July 16, 2007

Minutes

 

Business

1.      Reviewed and accepted the minutes of June 18.

2.      Bills signed: The Republican for legal ad $157.00

3.      Scenic Road –Honey Pot- Report of Planning Board Hearing of July 10

Westfield News reporter present at the Commission meeting inquired as to the Commission’s involvement in the Honey Pot Road maintenance issue. The Commission informed Chris Putz that as heritage attributes make Honey Pot a scenic road (dirt road, trees, stonewalls) the Historical Commission is concerned about any work on the road that would disturb those attributes. The Commission concurs with the residents appearing at the hearing that other steps to improve the maintenance should be taken before the one involving the cutting of about 70 trees. Several suggestions regarding maintenance of dirt roads were given at the hearing. Most had not been utilized in current years as the Town has only 8miles of dirt road in the town and therefore has not kept up with dirt road equipment or maintenance strategies.

4.      June 18 work-session update: Rebecca and Barbara worked on developing the Survey and Planning Grant RFR (Request for Resume) and RFP (Request for Proposals).

5.      Survey and Planning Grant update: The RFQ’s were sent out via the MHC list serve, e-mailed to qualified consultants on the Preservation Mass list of Preservation Consultants, and through an ad placed in the newspaper, The Republican  To the consultants that responded with resumes, the RFP was sent. Proposals are due on August 13.

6.      Town hall foyer windows update: Lee Hamberg has not come to measure the windows to see if they would fit through the Moore House attic window. He was not present at the last meeting of the Moore House Board of Trustees. Most of the Trustees at that meeting would rather not store the windows at the Moore House.

7.      Foyer display cabinet: It was decided that some of the Commission’s collection of photos taken in the late 1800s and early 1900s of houses in Southwick would be placed on display. The Commission decided to purchase plastic display holders for the photos and smaller ones for the identifying text. Barbara will order the holders. Karen will make a title board for the display.

8.      Southwick Florist building and Scott Ricker, ADA advocate: Mr. Ricker did not appear at the meeting. The Commission had sent a response to his e-mail, which he sent after the last Commission meeting. The response pointed out areas of the accessibility requirements, which allowed historic buildings to be exempted from some of the requirements. A copy was sent to the Selectmen and to the Building Dept.

 

9.      Visiting nurse records: The current head school nurse came across photos and records from the 50s and 60s pertaining to the Southwick Visiting Nurse. These she brought to the Town Hall to see if they should be saved – the Commission welcomed this material, which is part of the historical record of Southwick. The Town Clerk was informed and the items will become part of the Town Archives. Meanwhile the Historical Commission will work on identifying people in the photos as well as ascertain dates for them.

 

Mail              

1.        From the American Assoc for State and Local History – membership card

2.        From The Republican  a bill for a legal ad $157.00

3.        Board of Health    Min  6/7

4.        E-Mail – A notice of a workshop “An introduction to Historic Preservation Planning to be held in Otis on July 25.

5.        From the Northeast Document Conservation Center a notice of a conference to be held in Seattle, WA on Nov 28-29 “Persistence of Memory: Stewardship of Digital Assets”

6.        From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the publication “Preservation” for July/August 2007

7.        Lake Management Committee    Min 6/14, 6/28

8.        Community Preservation Committee – Meeting on June 28 cancelled – next meeting July 26     Min 3/15

9.        Planning Board   Min 5/29, 6/5, 6/12, 6/26       Agenda 6/26

10.     Conservation Commission   Min 5/7, 6/4      Agenda 7/2, 7/16

11.     E-Mail from Scott Ricker re handicap access to Southwick Florist building

12.     From the American Assoc. for State and Local history a notice of the annual meeting to be held in Atlanta  on September 5-8

13.     From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the “Forum News” for July/August 2007

14.     From the Board of Selectmen a memo regarding the protocol for serving notices

15.     Open Space Committee      Agenda 7/11

16.     From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the “Forum Journal” for Summer 2007

17.     From the Dept. of conservation and Recreation the 4th publication “Terra Ferma: Putting Historical Landscape Preservation on Solid Ground”

18.     From the American Association for State and Local History the “History News” for Winter 2007

 

 

 

 

Barbara Mac Ewan

Chair, Historical Commission

 

 

 

 

Karen Brzezinski

 

 

 

 

Todd Shiveley