HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-12 Historical Commission Minutes o�N or quo
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission 31H NOY -7 PM 44
Date: 2018-09-12 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Jonathan Barnes (JEB) - Chair
lack Williams (JW) - Treasurer
Sharlene Reynolds Santo (SRS) - Member
Ron Weston (RW) - Member
Virginia Adams (VA) - Associate Member
Amelia Freedmann (AF) - Associate Member
Pino D'Orazio (PO) - Associate Member
Members - Not Present:
Samantha Couture
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Sharlene Reynolds Santo
Topics of Discussion:
Called to Order at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room.
• Pending Demolitions
o 79-81 Salem St - Complete application has been received. Discussed dates for
the hearing 9/24 or 26. SRS will prepare the legal notice and forward to JEB to
complete with accepted date after speaking with applicant.
0 119 Salem St - Nothing new structure remains standing.
• If this House Could Talk - Sarah Brukllaccio had communicated with JEB about this
event. A Flyer publicizing the ITHCi event was to be available at the Reading Street
Faire, and Sarah asked about RHC members participating to assist residents wanting to
research their homes' history. Group discussed participating, and some members
agreed, to the extent available at the time. Options discussed Included using the RHC's
pamphlet"Researching the Age of your Home"and other historic research methods at the
archives. JEB to follow up and Inform Sarah that some members may be available to
participate.
• WWI Project - VA presented some research and display items she has gathered
regarding Reading residents Involved with WWI much of the information came from the
Reading Daily Chronicle and other sources.
• Finances - No new expenses
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• New Business
o RHC Documents - Discussed document storage. JEB recommended that all
documents be sent to the RHC electronically. Discussed how best to keep the
electronic and other information organized in the archives.
0 186 Summer Ave - JEB researched what was going on with the property. HDC
certificate Is only good for 2 years and will expire In November of this year.
Amelia mentioned that Everett Blodgett heard that the owner may be asking to
extend the time limit. There is concern that the structure may be deteriorating
during this period of neglect. Discussed whether we should ask to Inspect the
property as agreed on per the provisions of the Historic Preservation Restriction
Agreement. This should be discussed with the HDC.
c Demolition by Neglect - Following the discussion about 186 Summer Ave„ and
where Reading lacks a specific demolition by neglect bylaw, discussed further
possible consideration of this topic In the near future.
o Membership - JEB checked with Town Clerk about having another Associate
member. Town Clerk feels this requires increasing the regular membership of
RHC as permitted by law, and It must go thru the Select Board if the RHC wishes
to pursue this option.
o CPDC - has been considering additional specific Design Guidelines applicable to
areas within the DSGD adjacent to residential "neighborhoods", and will be
discussing at their next meeting scheduled for 9/17.
o Inquiry - John Watson is cleaning out his father's home and has many town
reports available. The archives already has multiple copies and no member
needed them. Will contact the Antiquarian Society to see If they could use any.
o Reading Arts - VA spoke about using maps to display for the October 13`^ event.
• Minutes - Reviewed minutes from 8/15/18. SRS moved to accept the minutes as
amended. RW seconded. Vote 5-0.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.
• Next Meeting will be held on October 3, 2018 at 7 pm.
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