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Home My WebLink About2025-09-10 Historical Commission Minutes-RECE.fVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK Meeting Minutes READING, MA. �a °•,M�. 2025OCT I4 AN 8:06� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-09-10 Time: 6:30 PM Building: Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Virginia Adams (VA), Jonathan Barnes (JEB), Sarah Brukilacchio (SB), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Samantha Couture (SC) Others Present: James D'Amico (JDA), Railroad Realty Trust/owner of 32 Lincoln St. Thomas Walsh (TW), Trinity Home Builders LLC, 472 Summer Ave. Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion PD called the meeting to order at 6:37PM and elevated VA to voting member. VA declined, and SB was elevated to voting member. 32 Lowell Street PRA: repairs in progress PD sent another letter to MHC regarding the potential repairs at the property. He will follow up with a call to Michael Steinitz, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer and Director, Preservation Planning Division, at MHC. 32 Lincoln Street. Reading Train Depot: proposed roof replacement JDA brought a sample of EcoStar black synthetic Niagara Slate and product brochure to the meeting. PD will send a letter to the Select Board expressing RHC support of the EcoStar Niagara Slate to replace the slate roof on the Train Depot. As the Train Depot is subject to a PRA, JDA will need to present his case to the Select Board for approval of the roof material. The RHC drafted a letter to the Board of Selectmen in November 2016 regarding the replacement of the Depot Roof, which JEB shared with the group as a reference. JEB recommended the EcoStar Niagara Slate product be selected for the Train Depot Roof; SB second; Vote 5 - 0. Page 1 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Following its earlier discussion with JDA, RHC next considered whether and under what conditions to appropriate any funds toward this project pursuant to the Guidelines for the Historical Commission Preservation Trust Fund. Consistent with the Usage guidelines of that document, and where this project is special in character and in furtherance of preservation of historic materials and a historic property related to the Town, JEB made a motion to approve up to $5K from the Preservation Trust only for the replacement of the roof with EcoStar Niagara Slate on condition that the owner (JDA) and Select Board agree to use EcoStar Niagara Slate; PD second; Vote 5 -0. 472 Summer Ave. - changes to Demo Delay early release TW announced that he purchased the historic house at 483 Franklin Street. TW has a purchase agreement for the house to be built at 472 Summer Ave. He provided a rendering with proposed white, cedar clapboard and shingles as an upgrade from vinyl siding. The cedar shingles will age in three to five years to a white/grey patina. The roof will be red cedar shingles instead of asphalt. The upgrades in the siding and roofing materials cost approximately $300K. No changes to the Floor plan. TW plans to reuse the stone columns from the exterior. JEB made a motion to revise the early release letter to include the changes proposed white cedar siding and red cedar roofing; ADF second; Vote 5-0. 320 Haverhill Street, Sawtelle House: PRA As background, the existing PRA expires in 2033. VA proposed that we approach the owners of the property to let them know that the PRA was not completely executed. SB to work with MHC to see if there is a form we can file to modify the PRA. 186 Summer Avenue updates: fire damage - nothing to report RHC Demolition Delay Discussion: survey of historic homeowners Amanda Beatrice (AB), Administrative Specialist, will mail the survey out on September 11 with a response deadline of October 31. Future Events: • Connected Reading (Tuesday, October 28, 5 - 7PM). SB and JEB will represent RHC at the event. The display will include the historic house marker sample and RHC brochures. Inquiries from the Fail Street Faire (Sunday, September 7) included support for extending the demolition delay bylaw; a homeowner who would like to put 117 High Street on the Historical and Architectural Inventory; and a local builder who is interested to visit the Town Historical Archive. ADF will invite him to the next RHC meeting. Page 1 2 49 oP -_ Town of Reading � Meeting Minutes Volunteer reappointments/officer discussion - discussion postponed 25 Haven Street: Art Deco light fixture preservation Surviving elements of the original Art Deco design include the entry transom, six exterior light fixtures and ribbed sheet metal in the form of hood molds. Over the last several months, the RHC has discussed with the current building owners spending $3.51K of the Preservation Trust Fund to help restore the Art Deco lights from the former RMLD building. JEB assumed the liaison role to the new owners of the property following from SB. There was discussion regarding adding language on the RHC website and Town of Reading Rules and Regulations (Section 2d) regarding the consideration of Preservation Trust Fund requests, and it was decided not to change the existing language as the Rules and Regulations document already addresses the topic. Community Preservation Act (CPA) - liaison report and vote on CPA approval. SB has been the RHC liaison to the Community Preservation Act Study Committee and made a presentation about the potential benefits of CPA in Reading. The CPA Study Committee had a table at the Street Faire to measure community support and plan to propose instituting the CPA at Town Meeting on November 25. The CPA Study Committee is suggesting a 1.5% tax rate, and the first distribution of funds to the town would be in July 2028. SB moved for a vote of support for CPA; JEB second; Vote 5 - 0. Inventory: structures for sale/sold/demolished: spreadsheet updates: GIS ma_p • 190 Main Street sold. SB and VA had the opportunity to tour the property. • As noted previously, TW purchased 483 Franklin Street. • 22 Union Street Unit 1 is contingent. • SB is working with AB on Historical and Architectural Inventory spreadsheet updates. Catalog software updates - nothing to report Town Archive review - update on dedication • The dedication of the Virginia Adams Town Archive will occur at 5:30PM on October 8. ADF will invite former RHC members to the dedication. • On September 9, Laura Gemme, Town Clerk, sent a list of Annual Report books that Reading resident Bill Brown donated to the town. ADF and CK will compare the list and the condition of the books to the Archive contents and determine if accession or donation to Reading Public Library is in order. • VA noted that the RHC should take inventory of items stored at the DPW garage and in the DPW vault in the basement of Town Hall. Page 1 3 ,�. Town of Reading a} r' Meeting Minutes �4j'' « Finance/Treasurer's Report The July/August reports have not been received. JEB confirmed with AB that the donated funds from Trinity Home Builders LLC (472 Summer Ave.) were received, and the $10 received from VA for selling a copy of Colonial Rooftrees was deposited in RHC's account. Future Aaenda Items - none Review Minutes from 9 July and 13 August meetings PD moved to approve the minutes as amended; JEB second; Vote 5 - 0. Next meeting: October 8 at 5:30PM. Town Hall Conference Room. At 8:40PM, PD made a motion to adjourn. JEB second. Vote 5 - 0. Documents used • PRA for 32 Lowell Street • Letter from RHC to Select Board (11/15/2016) Replacing Depot Roof • Preservation Trust Fund Guidelines • PRA for 320 Haverhill Street Town of Reading Massachusetts Rules & Regulations (8/9/2017) Community Preservation Act in Reading PowerPoint presentation Laura Gemme's list of books received from Bill Brown (9/9/2025) Page 1 4