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Home My WebLink About2025-12-10 Historical Commission MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes �9 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-12-10 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) by phone per The Mullin Rule, Samantha Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Minutes Resoectfullv Submitted Bv: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: PD called the RHC meeting to order at 6:37PM 52 Salem Street - sale and site visit The sale of 52 Salem Street to Chatham & Grey, LLC will close on December 10. Members of the RHC toured the property in November with John Burns (JB) and his colleague from Chatham & Grey. ADF recorded VA's observations of the property, as compared to details listed in the Form B. The floor of the historic ell is in disarray. The historic mural and most of the fireplaces and hearth have been covered with contact paper. The house is currently configured as a two-family home. During the site visit, JB asked if the RHC would agree to him building a secondary building behind the historic house. JEB also spoke with JB about building a third unit behind the house. JEB had a cursory discussion with Andrew MacNichol, Community Development Director, about a third building, and AMN suggested the easiest alternative might be an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) which is limited to 900 sq-feet by state law. As an alternative, JB could seek a variance from the ZBA. JB would have to appear before the ZBA with his plans to further develop the .54- acre lot. He could make the argument that to properly preserve the historic structure, it would not be financially feasible without being able to add a third building on the lot. ADF asked if RHC could photograph the house if it is to be demolished, and the Chatham & Grey representatives agreed. Page 1 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Mrs. Linda Stroeble (LS), previous owner of 52 Salem Street, contacted VA to offer additional items for the Archive: a receipt for stones and a photo of Miss Betsy Parker. ADF will send LS a link to photos taken by SB during the RHC site visit. Demolition delay bylaw survey results ADF reviewed the 88 Replies to 462 Surveys Mailed to historic inventory homeowners and summarized their objections into four categories: 1. Extending the demo delay period will limit the owners' property rights 2. Extending the demo delay period will cost the owners money 3. Extending the demo delay period is unnecessary and will be ineffective 4. Extending the demo delay will inhibit the construction of new housing in town ADF also researched rebuttals for each objection category. VA reminded us that Reading has a "list based" historical inventory, whereas other communities have "date based" inventories. The RHC agreed to review ADF's draft in preparation for discussion at our January meeting. If the RHC is to present arguments to increase the Demolition delay bylaw, then we will need to have well -crafted responses to potential objections. We discussed the possibility of mailing information to Town Meeting Members about the demo delay bylaw. CK suggested that the GIS map of historical properties could have voter precinct lines super -imposed to target the concentration of historical properties. A next step will be a letter to survey respondents that defines the terms of the delay, as well as a potential meeting with the historical homeowners. The glossary of terms would include historic district, preservation restriction agreement (PRA), list -based vs. data -based, etc. 186 Summer Ave. Demolition Delay hearing and PRA AMN asked about extinguishment of the PRA. PD sent the demo delay release letter to the Town of Reading Building Commissioner on November 6. The MHC and the Registry of Deeds manage the extinguishment of the PRA. PD will follow up with the MHC. There were no updates on the property nor criminal investigation. 94 Oak Street JEB spoke with Kim Saunders, Permits Coordinator, regarding the garage replacement. The application was viewed as a building permit when it was a partial demolition of a historical property. PD will issue an invitation to the Building Commissioner to meet with the RHC to discuss the permit process for houses on the historical inventory. SB will research the Royal Barry Wills property and amend its Form B accordingly Page 1 2 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Collaborations with RMHS and Merrimack College • ADF took information to RMHS to help students in Ms. Allison's class prepare for a Women's History walking tour of Reading this spring. • ADF and SC will supervise a student intern from Merrimack College. The internship is 120 hours total, with at least 60 hours on site in the Archive. It was agreed that the intern will not work alone in the Archive nor remove any items from the Archive. ADF and SC had several projects in mind for the student, particularly cataloging photos, and pending items. Utility Box Wraps JEB's call to Franklin Marval revealed that wrap prices have increased approximately $300 and that Franklin can maintain/clean existing wraps for $150 each (or he can show RHC how to do it themselves). JEB stated that existing RHC funds include $1,184 from budget 2024, and $586 AARPA funds. We also have approximately $4,000 in donations. Locations for new utility box wraps included the intersection of Summer Ave./West Street, Salem Street on the Common, and Summer Ave. near Barrows. The RHC will discuss locations at the January meeting. 