Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 3, 2008
Place: |
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Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Kenneth Levin (Cochairman, Regular), Jim Bechtel (Cochairman, Regular), Tom Keogh (Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate) |
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Absent: |
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Barbara Traskos (Regular) |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
HDC– Plaque program update – Ken Levin, Martha Hansen |
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9:30 |
Mergy Contribution Acknowledgement – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel |
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9:45 |
HDC - I-95 Corridor Task Force suggestions–Jim Bechtel |
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10:00 |
Chamber of Commerce bench update– Ken Levin |
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10:15 |
Sign Policy Discussion – John Forbis |
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10:45 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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11:00 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:15 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Boxwood propane tank CofA) |
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11:30 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by Cochairman Jim Bechtel. A motion was made by John Forbis
and seconded by Joanne DiCamillo to approve the minutes of the October 6, 2008 meeting with no changes. All present voted in favor except for Nina Peck who abstained as she had not attended the October meeting.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
Wendy Brainerd and Mary Pullen voiced their concerns about the Church Corner project. They received notification of a neighborhood meeting to be held on Thursday, November 6 to discuss the project plans. The HDC had reviewed the plans and recommended changes to the Church Corner Committee, many of which were incorporated. The HDC approved the plans with the changes but did not issue a CofA. The Church Corner project is an extension of the recent Lyme Street improvements (granite curbs, new drains, sidewalk repair). There are still public meetings to be held before the project is finalized.
Wendy Brainerd stated that there is someone at the Connecticut Office of Historic Preservation who could help the HDC to coordinate road improvements in the HD in a manner to have minimal impact on the historic nature of the neighborhood.
Action: Contact Wendy Brainerd for name of Connecticut Preservation official (Ken Levin).
2. HDC – Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Martha Hansen
A total of 11 plaques were given free of charge to nonprofit organizations in the HD as the result of a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. The final grant report has been submitted to the Commission.
Plaques have been completed for 22 Lyme Street (former CtheK Church) “Baptist Society ca. 1843” and 30 Lyme Street (former Rectory) “James A Rowland ca. 1885.”
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Martha Hansen).
3. Mergy Contribution Acknowledgment – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel
A letter was written to Mr. and Mrs. Mergy thanking them for their donation of $1000 to the HDC for the plaque program. The tax deductible contribution amounts to $696 ($1000 less $230 for 2 plaques and $74 for property research). The Mergys were presented with two plaques (22 and 30 Lyme Street).
4. I-95 Corridor Task Force Suggestions – Jim Bechtel
The HDC sent a letter to Tim Griswold recommending the formation and suggesting the possible composition of a task force to study the expansion of I-95 and its impact on Old Lyme.
Jim Bechtel contacted Jessica DiLuca of CONN DOT. She recommended that the HDC contact Cynthia Holden to discuss the I-95 expansion. Ms Holden agreed to attend an upcoming HDC meeting.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel).
5. Chamber of Commerce Bench update – Ken Levin
Since the Duck River Garden Club has plans to landscape the corner of Lyme Street and Halls Road, the bench situation may eventually work itself out. The Garden Club, according to Joanne DiCamillo, does not like the style of the bench and is aware of the HDC’s concern.
Action: Wait to review the Duck River Garden Club landscape plan (Joanne DiCamillo, Ken Levin).
6. HDC – Sign Policy Discussion – John Forbis
Tabled until the next HDC meeting.
7. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain passed around the latest copy of the National Trust’s magazine “Preservation.”
8. HDC - Secretary’s Report - Martha Hansen
The Old Lyme CLG Report, which the HDC is required to file with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism every August, currently meets the yearly reporting requirements.
Martha attended the Grant Show & Tell program offered by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism on October 21 in Guilford. Old Lyme, which is a Certified Local Government, could benefit by also being designated as a Preserve America Community. Old Lyme would then be eligible to apply for Preserve America matching grants which are given in amounts ranging from $20,000 to $250,000.
Betty Chamberlain moved to authorize the HDC to apply for Preserve America Community designation for Old Lyme. Ken Levin seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Action: Investigate the Preserve America Community application process (Martha Hansen).
9. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
a. Craig Silver submitted a CofA application to install an underground propane tank at 9 Lyme Street (Boxwood). The only visible portion of the installation will be a mushroom-shaped pipe about 6” to 8” high and 12” in diameter.
Ken Levin moved to approve the CofA. Tom Keogh seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.
b. Denise Collins contacted Jim Bechtel concerning the large copper beech tree on the south side of her property at 62 Lyme Street. The tree has been found to be hollow and diseased and must be removed.
c. Jim Bechtel discussed the town’s request for the HDC’s budget for FY 2010. A request will be made by the HDC before the November 24th deadline.
d. Ken Levin reported that a representative of the OLPGN Library will be coming before the HDC shortly to discuss needed repairs to their slate roof.
10. Adjournment
Tom Keogh moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 A.M. The motion was seconded by Ken Levin and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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