HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-08 Historical Commission MinutesP kECEIVED
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
.. 'I Meeting Minutes READING, MA.
2" 2622 JUL 25
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission
Date: 2022-06-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Samantha Couture, Chair (SC); Pino D'Orazio (PD); Amelia Devin
Freedman, Secretary (ADF); Christine Keller (CK); Sharlene Reynolds Santo,
Treasurer (SRS)
Members - Not Present:
Virginia Adams ( VA); Jonathan Barnes (JEB); Daniel Moresco (DM)
Others Present:
Jocelyn Gould (JG); Fidel Maltez (FM)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amelia Devin Freedman
Topics of Discussion:
SC called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. She made CK a voting member for the evening.
Meeting with the new Reading Public Library (RPL) History Librarian, Jocelyn Gould: JG
introduced herself to the Commission. She then reported on her planned projects, which include
the following: to reorganize the local history room; to produce an inventory of the room's materials
and to make it available on the RPL website; to run new adult programming in the fall.
Because the Town Archives is physically small, SC asked whether the Commission could host
researchers of its archival material at the RPL's local history room; JG said yes.
Meeting with the New Town Manager, Fidel Maltez: FM introduced himself to the
Commission. SC gave hum a copy of At If/oodEnd as a welcome gift. FM desctibed his plans to
modemize Town Hall, as follows: to host travelling m exhibits after they leave the RPL; to install
digital billboards for announcements and wayfinding. FM also said he would like to try to pass the
Community Preservation Act, which would provide matching state funding for, among other things,
historical preservation; he helped get the Act passed when he worked for the city of Chelsea. In
Reading, he noted, the Act passed at Town Meeting but lost narrowly (49% to 51%) in a Town -wide
election in 2002.
SC observed that Town Hall sometimes does not notify the Commission about matters which are
relevant to its work. She pointed to two recent communication failures. In the firsS the
Commission was not made aware that applicants were being interviewed to fill vacancies for FY
2022-23. In the second, the Commission was not notified that 25 Haven Street, which is on the
Historical Inventory, was scheduled to come before another Town board, namely the Community
Planning and Development Commission (CPDC). She asked FM if he could ensure the
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Commission will be notified about such matters in the future. FM said he would ask julie Mercier,
Town Development Director, to keep the RHC informed.
186 Summer Avenue: FM reported that Criterion told Town Counsel, Ivria Freed, that they had
completed the basic repairs they offered to make. He also said the property will be appraised next
week, and that he would keep the RHC and the Historic District Commission updated.
Friends and Family Day: Because VA is ill and unable to produce the planned display, the
Commission will withdraw from the event.
Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) Transcription Project: CK described the visit she
and VA made to an Advanced Placement history class. She said she thought the visit went well, and
that Caroline Allison, the teacher, would like to make it an annual event.
Archives: FM will make copies of the key to the Archives for all members, who can pick them up in
his office.
SC presented the Commission's funding requests to the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)
Advisory Committee, using the PowerPoint slide show that CK wrote. CK will save a copy at the
Archives for future use.
CPDC Walnut Street Scenic Road Public Hearing -.The Commission tabled the topic until July,
when JEB will be able to discuss his attendance at the public hearing in June.
Lafayette Marker, 24 Gould Street, 531 Main Street, Postmark Certificate of Merit and Brass
Plaque: Nothing to report
25 Haven Street Ms. Mercier informed SC that the project team for this property will present at
the CPDC on June 13. SC asked members to look through the plans which Ms. Mercier forwarded
and to send her their feedback by the end of the week. SC will send a summary email to the CPDC
and / or attend the hearing.
Finances: SRS will follow up with Ms. Mercier about the question of whether the =at fund is
earning interest.
SRS said that approximately $1400 of this year's budget remains unspent.
Morton: To spend up m;500 on promotional materials and hard copies of the Historic
Inventory.
SC motion, SRS second; vote 5-0-0.
New Business:
Utility Box Vinyl Wrap An Project: SC has had the photo for the Memorial Park box scanned.
RMLD (Reading Municipal Light Department Calendar): ADF met Jayne D'Onoftio from JC
Marketing Associates at the Archives, so that Ms. D'Onoftio could choose historic photos for next
year's RMLD calendar.
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Obituary Project: SRS plans an Excel file with links to photos of the obituaries. She will talk to
Amanda Beatrice, Senior Administrative Assistant, about uploading the project to the Commission's
website.
Website jpd=; SC asked members to look at the updated website and to contact her with any
suggestions.
11 Oak Street: The owners have inquired about whether a demolition delay hearing is necessary if
they plan a partial demolition only. SC will follow up and ask them to attend a future RHC meeting.
71 Franklin Street The property, which is on the Historic Inventory, will be put on the market soon.
The listing agent, Rick Nazzaro, has asked if the Commission would like a tout. SC will follow up.
1243 Main Street: The owners have asked what the procedure is for removing their home from the
Historic Inventory. SC will follow up.
Minutes:
Motion: to accept the minutes from 5.11.2022 as amended
SC motion, PD second; vote 5-0-0.
Next Meeting, Wednesday, 7.20.2022 at 7:00 PM
Meetines for the rest of the veaz will be as follows: 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 9:06 PM.
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