Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 4, 2013
Place: |
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Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT |
Present: |
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REGULAR: Jim Bechtel (Co-chairman), Joanne DiCamillo, Nina Peck ALTERNATE: Janet Sturges, John Pfeiffer |
Absent |
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Barbara Traskos, Ken Levin, John Forbis |
Agenda: |
9:00 |
Public Open Forum |
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9:15 |
Business News & Secretary’s Report |
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9:30 |
Sculpture Policy review |
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10:00 |
Bee & Thistle Inn Sculpture |
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10:15 |
Plaque Program update: 12, 20 & 23 Ferry Road; 173 Mile Creek Road; 209 Boston Post Road, 4 Johnnycake Hill Road - Martha Hansen |
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10:30 |
Any other new or old business (HDC reps for approved CofAs, 75 Lyme Street violation, Sill House restoration) |
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10:45 |
Adjournment |
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Co-chairman Jim Bechtel.
Jim Bechtel made a motion, seconded by Joanne DiCamillo, to authorize Janet Sturges and John Pfeiffer to vote in place of Barbara Traskos and Ken Levin.
Janet Sturges made a motion, seconded by John Pfeiffer, to approve the February minutes. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
1. Public Open Forum: No public participation
2. Business News & Secretary’s Report: Martha Hansen
a) The CD of HD photos is ready for Ruth Roach to add to the HDC Web page.
Give CD to Ruth (Martha Hansen).
b) The HDC’s membership renewal letters for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Connecticut Trust, and the Old Lyme Historical Society are ready.
c) The HDC will mail handbooks to HD property owners and tenants along with a cover letter and errata for the updated sculpture policy. Draft letter (Jim Bechtel).
d) The HDC has applied to the State Library for permission to destroy HDC meeting recordings prior to November, 2012. Meeting recordings are required to be kept for 6 months after the minutes have been approved. Copies of all meeting minutes are kept in the town vault “forever”.
3. Sculpture Policy Review
The HDC agreed that the Sculpture Policy needs to be revised. Jim Bechtel will draft the revision. The discussion will continue at the next meeting. Draft Sculpture Policy amendment (Jim Bechtel).
4. Bee & Thistle Inn Sculpture – Linea Rufo – Ms. Rufo postponed her presentation until April.
5. Plaque Program update: Martha Hansen
12 Ferry Road: Continue research (Martha Hansen).
20 Ferry Road: Continue research (Martha Hansen and Pamela Hamilton).
23 Ferry Road: Robin Sedgwick will contact us when she is ready to proceed.
173 Mile Creek: Research will continue at the Lyme Town Hall. Complete research (Martha Hansen).
209 Boston Post Road: A date of construction has not been confirmed. Research in the land records has gone as far as it can. John Pfeiffer offered to look at the house to help determine an approximate date of construction. Contact George James to set up a meeting with John Pfeiffer (Martha Hansen).
4 Johnnycake Hill Road: Dyanne Rafal would like a plaque for her house. Contact Mrs. Rafal (Martha Hansen).
6. Any other new or old business
a) HDC Reps for Approved CofAs
Janet Sturges handed out a paper outlining the responsibilities of the HDC CofA liaison. Liaisons will be appointed in rotating order so that no HDC member is overburdened. The liaison’s responsibilities are: a) Provide info and answers to the recipient, b) Stay in close communication and check progress as appropriate, c) Maintain a file with project notes & photos, d) Report to the HDC monthly.
b) 75 Lyme Street violation
Ann Brown, ZEO, will write Dr. Awwa a second letter reminding him he is in violation (balcony and AC condenser) and asking him to appear before the HDC for a CofA and then apply for a building permit.
c) Sill House Restoration
John Pfeiffer examined the house, and thinks that it was built upon a much older foundation (ca 1750s). The foundation is of rough uncut stone and was added onto to make the building sit higher off the ground. The building in back looks as though it could have been the original building. The floor joists are cut in one direction and used in another, indicating that the lumber was reused. There was a lumber shortage in Connecticut when the house was built (1816). Local tradition says the house was built by ship’s carpenters; the manner of construction supports that. The CofA was changed to approve the front stair repairs “Like for Like”, as required by HD statute. No evidence (photo or plan) has been found to confirm the style of the original front stair.
John Forbis found information published in 1915 by the Colonial Dames on the Sill House and other HD buildings.
Janet Sturges passed around a walking tour pamphlet published by the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce. Martha will bring a copy of the Old Lyme Historical Society’s walking tour to the April meeting.
7. Adjournment
Joanne DiCamillo made a motion, seconded by Nina Peck, to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 a.m. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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