HomeMy Public PortalAbout20140930 - Historical Commission - Meeting Minutes3/19/2015 Town of Hopkinton, MA Mail Minutes 9/30/14
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Christopher McClure <cmcclure@hopkintonma.gov>
Minutes 9/30/14
Nancy <nlstevenson@msn.com>Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 4:23 PM
To: Christopher McClure <cmcclure@hopkintonma.gov>, Brenda McCann <BMcCann@hopkintonma.gov>
Minutes 9/30/14
Hopkinton Historical Commission
Meeting Minutes
7:35 PM
Attending:
Mike Roughan, Michaelyn Holmes, Dianna Doucette, Shannon Reilly, Nancy Stevenson, Ron Yankee, Claire
Wright
Also attending:
Harold Schmitt, 49 Frankland Road, 4354904;
John E. Knowles, 23 Curtis Rd., 4354144;
Mavis O'Leary, 11Curtis Road, 4353602;
Wayne and Beth Mezitt, 25 Phipps Street, owners of the Toll House on E. Main St.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Minutes for August 27, 2014 submitted.
Mike motioned approval with 2 changes.
Michaelyn seconded.
Unanimous approval.
Minutes for June 23, 2014 submitted.
Michaelyn motioned approval with 3 changes.
Nancy seconded.
Unanimous approval.
TREASURERS REPORT
Submitted.
Question about McFarland Sanger Funds.
Michaelyn motioned approval.
Claire seconded.
Unanimous approval.
SUBCOMMITTEES
MichaelynWe have several important issues that are coming up. We need to form subcommittees to handle
them more effectively.
149 HAYDEN ROWE STREET
Michaelyn said we were contacted by a man who went in and talked with developers with such enthusiasm, they
are willing to sell original house to him. He is interested in working with us on the restoration and refurbishing of
the house.
Mike agreed to be our Lead on this project.
TOLL HOUSE
Michaelyn met with Elaine Lazerus (Town Planner), Jamie ........ ( ? ), and Norman Komalo ( ?).
The Mezitts have agreed to gift the Toll House to the town.
Would Claire be willing to be the Lead on this project?
BethMezittThank you to Harold Schmitt. Demo permission has been granted, but we are thrilled to save the Toll
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House.
Haroldsuggested establishing house as an historic relic, like Peak House in Medfield. Donated to historic
society in 1920's. Open Sundays in summer with docent. Fundraiser bake sale. Not handicap accessible.
Beth spoke with Claire. If house is used regularly, it will be taken care of. She has been trying to think of what
we can do.
Mezitts want a specific owner who will assume liability. (Not sure who should be owner.)
It must be stabilized, window repair, gutted inside, and maybe that is enough for a few years.
Mikewould they agree to tear down kitchen?
Bethyes, but it has plumbing that might be useful for ultimate use.
Wants something in the agreement that house is maintained historically accurately, regular maintenance, and if
it can't be taken care of, land given back with house removed.
Parking will be accessible as long as not during work hours. Would agree to an easement for plumbing across
street if needed.
Clairedetails of how parcel is carved out are best decided upon with Town Manager and an attorney.
Michaelyn met with Town Planner, Town Manager, and Jamie. It was discussed that this was not used as a
dwelling, so the carve out law does not apply. If historic building that town decided to maintain, it needs
easement for fire dept.
Shannonyou cannot convey a property that cannot be a buildable lot.
Nancythat happened with McFarland Sanger house. It was conveyed to us.
Claire if we were to have a group who was interested in using this building, that might help decide the
boundaries of how to renovate it and use it.
Mezitts were concerned that this would not be good as a residential situation. Claire was originally pursuing
possibility of Affordable Housing.
Bethseptic situation would be enormous. Cesspool.
Sewer service, if bldg has a use, needs to be done while services going in across street.
Clairewas contacted a long time ago by Boy Scouts. They want a 'lodge'. Spoke with them about using Toll
House. We could maintain exterior and perhaps Scouts take care of interior.
IdeaPossibly kitchenette, small rooms and a large room (push out back wall to make larger), possibly drop off in
landscape yard to a walk. They recognize constraints of the site. Maybe shared parking with across street.
Possibly pedestrian light. Scouts have opposite schedule from landscape yard.
Michaelynwhat about weekends?
Waynenot as complicated.
Scouts will discuss this at Oct 8 jamboree.
MichaelynJamie told her Town monies or CPC monies are not available until July 1. Do Scouts have sooner
access to money?
Claire Scouts have access to funding and have to use it by a particular time.
Are we talking about taking interior down to studs, new roof and expanding the back?
Wayne we will not expand footprint. Doesn't make sense for our business.
