HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2015-06-10 Minutes (2) 111114'd41191 Vj&j// {
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Approved: 7/08/1
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(508) 896-3701
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COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
will hold a Regular Meeting
on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
at The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA
MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 2015
Present: Chair Paul Ruchinskas, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Carstanjen, William Klein,
Jeanne Boehm, Peter Johnson, and Roland Bassett.
Also present: Tom George and Assistant Town Administrator Jillian Douglas
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm
Recording or Taping Notification
"As required by the Open Heeting Lmv we are it foaming you that the Town will be audio taping this public meeting. In
addition, i anyone else intends to either video or audio tope this meeting they are required to it foam the chair." We
request that all cell phones be turned off or to vibrate.
1. Approve minutes of May 13, 2015 meeting.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the May 13, 2015 as amended. Peter
Johnson seconded.
VOTE: 7.0-0
The meeting moved to item #3.
2. Presentation by Eric Dray on CPC requirements for a historic preservation
rehabilitation project.
Eric Dray made a PowerPoint presentation on the CPC requirements for historic
preservation rehabilitation. He distributed to the Committee the Secretary of Interior
Standards for Rehabilitation outline of the standards. He reviewed the four treatment
approaches used by the National Park Services: Preservation, Restoration,
Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation.
Preservation is the strictest level and freezes a building in time and limits materials
used.
Restoration brings a building back to a previous period in time that must be
documented.
CPC Meeting Minutes of
June 10, 2015 Page 1 of 4
Reconstruction is reserved for essential buildings that have been lost.
Rehabilitation is the treatment standard used in a number of ways.
National Historic Preservation Act passed in 1966 and there was a brief review of how it
was implemented and the changes made to accommodate the Act along the way
including the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation standards published
in 1977. That last significant changes were made in 1992. The Committee should be
using the Rehabilitation standards when reviewing a project. There was a review of the
ten rehabilitation standards with examples demonstrated in the PowerPoint
presentation.
There was a review of the potential costs to update Brewster's historic records and CPC
monies may be used to update these records and could cost upwards of$100,000. A
survey report inventorying all the areas and buildings in town over 50 years old should
be done and then the buildings should be viewed and prioritized starting with the 181h an
19th century buildings. There is a set of these surveys in the Library and Building
Department in paper form that need to be updated, as they probably do not contain the
information currently necessary. This is a long process and could be started in the
Assessor Department by printing out a list of properties and identifying those of most
importance. Due to online tools available, ancestry of families and title searches can be
done on historic properties.
There was a review of allowable replacement windows and the allowance of alternative
materials. It would be wise for the CPC to develop its own specifications. Cleaning
methods are very important for masonry work including burial grounds and cemeteries.
Additions to a building need to be done in a respectful way to the integrity of the original
building. Site work is important to keep with the historic nature of a building and the
creation of parking areas was used as an example.
Standard 6 was reviewed. "Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than
replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive
feature the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and where possible
materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and
physical evidence". By using CPC funds, projects could be held to a higher standard of
materials being used.
There was discussion on preservation restrictions. Preservation restrictions are a
judgment call by the CPC and the goal is to protect the town's investment.
3. Discussion and possible vote on housing buy-down fund assistance for 20 Yankee
Drive.
Jillian Douglas distributed a recommendation letter from the Brewster Housing
Partnership Group to the Chair in support of Katharin Cook's application for the by-down
for 20 Yankee Drive. There was a review of the CPC application and this request is for
CPC Meeting Minutes of
June 10, 2015 Page 2 of 4
$30,000 that is the maximum allowed. It appears that there will be a cost of $4,125 to
the HECH and Ms. Cook has made a down payment of $10,000. There will also be
closing costs.
The purchase price of$165,000 is considered affordable. The deed restriction will
determine the sales price based on the determined median income at the time it is sold.
There was discussion on how much should be awarded and how much was actually
required. There was a brief review of past awards. The applicant is pre-approved by
the bank for $150,000. The Brewster Housing Partnership does not have a formula for
what a person can afford. The closing date is July 24, 2015 and there was discussion
on clarifying what is necessary for the acquisition. It appears that any money from the
CPC will be used to reduce her mortgage amount. There was discussion on how much
money the CPC will allocate in total for these awards. Concern expressed about the
Committee operating in an arbitrary way.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to authorize $20,000. Joan Carstanjen seconded.
There was discussion on the need for additional information regarding this request
before it is awarded. Peter Johnson withdrew his motion and Joan Carstanjen
withdrew her second.
The meeting moved back to Item #2.
4. Vote on professional services request- open space.
Elizabeth Taylor presented the professional services request for $4,000 for an
appraisal.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the professional services request for
$4,000 for Open Space. Jeanne Boehm seconded.
VOTE: 7-0-0
5. Vote on professional services request- FY 15 historic preservation consulting.
Paul Ruchinskas reviewed the FY '15 historic preservation consulting professional
services costs.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to approve the FY '15 historic preservation
consulting request for $2,000. Roland Bassett seconded.
VOTE: 7-0-0
6. Vote on professional services request- FY 16 historic preservation consulting,
Paul Ruchinskas reviewed professional services request for FY '16
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the FY '16 historic preservation
consulting professional services request for $10,000. Elizabeth Taylor seconded.
VOTE. 7-0-0
CPC Meeting Minutes of
June 10, 2015 Page 3 of 4
7. Discussion and vote on revised CPC award policies.
Paul Ruchinskas reviewed the policies and procedures and his change.
Motion made by Roland Bassett to approve the language change of adding "Town-
sponsored Open Space Awards". Jeanne seconded.
VOTE: 7-0-0
8. Update on Town Meeting award grant agreements.
Elizabeth Taylor recused herself from this discussion. Paul Ruchinskas reviewed the
status of the grant agreements by the town attorney. There is a question as to whether
this rehab repair program is an appropriate use of CPC funds. There are currently two
HECH repair applications. The town attorney will be researching this issue further before
the applications can be acted on. There was discussion on how different towns are
handling this process. Paul Ruchinskas will report back to the Committee with a final
determination.
9. Update on membership.
The position vacated by Elliott Carr as well as the Housing Authority representative
position are both currently open on the CPC Committee.
10. Any other items the chair could not reasonably anticipate.
Work in the cemetery is time sensitive and the Lower Road Cemetery will front the
money and be reimbursed by the CPC. The agreement is waiting to be signed.
The next meeting will be scheduled for July 8, 2015.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 6;00 pm. Roland Bassett
seconded.
VOTE. 7-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Moberg, Recording Secretary
Items used at meeting:
• Draft Minutes of May 13, 2015
• 20 Yankee Drive Buy down application
• Recommendation letter from the Brewster Housing Partnership
• Eric Dray Consulting's outline of Standards for Brewster CPC
and the Historic Commission
• Possible Land Acquisition application
Historic Consulting for FY '15 application
• Historic Consulting for FY '16 application
6 CPC Award Policies Draft dated 6/10/2015
CPC Meeting Minutes of
June .10, 2015 Page 4 of 4