Community Preservation Committee
Minutes of Meeting Held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
7:00pm, Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Hudson Town Hall
Members Present:
Robert D’Amelio
Jennifer Burke
Arthur Redding
Linda Ghiloni
John Parent
Joseph Durant
Scott Duplisea
Minot Wood
7:00 pm Presentation – Public Hearing – Community Preservation Plan
The Community Preservation Plan updated with new projects, state reimbursements and other financial information as well the new legislation passed in July was presented to the committee members. The approved Plan will be placed on the CPC website. Mr. Redding motioned to approve the Plan, seconded by Mr. D’Amelio and carried….
Vote: 8-0 in Favor
7:15pm Presentation – John Blood, Fire Chief – Rehabilitation of Fire Station #1 (Main Street)
Chief Blood explained that this was an additional request due to inadequate cost estimates for the rehabilitation project from the beginning. When they bid the project back in 2011 the lowest bidder was $100,000 over what was available for the project. They (the project Architect and Chief) had to make adjustments to the bid specifications from their original proposed renovations. This request is to finish the project as originally proposed and should be the last request for outside façade improvements to bring the buildings “look” back to where it was in the 1800’s.
Mr. Duplisea asked where the line was for Town buildings such as this as far as renovations were concerned. Chief Blood explained that the Town did allocate funding for the replacement of the roof, but that the historical features CPC is paying for would not be something that would have ever been in the Capital Plan, since it is really not a priority in the big picture of the Town. Constructive maintenance requests to the Town for the roof and soon for the bay flooring, and any other internal upgrades would be the Town’s responsibility. The fact that the outside of the building was in such poor condition is the result of not keeping up due to budget constraints. The new “molding” and features being done now are a composite material which should help with maintenance going
forward.
Ms. Burke questioned the storm door for the tower and whether that would be considered a historic feature. Chief Blood stated he would take out that item.
Mr. Redding motioned to recommend $151,994.00 from budgeted reserve, seconded by Mr. D’Amelio and carried…
Vote: 8-0 in favor
Presentation – Hugo Guidotti, Trustee, Hudson Historic Society – Archive Index Database
Mr. Guidotti explained the process of indexing all of the paper documents, assigning numbers and the computer search software. Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Halprin, members of the Society were in attendance and spoke to the tasks requested in the application. Mr. Redding questioned if this would now allow individuals to seek information from home computers and get all of the information available within the Historic Society’s archives. Mr. Halprin indicated that not all of the information would show – only items already scanned (physical items, pictures, etc) from the previous CPC funded projects. Individuals would still need to contact the Society and a member could then easily find (via the indexed system) the written material and give that requester more specific data. Mr. Halprin stated the there were
additional future tasks they could get them to that point, but they were not part of this application. Mr. Redding stated that he thought it would be better to hire an outside firm to come into the Society to do the indexing of written materials, pictures, and physical items, so that all of the information on a specific subject could be accessible through the internet, and not do these projects piece meal. If an individual put in a specific subject (such as Brigham Family) all physical items, pictures and written information contained within the Society should come up at once.
The question came up as to whether paying current Society volunteers to do this work was acceptable within CPA. Also, Mr. Parent questioned the hourly rate indicated in the application of $30.00 per hour. Mrs. Johnson stated that the previous individual who was hired to do some of their archiving cost more than that and she did not feel that individual did a good job.
Some discussion following regarding how to find companies that could help with the entire larger process and it was suggested that they contact Mass Historic Commission or the Worcester Historic Society who should have information that would be beneficial to the members.
Ms. Ghiloni motioned to recommend $24,000 from Historic Preservation to do the 6 tasks indicated, seconded by Mr. Duplisea and carried….
Vote: 3 in Favor – 4 against – 1 abstained (Mr. Durant)
Approval of Minutes from August 1, 2012
Mr. D’Amelio motioned to approve the minutes of the August 1, 2012 meeting, seconded by Mr. Parent and carried…
Vote: 7-0 in Favor – 1 abstained (Mr. Wood)
Motion to Adopt: Mr. Durant
Second: Mr. Parent
Vote: 6-0 in Favor – March 26, 2013
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