HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2015-09-09 Minutes 00
0,\\ S W&
Approved: 9/23/15
VOTE: 6-0-0
2198 Nlain Street
5 Brewster, IN/lassachusetts 02631-1898
-3701
(508) 896
FAX (508) 896-8089
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Held a Regular Nlecting
on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
at The Brewster Town Office Building, 2198 TMain Street, Brewster, NLk
MEETfNiG NIENUTES of SeDtember 9, 2015
Present: Chair Paul Ruchinskas, Jeanne Boehm, William Klein, Peter Johnson, Joan
Carstanjen, and Roland Bassett.
Absent: Elizabeth Taylor
Also present-, Eric Dray, George Boyd, Patricia Busch, David Hill and Executive Pastor
David Pranga representing Brewster Baptist Church.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm.
Recording or Taping Notification: "As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the
Town will be audio taping this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to either video or audio tape
this meeting they are required to inform the chair."We request that all cell phones be turned off or to vibrate.
1. Approval of minutes of August 12, 2015 meeting.
Motion made by Peter Johnson to approve the meeting minutes of August 12,
2015 as amended. Roland Bassett seconded.
VOTE: 6-0-0
2. Discussion and vote on key policy elements of an alternate historical preservation
restriction for the Brewster Baptist Church steeple and exterior rehabilitation project.
Massachusetts Historical Commission has recommended an alternative historical
preservation restriction for Brewster Baptist Church. One of the requirements of the
award of the CPC funds to Brewster Baptist Church was to have a historical
preservation restriction submitted to Massachusetts Historical Commission, Upon
submittal to the MHC, the historical preservation restriction was rejected because the
materials used in the project did not comply with the Secretary of the Interior Standards
and the steeple did not meet prior iterations. The MHC suggested an alternative
restriction that is being investigated by Eric Dray. Eric has reviewed the revised
restriction that is a 30-year deed restriction renewable in 20-year increments, Eric
reviewed the work he is doing on the restriction and he still needs to confirm that the
restriction being professionally renewed every 20 years will meet the preservation
restriction in perpetuity requirement. It is unknown at this time if this new restriction
CPC Minutes of September 9, 2015 Page 1 of 3
requirement needs to go back before Town Meeting to change the requirements or if the
award letter just needs to be amended and Town Counsel is being asked for an opinion
on this issue.
Eric went on to review his memorandum to the CPC dated September 4, 2015. He
recommends an updated MHC Form B. This will give a snapshot in time of the building.
Eric Dray will fill out Form B with necessary information contributed by the Brewster
Baptist Church.
Eric recommends that the Brewster Board of Selectmen or the Brewster Historical
Commission retain the ability to review any future renovations that need approval of the
holder of the historic preservation restriction rather than both the Town and Old King
Highway Historic Commission. The consensus of the Committee was that this should
the responsibility of the Brewster Board of Selectmen.
Eric recommends defining major vs. minor alterations and to have the restriction
guidelines outlined in the appendix of the preservation restriction. Examples of the
major vs. minor alterations as outlined in Eric Dray's memorandum dated September 4,
2015 were acceptable to the Brewster Baptist Church. It was noted that to use original
materials only on the front of the church was not economically feasible when quotes
were received. The economic feasibility of the project was a major consideration of the
Old Kings Highway Historic District.
Eric Dray will draft the language of the historic preservation restriction and he will leave
placeholders for the information he does not have for town counsel to draft. Eric Dray is
looking for a template that incorporates the language for the 30-year restriction with 20-
year renewable increments, but he has been unsuccessful in locating a template to
date.
The timeline going forward:
• CPC will submit the length and extensions of the award for Town Counsel
review.
• Eric Dray will be working on baseline documentation and the restriction
guidelines.
• Town Counsel and the Brewster Baptist Church attorney will need to review the
draft preservation restriction before it is submitted.
• Determination of the necessity of going to Town Meeting.
3. Brewster Historical Society-Cobb House rehabilitation
a) Proiect status report: There was a review of the letter dated August 31, 2015 from
the Brewster Historical Society. Eric Dray has signed off on most of the work.
b) Vote to approve $100,000 mortaaae on the property: This will be voted on at the
next meeting after the grant agreement has been fully executed.
CPC Minutes of September 9, 2015 Page 2 of 3
4. Report on CPC Town Meeting article's outcome.
The Open Space article was a unanimous vote at Town Meeting and it is expected that
the closing will take place in January 2016. The conservation restrictions have been
approved..
5. Treasurer's report.
There is no Treasurer's report due to Elizabeth Taylor absence from the meeting.
There was a request for a final report as of fiscal year end.
6. Other business that the chair could not reasonably anticipate.
The Eddy School playground project is complete.
The progress report due in August from the Cemetery work will be requested shortly
due to the work being started later than anticipated. A Picture of the vault excavated at
the Lower Road Cemetery was passed around.
7. Schedule next meeting
- --- -- -- - ---The next meeting will be tentatively scheduled for September 23, 2015. There are four
applications from HECH to be reviewed for approval.
CPC is suppose to hold a forum whereby groups can come in and express the needs
they see coming down the road that is legally advertised in the newspaper. This will be
done at the regular October meeting.
Motion made by Roland Basset to adjourn the meeting at 5:17 pm. Jeanne
Boehm seconded
VOTE: 6-0-0
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Moberg, Recording Secretary
Items used at the meeting:
• Draft Minutes of August 12, 2015
r Memorandum from Eric Dray on Brewster Baptist Church dated 914/15
• Brewster Baptist Church Exterior Appearance Restriction August 2015 draft
Brewster Historical Society update letter dated 8/31/15
CPC Minutes of September 9, 2015 Page 3 of 3