Historic District Commission Minutes 07/11/2013 ADOPTED

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MINUTES
JULY 11, 2013
REGULAR MEETING

I. ROLL CALL

Commission members present were Acting Chairwoman Betty Woollacott, Denise Alfeld, Dianne Mead, Jonathan Laschever and Marc Lubetkin.  Chairman Woollacott called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room.  Also in attendance were Lynn Charest, Zoning Enforcement Officer, and Janis Prifti, Commission Clerk, and other interested parties. 

II. APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Chairman Woollacott appointed Commissioner Laschever to serve as an alternate for Ken Feder, who recently resigned from HDC.

III. PUBLIC HEARING(s), DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE

Applications #13-03 and 13-04 were read into the record.

a. Application #13-03 of Gregory T. Fish, LLC, Agent for Kathleen and John Schuster, Owners, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for an addition to the dwelling on the property located at 4 Heather Lane (Map H12, Block 107, Lot 001).

Application #13-03 is for a small addition off the back of the house at 4 Heather Lane, originally built in 1996.  The new windows will be from the same manufacturer as currently on the house using a casement with the same light cuts; the Commissioners suggested a false double hung casement would be beneficial.  They are coming 3 1/2 feet off the existing back of the house, which with tree foliage cannot be seen from the road.  The elevation remains the same with little impact.  A layout drawing demonstrated the existing roofline is the same, and as the house sits back from the road, the addition is 46 feet from the street.

The Commissioners requested more information from the owners about the barn on the property for HDC records if they have a chance.  The contractor believed it was part of the subdivision approvals and there may not be much information available.

Commissioner Lubetkin made a motion to approve Application #13-03.  Commissioner Laschever seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Mead recused herself for discussion of Application #13-04.

b. Application #13-04 of Dianne Mead, Owner, for a Certificate of Appropriateness for rebuilding the front porch on the property located at 73 East Weatogue Street (Map H13, Block 108, Lot 014).

Application #13-04 is to rebuild the 100-year old original front porch on the house at 73 East Weatogue Street.  The builder will determine at disassembly whether the cross beams are still useable; the scroll work and lattice will be replicated and replaced with like materials.  For the columns, they proposed using poly classic materials to prevent column splitting in the future.  It was commented that old wood for columns was much better than new wood, which would be unlikely to last long, but the poly classic will always look the same and match exactly what was there.  Also, the porch roof was beginning to collapse with shingles draining onto the house and will be replaced with exactly the same material.

Commissioner Laschever made a motion to accept Application #13-04 to rebuild the porch exactly as it was with like materials, with the exception that the columns will be out of poly-classic material.  Commissioner Alfeld seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

IV. OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMISSION

The Commissioners discussed potential HDC members due to the resignations of Jim Oliver, Dave Freitas and Ken Feder - 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat are needed.  Commissioner Lubetkin will address the Democrat at the next meeting.  The name of Erica Brodeur, who has architectural history background, was noted; commissioner skills needed would include historic, construction, and legal backgrounds.  Notice about who has officially resigned will be forthcoming.  It was clarified that a Commissioner can resign as an alternate and ask to become a full member for one of the parties.  Being a certified local government carries certain requirements regarding who sits on the Town's HDC, including having an historian on the board.   The name of Bob Wild, who is an attorney and lives in a 1700's home, was mentioned; and Ieke and Mark Scully were also noted.  The Commissioners will put together a list of potential members and provide it to the 2 party chairs in Town for their consideration and proper referral; this process will take a number of months, given the time of year and formal nominating requirements.  The Commission will make its needs known to the party chairs in order to maintain the positive direction of HDC.

The Commissioners were sorry to hear that Lynn Charest will be leaving after 5 1/2 years of working with HDC and they expressed their sincere appreciation for her very valuable work.  Lynn is leaving to become the Land Use Coordinator in Canton.  To-date, there is no Town replacement for her position.

The final report for the last grant for Rachel Carley has been submitted and an article about Ms. Carley's work in the Valley News was provided to the Commissioners.

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of June 6, 2013

Chairman Alfeld made a motion to approve the minutes as written.  Commissioner Mead seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Laschever made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15p.m.  Commissioner Alfeld seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.

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Denise Alfeld, Secretary