HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-28 Historical Commission MinutesA
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Historical Commission
Date: 2024-02-28
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Minutes
Time: 6:30 PM
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CLERK
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Location: Lower Level Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Virginia Adams (VA), Pamela Adrian (PA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB),
Samantha Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF),
Christine Keller (CK), and Sarah Brukllacchio participated by phone per the
Mullin rule.
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
HDC Members Ilene Bornstein (IB), Everett Blodgett (EB), and Ann Ward
(AW) participated by phone per the Mullin rule.
Jerry Lamb (JL)
William Finch (WF)
Topics of Discussion:
Submitted By: Christine Keller
PD called the joint meeting of the RHC and HDC to order at 6:34PM.
Joint Meeting with Historic District Commission (HOME 186 Summer Ave proposed
demolition of the back of the house and portion of the front porch. Property owner Jerry
Lamb was present at the meeting and presented document packet RHC -24-1 Application for
Demolition Delay Hearing. The application included draft architectural plans of the selective
demolition, a Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) Form B for the property known as
Kemp Place and a MHC Form 8 for the Barn, an Abutters List, photos, and the Assessors
Map of the property. Draft drawings of the renovation and addition provided a front corner
view and rear corner view of the property. The new addition will include a garage, kitchen,
living room, mudroom, and primary bedroom and bathroom.
The RHC requested an overview drawing of the footprint of the existing structure compared
with the new addition. The RHC and HDC reviewed the requirements for Public Hearings,
including posting notice of the hearing, informing abutters, and final, architectural drawings.
The plan is to hold a Public Hearing on March 20 at 7:OOPM at Town Hall. Abutters within
300' will be notified by mail, and the hearing notice will be published 14 days in advance.
Action item RHC: Review the 186 Summer Ave. Preservation Restriction Agreement, dated
October 26, 2017, prior to the hearing, with a focus on paragraphs 17, 20 and 21.
Page 1 1
PD a made motion to close the HDC meeting, ADF seconded, roll call 5-0 in favor to close
the meeting. AW, IB, EB and JL left the meeting.
172 Hiah Street Form B
VA and SB have reviewed the homeowner's draft Form B and made some edits. ADF will
invite the homeowner to the RHC meeting in May for a Public Hearing to accept the property
into the Historical and Architectural Inventory.
MBTA Communities Act - impact on historic structures
The RHC and HDC met with Andrew MacNichol (AMN) on February 21 to discuss this topic.
(Meeting minutes prepared by HDC). The tools available to protect historic homes in
Reading are PRA, Demolition Delay and Historic Districts. Working together with AMN, the
commissions can explore extending the Summer Ave. Historic District to encompass 17
houses on Woburn Street and extending the Demolition Delay from six to 18 months. ADF
will compile a Google album of properties lost, and we will prepare a presentation for Town
Meeting on the importance of maintaining the historic fabric of Reading.
Protectino Homes with Preservation Restriction Agreements
Homeowner WF joined the meeting to learn more about the PRA process. At present, five
properties in Reading have PRAs: 420 Franklin Street (Joseph Parker House), 409 Grove
Street (Foster Emerson House), 186 Summer Ave. (Father Kemp's Place), 32 Lincoln Street
(Boston & Maine RR Depot) and 320 Haverhill Street (Thomas Symonds House). Also of
note: Schoolhouse Condominiums 52 Sanborn and U.S. Post Office 136 Haven (Postmark)
MHC holds an historic covenant with restrictions.
Our archivist Robin Merrow (RM) will organize the files on these properties, known locally by
the original homeowner's name, to create a standard set of information on each.
WF owns a home on the historical inventory and would like to preserve the fenestration and
interior woodwork of the property. We discussed the PRA process and form that MHC
accepts.
Action item SC: Add PRA column to the Historical Inventory worksheet. SC will take the lead
with maintaining the Historical and Architectural Inventory worksheet to ensure
completeness.
Arts and Culture Action Plan - to be discussed at a future meeting.
409 Grove Street Renovations - nothing to report.
New homes on the Historic Inventory list - nothing to report.
RMHS Collaboration
ADF is the interlocutor to the RMHS History Department. She has updated the language of
the RMHS History Award and will work with RMHS's Mr. Fiore to evaluate writing samples
from the award nominees. The RHC award will be given on May 22, 2024, and will include a
copy of At Wood End and a $250 check to one individual.
Motion by CK to fund the $250 award from the General Operating Budget; seconded by SC;
roll call vote 5-0.
Update on Historical research into local homes - nothing to report.
Charter Review Committee - nothing to report.
Future Event Displays
PA has collected feedback from the group and will circulate an updated banner proposal for
review.
25 Haven Street - nothing to report.
Page 12
Duplicate Documents from the Archive
RM prepared summaries of Duplicate Documents in the Archive and from documents
donated by the family of Roberta Sullivan. The Sullivan documents included duplicates of
Archive documents, as well as other publications recommended for accessioning. SC
circulated the summaries by email on January 30, 2024, and February 11, 2024. RHC
member SB would like the duplicate bound copies of Reading Daily Times Chronicle. The
rest of the items will be deaccessioned from the Archive.
Motion to deaccession duplicate items listed in the emails noted above by SC; seconded by
CK; roll call vote 5 - 0.
Action item CK/RM: send a thank you letter to the Sullivan family for the items that RM
recommended for accessioning.
Discussion on the process for drafting and approving executive session minutes -
postponed.
Future Agenda topics
• Pleasant Street Center
• Communities Preservation Act
• How to Research Your Home (RPL and SB)
• RMLD calendar photos for 2025
Finance/Treasurer's Report - Nothing to report.
Review minutes from the January 18 meeting
Motion to accept 1/18/2024 minutes as amended made by CK, seconded by SC, and roll
vote 5-0 to accept.
Motion to adjourn at 9:18PM made by JEB, seconded by PD, and roll call 5-0
Next Meeting: March 13, 2024, Lower Level Conference Room