Minutes January 28, 2008
Business
1. Reviewed and accepted the minutes of January 7, 2008.
2. Bills: Past Perfect Software registration for workshop 95.20
3. Update historic sites inventory: Steve Bedford has submitted the list of sites to be inventoried. There are
house numbers to be corrected, sites deleted, and sites added. Karen worked on the corrections. The
updated list will be e-mailed to Steve. He has not submitted a sample inventory form as yet. MHC wants
to set up a review meeting for Feb. 7 which is not convenient for the Southwick Historical Commission.
SHC has suggested Feb. 8 but has not had a response from MHC.
4. Hampshire/Hampden Canal National Register Nominating Committee update: The committee held two more informational sessions; the last being on Jan 23 which was attended by Rep Olver's office, State Rep Knapik, and State Rep Humanson's office. All sessions were attended by local boards and interested citizens. Representative Olver will coordinate sending support letters to MHC from both state and federal representatives. The committee will next meet when the PAL report is ready to review and at that time plan the next step.
5. The Historical Commission met with the Selectmen on January 14 regarding the renovation of the Old Library. Proposed use involves a studio for Ch 15 and storage space for town records. SHC reported on the workshop held by MHC regarding the Preservation Grant available. The criteria for the grant and the future use of the library building were discussed. The Selectmen granted the Historical Commission permission to pursue the grant gathering whatever is needed to satisfy the application requirements. The Commission informed the Selectmen that the Commission will not be able to gather all materials needed for the due date of February 22, but will have everything ready for the next grant round which is anticipated to be in the Fall of 2008. The Commission will look into the hiring of historic
architect Christian Carey to draw up the conceptual plans needed. A meeting with the Town Clerk and the Ch 15 director will be set up. The Selectmen were told that a preservation agreement would have to be submitted as part of the application. The Commission was asked by the Selectmen to research whether the Selectmen can sign such an agreement or does permission to enter into such an agreement have to be obtained at Town Meeting. The Selectmen were informed that the assessment of improvement needs has already been done on the building.
6. Vernacular Architecture Conference at Sturbridge Village on March 1: It was decided that Karen and Barbara would attend this conference. Vernacular architecture is a category of historical architecture that is lacking from the inventory; therefore, more knowledge as to what to look for and how to describe would be helpful.
7. Past Perfect Workshop: The workshop will be held on February 5 at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington ,CT. Rebecca will attend as both she and Robin work with the program and will benefit from the update.
8. Great Brook Well No.2 site at Canal Road: The Commission looked at the Town's plans to construct a well house and associated utilities for the Town of Southwick's Great Brook Well No.2 in relation to the canal bed. It was determined this construction would not affect the remnants of the canal in the area.
9. Williamsburg Estates: Letters outlining the Commissions concerns regarding the protection of a heritage landscape and its hickory trees as well as historic Mouse Hill Road were sent to both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.
10. January Work Sessions: The work sessions were spent on developing a master list of sites to be researched and placed on the inventory. The main problem has been the house numbering confusion. The only way to be certain is to drive to the site and visually determine the house number.
Mail
1. From Historic Deerfield the Winter 2008 Calendar of Events
2. From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the "Forum Journal" for Winter 2008
3. E-Mail A notice of a conference sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Vernacular Architecture Assoc. - "The Early Historians of New England's Architectural Heritage" March 1, 2008 at Old Sturbridge Village
4. Letter from Bacon/Wilson regarding requested legal services re the Conservation/Preservation Easement on historic property at 20 Depot St.
5. From the Northeast Document Conservation Center a notice of a conference on the Fundamentals of Creating and Managing Digital Collections to be held on June 10-12 in Jacksonville, FL
6. Planning Board Min 11/27, 12/4, 12/11, 12/18, 1/8/08 Agenda 1/15, 1/22, 1/29
7. From the National trust for Historic Preservation a notice of a Preservation Leadership Training workshop
8. Lake Management Committee Min 11/8/07, 12/27/07, 1/10/08
9. Community Preservation Committee Min 5/3
10. From the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee a notice of budget hearing dates and times
11. From Mass Humanities a notice of a new funding guide for preserving historical/ cultural collections.
12. Question from Mr. Albert DeLoreto regarding funds available to restore a historic barn dated 1882 located on John Mason Road
13. From Patrick McMahon, Director of Economic and Community Development in Suffield a request for a list of firms that provide historic property survey services.
14. From the National Alliance of preservation commissions a thank you for membership renewal
15. A notification of a hearing to be held on Feb. 4 regarding the construction of a well house and associated utilities at the Great Brook Well No. 2 at canal road by the Town of Southwick's Water Commissioners.
16. Board of Selectmen Agenda 1/14
17. Open Space Planning Committee Agenda 1/9
18. Reminder from Selectmen's office of the submission of the Annual Report of the Historical Commission. It is due Jan 31
19. Conservation Commission Min 12/3
20. From the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions "The Alliance Review" for November/December 2007
21. From Christian Carey - his resume.
22. From Mr. Craig Della Penna a copy of a Canal National Register support letter sent to MHC
23. From the National Preservation Institute a notice of the 2008 Seminars in Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Management.
Barbara Mac Ewan
Chair, Southwick Historical Commission
Karen Brzezinski
Todd Shiveley
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