Lenox Historical Commission
September 8, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Town Hall, Land Use Room
Minutes
Commissioners present: James Jurney, Suzanne Pelton, Sharon Hughes
Visitors: Ellie Geller, Gundula Brattke
Meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. The minutes of the August 11 meeting were approved.
Gundula Brattke, a new resident in Lenox, joined us by invitation from James to show pictures her son has taken of the Town Cemetery at the Church on the Hill. She will create a brochure to go with our application for state funding. She plans to create a book of pictures of gravestones and histories of the buried in some of Berkshire County’s 200 cemeteries.
OLD BUSINESS
Cemetery Restoration – MPPF (Mass Preservation Project Funds) application deadline for funds is January 09. Olga and Suzanne will continue work on application.
Plaques on Historic Buildings – Sharon will get costs and samples.
St. Ann’s National Register Listing – Ellie has connected with Nora O’Brien and awaits meeting with church officials.
NEW BUSINESS
Great Estates Preservation By-law—There are at least 30 “Cottages” in Lenox (list attached) which need protection. The problem with the current By-law is that any uses of the building other than school, B&B or single family dwelling requires a variance which opens up possibility for lawsuit from an abutter. Our commission’s goal is to add wording that encourages preservation of the buildings and their interiors.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:05.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne W. Pelton
Secretary
| 
