Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, September 12, 2011
Minutes amended 10/3/2011
Place: |
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Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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Ken Levin (Co-chairman, Regular), Jim Bechtel (Co-chairman, Regular), Nina Peck (Regular), Barbara Traskos (Regular), John Forbis (Alternate), Joanne DiCamillo (Alternate), Janet Sturges (Alternate) |
Absent |
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Thomas Keogh |
Guests |
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John Colton, Beverly Colton, Wendy Brainerd |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
43 Lyme Street - house alteration |
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9:30 |
Plaque Program update - Ken Levin, Martha Hansen |
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9:45 |
Chamber of Commerce Bench |
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10:00 |
Business News & Secretary’s Report |
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10:15 |
Any other new or old business (Scenic Road application) |
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10:30 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Co-chairman Jim Bechtel. .
A motion was made by John Forbis, seconded by Barbara Traskos, to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2011 meeting. Ken Levin, Joanne DiCamillo, John Forbis, Barbara Traskos and Janet Sturges voted to approve the June minutes. Jim Bechtel and Nina Peck abstained as they had not attended the June meeting. Motion carried.
1. Public Open Forum
Sill House (84 Lyme Street) - John & Beverly Colton
The house, built in 1817 for John Sill, was designed by Samuel Belcher who also designed the First Congregational Church and the Florence Griswold House. The Coltons passed around photos of the house taken in the 1960s when it was a private residence. The house needs painting and other maintenance. The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts (LACFA) has not had the funds needed to maintain the building. It may be possible to apply for a grant to fund the maintenance from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCC&T) with the collaboration of the LACFA.
Action: Contact the CCC& T regarding grants for historic building preservation and maintenance (Martha Hansen).
Blacktop Apron (Parsonage & Boxwood - 5 & 7 Lyme Street) - Wendy Brainerd
The apron was paved as part of the Church Corner project, and the grass strip separating the ends of the driveways was eliminated. The HDC agreed that the grass strip separating the driveways should be restored.
Action: Discuss Boxwood/Parsonage driveway apron with Sarah McCracken and Tim Griswold (Janet Sturges).
2. 43 Lyme Street: house alteration – John Forbis
A CofA application was submitted including preliminary plans to alter one door on the east side of the attached shed and to replace a window with a door on the west side of the attached shed. There will be a public hearing on October 3rd.
Action: Advertise October 3rd public hearing (Martha Hansen).
3. Plaque Program update – Martha Hansen
The copies of the 1815 map of First Society Lyme, surveyed by Moses Warren, are too difficult to read. The original map needs to be checked (call # 912.7462 OL 14W) to help confirm the date of construction for 45 Lyme Street. John Forbis agreed to help facilitate the viewing of the original map.
68 Sill Lane: Martha Hansen and Joanne DiCamillo found land records confirming the land transfer to Silas Sill in 1789 (although the house was said to have been built in 1786 on land owned by the Sill family according to a Sill family history and other books). The HDC agreed that the plaque should read “Silas Sill ca. 1786.”
24 Lyme Street: As the land records do not mention the buildings separately, it is difficult to determine the date of construction.
60 Lyme Street: Carolyn Wakeman has written a book on early businesses in Old Lyme.
Action: Continue efforts to read the 1815 map (John Forbis). Order plaque for 68 Sill Lane (Martha Hansen). Continue research on 24 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen). Consult Carolyn Wakeman regarding 60 Lyme Street (Martha Hansen).
4. Chamber of Commerce Bench and Sign – Cathy Frank, Sheila Wertheimer
The Chamber of Commerce was contacted by businesses on Lyme Street regarding installing some benches on Lyme Street and a welcome sign on the corner of Lyme Street and Halls Road. Sheila Wertheimer presented several styles of benches. The Duck River Garden Club recently donated benches made of recycled materials to the Bride Brook Rehabilitation & Health Center in Niantic. The benches, which do not require maintenance, can be seen on the garden club’s Web site.
Action: Present a formal plan for the project to include the style and location of the benches and a design for the sign (Chamber of Commerce).
5. Business News & Secretary’s Report – Martha Hansen
No decision has been made on the Scenic Road application.
Action: Determine the status of the application (John Forbis).
6. Any other new or old business to come before the Commission
As replacement windows at 46 Lyme Street will be like for like, no CofA is required.
7. Adjournment
A motion was made by John Forbis, seconded by Nina Peck, to adjourn the meeting at 10:40 a.m. All present
voted in favor. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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