Town of Southwick, MA - Minutes March 03, 2008

Minutes March 3, 2008

1. Reviewed and accepted the minutes of February 25, 2008.

2. Bills: National Trust for Historic Preservation for 3 publications $44.75

3. Inventory of Historic Sites Update: Reviewed the site list and Sample Form B that Steve Bedford submitted. Karen and Barbara will meet with Steve Bedford of Fitzgerald & Halliday on Wednesday March 5 to go over the concerns expressed by the Commission regarding the list of sites developed and the sample Form B that was submitted for review. A date to meet with MHC to review phase two materials has not been set. Todd and Barbara will work on Thursday March 6 on updating the house numbers on the MHC inventory list.

4. Renovation of the Old Library. On February 29 a tour of the Old Library was done with John Westcott,

Michelle Hill (Town Clerk), Christian Carey (historic architect) and Barbara MacEwan. Absent was Art

Boissonault (Ch 15). The building can easily be brought up to code and renovated/restored into storage

space for town documents in the basement and a Channel 15 studio on the first floor.

5. Concept Plans for the renovation of the Old Library: It was proposed by Karen Brzezinski that

Christian Carey be hired by the Commission to draw up the concept plans as required by the MHC

Preservation Grant application. Todd seconded. All voted in favor. The fee ($640) will be paid from the

administrative fund of the Community Preservation Committee.

6. 717 College Highway: The request for information about the house at this address was discussed. It is on

the Southwick Inventory of Historic Sites. Barbara will call Mr. Cogliostro and inform him that a zone

change will not change the fact that the house is historic.

7. Scenic Honey Pot Road Hearing on March 4: No member of the Commission is able to attend the

hearing. There is a letter on file with the Planning Board as to the Historical Commission's views regarding

the current issues affecting the scenic/historic nature of the road.

8. Past Perfect Program: It was decided by the Commission to update and to purchase the 4.0 version of the

program while it was on sale for $199. It is normally $324. The recent past perfect workshop which a

commission member attended used the 4.0 version. Having the updated version makes the workshop more

9. The Vernacular Architecture Conference that Karen and Barbara were to attend on March 1 was cancelled

because of weather. Registration was refunded.

10. It was decided to cancel the March 24 meeting of the Commission because of scheduling conflicts. The

next meeting will be April 7. Barbara will post the cancellation notice.

11. There will be a work session this evening. Rebecca and Robin will do more research on Amasa Holcomb.

1. From the National Trust for Historic Preservation the publication Preservation for March/April 2008.

2. Community Preservation Committee Min 1/24, Agenda 2/28

3. Planning Board Agenda 3/4

4. Conservation Commission Agenda 3/3

5. Planning Board - a notice of a public hearing regarding a zone change at 787 College Highway on March 18 at 7:15pm

6. From the American Assoc. for State and Local History a notice regarding the 2008 workshops

7. From the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions "The Alliance Review" for January/February 2008

8. From the Department of Public Works a letter regarding the Scenic Honey Pot Road conditions

9. From the Planning Board a notice of a hearing for a zone change at 25 Industrial Road to be held March 18 at 8:15pm

10. From Christian Carey, historic architect a proposal for services regarding the conceptual plans needed for the renovation process.

11. From the Planning Board a notice of a hearing regarding a zone change at 76 Sunnyside Road to be held March 18 at 7:45pm

Chair, Historical Commission