Heritage Commission Meeting Minutes

Mont Vernon Heritage Commission

Public Meeting Minutes October 13, 2022

DRAFT

In Attendance: Rebecca Schwarz, Sarah Beth Ross, Anna Szok, Bill McKinney, Howard Brown, Brian Billow, John Morrison Annette Immorlica, Andrew Stokinger

Absent: John Morrison, Zoe Fimbel

Community Members Present: Jessica Pomeroy

Schwarz calls the meeting to order, 7:01 pm

Conditions Assessment

Schwarz states the Conditions Assessment was reviewed by the NHPA at their last meeting and changed were requested. She has hopes it will be completed and reivewed at their next meeting and we will be able to release it to the public. She has received a quote for the next phase of the project which is a needs assessment. That quote is from the current architect Tracy Kozak and is totalled at $17,930. That fee will include a 3D laser scans survey, a space needs area program, code analysis, proposed used conceptual design ( 2 of these include 2 committee meetings), energy remodeling with life cycle analysis, budget and schedule. We will still be obtaining this funding through grants, we just need to find them and apply for them. It is not something that is going to be completed quickly. We thought we would have our condition assessment back in March and we didn't receive it until September. Granted we were trying to use the previous structural engineer, and this may not include the need for a structural engineer. But we may be looking at a full year project. I have identified some grants out there up to $15,000 but they are matching grants, so we’ll need to commit more funds. I can email this quote out if we want to look at it more comprehensively.

Budget

Schwarz states the budget will remain the same as last year. She did just receive a 12,500 check from the LCHIP grant as payment for the first half of the windows. We have gone through the first step of the process. Last month we did have a window fall out upstairs. We contacted a window contractor, he removed them and replaced them with plexiglass. A plexiglass plane did fall out and he came to replace them again. The original windows are safe and tucked up.  We really need those windows done. The $12,500 brings us up to approximately $75,000 in the Heritage Fund, but we should bear in mind we have already committed 20k of that for grant matching. Any questions on budget?

Discussion turns to seeking funds for the most important part of the building renovation: stabilizing the building. Schwarz states that the Conditions Assessment shows that the building is in very concerning state with dry rotted beams and studs etc. The building really needs attention quickly before it’s no longer worth fixing. That cost is estimated to be up to $500,000 alone. The concern being that the Conditions Assessment states that the building is worth saving now, but it very likely won’t be within 20 years. Discussion concludes that the Commission should seek out a grant for at least $250K as well as request the Town starts a fund of some sort and puts portions of the money in it each year for 5 years to be able to match the funds for stabilizing the building.  

McKinney makes a motion to seek $50,000 in a warrant article to be decided at a later point as to whether it should be a capital reserve, Billow seconds, all in favor motion passed.

Fundraising Subcommittee

Our Lamson Farm recap as we stated before, we were not looking to make a whole lot of money, but rather give something to the community. That said, we did take in $35 to add to the Fund.

The Commission considers participating in the Holiday Tree Raffle.

Holiday Fundraising Plans include a Quilted Holiday Ornament craft event at the Town Hall.

McKinney makes a motion to authorize up to $150 to be expended by Schwarz for supplies for the craft, Ross seconds, all in favor motion passed.

Calendars:

The calendars need to be ordered. Schwarz states that the cost of ordering 50 calendars will be $500 plus shipping, which is unknown at this time. Also, the calendars we have ordered do not allow for a logo to be printed on them anywhere, so Schwarz would like to have stickers printed with the logo on it that we can place on the back of the calendars.

Ross motions to reimburse Schwarz for the $500 cost of the calendars, shipping and up to $65 for stickers. Second by Billow, all in favor, motion passed.

Review of Minutes:

McKinney motions to accept the minutes as amended, second by Brown, no further discussion, all in favor, motion passed.

Antivirus:

Antivirus for the Heritage Commission laptop has ended. Ross sent out options for a new service.

Brown makes a motion to expend $29.99 for Bitdefender anti-virus protection, McKinney seconds, all in favor, motion passed.

Ross makes a motion to adjourn, Brown seconds.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm

Next meeting: November 10, 2022

Respectfully Submitted,

Sarah Beth Ross

Secretary

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