selectmen in 1991. Sharlene seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0-C Next meeting April 18, 2006 Adjourned 9:52 PM RHC Minutes Rhc20060412doc Page 1 of 1