Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes
Historic District Commission meeting minutes
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Meeting was held at the Selectmen’s meeting room in the Town Hall
Meeting called to order by Rebecca at 6:30pm
Rebecca Schwarz, Howard Brown, Mary Katherine McNamara, Karolin Campbell and JoAnn Kitchel were in attendance.
A special meeting was called to hear from Zach Johnson, 9 Cemetery Road regarding a 9x10shed that he is building. He is to bring drawings for our review. He didn’t show up.
JoAnn brought up the sale of the Hooper property on 15 N. Main Street. It is zoned mixed use. There has been one offer and more may be coming. We would like to see this home saved. Could it be the new Historical Society’s new home? A walking or bike path? $125,000 is owed on back taxes. So many ideas that the town might like to do with it, but there have been no plans put forward by the town. There was discussion of what might be allowed there because it zoned mixed use. Howard would like to contact some of the selectmen from Amherst on how to get rid of junk yards. Curiousity about the property and what type of hazards might be found in the soil. How might this property be financed when it has a lot of back taxes owed and can the soil be disturbed?
JoAnn prefers to have the members read and approve minutes instead of printing out paper copies for all in attendance. Members agreed.
Howard has suggested to the selectmen at Monday’s meeting that the Halloween event be put under the Historic District’s control, as it takes place in the historic district. Tim Berry thinks that our commission is about properies only. Our commission thinks the Halloween event would fit perfectly under our umbrella as the event takes place in the historic district. What does the Rec. Department to for this event? A budget of $400 to purchase candy for the event. Discussion followed as to how well attended Halloween was. There seemed to be some disconnect from the Rec. Department about what actually happened on Halloween night. As many members on our commission actually live in the district, we feel that we may have a clearer understanding of the event and what is needed.
Karolin made a motion to accept the minutes, Mary Katherine seconded, motion carried.
Mail and announcements: we received an application from the home owners at 21 Grand Hill, looking to construct top of pole solar panels at the side of their home. We could schedule a special meeting on December 22. All agreed. Rebecca will do her best to get that scheduled. We reviewed their package with the application. Solar panels will be on the Boutwell Road side of the property. Biggest concern would be the neighbors, if they can see it from their properties. It appears that they won’t be visible to any property owners, possibly from the road. Mary Katherine was pleased that the solor panels would not be attached to the beautiful roof of the historical home.
Rebecca brought up Sheila Clegg’s complaint about the RV that is parked near her property. It is parked on a stone pad on Heather Carver’s property. The RV is owned by the Rand’s. Howard thinks anyone can have an RV parked any where if it’s only 180 days of the year. Discussion about what, if anything can be done. Is the stone pad legal? We should contact Heather, not the Rands. Roger Secole parked a junk car in that spot when the RV left for a few days. Technically, do we only have rules for structures? Discussion about should we be having guidelines about campers and junk cars and whatnot anywhere they want? Why is there electricity out there? (If there is) Discussion that this RV is very visible from Main Street and is considered an eye sore by many in the village. It seems that we have this commission for a reason. Mary Katherine suggested that we write to Heather directly. Rebecca thinks we must run this by the selectmen.
Howard reports that the new rules of procedure are more in depth that the previous document. Howard will get to the ordinance documents next.
The commission made ready to go to the library to attend the next meeting, lead by the Heritage Commission, to be attended by the library, the Historical Society and the Recreation Department.
JoAnn reminded all that the library produced a new podcast, with Rebecca as our special guest.
Time was permitted for members to discuss items not on the agenda.
MK motioned, Rebecca seconded, motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 7:10pm
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnn Kitchel, Secretary