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Randi Bradbury, Chairman, called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present Members Absent
Randi Bradbury, Chairman Lisa LeMonte, Regular Member
Diane Aldi DePaola, Regular Member
Jeffrey Meotti, Regular Member
Mark Carruthers, Alternate Member
Eugene Creighton, Alternate Member (seated to vote)
Richard Peters, Alternate Member (seated to vote)
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
- PUBLIC HEARINGS
- OLD BUSINESS
MOTION: to move item VI. REGULAR BUSINESS F. Fee Schedule to under IV. OLD BUSINESS.; MOVED: R. Bradbury; SECONDED: D. Aldi DePaola; IN FAVOR: R. Bradbury, D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, R. Peters, E. Creighton; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
A. Fee Schedule
In their packets, Commission members received a copy of the draft of FEE SCHEDULE pursuant to Chapter 118 Fees of the Old Saybrook Town Code dated 1/7/10 BOS meeting, and a draft ordinance of Chapter
118.Fees dated 1/7/10 BOS meeting. They also received a copy of the Historic District Commission Motion, Time & Cost Summary of Administrative Clerk Duties per Application for Certificate of Appropriateness.
C. Nelson told the Commission that there is a proposal to take the fees out of the ordinance and put them in a schedule to be approved by the BOS.
There was much discussion about charging a reasonable fee for a Certificate of Appropriateness that would cover town costs. Different amounts were suggested based on the total cost of an HDC application for a Certificate of Appropriateness which includes advertisement of the Public Hearing, etc. C. Nelson then reviewed the HDC Motion, Time & Cost Summary of Administrative Clerk Duties which itemizes these costs.
E. Creighton felt strongly that the fee should cover the town’s costs for the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
R. Peters suggested basing the fee on the value of the work to be done.
C. Nelson explained that the way the statute is written, the HDC only has the authority to cover administrative costs.
C. Nelson explained that the HDC cannot charge a fee until the ordinance goes to a Town Meeting, which has not yet been scheduled. The HDC will need to ask the Board of Selectmen for an amendment to their Fee Schedule.
MOTION: to approve a fee of $125.00 per Certificate of Appropriateness application.; MOVED: D. Aldi DePaola; SECONDED: R. Peters; IN FAVOR: R. Bradbury, D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, R. Peters, E. Creighton; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Because C. Nelson was present at tonight’s meeting, D. Aldi DePaola asked R. Bradbury for her approval to ask C. Nelson a question about the HDC Regulations.
D. Aldi DePaola asked about Section 4, #2 of the HDC Regulations draft dated 12/3/2009 re: a waiver for an A-2 Survey for a Certificate of Appropriateness. At this time, the HDC does not have a waiver for this. Because of the expense of an A-2 Survey, and the need there would be for two Public Hearings: one for the waiver request to be voted on, and one for the Certificate of Appropriateness to be voted on, she asked if a waiver could be added to the Certificate of Appropriateness application form.
C. Nelson explained that technically, an A-2 Survey is currently a requirement under HDC Regulations, but because many applicants with minor home modifications don’t need an A-2 Survey, a waiver would be a good idea. However, a site plan would still be required.
R. Peters offered to work on a change in the wording for Section 4 #2. D. Aldi DePaola and R. Bradbury offered to work on the wording of the actual waiver.
A. Meeting Minutes
MOTION: to approve the minutes of December 17, 2009 as written; MOVED: E. Creighton; SECONDED: R. Peters; IN FAVOR: R. Bradbury, D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, R. Peters, E. Creighton; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
R. Bradbury received correspondence from the First Selectman’s office notifying her that Tamara Miglio has been reappointed to the Historic District Commission. T. Miglio stepped down from the HDC at the end of her term (December 2009). The First Selectman’s office needs a letter of resignation from T. Miglio before someone new can be appointed to take her place as a Regular Member.
R. Bradbury said she would contact T. Miglio and ask her to send a letter of resignation to the First Selectman’s office. R. Bradbury also encouraged interested Alternate Members of the HDC to send a letter of interest to the First Selectman’s office if they’d like to serve as Regular Members instead of Alternate Members of the HDC.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
- Annual Election of Officers
Because only three out of five Regular Members were present at tonight’s meeting, R. Bradbury suggested, and Commission members agreed, to postpone election of officers until the next regularly scheduled meeting of
the Historic District Commission which is Thursday, February 18, 2010, Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room.
MOTION: to postpone D. Annual Election of Officers to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Historic District Commission which is Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room; MOVED: E. Creighton; SECONDED: D. Aldi DePaola; IN FAVOR: R. Bradbury, D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, R. Peters, E. Creighton; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
R. Bradbury said when Commission members last met, there was some concern about Article VI. Section 3 in the HDC By-Laws, but that it has been looked at, and it is ok. Commission members have accepted the By-Law Review. R. Bradbury said everyone would be receiving new, revised copies soon. She asked that Commission members destroy old copies once they receive the new ones to avoid any confusion.
R. Bradbury encouraged Commission members to attend the various trainings offered by the Town Hall. She also encouraged members to attend the meetings of Old Saybrook’s other boards and commissions so they can become even more familiar with the process.
MOTION: to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room; MOVED: R. Peters; SECONDED: E. Creighton; IN FAVOR: R. Bradbury, D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, R. Peters, E. Creighton; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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