1998-10-06 Historical Commission Minutes

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Reading Historical Commission Oct. 6, 1998 . Attending: Virginia Adams 1 A i(3: 5 2 Louise Sandberg Mark Cardono David O'Sullivan Clay Jones Wilbar Hoxie Roberta Sullivan 1. Meeting called to order 7:10 2. Frank Driscoll asked us who built the flagpole in Washington Park. It was dedicated to the Viet Nam Veterans, but is not dated. 3. The Town manager wants our input on the new Community development position. Virginia and David will meet with him. 4. The commission has submitted a letter to the Board of Selectmen concerning the old Police Station, suggesting that the town retain the original structure for some other use. 5. Correspondence: Mass Historical wrote us about property 20-22 Middlesex Ave. that wants to be on the National Register. Mass Board of Library Commissioners has offered us the chance to have our repository monitored. Louise will look into this. Mass Historical lists community's bylaws and ordinances relating to preservation. David and Virginia will review. Wilson/Pleasant Sts. corner lot. Walkers Brook historical site? no - 6. Public hearing called to order 7:33. 7. Notice read to public by secretary, Louise Sandberg. 8. Also attending Chris Nichols, of Stearns & Wheeler, and Ted McIntyre, from the DPW, plus members of the public. Chris Nichols submitted a packet of information and went through the material explaining the technical aspects of the tower. He also brought sections of the metal plates to show us the the pitting of the interior. DPW requested options to deal with the tower. The various options will be included with the minutes. The DPW feels it must be removed. The cost will be $20,000-50,000. 9. Virginia presented an historical overview of the structure. How safe is the structure? The town wants to take it down by the end of the year. 40 feet of water in it now to keep it from moving. It is not an immediate danger, but should be removed soon. The public and commission posed a number of questions. The public mostly supported demolition. 10. Public hearing closed 8:25. 5-0-0 11. Col. Hoxie suggested that due to the urgency of the situation the matter should be dealt with tonight. 12. Roberta moved that the Auburn St. Water tower be preferably preserved. Louise seconded. Discussion. Both David and Roberta felt that measured drawings would be desirable as documentation. The consultants do not feel that any of the tower can be saved. Ted McIntyre said that the existing plans will be made available to the commission. Virginia suggested that a delay of only a few weeks or a couple of months to allow alternatives. She also mentioned that the applicants did not provide