Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 6, 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), Tom Keogh (Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), Elizabeth Chamberlain (Alternate), John Forbis (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate) |
Absent |
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Nina Peck (Regular) |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Old Lyme Historic District Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
Plaque Program update – Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen |
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9:30 |
HDC Handbook reprint & Grant Application update |
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10:00 |
Church Corner Update – Janet Sturges |
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10:15 |
Estuary Transit Bus Shelter – John Forbis |
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10:30 |
Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain |
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10:45 |
Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen |
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11:00 |
Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Street lamps) |
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11:15 |
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 Ken Levin to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2009 meeting with no changes. Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin, Tom Keogh, Elizabeth Chamberlain, Joanne DiCamillo and John Forbis voted in favor. Barbara Traskos abstained as she had not attended the June meeting.
1. Public Open Forum
Jonathan and Denise Collins of 62 Lyme Street requested permission to add a shed dormer with transom windows to the west side of the 2-car garage and bedroom addition currently under construction. Denise Collins attended the meeting and brought drawings of the change. The dormer is necessary to provide adequate headroom and will not be visible from Lyme Street. The footprint and square footage of the addition will remain the same.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by John Forbis, to approve the addition of a shed dormer to the west side of the 2-car garage and bedroom addition. All present voted in favor.
Action: Notify Ann Brown of the Commission’s decision (Jim Bechtel).
2. HDC – Plaque Program Update - Ken Levin, Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Plaques have been delivered to John Forbis at 43 Lyme Street (Silas Bramble ca. 1853) and to Mrs. Hilma Berggren at 93 Lyme Street (Ferdinand Winzen ca. 1923). The research has been completed on the Willis property at 61 Lyme Street and the plaque has been ordered (Peter Kraus ca. 1909). Lisa Brault at 70 Lyme Street has requested a plaque and research has begun. The research has been finished for Shelley Nobile’s house at 112 Sill Lane. It was built by Edward DeWolfe ca 1707 on land granted to him by the town of Lyme and was known as the Millhouse. Richard O’Connor at 108 Sill Lane has also requested a plaque for the old stone mill, originally a fuller’s mill, built by Oliver Lay ca. 1840.
Action: Finish research for the Brault property at 70 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
Investigate information regarding 8 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
Order plaques for 112 Sill Lane (Edward DeWolfe ca. 1707) and 108 Sill Lane (Oliver Lay ca. 1840) (Ken Levin).
3. Handbook Reprint and Grant Application – Jim Bechtel, Martha Hansen
Requests for quotes (for 500 copies) were sent to Thames Printing Company, Essex Printing and Wolf Color Print. Thames Printing quoted $1370, Wolf Color Print quoted $1670 and Essex Printing quoted $1715. The project needs to be completed by September 30, 2009 to qualify for a reimbursement grant by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
Action: Keep the HDC informed of handbook updates (Jim Bechtel, Ken Levin).
4. Church Corner Update – Janet Sturges
Janet Sturges, representing the Church Corner Project Building Committee, requested permission to permit the contractor to store dirt and gravel and possibly granite curbing (prior to construction and installation) in the open lot on Lyme Street across from LACFA. The HDC agreed to the request.
The paving material of the relocated driveway on the South Green (leading to the CtheK Rectory and the Cox residence) was reviewed. It was suggested to use asphalt mixed with embedded crushed stone. It was also suggested to use the same material for the sections of the driveway on CtheK property leading to the Rectory and the Cox residence.
Action: The HDC requested time to discuss the paving material and contact Janet Sturges (Jim Bechtel).
5. Estuary Transit Bus Shelter – John Forbis and Joe Comerford
Joe Comerford, of the Estuary Transit District, handed out plans for two designs of bus shelters. The Estuary Transit District has received a grant to install bus shelters along its route in southeastern Connecticut. The Old Lyme Marketplace, Halls Road, presently has covered seating outside of Rite Aid that might prove adequate for the Estuary Transit District buses. It was also suggested that a bus shelter located on Rte 1 in Laysville could eventually be useful.
6. Business News (CT Trust, National Trust) – Betty Chamberlain
Betty Chamberlain passed around the latest copy of Preservation News.
7. Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
Old Lyme is still waiting to hear about the Preserve America Community designation. There are presently 26 communities on the waiting list.
Action: Keep the HDC updated (Martha Hansen).
8. HDC – Any other new or old business to come before the Commission (Street Lamps)
There was a brief discussion of the street lamps on Lyme Street and Ferry Road. Several HDC members looked at the different colors of the lights and did not object or think the color difference was noticeable.
All street light bulbs are purchased by the town through CL&P and are replaced as they burn out. The new bulbs are the only ones available.
9. Adjournment
Ken Levin moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by John Forbis and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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