We should not take another 2 or 3 years to accomplish this.
Bethroof can be replaced for $4500.
Michaelyn let's call the full cost under $20K.
Wayne we are paying over 2K taxes for that lot.
Mikemaybe some middle ground within all of this.
Homeowners intention is to have a plan for stabilizing house by end of 2014.
Town would need to find funding source so building can be "stabilized".
NancyIf we are talking about protecting/winterizing house until we decide how to use it, we don't really need to
do everything Beth is suggesting we need to do (gutting interior down to studs, replacing windows, replacing
roof). The interior can be left for later when it is decided how to use the space. The windows are secure enough
to keep the weather out, and maybe the roof is the only thing that needs to be addressed immediately. Also, if
we are talking about maintaining the total historical character of the exterior, we can't just put the cheapest roof
on that we can find.
Michaelyn I can discuss details with the subcommittee after this meeting.
If you get Dave Deltorio, he will want to get a restoration architect involved. Mike Shepard would not be a
suggested choice for historic knowledge.
Beth we need to put together contract, with escape clause that allows the Property to revert back to them if this
does not come to fruition.
HaroldSubmitted letter written by the Burkes.
Mavis grateful for Mezitts gift and all the work Claire has done.
The Burkes are very interested, as she said in the letter. It is important for us to share this with our children.
The HHC Should possibly do something to recognize the Mezitts and also the person at 149 Hayden Rowe.
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Good press is important.
HaroldMake sure that you get what needs to be done in a contract.
I will be happy to help any way I can.
EARLY IDEAS OF HHC POTENTIAL PROJECTS
CPC wants applications for projects in by Nov 17.
Michaelyn we would have to authorize the writing to sub committees.
Jeff Furber talked about restoration for fountain. Talk about who is responsible for that. Sounded like he is the
one who is spearheading plan for fountain. CPC funds a long time ago. Jeff seemed frustrated that they needed
an RFP to go out and everything had come to a stop.
Michaelyn Jamie said the HHC has a budget item for the fountain. Some memory about Robinson Ironworks.
There are 4 players(HHC, HHDC, CPC, parks and rec) so someone needs to be the leader.
MichaelynWe do need to be involved. Suggests someone should take this on. Primary grant money is in the
Claflin Family Trust.
Who submitted proposal? Friends of the Common. (Defunk group)
We have money and no ownership and 3 other entities have ownership.
Jamie is putting together a mtg with parks and rec.
Claire Last thing I knew that in April, Eric Sonnett came to Hist Dist representing Parks and Rec. Told him Jeff
has a lot of info. Get in touch with Jeff.
A long time ago, hist dist was asked to do this as a project. Hist dist cannot DO projects.
Diannaat 1st CPC mtg, Jeff said progress has stalled.
At next mtg, Jeff was not there and Eric was. Sending project out for RFP.
Would Dianna "own" this just by keeping us abreast. Borrow from Jamie the Claflin Family Trust submission for
history on this.
Ron60k is for fountain. Janet (accountant) says we are in charge. Jamie says the HHC has a budgeted amount.
PROJECTS TO PROPOSE TO CPC
Diannamatching funds (CPC and MHC)
1)Townwide survey. Dianna said short application of description by Nov 17.
Townwide survey of cultural/archialogocal resources. Records everything in town, holds a public day so
everyone who has info shows up and everything is put down on a plan. This is to protect sensitive areas.
Michaelynsometimes we get informed by the state about these things.
DiannaThere are site forms for various places in town with information on them that can be compiled to protect
sensitive areas.
Developers and planning department will be use this.
Michaelynthis would be an arrow in our quiver about development.
Low budget item to put it forth. We have an expert in Dianna to put it forth.
Dianna said she can put together proposal for MHC.
Mike made a motion we authorize Dianna to request 15K from CPC and 15K from from MHC respectively for
cultural survey for town, with the understanding that PAL would be excluded from any public bidding on this
project.
Michaelyn seconded.
Unanimous approval.
McFARLAND SANGER HOUSE
Michaelyn we need to have house looked at externally to repair things that are falling apart.
interior idea for best room of house, living room with fire place, phased approach with assessment for cost. We
can make a pitch for this being finished for the 300th.
Mike we want an assessment study for reuse and restoration. Put together CPC grant for phase 1.
Clairehad plan to see if MHC has someone they can send out to do this.
By October, need a Draft to bring to CPC.
Mike will go to MHC, Jeannette Thompson for information.
Michaelyn"Two heads are better than one and I will recuse myself if it is no longer useful."
Nancy motioned to close meeting
Mike seconded
Unanimous approval
10:10 PM
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