Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, January 7, 2008
Place: |
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LACFA, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate) |
Absent: |
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Tom Keogh (Regular) |
Agenda: |
1. 9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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2. 9:15 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Ken Levin, Martha Hansen, Jim Bechtel |
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3. 9:30 |
49 Lyme Street – Center School Playground update- Jim Bechtel |
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4. 9:45 |
HDC – Town Hall Expansion update – John Forbis |
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5. 10:00 |
HDC – Sculpture Policy draft – John Forbis |
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6. 10:15 |
HDC – Annual Election of Officers - Jim Bechtel |
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7. 10:30 |
HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain |
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8. 10:45 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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9. 11:00 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission: I-95 expansion, HDC excellence award, possible CLG grant application for handbook reprint, plaque research for private properties |
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10. 11:30 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel. A motion was made by Ken Levin, seconded by John Forbis and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2007 meeting with no changes.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public open forum
No public participation.
2. HDC – Plaque Program update- Ken Levin, Martha Hansen, Jim Bechtel
The Center School and 1 Lyme Street (Tinker-McCurdy ca. 1700) plaques have been delivered and will be installed shortly. Designs have been created for the Congregational Church (ca. 1817-Rebuilt 1910) and the Parsonage at 5 Lyme Street (Samuel Mather ca. 1790). Research has been completed for the Old Lyme Grange at 55 Lyme Street (Old Lyme Gun Club ca. 1880 – Relocated 1928) and LACFA at 84 Lyme Street (John Sill ca. 1817). Research is in progress for LYSB at 57 Lyme Street and the Masonic Hall at 20 Lyme Street.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel and Martha Hansen).
3. 49 Lyme Street – Center School Playground update – Jim Bechtel
Jim Bechtel contacted John Rhodes regarding the new Center School Playground equipment project. John will contact the neighbors at 47 Lyme Street and follow up with a letter to the HDC.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel).
4. HDC - Town Hall Expansion Update – John Forbis
Jim Bechtel reported that the Town Hall Design Review Committee viewed the acoustical tiles in the Avery House dining hall ceiling and are considering a similar application for the new meeting room at Town Hall. Whenever possible the existing furniture will be refinished (the Windsor chairs and conference tables). New desks and chairs will be purchased for staff offices, along with new soft furnishings for the mezzanine and Selectmen’s office. All exterior and the majority of interior selections (i.e., flooring, wall tile, paint colors, lighting, cabinetry, the elevator, etc.) have been made and incorporated into the program.
Work is being done on the electrical, plumbing and heating systems. The project is on schedule for completion by September 8, 2008.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (John Forbis).
5. HDC – Sculpture Policy Draft 5– John Forbis
The wording of Draft 5 was reviewed and changes were suggested. John will prepare Draft 6 for the February meeting.
Action: Update Sculpture Policy Draft (John Forbis).
6. HDC - Annual Election of Officers
A motion was made by Barbara Traskos, seconded by John Forbis and voted unanimously to reappoint Jim Bechtel and Ken Levin as cochairmen for 2008.
7. HDC - Business News – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain reminded the commission members that the CT Preservation Trust always wants to know about endangered historic properties to list in the Historic Properties Exchange. The CT Trust publishes the Historic Properties Exchange to advertise endangered historic properties in CT.
8. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The relatively small HDC files may be used by the Town to test the Laserfiche document scanning process. The HDC would also like to have its photos of buildings in the HD included in the scanning test.
Action: Check on progress (Martha Hansen).
9. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
Jim Bechtel spoke to Tim Griswold about the future I-95 expansion and the desire of the HDC to minimize the impact of the expansion on the Historic District.
Jim Bechtel and Ken Levin suggested initiating an Excellence Award program for deserving properties in the Historic District. Examples mentioned were the Mergys renovation of the old Catholic church and the Town Hall expansion. The Commission members liked the idea and will discuss it further at the February meeting.
The Historic District Handbook should be updated in 2008 or 2009 to include revisions, policy changes, new photos, etc. The HDC may be able to apply for a grant to cover the expense.
The HDC may also apply for a grant to pay for plaque research for private properties in the Historic District.
10. Adjournment
John Forbis made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 A.M. The motion was seconded by Ken Levin and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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