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Home My WebLink About2024-06-12 Historical Commission Minutes F I I � TownofReading r< tGtIV = U � � Meeting Minutes ! �' 'P�N ^LERK i?� -� ,>; ;�. P;�A. r,'a�9'�MCOP>�P' Board - Committee - Commission - Council: '��"� '��-�� = �+M 7: t� 7 Historical Commission Date: 2024-06-12 Time: 6:30 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), Pamela Adrian (PA), Jonathan Barnes (]EB), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Samantha Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF) Others Present: Linda Snow Dockser David Detmold, Coordinator of ChangeTheMassFlag.com Mary Parr Albert Pless, Reading Director for Equity & Social Justice Robin Merrow (RM), Archivist Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: PD called the meeting to order at 6:32PM. VA was elevated to voting member for the meeting. 99 Pearl Street aaraoe demolition aoolication and discuss demolition quidelines and bvlaw lanauaae The homeowners applied for a Demolition Delay Hearing for the 1970 garage structure on the 1714 historic home's Form 8. PD met with Amanda 8eatrice (AB) and Bret Bennett (88) to discuss the application. Per BB, as the garage structure was going to be "removed and rebuilt" to the same footprint, and if the applicants apply as such, a demolition application is not required. On that basis, it was determined that a Demolition Delay Hearing was not required. PO will invite BB to a future meeting to review the Demolition Delay Bylaw and to discuss the nuances of partial vs. mmplete demolition. Town Seal and Land Acknowledgement diswssion Town Meeting has the authority to change the Town Seal. The public process begins with either an Instructional or Select Board approved Motion. Background: Linda Snow Dockser (LD) submitted two Instructional Motions to Town Meeting in April 2024, which she shared with RHG The first Motion asks the town to create a land acknowledgment to recognize original ownership of the town's land and to add this land acknowledgement wherever appropriate. The Land Acknowledgement Instructional Motion Page I 1 passed at Town Meeting. The second Instructional Mo[ion asks the town to consider changinq the Town Seal. The State has already passed a bill and created a commission to ' change the state seal because of its appearance of violence directed at the Indigenous figure on the seal. LD invited David Detmold (DD), Albert Pless (AP) and Mary Parr to join the RHC meeting to discuss the Town Seal. DD gave a history of the Massachusetts state flag and seal and noted tha[ the Town Seal had the identical crest of the state shield dating to 1780. The state flag was designed when ]ohn Hancock was Governor, and Nathaniel Cushing led the effort. The portrayal of Myles Standish holding a broadsword is offensive to [he Massachusett tribe, as their ancestors were ambushed and killed by this type of sword. The Change Mass Flag organization has worked with 90 communities in the state, and 82 of them have agreed to support the change of their town flag. Yarmouth has changed its flag and seal, as has the neighboring town of Mashpee. Senator Lewis made an amendment to fund educational programs about the flag and seal. The funds ($100K) could also be used to educate the public about the purpose of the land acknowledgement. VA provided history of the Reading Town Seal from At Wood End. The Town Seal was adopted in 1890 and portrays Lob's Pound Mill surrounded by pine boughs representing the Third Parish's historic name of"Wood End", as well as the arm and sword from the state sea I. AP introduced himself to the group and shared his previous ezperience with chanqing the Town Seal in Andover. In Andover, the community was surveyed about the seal, and the process was completely transparent. VA read from Lilley Eaton's Genealoaical History of Readino the history of the native people in the area negotiating the land transfer to the Colonists. LD's goal is to bring the Land Acknowledgement to committees and departments in town. AP will ask his professional peers what they have done in their towns, e.g., Arlington, Medford, and Andover. The authori[y to adopt the Land Acknowledgement lies with the Select Board, as Winchester has done. The Salem City Council also adopted a Land Acknowledgement. DD asked LSD if the town had contacted someone from the Massachuset tribe to review the Land Acknowledgement. The group recalled that Thomas Greene of the Massachusett tribe had worked with RPL on their Land Acknowledgement. LD, DD, MP, and AP left the meetinq at 7:45PM. Town Archive visit and review The commissioners met with RM in the Archive. The group was impressed with RM's efforts to organize the collection. RM provided an overview of the collection and asked the commissioners about the archiving of several items. Arts Readino dues RHC is a member of Arts Reading, and the $50 annual dues invoice must be paid. PD made a motion to approve $50 for FY25 to pay the dues, SC seconded, vote 5 - 0. Memorial Park installations - nothing to report. RMHS &Austin Preo Collaboration Grace 8rown received the RHC award at RMHS graduation. SC suggested that someone from the RHC present the award in person next year. vage I � Uodate on historical research into homes SB is working with VA on nine Form Bs, which will be presented to the RHC at the July meeting. Demolition Delav aoolication orocess IBriefly discussed some of the proposed revisions and deferred full review to a future , meeting. Demolition Delay extension discussion To increase the demolition delay from six months to twelve or eighteen, community outreach and a presentation to Town Meeting would be required. VA suggested a mailing to Town Meeting members and promoting the extension in the RHC Street Faire display. SC will create a presentation from ADF's demolition delay research and photos of lost historic structures. The RHC would like to present to Town Meeting in November. RHC email resoonse system . Schoolhouse Condominiums/52 Sanborn Street. There was a question about enlarging a¢ess doors to a generator enclosure, which is not covered by the deed restriction. . Sawtelle House/320 Haverhill Street. There was a question about a new side door and mmpliance with the deed restriction. JEB will invite the director of Sawtelle House to our July meeting. Garden Qub Plant Sale recao SB will follow up with the inquiries from the display. Everyone agreed that the toy bulldozer and demolition delay theme attracted visitors to the display. Future event disolays The next event will be the Street Faire. Membershio and officer oositions - nothing to report. Finance/Treasurer's reoort Based on the May 31, 2024, reports: $84.40 balance in Historical Commission FY24 Generel Fund. $48,309J2 balance in Historical Commission Trust Fund, including $2,030.14 in Giks & Donations. JEB reviewed details in the monthly budget reports and noted that RHC was erroneously charged for the Reading Antiquarian Society Revolutionary War Markers ($1,133.33). He will work with Lisa O'Brien to correct the charge. The RHC requested $1,500 from the Select Board for FV25 budget. Future aaenda items . Sawtelle House . Community Preservation Act - CPA funds and project ideas . Scenic Road designation for Pearl Street (refer to Scenic Road Regulations Sec. 3 � Community Planning and Development Commission) • School Commi[[ee Facility Naming Committee . Archive Review minutes from the May meetina )EB made a motion to accept the minutes as amended, seconded by PD, vote 5 - 0. PD made a motion to adjourn at 9:33PM, seconded by SC, vote 5 - 0. Next Meeting: ]uly 15, 2024, 6:30PM, 7own Hall - Conference Room. Pa9e � 3