HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-04 Historical Commission MinutesR , 'E
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Minutes
Reading Historical Commission
June , 1995
The meeting was convened at 7:40 p.m.
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Regular Members present: Ed Palmer, Ted Smethurst, Virginia Adams, David O'Sullivan.
Associate members present: Colonel Wilbur Home, Gladys Montgomery Jones, Frank Orlando.
Guests present: Joe Delaney, Jon. Edwards, Louise Sandberg, Roberta Sullivan, Alan Ulrich.
The minutes of the May 7 meeting were not available for approval, as John McCauley, Secretary,
was not present.
Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, presented current plans for Route 129 incorporating all of the
Historical Commission's suggestions, and requested a letter of support frorn the Commission.
The Commission. unanimously agreed to provide a letter, and Gladys agreed to draft one, with
copies to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Massachusetts Highway Commission.
David O'Sullivan, Treasurer presented the report showing a balance of $45.43 in account #1 and
$1,18 1, reflecting the $700 grant from the 350th Preservation Trust, in account #2. The
Commission reviewed and approved payment of the last bills of 1996, which totaled $556.99.
The budget for 1997 is $750. Members applauded Virginia Adams for her advocacy at Town
Meeting that resulted in the 1997 allocation.
David discussed plans for the Pearl. Street School.
Jon Edwards introduced, in absentia, summer intern Miriam Tropp, who will be working with the
Downtown Steering Committee to develop sign.age standards and will contact the Commission for
input. He reported that a grant of $250,000 in Transportation Enhancement Funds is likely to be
available to hire a consulting team to address streetscape issues, including historic preservation,
and to develop detailed working construction drawings. He picked up on a remark Virginia had
made earlier that the challenge is how to express visually what Reading is, including those
qualities that differentiate it from other communities. Discussion included the question. of how to
develop reference points for storefronts that lack historical documentation. Jon. noted that
materials archived by the Commission had been a key source of information and urged the
Corrmussi.on to become involved in the project.
Jon provided an update on the Brooks pharmacy move to the old Municipal Light Building on
Haven Street; a settlement was reached over the oil contamination. on the site and the move is
likely to proceed as planned.
Ed reported that Reading's new bookstore, Chapter One, is willing to sell copies of At, Wood End,
at the same price they are sold at Town Hall., providing a second location for sales and an extra
day (Town Hall is closed Saturdays). Virginia moved that Chapter One be allowed to sell the
- book on these terms, Ted Smethurst seconded, and the motion. was carried 4-0.
Gladys offered to draft a. letter of agreement that would than be cleared with the Town Attorney.
While members waited to go before the Selectmen. for appointment to the Commission, guests
interested in being appointed introduced themselves. Gifts were given to Frank Orlando,
associate, and Ted Smethurst, regular member, whose terms are up.
The Commission. discussed
• the letter to Old South from the Massachusetts Historical Commission advising against putting
vinyl. siding on the Church's north side;
• the need to hook up the humidifier in the archive room;
• the format for the June 1.0 public forum about the Demolition Review By-law;
• the popping and breaking slate on the Senior Center.
In anticipation of the CPDC meeting on the development of Leaning Elm Farm at 89 Main Street,
David described the plans. The outbuildings that are mentioned in the Inventory listing are
covered by the Demolition Review By-law, and David will write a letter for the CPDC. Gladys
said she knew of someone on Summer Avenue who might be willing to take the barn, if the
developer is willing to take the cost of demolition/hauling and put that amount toward moving the
structure.
The Commission discussed the Preservation Week presentation, that was attended by about 75
people. Costs included $50 for slides done by Bill McLaughlin. and $41. on refreshments (much
of which was spent on supplies that can be used in the future). The Commission discussed how to
expand public relations efforts through cable TV, Suburban News, Reading Chronicle, Reading
Notes, Northeast Weekly, Library ]`totes, PTA's, Antiquarian. Society, Downtown Steering
Committee.
Gladys described the Ipswich Historical Commission's Historic Preservation Covenant program to
protect significant and original exterior and interior features of key properties. Members asked
that she describe this at the June 10 public forum.
The next regular meeting was set for July 2. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Members then went to the Selectman's meeting where Roberta Sullivan was appointed Regular
Member, and Colonel. Wilbur Hoxie, Gladys Montgomery Jones, Louise Sandberg and Alan
Ulrich were appointed Associate Members.
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