Historic District Commission

July 10, 2007

DRAFT ACCEPTED:

__________________________

ATTENDED:         Clay Dingman (Chairman), Larry Douglas (Vice-Chairman), Dorcas Gordon, Sandra Heaney, Robin Fitzgerald (alternate), Mark Greenwood and Diane Marden (Secretary)

ABSENT:               Not Applicable

OTHERS:               Paul Morrissette (8 Central Square), his colleague Jeremy Mitchell, and Jan Laferriere.

The meeting was opened and called to order at 7:00 p.m.

HEARING FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL, 8 CENTRAL SQUARE CONTINUED FROM 12JUNE07:

Paul Morrissette  and his colleague Jeremy Mitchell discussed their plans for the front door of 8 Central Square in great detail. Mr. Mitchell used his lap top to show dimensions, placement, types of materials used the following was approved after lengthy discussion:

1.     After removal of brick vanity wall, leftmost ground floor double window will have right half removed and replaced with door assembly that is 63-5 inches wide by 82.5 inches tall. For 30-by-66 inch space above door assembly, two new windows will be fitted. (see photographs attached to COA of current building front, building front with vanity wall removed, and door assembly, for reference, as well as diagram of proposed fitting of new door assembly);

2.     Granite will be used for new step below door assembly.

3.     Left  hand half of original double window will remain and below this, old (antique) brick will be used to close space (see diagram attached to COA). Street-level basement window will be bricked in to match treatment of existing bricked-in-street level windows on property.

4.     Door assembly to be as depicted in applicant-supplied photograph. Hand hardware to be appropriate with rest of rehabilitation project. Wood trim to be used around door assembly and windows above to be consistent in appearance with existing trim; and

5.     Final construction is subject to approval in conjunction with Mr. Nebesnick, Land Use Enforcement Officer and Mr. Dingman, Historic District Commission Chair

Sandra Heaney made the motion to approve the COA as written above, Mark Greenwood seconded the motion. THE MOTION CARRIED.

MINUTES OF 12JUN07:

Chairman Dingman made a motion to accept the revised minutes of June 12, 2007. Dorcas Gordon seconded the motion.  THE MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS:

Members discussed their progress on the 2007 Historic District Goals from the meeting of June 12, 2007.

1.     Dingman and Douglas have been moving forward on the signs. Two examples were shown to the group. A square shaped and rectangular shape, the group decided the square shape would be used on posts and the rectangular should be used when placement is on a building. The group decided on Wooden painted signs vs. Metal painted signs.

2.     Ms. Fitzgerald updated the group on  her finding relative to a “Rewards Program”. She stated she had been working on many ideas to give people an incentive to work on the district buildings, and stated she would forward the information via email to everyone.

3.     Dingman stated he has been working with a friend on the website, in hopes to eventually hand off the site to the town to possibly change over to this very user friendly site.

4.     Dingman stated he had spoken to the Town Manager, Elizabeth Corrow regarding the downtown revitalization to try to raise funds or hire someone for the Main Street project. Ms. Corrow will meet with a small group of people regarding this on August 13, 2007 to try to gain additional information on where we are, where we are going, and what is needed to get us there. Ms. Gordon suggested having someone on the Budget Committee attend the meeting.

PLANNING BOARD TOWN SURVEY

The Commission discussed the Town Survey put out by the Planning Board. Ms. Heaney suggested changing the language on question number 6 “demolition review”. Ms. Gordon suggested changing question number 8 to reflect both non-motorized and motorized. Ms. Gordon also stated she felt that is just important to get the peoples opinions on what they don’t want to see changed within the town. The overall consensus was to group things together more appropriately. Mr. Dingman stated he would bring these suggestions to the Planning Board meeting.

ELECTIONS

Mr. Dingman stated the re-election of officers runs March to March, and that some members terms needed to be renewed. Larry Douglas, Robin Fitzgerald, and Mark Greenwood are the individuals whose terms need to be reinstated. Mr. Dingman stated alternates have a 3 year term, and the commission decided Mark Greenwood would be a full time member, and Robin Fitzgerald will be the alternate. Mr. Douglas stated he knows of another individual wishing to become a member, Mr. Dingman stated as a new alternate that individual would need to meet  with the Selectmen, and put on the Historic District Agenda prior to doing so. Mr. Dingman stated he would look into the process further. Mr. Dingman stated he would also try to get the Selectmen representative to also be present during the meetings.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Dingman stated the current Secretary, Diane Marden will be leaving the Historic District Commission to work for the Budget Committee, and that the former Secretary, Jan Laferriere will become the Historic District Secretary once again.

ADJOURNMENT

Sandra Heaney made the motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Dorcas Gordon seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.

The next meeting of the Bristol HDC will take place on August 14, 2007 at the Bristol Town Office’s located in the downstairs of the building.