The City of Auburn
Historic Resources Review Board
c/o Office of Planning and Economic Development
Memorial City Hall - 24 South Street
Auburn, New York 13021
(315) 255-4115 Fax 253-0282
Meeting Minutes
July 12, 2005
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1. Meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. in the 1st floor caucus room of Memorial City Hall
In attendance were members Mike Deming, Jim Hutchinson, Christina Selvek and Judith Bryant, and staff members Mike Long and Alicia McKeen. Sam Swan was excused from the meeting as he is in Philadelphia receiving medical treatments.
2. Approval of Minutes: Chair asks for a motion to approve the minutes of April 12, 2005. Motion made by Jim H., seconded by Christina S. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
3. Certificates of Appropriateness: 8 Hamilton Ave – vinyl replacement windows on rear, 2nd floor sunroom. Judy & Mel Gumtow.
Mike L. – this had originally been an open porch that was enclosed for a 3-season room.
Mel G. – We would like to put replacements windows on the exterior of the existing windows. They would not be permanent and can be removed. The windows face MacDougall St. They are double hung replacement windows that would go on the exterior sill on the existing windows.
Mike L. – suggests a brown color to match existing.
Mel G. – colored vinyl would be cost prohibitive.
Jim H. – people don’t realize vinyl replacements can be painted.
Mel G. – the existing windows are a beige color & the replacements would be the same.
Mike D. – we have been strict with keeping the street side appearance but have to make some allowances for the weather since this area is not visible from the street.
Christina S. – but it is visible from MacDougall.
Mel G. – storms have no insulation and we want to use this year round as an office.
Jim H. – technically they are temporary & can be removed.
Judy G. – that is true, we just want some insulation there so we can use the room.
Jim H. – confused about the installation.
Mel G. – the sill is about 8 inches wide, we will screw the window into the sides and have one piece down the center for support.
Mike L. – double pane?
Mel G. – yes, high end of medium quality windows.
Mike D. – if you get them installed and it doesn’t look right then what?
Mel G. – well it would be the same if we used storms.
Jim H. – suggests getting any window off the shelf & holding it up to see how it would actually look. Might want to replace the existing windows.
Mel G. – we do not want to remove the existing windows. We are trying to do something better than aluminum storms and this is the best option we could think of.
Jim H. – could also screw them together instead of the support piece.
Judy G. – like the idea of setting up a window to see how it would look.
Chair asks for a motion as presented. Motion to approve made by Jim H., seconded by Christina S. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
4. 18 Elizabeth St. – replacement windows.
Mike L. – this was just turned in today. The house is gutted. They want to install vinyl replacement windows. I had spoken with them regarding the Secretary of the Interior’s standards.
Jim H. – likes vinyl replacements. Just keep the old windows in storage for possible future reuse.
Christina S. – would like to see them keep the wooden windows.
Jim H. – it’s easier to clean replacements than the older wooden ones. They would also have to use aluminum storms for the older windows. Again, vinyls are considered temporary as long as you only remove the sashes. Have them keep the old windows they remove.
Christina S. – is it more costly to have them keep the sashes & use wood replacements?
Jim H. – yes, only wish people could be convinced that the vinyl can be painted to give the appearance of wood.
Christina S. – can the wood sash on the exterior be kept?
Jim H. – yes
Christina S. – why are they asking for vinyl replacements?
Mike L. – cost. I had asked them about wooden storms. It is not a great quality house & is already vinyl sided.
Jim H. – what is the color scheme.
Mike L. – think they should use a beige color and work with that.
Christina S. – beige or tan.
Jim H. – or paint them.
Mike L. – so paint, color and save old sashes.
Chair asks for a motion. Motion to approve by Christina S., seconded by Jim H. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Christina S. – asking for a leave of absence for September and October as she will be working in Bristol, England with the British National Trust for 10 weeks on restorations of the English rock gardens of the late 1800’s.
Mike L. – explains that unexcused absences may result in removal from the Board. Motion to excuse made by Mike D., seconded by Judy W. All members vote approval. Motion carried.
Jim H. – back to 18 Elizabeth St. – they should have safety glass in the bottom sash of the window as it’s so close to the floor.
Mike L. – asks if there is anything going on with the Osborne Library.
Mike D. – the people from Boston came to look at it but now are hesitant. Have not heard from them again. There is a matching grant for repairs but all money has to be out of pocket 1st then they will get reimbursed.
Mike L. – informs the Board that he issued a CA to the 1st Methodist Church for repaving the parking lot.
Adjournment: Next meeting August 8, 2005 at Memorial City Hall at 7:00 P.M. – 1st floor caucus room.
Recorded by: Alicia McKeen
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