32 Lincoln Street, Reading Train Depot: proposed roof repairs AMN skillfully advised the building owner to use slate or composite slate (EcoStar Niagara Slate), as recommended by RHC, or return to the Select Board for further direction. Upon receipt of a letter of completion or invoice for materials, RHC will reimburse Railroad Realty Trust $5,000 from the Preservation Trust, as voted at our September 2025 meeting. 32 Lowell Street PRA: repairs in progress - nothing to report Future Events: Historic gravestone cleaning training ADF spoke with Virginia Blodgett, President - Reading Antiquarian Society, about gravestone cleaning at Laurel Hill. The RHC and RAC would need the permission of the Board of Cemetery Trustees to proceed. 25 Haven Street: Art Deco light fixture preservation On December 4, Jalal Chafia, President - Reading Mosque, signed an agreement letter with the RHC for the rehabilitation and preservation of the historical exterior lighting and the preservation of existing historical exterior ribbed sheet metal banding at 25 Haven Street. PD signed the letter on December 10. JEB made a motion that, consistent with the Usage Guidelines of the Preservation Trust Fund Guidelines, and where this project is special in character and in furtherance of preservation of historic materials and a historic property related to the Town, to pay $3,508 from the Preservation Trust Fund to rehabilitate and preserve exterior lighting fixture and exterior ribbed sheet metal banding per mutual agreement with Reading Mosque. PD second. Vote 5 - 0. Catherine Moulton History of Old South Church - discussion postponed Page 1 3 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Oral history interview At the November meeting, ADF presented a quote from Mad Mark to conduct an oral history interview with VA. VA expressed that she would be more comfortable speaking with someone who knew Reading history. ADF asked VB and Sharlene Santos -Reynolds (SRS), a long-time RHC member, if they would be available to interview VA. VA was comfortable with those choices. We also discussed recording VA on a drive around town for historical insights and recollections. CK will research recording options. Framing and hanging of historical photos in Town Hall SC received a quote from Atlantic Framing, an approved Town vendor, for $2,200 - $2,800 with spacers. SC made a motion to authorize RHC to spend up to $2,800 with Atlantic Framing to frame the historical photos. JEB second. Vote 5-0. Community Preservation Act (CPA) - liaison report SB reported that the CPA study group will recommend 1% CPA to the Select Board in January, with hopes of the CPA being on the April 2026 Town Meeting Warrant. Inventory: structures for sale/sold/demolished; spreadsheet updates: GIS map - nothing to report. CataloaIt software updates The software license will be renewed in July 2026, and SC will ensure the invoice is paid on time. The RHC is actively using Catalog It and making new records. Town Archive review • It was determined that a cradle and other tools will need to be acquired prior to the Merrimack College intern beginning working in the Archive. SC will investigate. • Louise Sandberg, a former RHC member and professional Archivist, has offered to speak to the RHC about best archive practices. • ADF came across an Emily Ruggles diary transcription and contacted Anne Mark, Archivist of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, to see what Ruggles documents they have. Finance/Treasurer's Report The Town report dated 11/30/2025 indicates that the available budget in the General Fund is $846.75. Future Agenda Items • Update on the status and future of the Pleasant Street Center • Yiyi Chen, DroneWorks LLC, drone imaging/mapping service company • Archive Policy Manual Page 1 4 Town of Reading • Meeting Minutes Review minutes from the October and November meetings JEB moved to approve the October minutes as amended. SC second. Vote 5 - 0. JEB moved to approve the November minutes as amended. SC second. Vote 5 - 0. Next meeting: January 14, 2026, at 6:30PM. Town Hall Conference Room. Documents used • 52 Salem St, VA observations, Nov 2025 • Draft: Homeowner's Objections to Demo Delay Extension, with Refutations 186 Summer Ave Demolition Delay Release Letter, dated November 6, 2025 • Agreement Regarding Historical Exterior Lighting and Ribbed Sheet Metal Banding at 25 Haven Street Page 1 5