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Home My WebLink About2025-10-08 Historical Commission Minutest Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Historical Commission Date: 2025-10-08 Time: 5:30 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), Samantha Couture (SC), Pino D'Orazio (PD), Amelia Devin Freedman (ADF), and Christine Keller (CK) Members - Not Present: Others Present: Bruce Adams Josh Adams Sheila Adams Amanda Beatrice, Town of Reading, Administrative Specialist (AB) Ginny & Ev Blodgett (EB) Lynn & Russ Graham Matt Kraunelis, Town of Reading, Town Manager Jerry Lamb (JL) Louise Sandberg Sharlene Reynolds Santo Nancy & Ted Smethurst Ann Ward (AW) Ron Weston Minutes Respectfully Submitted Bv: Christine Keller Topics of Discussion: 5:30PM Dedication of the Town Archive in honor of Virainia Adams PD welcomed invited guests to the gathering for and read the following statement: "VA is a lifelong resident of the Town of Reading. She was a founding member of the RHC in 1978. She has been a member of the RHC since its founding and a member of the Historic District Commission (HDC) since 2009. In 2018, she was awarded a Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) Preservation Award. In giving her the award, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said of VA, `Her leadership began the comprehensive survey of old properties in the town, led to the rescue of several historically significant buildings, and has raised awareness of the importance of the town's history among its population. Her efforts are a Page I 1 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes model of preservation leadership at the local level and, in addition to her many achievements, her work has laid the groundwork for future preservation efforts in Reading.' In recognition of VA's service to the Town of Reading, as well as her upcoming milestone birthday, the Town Archive has been renamed the Virginia Adams Historical Archive in her honor." VA then greeted the group and shared heartfelt thanks to former members of the RHC that had come to celebrate with her. VA went to see the new name plaques on the Archive door and over the RHC computer. PD called the RHC meeting to order at 6:3012M. Public Comment Louise Sandberg (LS), 935 Main Street, owns a property on the Historical and Architectural Inventory. She would like to build a lean-to attached to the back of the house, and her architect asked if she would need permission from the RHC to proceed. The North part of the house was built in 1790. An extension was added to the house circa 1853. PD informed LS that she did not require permission from the RHC for her project. Demolition Delay survey feedback - a homeowner expressed a desire to be removed from the inventory • To date, 69 responses have been recorded: 53 in support of extending the demolition delay; 14 against; 2 non -committals. The deadline for response is October 31, and we will review survey results at the November meeting. • Patrice Boyd, 22 Lee Street, expressed to PD by phone that she does not want her property to be on the inventory. PD invited her to our meeting, and she declined. Her house was added to the inventory in 2010. At present, there is no process to remove a property from the inventory. • JEB suggested that the RHC needs a strategy for presenting the demolition delay extension to Town Meeting. As an example, he suggested that we discuss the early release provisions in Demolition Delay Bylaw 7.2.6.3 which permit RHC to release the demolition delay if the RHC finds there is no reasonable likelihood that a structure can be saved. 32 Lincoln Street. Reading Train Depot: proposed roof repairs JEB attended the Select Board Meeting on October 6, where the motion to approve the recommendation by RHC contained in its September 27, 2025, letter for the roof replacement was passed. Property owner James D'Amico was not present at the meeting, and AB will confirm if he had been informed of the meeting. 32 Lowell Street PRA: repairs in progress No communication from MHC or owners. SB to contact Michael Steinitz, MHC, about PRAs in reading. JEB commented that the RHC is named in the PRA for 32 Lowell Street, and we should send a letter to the owners confirming our interest in repairs Page 1 2 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes and that RHC should be notified in writing before any activity to repair the structure is undertaken. 