Middle Haddam Historic District Commission
January 16, 2007 Regular Business Meeting
Meeting Venue: East Hampton Public Library
Meeting Minutes
Present: Peter Walsh [Chairperson], Margaret McCutcheon Faber [Vice-Chair/Clerk], Rick Walsh, Doug Mackeown, Kamey Ahrens [Recording Secretary], Members of the public.
Call to Order: Chairman Walsh called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM
Appointment of Alternates: Chairman Walsh seated R. Walsh and himself.
Approval of Minutes from December 19th, 2006 Meeting
Chairman Walsh entertained a motion for changes to be made to the December 19th, 2006 minutes. “Meeting was called to order at 8 PM” amended by Chairman Walsh to read “Meeting was called to order at 7 PM.” “Ms. Angelico’s application was the lone receipt” amended by Chairman Walsh to read “Ms. Angelico’s application was the lone application.” Chairman Walsh, Ms. Faber, Mr. Mackeown, Mr. Costello, and Mr. Walsh voted to accept the minutes of the December 19th, 2006 meeting as amended.
Public Comments and Correspondence:
Hearing no Public Comments, Chairman Walsh closed this portion of the agenda.
Ms. Faber reported and entered into the record correspondence from Janet Brooks, the town attorney, regarding proposed ordinance changes (see attached). Ms. Faber read into the record a letter from Mr. & Mrs. Royster dated January 15th, 2007 regarding their decision to WITHDRAW their application for a Certificate of Appropriateness noting their reasons.
Unfinished Business
a) On-site inspection scheduling Chairman Walsh discussed the relocation of the door located at Mr. Royster’s property, 17 Shipyard Road. The commission scheduled an on-site inspection for Saturday, January 20th, 2007 at 9am.
Ned Costello arrived at 7:13PM
Mr. Royster asked for further discussion on the prior certificate of appropriateness, was it valid or invalid? He stated that although it is six years old, there does not seem to be an expiration date on the application. The commission members acknowledged that the certificate should have been noted with an expiration date that it was an overlooked at the time of issue.
Ned Costello made a motion to allow the original Certificate of Appropriateness submitted by Mr. James Royster to expire on 1/16/08. Motion was seconded by D. Mackeown. 5-0 Vote Passed
b) Updated Historic District ordinance and Town ordinance codification changes
D. Mackeown discussed his letter addressed to the Town Council dated January 8th, 2007 regarding their recent action to enact a change to the Middle Haddam Historic District Ordinance.
Nannette Woodcock arrived at 7:25 PM. Chairman Walsh was no longer seated as a voting member.
Chairman Walsh asked what they can do as a commission when the Town Council has the authority to make the change and the change is mandated by State statute, where can we go from here.
D. Mackeown stated as a commission we can request confirmation on whether they needed to give the commission 65 days to comment before they make the change.
D. Mackeown made a motion for the commission to address a letter to the Town Council discussing the procedures following regarding the MHHD Ordinance. Motion was seconded by N. Costello. Vote 4-1- Motion Failed- Yes- D. Mackeown No- M. Faber, Ned Costello, N. Woodcock, and R. Walsh.
New Business
a) Yearly scheduling of meetings
Chairman Walsh advised the commission members that the Town Hall Eaton Smith meeting room is available for the Middle Haddam Historic District Commission to meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month which would seem to accommodate the commission better.
N. Costello made a motion to change the MHHD meetings to be held on the 1st Tuesday of the month starting on February 6th, 2007 at 7 PM, in the Eaton Smith meeting room at Town Hall. Motion was seconded by R. Walsh. 5-0 Vote Passed
b) Nameplates M. Faber advised commission members of the charge for name plates to be purchased for the Middle Haddam Historic District Commission.
N. Costello made a motion to allow the MHHD to spend $8.50 per member to order name plates. Motion was seconded by N. Woodcock. 5-0 Vote Passed
c) Yearly budget The Commission members discussed the proposed budget for 2007: $3,438.00
N. Costello made a motion to accept the budget as produced. Motion was seconded by M. Faber.
N. Costello made a motion to amend the budget and change the line item for signs from $100 to $300. Motion was seconded by R. Walsh. 5-0 Vote Passed
R. Walsh made a motion to amend the budget and add $362 towards a 30th Anniversary Association for signage and postage. Motion was seconded by N. Costello. 5-0 Vote Passed
N. Costello made a motion to submit the budget to the finance depart with a Budge for 2007 at $4000. Motion was seconded by M. Faber. 5-0 Vote Passed
The original vote to submit at $4000 budget to the town finance director passed. 5-0
d) Changes at the Gotta residence (26 Long Hill Road) outside the application process Chairman Walsh stated he received by hand delivery an application from Mr. Charlie Gotta to remove existing walkout basement overhead door and to install new carriage house doors. This work was completed without any application or public hearing and was brought to the commissioners attention when then a letter was addressed to Mr. Gotta asking to submit an application for the work completed. This work was completed in violation of the district application procedures. The commission members discussed ways to stop these situations from happening in the future and noted further discussion on this will take place at the workshop scheduled for February 3rd, 2007.
N. Costello made a motion authorizing Chairman P. Walsh to address a letter to Mr. Gotta informing him of the application process and not accepting the current application that has been submitted. Motion was seconded by M. Faber. 5-0 Vote passed
e) Missing meeting minutes
The commission members discussed the minutes that are missing from previous meetings beginning 1993. Commission members are going to look into their personal files and report back at the next meeting what they may have to help with this situation.
Public Comments:
Rev. Charles Harmon, 33 Middle Haddam Road, noted that in the existing ordinance there is some instrument for imposing fines on work that is done without approval and asked if there was a way the commission could start to impose and enforce this authority.
Adjournment:
N. Costello made a motion to adjourn the MHHD meeting at 8:07 PM. Motion was seconded by M. McCutcheon-Faber. 5-0 Vote passed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kamey Ahrens Recording Secretary
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