HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-13 West Street Historic District Commission MinutesTown of Reading
16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA 01867-2683
Phone: 781-942-6610 Fax: 781-942-9071
West Street Historic District Commission
Susan Patterson, Chair; Michael T. Gray, AIA, Vice Chair; Dorothy Casolaro, Secretary; Kathryn Greenfield, David Kruh
Minutes of March 13, 2007
Members present: Susan Patterson (SP)
David Kruh (DK)
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Kathryn Greenfield (KG)
Meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM. c ~ - a
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1. Minutes: There were no prior minutes to review.
2. Website: DK is ready to offer all that he has prepared to Town Hall for the new web*e lYO44
told to wait, the site is in process; town site will be "bare bones" - WSHD6may need a
link to its "own" site for photo shows, etc.
3. New Members: SP posed the question of how to grow the Commission; she will ask Peter H.; DK
thinks it should be grown from within the District; KG pointed out the potential for
conflicts; members agreed that 2-of-5 or 3-of-7 would be an acceptable ratio of District
residents on the Commission. SP suggested Paul Turecamo; DK suggested the owners
of the Bancroft house.
4. Goals for 2007: SP noted that the Commission needs to get motivated; it feels like "we've no
sense of urgency"; she'd like to see some of the projects we're working on come to
fruition and for the Commission to grow in number.
a. Signs: Commission reviewed KG & SP's meeting with Peter H. about the District
signage; Peter had suggested WSHDC raise funds from residents in the district for
signage; members present agreed that was a least desirable alternative; KG suggested
that Archstone be approached to donate the signs, and/or Avalon and Johnson Woods.
DK will ask Peter if there is any restriction on seeking corporate donations.
b. Inventory: MG had previously volunteered to oversee the creation of Inventory sheets.
DK questioned how "official" the sheets need to be: could they be a "best effort" form
of inventory, like an addendum to the Inventory. KG cautioned that they should be
professionally done to ensure accuracy.
C. Event: Members questioned and discussed the value in an outdoor neighborhood event,
especially on such a busy street; and, further questioned the purpose (education:
architectural/historical; social?; fundraising?; good will?). A new idea was spawned to
create a cable t.v. special about the District and have an preview in the library meeting
room, with refreshments.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.