Members Present:
Beverly Goodale
Barbara Deschenes
Kim D Hopewell
Matthew Hopewell
Neil Norum
Meeting Called to order at 4:00 p.m.
Barbara Deschenes motion to accept the minutes of the Oct. 12, 2006 meeting, second by Neil Norum, unanimously voted
Jacob Winn Barn
Currently working on the following-
Electrical
Alarm system
Window and blackened hinges
Beverly stated that the new roof leaked in the back of the building. Tom Petty will be addressing the issue before we move any of the coppersmith, blacksmith and tinsmith tools into the historical barn.
WPI Project
A WPI student showed some interest in the commission’s archival projects, but has refused to accept the projects. The information is still posted on the WPI website and we’ll be tracking it on a regular basis to check on the status.
Demolition Delay Bylaws
Barbara Deschenes has recommended that the Historical Commission propose the demolition delay bylaw that the town of Stockbridge has in place. Upon review of the bylaw that commission will place an article on the 2007 May or Oct. town meeting. Please review the bylaw and be prepared to discuss it at the next commissioners meeting. A copy of the bylaw is as follows:
Demolition Delay Bylaw
Section 1 Purpose
This bylaw is adopted for the purpose of protecting and preserving significant buildings within the town that constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural or historical resources of the town, and to encourage owners of such buildings to seek out alternative options to preserve, rehabilitate or restore such buildings rather than to demolish them, thereby promotion the public welfare and preserving the cultural heritage of the town. To achieve these purposes, the West Boylston Historical Commission is authorized to advise the Building Inspector with respect to the issuance of permits for the demolition of significant buildings. The issuance of demolition permits for significant buildings is regulated as provided by this bylaw.
Section 2 Definitions
2.1 Building- any structure having a roof intended for shelter, housing, or enclosure of any person, process, equipment, animals or goods.
2.2 Commission- The Town of West Boylston Historical Commission
2.3 Demolition- Any act of pulling down, destroying, removing or razing a building or commencing the work of total or substantial destruction with the intent of completing the same
2.4 Demolition Permit- The permit issued by the Building Inspector as required by the State Building Code for demolition, substantial demolition or removal of a building
2.5 Preferably Preserved Building- Any historically or architecturally significant building that the Commission determines is in the public interest to be preserved or rehabilitated rather than demolished
2.6 Significant Building- Any building that, in whole or in part, is at least fifty (50) years old
And-
2.6.1 Is listed on, or is a contributing building within an area listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or is the subject of a pending application for such listing, or is eligible for such listing;
Or:-
2.6.2 Is included in any cultural or historic inventory prepared by the Commission, or
2.6.3 Has been determined by vote of the commission to be a significant building after a finding by the Commission that a building either
A) Is importantly associated with one or more historic persons or events, or wiht broad architectural, cultural, political, economic or soical history of the Town or the Commonwealth; or
B) Is historically or architecturally significant (in terms of period, style, method of building construction or association with a recognized architect or builder) either by itself or in the context of a group of buldings.
If a building is of unknown age, it shall be presumed to be at least fifty (50) years old.
Section 3 Procedure
3.1 No permit for the demolition of a building that is, in whole or in part, at least fifty (50) years old shall be issued other than in conformity with the provisions of this bylaw, as well as in conformity with the provision of other laws and bylaws applicable to the demolition of buildings and issuance of permit generally
3.2 Application contents; every application for a demolition permit for a building that is, in whole or in part, at least fifty (50) years old shall be filed with the Building Inspector and shall contain the following information;
a) The address of the building to be demolished
b) The owner’s name, address and telephone number;
c) A brief description of the type of building and the condition requiring issuance of the permit;
d) d) The date of the building, established by the Board of Assessors, deed or documentation verifying the year of construction; and
e) A brief description of the proposed reuse, reconstruction or replacement on the premises upon which the building is located.
3.3 Within seven (7) business days from the receipt of an application for a demolition permit of a building that is, in whole or in part, at least fifty (50) years old, the Building Inspector shall forward a copy to the Commission. No demolition permit shall be issued at this time.
3.4 Within ten (10) business day after receipt by the Commission of the application for a demolition permit, the Commission shall make a Determination of Architectural or Historical Significance. Upon determination by the commission that the building is not architecturally or historically significant, the commission shall so notify the Building Inspector in writing. Upon receipt of such notification, or after the expiration of fifteen (15) business days from the date of submission to the Commission, the Building Inspector may issue the demolition permit.
3.5 Upon determination by the Commission that the building is historically or architecturally significant, the Building Inspector and the applicant shall be so notified in writing and a demolition permit shall not be issued. The Commission shall hold a public hearing within twenty (20) business days of the Determination of Significance to determine whether the building should be preferentially preserved
A public notice of time, place and purpose of the hearing shall be published by the Building Inspector at the expense of the applicant in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town not less than seven (7) days before the date of said hearing and shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the Town Hall for a period of not less than seven (7) days before said hearing.
3.6 If, after a public hearing, the Commission determines that the significant building should not be preferentially preserved, the Commission shall notify the Building Inspector in writing within five (5) business days of the hearing and the Building Inspector may issue a demolition permit upon receipt of the written decision.
