Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, February 2, 2009
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), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate) |
Absent |
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Tom Keogh (Regular), Nina Peck (Regular) |
Guests |
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Caroline Wakeman, Susan Woody |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum |
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9:45 |
Plaque Program update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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10:00 |
Church Corner Project update – Ken Levin, Joanne DiCamillo |
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10:15 |
Sign Policy discussion – John Forbis |
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10:45 |
HDC Handbook reprint |
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11:00 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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11:15 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:30 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (FY2009-2010 Budget Request update) |
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11:45 |
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 January 5, 2009 meeting with no changes. All present voted in favor.
1. Old Lyme Historic District – Public Open Forum
Caroline Wakeman spoke about her interest in Old Lyme’s history. Her great-grandfather ran a General Store on Lyme Street and kept a diary from 1850 to 1927. She has the diary (containing daily weather reports) and also many old photographs of Lyme Street and Old Lyme. Her family is related to the Huntleys who were original settlers in the area. The Old Lyme Historical Society has published several monographs on different aspects of Old Lyme’s history and might be interested in Ms. Wakeman’s material. John Forbis recommended contacting David McCulloch, John Pfieffer and Max Greenwood.
Action: Contact OLHSI about Caroline Wakeman’s historic diary and photos, and meet Ms. Wakeman at
Old Lyme and Lyme land records to demonstrate research procedure (Martha Hansen).
Susan Woody is interested in obtaining a historic plaque for her house at 23 McCurdy Road.
Action: Contact Ms. Woody about plaque application and necessary property research (Martha Hansen).
2. HDC – Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Jim Bechtel prepared a letter to send to all property owners of buildings in the HD eligible for a historic plaque (constructed in 1939 or before). A photo montage of existing plaques will be included with the letter to be mailed in March. Each letter will contain a personal note from an HDC member.
Action: Print letter on town stationery, create and copy a photo montage and bring letters to March 2 meeting to include personal notes (Martha Hansen).
Barbara Traskos plans to install a plaque on her house at 48 Lyme Street (Allan T. Speirs ca 1917). John Forbis will install a plaque on his house at 47 Lyme Street.
3. Church Corner Update – Ken Levin, Joanne DiCamillo
There was a discussion about the South Green and the speeding problems on McCurdy Road, Lyme Street and Ferry Road.
4. HDC – Sign Policy Discussion – John Forbis
John Forbis distributed the most recent draft of the sign policy.
Action: Revise Sign Policy for March 2 meeting (John Forbis).
The sign panel in Chester located at the Route 9 exit could be used as a model for eventual signage (listing Old Lyme attractions) at the intersection of Halls Road and Route 1 (Lyme Street).
Action: View sign panel in Chester (HDC members).
5. Handbook Reprint – Jim Bechtel
The HDC has not been notified by The Board of Finance concerning the capital request to print an updated Historic District Handbook.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Jim Bechtel).
6. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
The LymeTimes reported that there was an information meeting in East Lyme about the I-95 safety improvements in the East Lyme area.
7. Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
Martha is working with the CCT and Judith Rodenstein, a member of the Advisory Council, to prepare the Preserve America application (deadline of March 1).
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen).
Contact Ralph Eno and Anthony Irving concerning applying for a Scenic Road designation for a 1 mile section of Route 1 going north from the Halls Road intersection (Martha Hansen).
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
Jim Bechtel has not heard from the Board of Finance about the HDC budget request.
9. Adjournment
Barbara Traskos moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:25 A.M. The motion was seconded by Ken Levin and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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