1996-12-03 Historical Commission Minutes

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Minutes Reading Historical Commission December 3, 1996 The meeting was convened at 7:45 p.m. Regular Members present: Virginia Adams, Ed Palmer, David O'Sullivan, Roberta. Sullivan Associate members present: Colonel Wilbur Hoxie, Gladys Montgomery Jones, Louise Sandburg, Alan Ulrich Minutes for the October 8 meeting were approved and accepted 4-0-0. Treasurer's Report: Roberta Sullivan gave the report. Current balance of $350. Received check for $174 from Boston Corporation for archival photographs that were reproduced for Longwood Place; rather than being placed in the Celebration Trust account, the Town Treasurer said this donation could be placed directly in the revolving Celebration Account of the Historical Commission. The Commission received an invoice in the amount of $236.66 for archival materials for the Bishop Collection and approved an additional expenditure of $200 to be taken from the revolving Celebration Account. The November balance was $656. David O'Sullivan noted that receipts for expended Celebration Trust funds had to be forwarded to the Celebrations Committee. Jon Edwards put the Commission in for $750 in the Town's 1997 budget and will try to get the Commission another computer from the technology budget. David noted that only regular voting members can be reimbursed for expenses. David and Alan both have printers they can donate to the Commission. The letter drafted by Gladys re: the MHC survey and planning grant will be sent by David. The Commission agreed to request Historic Preservation/350th Celebration Trust funding for two projects: the continuation of production of prints from MF Charles glass plate negatives ($600 for 50 photos) and the computerization/input of Inventory information and field notes ($500). Gladys will write the grant requests. Roberta reported that she, Virginia and Louise were putting in 2.5 hours on Monday mornings to organize the Bishop collection. The Commission discussed the upcoming December 17 meeting to place properties on the Inventory. The letter to homeowners drafted by Gladys went out. Roberta and Virginia are completing the briefing packet to go to Commission members. Gladys offered to take minutes so John could pay attention. Virginia passed out design review material from the conference she, Roberta and Louise attended. Gladys proposed that the Preservation Week program, tentatively slated to focus on Eleanor Bishop and her contribution to Reading's understanding of its history, also include a panel for homeowners on how to do documentary and physical research on your house, using Bishop's work as an example. The next meeting is scheduled for December 17. The meeting adjourned at 9:45.