HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD
REGULAR MEETING: August 3, 2009
The regular meeting of the Historic District Commission of East Hartford, Connecticut was called to order at 7:08 p.m. in the Building Department Conference Room at Town Hall by Chair David Holmes. On a roll call by Secretary Robert Pasek:
PRESENT: Secretary Robert Pasek, Chair David Holmes, Vice-Chair Steven Hudak, Travis Simpson, Gloria Visgilio-Lupi, and Alternate Jeffrey Cummings.
ABSENT: Alternate Catherine Condio and Alternate Michelina Lauzier.
ALSO PRESENT: Liaison Mary G. Martin, Mr. & Mrs. D’Alessandro and Municipal Historian Raymond Johnson.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Pasek to accept the July 13, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes; seconded by Mr. Cummings. Vote was unanimous and uncontested. Mr. Simpson and Ms. Visgilio-Lupi abstained.
Mr. Pasek made a MOTION to revise the agenda and move New Business Item 6A of the agenda to this point of the agenda; seconded by Mr. Simpson. Vote was unanimous and uncontested.
NEW BUSINESS:
ACTION ON APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS #74 FOR 177 NAUBUC AVENUE (OWNER: D’ALESSANDRO) – INSTALL “ENVIRO VIEW” WINDOWS: The owners wish to replace 15 windows in their vinyl sided home with 15 “Enviro View” white windows (14 – 30 ¼” x 57”; 1 – 22” x 37”). They are consistent with the design of the current windows and are the same measurements. They are all vinyl with a division of 6 over 1. The mullions are in between the glass panes. Mr. Pasek made a MOTION to approve Application for Certificate of Appropriateness #74 for the installation of “Enviro-view” windows at 177 Naubuc Avenue; seconded by Mr. Visgilio-Lupi. Vote was unanimous and
uncontested.
COMMUNICATIONS: Those listed on the agenda were presented. In addition:
- CT Preservation News, July/August 2009; Vol. XXXII, No. 4 – Articles include
“Searching Out Connecticut’s Barns” and “Historic Home Works”.
2. Email from resident regarding the property located at 1605 Main Street explaining
that the historic integrity of the structure was being destroyed with the addition of vinyl
siding and the removal of the side porch. The resident was under the impression that the
property owner had received grants and/or loans from the Historic District Commission a
few years back. Ms. Martin responded to the email with an explanation that the
Commission has no legal jurisdiction over the property since it is not in an Historic
District. She also explained that the property was only recognized for the owner’s
historic preservation efforts to maintain the structure with an framed award and was not the recipient of any funding.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS/RESIDENTS TO SPEAK: Chair Holmes congratulated Municipal Historian Raymond Johnson on his appointment and welcomed him to the meeting. Mr. Johnson introduced himself to everyone on the Commission and allowed the Commission members to view a book that he helped publish, along with the East Hartford Rotary Club, depicting the historic past of East Hartford.
OLD BUSINESS:
ACKNOWLEDGE SERVICE OF FORMER COMMISSIONER MARY DOWDEN (9/14/09): Chair Holmes spoke with Ms. Dowden and she wished not to be acknowledged by the Commission. The consensus of the Commission was to accept Ms. Dowden’s decision at this time with great regret.
NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED:
PITKIN VAULT: The Pitkin Vault is located in Center Cemetery and dates back to 1803. It is considered a contributing resource to a National Register Historic District and has federal recognition. It is actually a mausoleum for the Pitkin family remains and it is built into the hillside with stone and brick in an arch-like form. Unfortunately, the arch is showing severe signs of failure from weather and ground related issues. The Friends of Center Cemetery have requested emergency grants funds to study the structure’s structural stability as well as possible stabilization. Ms. Martin has been authorized to use $25,000 from the Local Capital Improvement Program grant since the work was approved by the Town Council and added to the Town’s Capital Improvement List.
Ms. Martin is working along with the State Archaeologist, D’Esopo’s Funeral Chapel, as well as an engineering firm to remove and study the remains and hopefully stabilize the structure. Once a safe method for removal is found, the remains will be removed and be forensically studied and then re-interred at a later date, perhaps in a different vault (as determined by the Pitkin family). Ms. Martin will keep the Commission informed on the outcome.
PAYMENTS: 1. The Hartford Courant (not to exceed $50)
2. Clerk – M. Enman ($75)
MOTION by Mr. Pasek to pay the above listed expenses; seconded by Mr. Simpson. Vote was unanimous and uncontested.
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Mr. Simpson made note that the Pires property on Naubuc Avenue had recently sold. He was inquiring if a welcome letter had been sent to the new owners. The Commission did not know of the recent sale and will send out a letter in the near future. Mr. Simpson also discussed printing additional copies of the study that was done on each house in the district and distributing a copy of each individual report to the current owner of each property. Ms. Martin was going to look at the current budget and determine if there would be enough funds to do this. Commission members also recommended that printing should be done in color, if possible.
Ms. Martin discussed the display of a series of Richard Welling drawings that have been re-framed and re-sized and hung on the walls of the 2nd Floor Conference Room. She encouraged all Commissioners to stop by the room and view the artwork. There has also been some discussion on changing the name of the room to “The Welling Room”.
Mr. Holmes discussed the issue of vinyl windows with the Commission members. He feels that by approving vinyl windows to be placed on homes in the historic district, the Commission is setting a precedent for future vinyl window applications. Mr. Holmes feels that the Commission should make an amendment to the current guidelines which would require a vinyl window of a certain level of quality. He feels that there are much better products available now with reasonable costs unlike when the bylaws were written in 1986. He would like the Commission to define an acceptable type of vinyl window that would preserve the historic look, yet be cost effective as well as energy efficient. Other members discussed how the Commission should handle vinyl siding applications. Mr.
Simpson suggested that the Commission should attempt to preserve the look and the feel of the historic neighborhood rather than dictate the types of materials that should be used. After discussion, it was decided that this would be put on the agenda for further discussion in the near future and possibly be the topic of a separate workshop.
MOTION by Mr. Pasek to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m.; seconded Ms. Visgilio-Lupi. Vote was unanimous and uncontested.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________
Michelle A. Enman, Clerk
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