MIDDLE HADDAM HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, January 27, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.
Location: Eaton Smith Meeting Room – East Hampton
Minutes
- Call to order – Chairman Royster called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
- Roll Call / Seating of Alternates – Roll call was taken. Present were Commissioners James Royster, Richard Walsh, Charles Roberts, Gina Ritchie, David Kneeland and alternate Commissioner Demian Battit. Not present was Colleen Mellen and Christopher Dart.
- Public Remarks – Items Not on Agenda – None
4. Approval of minutes and motions
a. Minutes and motions for the regular meeting on November 18, 2010 were reviewed. The minutes were approved with the following changes. Paragraph 4 a. should be “Application #445, filed by Gary Smith…”. Paragraph 4 b. should be “Application #446, filed by Traditional Innovations, LLC…”. Paragraph 4, last line should read, “Mr. Walsh returned to the meeting room.”
5. Correspondence –
a. 12/17/2010 letter for Attorney D’Aquila – Attorney D’Aquila replied to Interim Town Manager, Robert Drewry, regarding Margaret Faber’s 11/11/10 letter. Attorney D’Aquila stated that under Robert’s Rules of Order approved minutes can only be amended if they contain an error or material omission.
b. Letters from Margaret Faber dated 11/11/10 and 1/4/11 – Ms. Faber addressed both letters to the Members of the Middle Haddam Historic District Commission. In the 11/11/10 letter, Ms. Faber requested three changes: 1. correct the minutes of 5/17/06 to show she was elected to the position of both Clerk and Vice Chair; 2. asked to change all subsequent minutes from April 2006 through April 2007 where she is referred to as Clerk to Clerk and Vice Chair; 3. asked to furnish written acknowledgement that these corrections have been made to her, copied to the Town Council and to all past and present members of the MHHDC from 2007 through 2010. Chairman Royster discussed Attorney D’Aquila’s responding letter of 12/17/10. Mr. Royster commented that although the commission has not specifically adopted them, the Commission tries to follow Roberts’ Rules of Order and they are recognized as authoritative rules of parliamentary procedure. It was agreed that the MHHDC should consider
revising previously accepted minutes only when it has been reasonably established that such minutes do not correctly record actions taken by the commission. Attorney D’Aquila’s letter dated April 1,2010 to then Town Manager O’Keefe (attachment E to Ms. Faber’s letter of Nov. 11,2010) indicates that the Town Clerk confirmed that the recording of the commission’s meeting of May 17, 2006 indicates that Ms. Faber was elected to both positions of Clerk and Vice Chair.
Commissioner Royster moved to amend the previously adopted 5/17/06 minutes by adding the words “and Vice Chair” in two places following the word “Clerk” as it appears in sub-paragraph 2 of paragraph A under Old Business, together with a reference to the minutes of this meeting with a notation in the margins of the recorded minutes of the 5/17/06 or as the Town Clerk deems proper. Motion seconded by Richard Walsh. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
Secondly, with regard to Ms. Faber’s request, Commissioner Royster moved to not make any alterations to the subsequent minutes from April 2006 through April 2007, seconded by David Kneeland. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
Finally, with regard to Ms. Faber’s request to notify all past and present MHHDC members and town council members, Mr. Royster moved to notify Ms. Faber only of the decisions at this meeting, seconded by Charles Roberts. Mr. Royster will send a letter to Ms. Faber informing her that the MHHDC acknowledged her requests and made appropriate action on her first request, but not her second and third requests. Motion Carried 5-0-0.
c. Other – None
6. Reports
a. Expenditures – None
b. Other – None
7. New Business –
a. Other – None
8. Unfinished business
a. Revisions to handbook, COA application and related instructions. It was reported that the changes have been incorporated in the town website.
9. Public Remarks – None
10. Adjournment – Charles Roberts moved to adjourn at 6:58 p.m., seconded by David Kneeland.
Motion Carried 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jennifer Magro
Recording Secretary
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