HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-07 Historical Commission MinutesN rR
Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission July 07, 2015
Date: 2015 -07 -07 Time:
Building: Reading Town Hall Locatio
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Regularly scheduled meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair: Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS)
Treasurer: Sally Hilgendorff (SH)
Secretary: Carl Mittnight (CM)
Virginia Adams (VA)
Jonathan Barnes (JEB)
Ron Weston (RW)
Members - Not Present:
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TOWN CLERK
READING, MASS.
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7:30 PM
n: Town Hall Conference Room
Others Present:
David P Johnson (DPI), Contractor
Jack Williams (JW)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Carl Mittnight
Topics of Discussion:
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July 07, 2015 Meeting
Call to Order
July 07, 2015 at 7:30 pm.
7
Minutes
Reviewed meeting minutes; Approved as amended for
File with clerk
CM
meeting held on 06/16/2015.
Budget
No update.
Archives
No update.
Membership
The Massachusetts Attorney General has not approved the
Update
Reading Bylaw changes, including the new language for
Associate Members of Committees and Commissions.
Therefore, VA has not been sworn in yet as an Associate
Member. Additionally, JEB was sworn in as a Full Member.
186 Summer
VA reported that the applicants have asked for an extension
Ave.
on their application for a certificate of hardship from the
Reading Local Historical Commission. There is no
information on the length of the extension requested.
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July 07, 2015 Meeting
116 Lowell St.
VA attended a site visit with Glen Redmond (GR) to consider
whether the property is eligible to convert to two- family per
the Zoning Bylaw. The RHC has been working with the
owner to further an option to save the historic structure. If it
is eligible for conversion to two- family, the owner expressed
willingness to work with RHC to seek Town approval to save
and move the historic structure on -site, and to construct a
two- family condominium on a second buildable lot on the site.
By right, if a Reading single - family house has eight rooms as
of 1942, it may convert the house to a two family residence.
If this historic house meets these criteria, it may help to save
the historic structure.
The RHC thanked DPJ for working with the RHC to save the
house at 116 Lowell St.
Review
No one had an issue with the hearing process, as it has
Demolition
worked well for the last several Demolition Delay Hearings.
Delay
CM will get the most up to date procedures for
Process
owner /applicant and staff from Jessie Wilson in the
Community Planning Department.
25 Linden St.
Because of lead paint, the state has directed the owners to
Gazebo
demolish this historic structure. The owners are going to
court because they want to keep the gazebo.
309 Haven St.
An Application for Demolition could be submitted requiring
the RHC to conduct a Demolition Delay Hearing.
MF Charles
The proof for the cast bronze award plaque was reviewed by
Building
the RHC and approved by consensus.
Award Plaque
Rules and
The as yet implemented RHC Rules and Regulations will be
Regulations
pared down to only include rules that are an extension of the
Demolition Delay Bylaw
RHC Officers
The RHC elected new officers as follows:
• Chair: CM
• Treasurer: JEB
• Secretary: SRS
SRS motioned /nominated the new slate of officers, SH
seconded, and by a vote of 5 to 0, the new slate was elected.
Potential
Jack Williams (JW) visited the meeting asking about
Member
becoming an Associate Member. He comes well qualified as
a former architect and college professor. He will apply for the
RHC p osition the day following this meeting.
Adjourned
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Next Meeting
August 25, 2015 at 7:30 pm
All
Copies of referenced correspondence and documents are kept in Meeting Minutes binder and relevant project
folders located in the Reading Historical Commission Archives, lower level of the Reading Town Hall.
Preservation only works when we remember it is all about: People — Planning — Partnerships — Politics.
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