Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 5, 2007
Place: |
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LACFA, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular),Tom Keogh (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate) |
Absent: |
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Kenneth Levin, Nina Peck |
Agenda: |
1. 9:15 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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2. 9:30 |
22 Lyme Street – Exterior lighting, social hall – Jim Bechtel |
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3. 9:45 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Martha Hansen |
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4. 10:00 |
CLG Grants update – Jim Bechtel, John Forbis |
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5. 10:15 |
HDC - 2009 Budget & Capital Request - Jim Bechtel |
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6. 10:45 |
HDC – Sculpture Policy draft – John Forbis |
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7. 11:00 |
HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis |
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8. 11:15 |
HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain |
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9. 11:30 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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10. 11:45 |
HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission |
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11. 12:00 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 A.M. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel. A motion was made by Tom Keogh,
seconded by Barbara Traskos and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 1, 2007 meeting with no changes.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. 22 Lyme Street – Social Hall partial demolition and exterior lighting – Jim Bechtel
Lee & Michelle Mergy, owners of 22 Lyme Street, submitted a CofA application to demolish approximately 25 feet of the south end of the existing outbuilding (formerly the Social Hall) located on the west side of the property. The gable end will then be closed in with clapboard siding to match the remaining building. The HDC voted to approve the CofA for 90 days. Adjacent neighbors will be notified by the HDC.
Rink DuPont, the Mergy’s architect, submitted pictures of the exterior light fixtures to be used on the main building (formerly Christ the King Church). The fixtures, replicas of 18th century lanterns, will be made by Scofield Historic Lighting of Essex, CT.
Action: Contact the building dept. regarding the social hall partial demolition (Jim Bechtel). Notify by mail the adjacent neighbors of the impending demolition (Martha Hansen).
3. HDC – Plaque Program update- Martha Hansen
The Lyme Art Association has installed its Historic Plaque.
Martha received information on the history of the Grange building from Jean Stands, and has checked the land records at town hall. The building, originally the Old Lyme Gun Club, was purchased by the Grange Aid Society in 1910 from the estate of Sarah Huntington and moved from its original location on Maple Avenue, to 55 Lyme Street in 1928. Martha is trying to find out when the building was originally built, and if it was in the Historic District as it is not mentioned in the land records prior to 1910. Sarah Huntington purchased the land in 1884 with no buildings listed.
Betsey Webster, Congregational Church historian, is sending Martha some historic information about the Parsonage. The present Congregational Church building is the 5th meetinghouse and was built in 1910. It is a replica of the 4th meetinghouse, designed by Samuel Belcher, which was built in 1817. The 4th meetinghouse burned down in 1907. The Commission discussed putting two dates on the church plaque to avoid any misrepresentation.
Martha is also researching the John Sill house which is currently owned by the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen).
4. HDC - CLG Grants update – Jim Bechtel, John Forbis
The Town of Old Lyme has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Connecticut Commission of Culture & Tourism. The grant money will be put toward the second floor conference room, the building department and selectmen’s offices, and information kiosks in the lobby at town hall.
The Town of Old Lyme was recently awarded a $2,300 grant from the Connecticut Commission of Culture & Tourism to reimburse the HDC for historic plaques and research for non-profit organizations in the Historic District.
John Forbis also mentioned the possibility of obtaining a $30,000 grant from the CCC&T to create marketing materials for Old Lyme. This could include updating the Historic District Handbook, creating a booklet on the Impressionist art collection in the Town Hall, etc.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel, John Forbis).
5. HDC – 2009 Budget & Capital Request – Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel reported that in 2007 the HDC’s actual budget was 3,630.41. This included $3,000 for the clerk, $344.50 for Legal fees, and $285.91 in miscellaneous expenses. The request for 2008 was $4,000. This included $3,000 for the clerk and $1,000 for legal & misc. expenses. The HDC discussed the 2009 budget and recommended requesting $5,000. As John Forbis stated, Old Lyme is now a Certified Local Government and therefore eligible for state grant money, but could benefit from more professional materials when applying for the grants.
Jim also pointed out that the HDC receives some income from CofA fees. Martha will check the fees income from the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Jim will discuss the budget with Ken Levin and get back to Cathy Frank by 11/16.
Action: Provide amount of fees to Jim Bechtel (Martha Hansen).
Keep the HDC informed (Jim Bechtel).
6. HDC – Sculpture Policy draft – John Forbis
John Forbis presented a draft for the Old Lyme Historic District Sculpture Policy. The policy points were discussed and suggestions were made by the HDC. John will incorporate the suggestions in the Sculpture Policy and it will be discussed again at the December meeting.
Action: Update Sculpture Policy draft (John Forbis).
7. HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis
The Town Hall Expansion project is proceeding on schedule. It is expected that the clapboards will be on, windows in and the roof will be finished by mid-December.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (John Forbis).
8. HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain informed the HDC that the Litchfield Historical Society & the CT Trust for Historic Preservation will be presenting a two-day symposium on The Connecticut Farm Landscape: Open Space and Historic buildings. The symposium will be November 16 & 17 at the Litchfield Community Center, in Litchfield, CT.
Betty suggested that the HDC meeting time be changed to 9:00 A.M. because of the length of the meetings. The HDC agreed and will change the meeting time beginning in January 2008.
Action: Prepare 2008 meeting schedule for Selectmen’s office (Martha Hansen).
9. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The Demolition Delay letter was sent to Ron Rose, with copies to Tim Griswold, zoning officials, John Pfeiffer, and the Lyme and Old Lyme Historical Societies. The HDC has not received a response from anyone.
Action: Contact the building department regarding the Demolition Delay letter (Jim Bechtel).
10. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
None
11. Adjournment
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:15. The motion was seconded by Betty Chamberlain and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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