Historic District Commission Minutes 02/01/2018

Meeting date: 
Thursday, February 1, 2018

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

MINUTES FROM REGULAR MEETING

SUBJECT TO VOTE OF APPROVAL

 

 

I.             CALL TO ORDER

 

The Regular Meeting of the Historic District Commission was called to order at 7:31 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices, 933 Hopmeadow Street.  Also in attendance were Michael Glidden, Assistant Town Planner; Mike Paine, Board of Selectman Liaison and Karen Haberlin, Commission Clerk.

 

 

II.            ROLL CALL

 

Commission members present were Peter Adamowicz, Marguerite Carnell, Heather Goetz, Dianne Mead and Mark Nyquist.

               

                1.            Appointment of Alternates

Vice Chair Carnell appointed Mark Nyquist and Peter Adamowicz to serve as voting members.

 

 

III.           GENERAL COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

                1.            Recruitment of new members

Chairwoman Mead thanked new members Peter Adamowicz and Heather Goetz for joining the Commission and she added that she would like to step down as Chair.

 

MOTION: Ms. Mead made a motion to amend the agenda to include the election of officers.  Ms. Carnell seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

 

Ms. Mead opened the floor for nominations and nominated Ms. Carnell for Chair.  Ms. Mead was nominated for Vice Chair and Ms. Goetz for Secretary.  Nominations for the slate of officers were closed.

 

MOTION: Ms. Mead made a motion to vote on the new slate of officers to include Ms. Carnell as Chair, Ms. Mead as Vice Chair and Ms. Goetz as Secretary.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

 

Returning to the recruitment of new members, Ms. Mead asked members to keep ears open for new members for the future.  Mr. Paine introduced himself as the liaison from the Board of Selectmen and noted he is here to help the Commission.

 

 

                2. Update handbook

Ms. Carnell noted the handbook was written in 1991 and the Commission hired a professional historic preservation consultant to update it since then.  Mr. Glidden added there is funding remaining from the Plan of Conservation and Development recent update.  As a side, Mr. Glidden thanked Ms. Carnell for her invaluable assistance with the Siting Council application.  He noted he will put together an RFP to find a historic preservation consultant, adding that he has studied other towns’ handbooks.  General discussion ensued regarding what the handbook lacks and what area towns have done. 

 

 

IV.          APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Ms. Carnell moved to approve the Minutes from the August 3, 2017 Special Meeting as written.  Ms. Mead seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

 

Ms. Mead remarked the Historic District signage needs painting.  Mr. Glidden said he would speak with Tom Roy about it.

 

Mr. Glidden updated the Commission on a Public Works plan for drainage improvements and the removal of three dead trees in the area of East Weatogue Street across the street from house #137, near the Ellsworth property, to address long-standing drainage complaints.  There will be a resurfacing and creation of a crown in the road.  The work will begin this spring.  Pursuant to the Scenic Road Ordinance, Tom Roy will be determining if this is considered a maintenance or a reconstruction project.  If it is a reconstruction project, it requires a public hearing under the Scenic Road Ordinance.  Because the area is in the Historic District, he wanted to make the Commission aware of the project.

 

 

V.            ADJOURNMENT

 

Ms. Carnell moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.  Ms. Mead seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Karen Haberlin

Commission Clerk