7:04PM PD called the joint meeting with the HDC to order and made AW a voting member. HDC members present included VA, EB, PD, ADF, and AW. 186 Summer Avenue updates next steps regarding property owner's proposed demolition of the fire -damaged home Property owner IL submitted a demo delay application to the Town of Reading, which included a structural engineering report about fire -damaged property. PD mapped out the parallel processes that will be required to proceed with demolition of the home: RHC => Demolition Delay Public Hearing => Demolition decision HDC => PRA Votes insurance and reports (2?) => Demolition decision PRA Votes demolition ------------------=> PRA Release/Extinguish HDC Public Hearing MHC Public Hearing Rebuild => HDC approval Since the structure was built before 1942, there was discussion about making a new property a home with an accessory dwelling unit. The RHC public hearing requires a completed application and should include the proposed reuse of the property. The RHC can proceed with the understanding as communicated from the owner that his proposed reuse of the property is to sell it. The goal is to preserve the integrity of the order of the process. The RHC chair, PD, must communicate to AB that the application is complete. ]L will update the application to say that the proposed reuse is to sell. The RHC will hold a public hearing about the demolition of 186 Summer Ave. at the November 5 meeting, which will be a joint meeting with HDC. There are legal implications of extinguishment of the property. IL reported that the State Police has expressed an interest in returning to the property for further investigation. At 8:03PM, PD made a motion to adjourn the joint meeting of HDC and RHC. EB second. Vote 5 - 0. Page 1 3 Town of Reading y Meeting Minutes 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, the inventory binder, and RHC brochures. 25 Haven Street: Art Deco light fixture preservation JEB met with Khalid Kanane from 25 Haven Street on October 7 and presented the RHC proposal to pay up to $3,500 to preserve the Art Deco light fixtures at the property. He also suggested that the light fixtures could be protected with a PRA, and Khalid was not interested. Khalid did express the Mosque's appreciation and agreement to having the lighting preserved and agreed that the Mosque would not remove or replace them. JEB will draft an agreement letter regarding the maintenance of the light fixtures, and SB will work with her electrician contact to confirm the quote. Community Preservation Act (CPA) - liaison report and vote on CPA approval SB reported that the CPA study group has been meeting with various groups in town who would benefit from CPA funds. The study group anticipates meeting with the Select Board in December. Inventory: structures for sale/sold/demolished: spreadsheet updates: GIS map • 61 Lowell Street is on the market. ADF has communicated with the seller's real estate agent. • ADF showed a GIS map of the properties on the inventory, which was made by Matt Deane, Town of Reading GIS Administrator. CatalogIt software updates • SC reported that CatalogIt is up and running. She has added titles to 200 records that previously did not have titles. She is also updating the Archive Policy Manual. • SC has provided one-on-one CatalogIt training to ADF, CK, and JEB. • ADF picked up the photos that were scanned by NEDCC. They need to be framed and mounted on the Town Hall Conference Room walls. Town Archive review • ADF reported that Merrimack College has students who might be available to work as interns in the Archive during the school year. • Walker Robins, History Lecturer at Merrimack College, is interested in exploring the Archive contents. Finance/Treasurer's Report • JEB reported that the July and August Budget Reports were just received. He confirmed that the RHC budget for FY26 is $1,500, and the $1,000 donation from Trinity Builders (472 Summer Ave.) and the $10 for sale of Colonial Rooftrees had been received and deposited (though these deposits are not yet reflected in RHC's Budget Reports). Page 1 4 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Officer roles and volunteer reappointments JEB moved that the slate of officers remain PD Chair, ADF Vice Chair, CK Secretary, and JEB Treasurer. PD second. Vote 5 -0. Future Agenda Items • Utility box wraps and locations • Catherine Moulton's History of Old South, 1867 - 1992 Review Minutes from 10 September meeting JEB moved to approve the minutes as amended. PD second. Vote 5 - 0. Next meeting: November 5 at 6:30PM. Town Hall Conference Room. At 8:33PM, PD made a motion to adjourn. SC second. Vote 5 - 0. Documents used • Demolition Delay Application RHC 25-1/186 Summer Ave. (9-14-2025) • Town of Reading Historic Inventory Properties GIS Map Page 1 5