Historical Commission
Minutes
BUSINESS:
Reviewed and accepted
minutes of June 4.
Signed bills: Ink Products
for supplies $307.74, National Trust For Historic
Preservation for publications $48.00, Robin Wichroski
reimbursement for research expenses $113.63
Community Preservation
Committee representative: Karen nominated Barbara seconded by Todd. The vote
was unanimous that
Honey Pot Road Planning
Board Hearing on July 10 at
Survey and Planning Grant
Update: The Request for Qualifications language was approved by MHC. Copies
were sent out through the MHC electronic list, the Preservation Mass list of
consultants, and a copy was sent to be posted in the legal ad section of the
Springfield Republican.
Historical Commission work
session on June 4 update: Rebecca and Robin added more of the Saunders
postcards to the Past Perfect program. Karen and Barbara placed artifacts in
acid free boxes for storage: i.e.
Canal National Register
Update: Mr. Loparto, MHC, sent the scope of work for
the second phase of the pilot study. This is being sent out to bid and once the
contract is awarded, the Canal Committee will be contacted for input. Barbara,
who is chair of the Canal Committee, will send copies of the Pilot Study Part 2
Scope of Work to all Canal Committee members. The next scheduled meeting of the
Canal Committee is on August 13. The Canal Committee consists of Historical
Commission representatives from Southwick,
Town Hall foyer windows:
Barbara reported on a meeting with the Southwick Historical Society at which
time she asked if the Society would be willing to store the old windows at the
Moore House. The Society will look into the matter and report to Barbara. The
size of the windows was a concern as to whether they could be brought into the
Moore House attic for storage. Lee Hamburg was going to measure the Town Hall
windows and the Moore House attic window. Before placing the request before the
Selectmen, the Historical Commission wanted to be sure that the Society be in
favor of storing them at the Moore House. The Commission feels that at some
future date when restoration/preservation is favored the windows will be
available to be reinstalled in the Town Hall façade.
Foyer display cabinet: It
was decided that the Commission would not use the third grade ABC Book of
Southwick for a display in the cabinet. Some of the pages did not lend themselves
to the intent of the display and therefore the Commission members felt that if
all of the pictures were not used it would be best not to use the booklet as
the Commission would not wish to upset youngsters whose pages were not chosen
for display.
Laflin/Phelps House
– request for information: Bank of America is doing an appraisal of the house
at
Coca Cola Rail Trail
Project: The Commission will check into the status of this as construction of
the trail has been delayed. The chair will try to find out what the role of the
Commission is and what needs to be done when by the Commission.
July 16 meeting of the
Commission: Todd requested that this meeting and all subsequent meetings take place
at
Scott Richter – Mr. Richter
came to the Historical Commission meeting to find out the historical status of
the building which houses the Southwick Florist on College Highway. He is
reviewing the building for its handicap accessibility. Mr. Richter was informed
that the building is on the Southwick Inventory of Town Historic Sites as well
as the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Inventory of State Historical
Sites. The Commission informed Mr. Richter that variances can be obtained for
historic sites and in some instances where the historic character of the
building is greatly threatened, compliance with handicap accessibility is
waived. This is done on a site-by-site basis upon the application to the
Variance Board by the owner. Mr. Richter stated that he came before the
Commission to see if the Commission was willing to work with the Southwick
Florist owner. The Commission stated that it is always willing to work with the
owner of a historical site in order that regulations are met without
jeopardizing the historical quality of the building. Mr. Richter asked the
Commission to ask the owners of Southwick Florist to come to the next
Commission meeting to discuss the handicap accessibility issue. He was informed
that this issue is not in the purview of the Historical Commission. Mr. Richter
requested he be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Commission,
which will be July 16.
Review Prospective Historic
Resources List developed with Chris Skelly of MHC Develop
a list for consultant to research. This
was tabled to the next meeting.
MAIL:
1. From Past Perfect, the newsletter for
June 2007.
2. Planning Board Minutes for April 3rd
& 10th, and May 22nd. Also their
Agenda for June 12th.
3. From the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the Program for the National Preservation Conference to be held
on October 2nd-6th in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
4. From the Planning Board, a notice of a
public hearing June 26th at 7:15 p.m. concerning the application of David Greco
for a special permit for property at 648 College Highway.
5. From the Planning Board, a notice of a
public hearing on July 10th at 7:30 p.m. concerning the application of the Town
of Southwick Dept. of Public Works for a special permit for Scenic Road Tree
Removal on the stretch of Honey Pot Road between address 13 and address 85.
6. Open Space Committee Agenda for June
13th - cancelled.
7. From the American Association for State
and Local History, the newsletter “Dispatch” for June 2007.
8. Notice from the Finance Committee
regarding the re-organization of the Committee – a directory of members is
attached.
9. Board of Health Minutes for May 3rd and
24th.
10. Conservation Commission Agenda for June
18th.
11.
12. From the Selectmen’s Office, a request for
volunteers to be trained in CPR and the use of the Automatic External
Defibrillator.
13. E-mail from Wayne Eisenhauer,
President of Historic Danvers, notifying Commissions of the fact that Rep.
Theodore Speliotis of
Chair, Southwick Historical
Commission
Karen Brzezinski
Todd Shiveley