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Massachusetts

Leverett

Town of Leverett
9 Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Town Clerk: (413) 548-9150
Tax Collector: (413) 548-9666
Assessor: (413) 548-4945
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Historical Commission Meeting

Monday, July 9, 2018, 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm
Town Hall
A meeting of the Historical Commission

Meeting of Historical Commission

Members: (Quorum)

  • Present: Ann Tweedy, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Sara Robinson, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Mareneck, Chair, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Edie Field, Honorary, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Susan Lynton, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Anne Schuyler, at 7:00 PM
  • Present: Eva Gibavic, at 7:00 PM

See original Agenda Final Minutes

Meeting opened: 7:20 PM

Meeting closed: 9:50 PM

  1. Meeting Preliminaries

  2. 1. Update - Digital Archives Project & Cemeteries (SM, SL & EF)

    • Cemeteries - Cemetery Preservation Campaign/ Research/ Conservation (brief update) - Update: Heard from Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) regarding State and National Register designation for seven historic cemeteries submitted by UMASS grad students August 2017 - Next steps? - MHC – Should we consider a National Register designation for all historic cemeteries vs. individual designations? - Update: CPC funded Tamara Conde’s to work on Mt. Hope; 6/30, volunteers @ Moore's Corner 9:30am.

      General Discussion...
      We are waiting to see if Leverett is eligible for a MHC "Survey & Planning" grant next year. This year only towns with "Local Historic Districts" were allowed to apply. In the response to our Form E submissions in 2017, MHC's response gave direction in some instances. SL says, "of the seven submitted Form E's, where there is direction on what needs to be provided, we will complete. Then we will figure out what made the others questionable. We wonder if the issue of private ownership or the description of at least one as "rundown" could have had an impact in the decision?

    • Digital Archives Project - - Baptist Church archives (brief update).

    • Veterans Recognition Project - Meeting Martha Lyon/Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC for cemetery visits.

      General Discussion...
      Signs are being made by the Leverett Cemetery Association for 6 cemeteries: East Leverett, Plainview, Moore's Corner, Hillsboro (Depot Road or Long Plain), Jackson Hill and North; possibly Mt.Toby. According to Edie,"all the cemeteries that we take care of". Don Robinson sent a digital design. They have Name, First Burial, Town of Leverett as text. Shape is a divided entablature top and pointed bottom, black letters and outline on white. The signs will hang from a wrought iron post designed by Jim Field. The decision to do the signs was made recently by members of the Cemetery Association. They were designed by someone and will be fabricated by Nancy Emond's brother in Maine.

      Next field trip to visit cemeteries for evaluation by Martha Lyons, Landscape Architect who is writing a report for the Commission's SHRAB grant, will be July 12, 9:30am Town Hall. Martha's report will recommend improvements for access, drainage, landscape maintenance and interpretive signage for all 12 of Leverett's historic cemeteries. Bill Rathbun will work with Martha's recommendations to design signage in keeping with the design of other historical signage in Leverett (National Register Historic Districts).

  3. 2. History related/ Cultural Event possibilities – (SR, EF, SM)

    • Schooling in Leverett - "Education in Leverett- Village Schools to Consolidation" Oral History Project.

      General Discussion...
      Exhibit moved to Town Hall June 1, 2018. We have been told that the Senior Lunch attendees have been enjoying it. It will move to LES the third week of August. There is interest in the material becoming a book for the 250th in 2024. Ann Tweedy will research grants to transcribe the rest of the interviews. Ruth Black will be in the area in September and has told us that she would like to be interviewed. Alden LaClaire, who lives in ME is also interested.

  4. 3. Strategic Planning for Historical Assets Survey (AS, SL, SM)

    • ConComm OSP - Next meeting August 8, 2018, 7:30pm, Town Hall.

      General Discussion...
      Eva will send out Section 4, "Historical Landscapes". The initial deadline is July but there is flexibility.

    • Historical Assets Survey Questionnaire - HAS Questionnaire - - Strategies for reporting findings.

      General Discussion...
      Pleun will have a report in mid-August.

  5. LHC

    • Commission communication - Ethics Test

    • CPA Monitoring - Reporting on visits

    • LHC Budget

    • Policies, New members?

      General Discussion...
      Sara Robinsonwill invite Tina LaClaire.

  6. 5. LHS

    • Brief update of activities - - Brief update of activities - Meetings planned?

      General Discussion...
      Charlotte Abbott will call Julie Shively regarding the condition and maintenance of the Moore's Corner School House.

  7. New Business

    • August meeting date - Second Monday will not work for SM, can we do the 3rd Monday -August 20, 2018, 7pm, Town Hall?

    • MHC - MHC Archaeology

    • Goding Place - Demolition Delay Bylaw (Ordinance)

      General Discussion...
      We have created a new "Application for Review". The FRCOG building inspector does not enforce unless it is "zoning bylaw" (even though there are case law precedents of Cambridge being forced to comply). He has told Sarah Todd, owner of 257 Montague Road that he will issue an "Occupancy Permit" regardless of two houses on the same lot.

      Sarah Todd does not want the building on her property. She would have the Conway School take apart and recycle to building. SM will revise "Application for Review" and send to ST. It will be an interim document and we may want to add a fee for future applications.

      MOTION, moved by Susan Lynton, seconded by Anne Schuyler: SM will revise the Demolition Delay "Application for Review" and send to Sarah Todd.

      Pass: Aye: Edie Field, Sara Robinson, Ann Tweedy, Susan Mareneck, Eva Gibavic, Anne Schuyler, Susan Lynton.

    • Grant opportunity - Grant opportunity through Town for FRCOG funds -

      General Discussion...
      Eva will research and send Margie a proposal to buy a flatbed scanner to be used for digitalization of archives.

      MOTION, moved by Susan Mareneck, seconded by Ann Tweedy: Motion to request a flatbed scanner that would create searchable digital files; it would be available to all town departments.".

      Pass: Aye: Edie Field, Sara Robinson, Ann Tweedy, Susan Mareneck, Eva Gibavic, Anne Schuyler, Susan Lynton.

  8. Meeting Wrap-up

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by SM

Minutes approved on Thursday, Sep 6, 2018