HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-15 Historical Commission Minutes �� i q �
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: , �� '
Historical Commission
Date: 2024-07-15 Time: 6:30 PM
Buildinq: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Virginia Adams (VA), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia
Devin Freedman (ADF), Chris[ine Keller (CK), and Jonathan Barnes (JEB)
participated by phone per the Mullin Rule.
Members - Not Present:
Pamela Adrian (PA) and Samantha Couture (SC)
Others Present:
Henry St. Hilaire, Construction Project Manager, Beth Israel Lahey Health
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.
Sawtelle Family Hosoice House (320 Haverhill StreeU
Henry St. Hilaire (HSH) presented a request to replace an ezterior door on the circa 1850
addition to the main house, which is protected by a deed preservation restriction agreement
(PRA). The PRA covers "wood features" of the property, and the current door is wood. The
door has two planks on the interior "butted up" to exterior four panel door with potentially
antique hardware (doorknob, hinges, and door knocker). The door is a custom size (2S" x
75"), and daylight spills through the door on three sides. Moreover, the door is exceedingly
diffi[ult to operate.
The commission had no issue about the door being replaced with a wood door, but there
was discussion about the historic nature of the hardware and possibility of storing the
original door for future generations. HSH will submit a design to RHC with details about the
custom door and hardware for review at our August meeting.
Membership and officer positions - discussion postponed to August meeting
Discussion on demolition auidelines and bvlaw lanouaqe
Bret Bennett will be invited to our August meeting.
Town seal and land acknowledaement discussion
The RHC preference is to be an advisor regarding the historic symbols in the Town seal and
will wait to see how the Commonwealth modifies the state seal.
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Pearl Street as a Scenic Road
VA has proposed that Pearl Street be designated a scenic road, as Mill Street and South
Street have been. The town adopted Scenic Road regulations in 1983 (Section 8.2 Town of
Reading General Bylaw), which includes historic stone walls and trees. Eleven structures
listed on the Historical and Architectural Inventory are located on Pearl Street. The RHC will ��
undertake the project of presenting Pearl Street as a Scenic Road to Town Meeting in Spring
2025.
409 Grove Street update
PD will contact the homeowners for a renovation status and "before" and "after` photos.
School Committee's Athletic Facilitv Namina Advisory Committee
CK will represent the RHC on this committee which will review and gather feedback on two
requests to name a portion of the athletic complex and Turf 2 after long-time coaches.
Catalog software
The CatalogIt sokware licenses are due for renewal. PD made a motion to approve up to
$450 to renew CatalogIt licenses; JEB seconded; Vote 5 - 0.
Donations from Donna Sullivan
Donna Sullivan donated printed materials, a copy of Town and City Seals of Massachusetts,
and photographs to the Archive.
CK made a motion to accept the materials, as recommended by Archivist Robin Merrow
(RM); PD seconded, Vote 5 - 0. RM will manage the paperwork and acknowledge the
donation.
Demolition dela�apolication orocess and Demolition delav extension discussion - postponed
to August meeting
Future event disolays - postponed to August meeting
Communitv Preservation Act (CPAI
SB represents RHC on a Select Board study committee for the CPA. Twenty-two years ago,
the Town voted down the CPA. Passage of the CPA would resWt in a 1 to 3% increase in
taxes. The study committee is learning from Reading's peer communities and from others
on a CPA Coalition Group on Facebook. SB will provide another update at the August
meeting.
Town Archive review and updates - postponed to August meeting
Finance/Treasurer's report
The FY24 year-end reports have not been issued yet. ]EB announced that the RHC budget
for FY25 is $1,500. He worked with Amanda to encumber $1,184 from FY24 to compensate
RM.
Future aaenda items
. Street Faire (September B)
• RMLD calendar
• Bret Bennett
Review minutes from the ]une meetina
Amendments were reviewed with the RHC. JEB made a motion to accept the minutes as
amended, VA seconded, Vote 5 - 0.
PD made a motion to adjoum at 8:06PM, ADF seconded, Vote 5 - 0.
Next Meeting: August 14, 2024, 6:30PM, Town Hall Conference Room.
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