HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-11 Historical Commission Minutesora RECEIVED
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
5 s, Meeting Minutes RHAD4NG. MA.
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°'•' 2022 JUN 21 AN 9: 49
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission
Date: 2022-05-11 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:
Virginia Adams (VA); Jonathan Barnes (JEB); Samantha Couture, Chair
(SC); Pino D'Orazio (PD); Amelia Devin Freedman, Secretary (ADF);
Christine Keller (CK); Sharlene Reynolds Santo, Treasurer (SRS)
Members - Not Present:
Daniel Moresco (DM)
Others Present:
n/a
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amelia Devin Freedman
Topics of Discussion:
SC called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
Membership: SC reported that DM is unable to serve the rest of his term because of a sudden
increase in his professional responsibilities. SC will find out if there are any current applicants for
his place on the Commission. If there are not, she will encourage him to hold onto his place and
return when he is able.
VA, JEB, and PD have all applied for reappointment on July 1.
Rules and Regulations: Members discussed changes to JEB's 2.18.2022 revision. JEB will revise
accordingly. SC will schedule a public hearing for July.
Online Demolition Delay Process: Amanda Beatrice, Senior Administrative Assistant, distributed
a narrative description of the demolition delay process in advance of its (i.e., the process) being put
online. JEB suggested several revisions. SC will make the revisions and send the document to Ms.
Beatrice. SC will also ask Ms. Beatrice if her narrative description is meant to replace the existing
checklist. Members also discussed the need to keep online documents up to date.
Friends and Family Day: The event will be held on June 11, 10:30 AM -3 PM. VA said someone
needs to let the Lions Club know the RHC will participate; SC will follow up. VA will produce the
display and send a signup sheet for members' work slots.
Letter to Inventory Homeowners: Members discussed how often to send a letter to owners of
Inventory properties. The Commission decided to send the letter in the fall, and to include in it the
RHC's activities since last year's letter.
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CPDC Walnut Street Scenic Road Public Hearing The hearing is on May 16 at 7:30 PM. VA
and JEB will attend.
Track Renaming Advisory Committee: The Commission received a request from the School
Committee for a representative from the RHC to serve on this committee; CK volunteered. ADF
asked, in the name of thoroughness, that CK raise the issue of a background check on the nominee.
Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) History Award and Transcription Project: Because
of time constraints, the history department was unable to send full applications for the award for
RHC evaluation. The department chair did nominate a student to receive the award. The RHC
agreed to give the award to the nominee. ADF will print an award certificate and deliver it, along
with the award books, to RMHS in advance of the award ceremony.
VA and CK will bring a portion of the 64 DuPage County Historical Museum documents to RMHS
tomorrow for students to transcribe. They will also give a presentation to a group of Advanced
Placement students and their teacher, Caroline Allison.
Lafayette Market: Nothing to report. SC will follow up with Select Board.
24 Gould Street, 25 Haven Street, and 531 Main Street: Nothing to report. SC will follow up
with all owners.
16 Eaton Street: SC was contacted by a someone considering buying the house, which the owners
did not demolish although the demolition delay has been released.
186 Summer Avenue: SC and PD (in his capacity as chair of the Historic District Commission) met
with the Town Manager, Fidel Maltez, for an update on Town Hall efforts to preserve the property.
In die meantime, Mr. Mahez will direct Town Counsel, Ivria Fried, to communicate with Criterion
about the repairs that Criterion offered to make.
VA suggested nominating die property for inclusion on Preservation Massachusetts' "Most
Endangered Historic Resources" List. Nominations are due August 31. SC will ask Ms. Fried
whether she would advise against the RHC making the nomination.
Postmark Certificate of Merit and Brass Plaque: Nothing to report. SC will follow up with the
owners' lawyers, Latham and Latham.
ARPA Fonds: SC sent the RHC's funding requests to Mr. Maltez; she will follow up.
Town Archive: SC will bring the photo of the Memorial Park Work Day to be digitized this
weekend. Depending on the cost, she may also have a high-quality print made.
SRS will scan and index the obituary collection in the Archives. Then she will send the material to
Ms. Beatrice to be made available online.
Trust Fund: SC received an email from Julie Mercier, Community Development Director, about
interest on the =at fund. The email said the fund will receive no interest. Because this has not
been the use in the past, SRS will follow up.
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Finances: SC reported that Mr. Makez will make the RHC's usual $1500 budget available for FY
2022-2023, even though it was eliminated in the Town budget for next year.
SC suggested the RHC discuss how to spend its remaining FY 2021-2022 budget money,
approximately $1000, at next month's meeting.
SRS will pay the $50 Arts Reading membership fee and strange for ADF to be reimbursed for her
$21.99 purchase related to the RMHS Book Award; these transactions have already been approved
by the RHC.
Motion to approve up to $500 for the purchase of archival supplies
JEB motion, SRS second; vote: 5-0-0.
Motion to reimburse CK $7.99 for a flash drive used in RMHS transcription project
SRS motion, JEB second; vote 5-0-0.
New Business
2023 Reading Muni al Iight Department (_)tel Calendar: ADF has arranged to meet Jayne
D'Onofrio from RMLD at the Archives early next month, so Ms. D'Onofrio can choose
photographs for inclusion in the 2023 calendar.
RHC Presentation: CK suggested that it would be useful for the RHC to have a Power Point
slideshow, should members need to make a presentation about the Commission and its work. She
will draft one and send it to the Commission for feedback.
Memorial Puk Wall Repair. PD noted that $25,000 has been allocated in the state budget to repair
the stone wall at Memorial Park.
Senior Center: The Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, has been deemed inadequate to meet the needs
of the Town's senior residents. VA reminded the group that the building is on both the RHC's
Historical Inventory and the National Register. She said that the RHC should be prepared to weigh
in if it becomes vacant.
Minutes:
Motion to accept the minutes from 4.13.2022 as amended
JEB motion, SC second; vote 4-0-1 (PD).
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 6.8.2022 at 7:00 PM
Meeting$ for the rest of the vest will be as follows: July 13 (may be changed), August 10, September
14, October 12, November 9, and December 14.
Adjourn:
Motion. To adjourn.
SC motion, PD second; vote 5-0-0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.
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