3.7 If, after a public hearing, the Commission determines that the building should be preferentially preserved, the Commission shall so notify the Building Inspector in writing within five (5) business days of the hearing, and no demolition permit shall be issued until twelve (12) months after the date of determination by the Commission
3.8 Notwithstanding anything contained in Paragraph 3.7, the Building Inspector may issue a demolition permit for a preferably preserved building at any time after receipt of written advice from the Commission to the effect that either;
a) The Commission is satisfied that there is no reasonable likelihood that either the owner or some other person or group is willing to purchase, preserve, rehabilitate or restore such building; or
b) The Commission is satisfied that, for at least twelve (12) months, the owner has made continuing bona fide and reasonable efforts to locate a purchaser to preserve, rehabilitate or restore the subject building and that such efforts have been unsuccessful.
Section 4 Responsibility of Owners
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of record or any designee thereof to assist in the facilitation of the implementation of the requirements of this bylaw;
a) by providing information, allowing access to the property and securing the premises;
b) by participating in the investigation of preservation options; and
c) by actively cooperating in seeking alternatives with the Commission and any interested parties.
Section 5 Emergency Demolitions
Nothing in this bylaw shall restrict the Building Inspector from ordering the immediate demolition of any building in the event of imminent danger to the safety of the public.
The commission would like to thank Barbara for her work in this endeavor. .
Old Business
A) Congregational Church Tower
Telecommunications Installation, 26 Central St., West Boylston, Ma
EBI # 6106-2533, MHC# RC 40262
The Massachusetts Historical Commission has reviewed the additional information submitted to them from the Historical Commission. The MHC stated that the West Boylston First Congregational Church (MHC# WBY.56) is included in the MHC’s inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth, but because due to the changes in the exterior, south windows, entry porch semi-octagonal pavilion and porte-cochere were eradicated during the 1962 remodeling, the building has lost its architectural integrity.
The MHC will not review any further information regarding the installation of the telecommunications tower.
B) Franklin St. Affordable Housing, West Boylston, MA MHC# RC EOEA #13886
The Zoning Board of Appeals has passed the proposed 40B project.
The proposed project involves the construction of six multi-family buildings with associated improvements, approximately 55 parking spaces and associated utilities on approximately 3.5 acres of land.
Review of the Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth indicates that the proposed project is contiguous to the Andrew J Scarlet House (MHC# WBY 138), which meets the criteria of eligibility (36 CFR Part 60) for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Andrew J Scarlet House is one of the most elaborate Queen Anne homes in West Boylston and is locally significant for its architecture and its association with one of the town’s major historical figures, Andrew J Scarlet, important for developing housing in the community.
MHC request that project planners, in consultation with the Town of West Boylston consider the potential visual effects to the setting of the Scarlet house. MHC also requests that project planners consider prudent and feasible alternatives to minimize any adverse visual effect to the historic property by the retention or addition of vegetative screening along the contiguous property boundary and the adoption of compatible design and massing for the new construction.
C) Afra-Terrace 39 Shrewsbury St., West Boylston, MA MHC# RC EOEA# not yet published
The MHC requested that an intensive archaeological survey be conducted for this project. The goal of the survey is to locate and identify any significant historic or archeological resources that may be affected and to provide information to consult to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects to important cultural resources. MHC staff is willing to assist in developing and appropriate scope for the survey, which must be conducted under a permit issued by the State Archeologist.
Sites MHC #19 WR 185, Site MHC WR 274 are in close proximity to archeologically sensitive Native American occupation in West Boylston.
Blasting at the site has been completed. The commission has not heard anything further from the state regarding their concerns or actions relative to this case.
New Business
A) Mary Cook Books
The Historic Commission has expressed interest in preserving the Mary Cook books currently stored at the Beaman Memorial Library. Ms. Cook was a reporter for the Telegram and Gazette in the 1870’s- 1920. She had complied scrapbooks of every article she had written for the paper. The collection has been in the custody of the library and stored in the “West Boylston Room”. The library has microfilmed it. The commission originally wanted to dictate the articles and create a database for research purposes, but it was found that the collection is too large.
As an alternative, Beverly has contacted the North East Document Conservation Center located in Linden, Utah. They gave her a company that processes records off of microfilm for 15¢ Per page. It is estimated that the cost would be approximately $450 to complete.
The Commission will request to be placed on the agenda at the next Library Board of Trustees meeting to discuss this issue.
The Historic Commission will request the following-
· All microfilm be released to the Historical Commissioners so that the commission will have ” iarchives.com “ digitize each of the films on CD at a cost of 15¢ per page
· The commission will bear any and all associated costs in completing this project including setting up all necessary insurance, shipping and copy fees
· The commission will provide a copy of the digitized CDs to the Library for archival research
· Request that the Historical Society Board of Directors vote on accepting this project and to provide the necessary funding through its completion.
· The commission will create a data base for research purposes based on the information provided on the cd’s
B) Grant
Mount Vernon Cemetery and Holbrook Chapel
Neil will look into information regarding obtaining grants for the cemetery project
C) Funds
Current available funds- $7,260.89
D) Historical Marker Program
The commission will look into historical markers for qualifying homes in West Boylston. Qualifying criteria will be set up by the commissioners and that the cost of such a plaque will be placed on the homeowner. It is hoped that the project would be completed by the Bicentennial in 2008.
Next Meeting Dec. 21st 5 p.m.
Motion to adjourn at 5:15 p.m., seconded, all in favor
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