Lenox Historical Commission
March 12, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Lenox Academy, 2nd Floor
Minutes
Commissioners present: George Jordan, Lavinia Meeks, Suzanne Pelton
Volunteers present: Andrea Winter
The meeting was called to order at 7:02. The minutes of the February 12 meeting were approved as presented.
OLD BUSINESS
Demolition Delay Bylaw – Discussion regarding the pros and cons of including the Planning Board in the demolition delay hearing process. The Planning Board does not have preservation training and it was felt would not contribute anything more than a secretary who could make the date for hearing. With all the phone numbers for LHC Commissioners posted at Town Hall, there should be no difficulty in an applicant’s reaching the LHC to have questions answered and hearing scheduled. Therefore it was moved and seconded and passed unanimously that the LHC should retain all the responsibility for hearings. The LHC will present the DDB to Select Board on March 28.
Town Cemetery Restoration – It was not possible to put together an application for state funding for a restoration plan before deadline this month. The LHC can do it’s own survey and apply next March for a grant to do the actual restoration work. Dalton, Richmond and Williamstown can provide information on surveys. We should get started as soon as weather permits.
Westinghouse Streetlights Restoration – Suzanne presented rationale for installation of new Westinghouse lights instead of generic Victorian lights at February 21 Select Board meeting. There were just three Selects present: Sandlin, Messana and Pavlosky. They decided to hold off a decision until all Selects were present. They did not say when they would confer on design selection. Andrea will talk to Linda Messana about the Village Improvement Committee’s alternate plan for new lights.
Winstanley & LHC Letters – The Historic District Commission will hear Winstanley presentation on March 20th, and LHC Commissioners who can attend are urged to do so. Regarding the letters from our Commission to ZBA and HDC presenting our arguments on behalf of historic preservation and not in favor of Winstanley development: the Town Manager and Select Board questioned our authority to write such letters. Suzanne talked to Gretchen Schuller, the consultant hired by Lenox to help HDC write Guidelines. She confirmed that it is the LHC’s mission to protect the historic landscape of the Town and we were absolutely with our right to bring our concerns to the table.
NEW BUSINESS
Office Files - Suzanne and Andrea volunteered to meet to go through files and see what we have on Monday March 26.
Preservation Planning – Chris Skelly will be giving a presentation on March 30, 10-12 at the Pittsfield Athenaeum. Lavinia will call Chris to say we all expect to attend.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20. The next two meetings are May 8 and June 11 at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne W. Pelton
Secretary
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