Link back to Community Preservation Committee page
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Hingham Town Hall
7:00 P.M.
Members Present: Bill Reardon, Gary Tondorf-Dick, Sarah Dewey, Sally Weston, Phil Edmundson
Absent: John Riley, Dan Coughlin, Jim Watson, John Kelleher,
Chairman Bill Reardon called the meeting to order when a quorum was reached at 7:10 P.M.
The minutes from the November 17, 2009 meeting were approved as amended.
Administrator’s Report
Andrea Young reminded the committee that members of town committees and boards are designated as “Special Municipal Employees”, and as such are required to pass an online test administered by the State Ethics Commission. The certificate awarded upon completion of the test, must be filed with the Town Clerk. The test must be completed by April 1, 2010.
Chairman Bill Reardon reported that the Town requested that a portion of the CPC funds appropriated to the Historical Commission’s Preservation Projects Fund last year be used to help pay for restoring Glad Tidings Plain. MassHighway created a 5 ft. wide compacted gravel strip on both sides of Rte. 228 through Glad Tidings Plain. In response to numerous complaints, MassHighway agreed to remove the gravel and place loam and seed, but the Town had to cover part of the cost. Alec Macmillan, HC Chairman, discussed the matter with Mr. Reardon, who agreed that the proposed use is appropriate under CPA.
Progress Review – Funded Projects Currently Underway
The following projects are still in progress:
Torrent Fire Station’s Hersey Statue – Conservator is continuing to work on the wooden statue.
Hingham Centre Cemetery Fence – Fence will be installed early summer, 2010.
Iron Horse Park – Landscape improvements will be completed spring, 2010.rview of their respective projects.
Town Document Preservation – Phase I is complete (determination of type, amount and condition of materials to be conserved) Phase II (cataloging and preserving) is in progress.
Liberty Plain Gravestones – Inventory and Assessment are complete; conservation of stones was suspended for the winter and will resume spring, 2010.
Utility Pole Removal – Work is proceeding on North Street.
Historic Structures Reports for Old Derby Academy and the Old Ordinary – Building Conservation Associates was awarded the bid; work is in process.
Block Grant to Preservation Projects Fund – The grant has funded survey work for the proposed Barnes/Old Colony Hill Historic District and MassHighway’s restoration of Glad Tidings Plain.
Bare Cove Park, Phase II – All major work is complete.
Cushing Property Acquisition – Mass Historical Commission is in the process of approving the preservation restriction submitted by the Hingham Historical Commission.
FY 2011 Grant Proposals
A. Restoration of Bells – Memorial Bell Tower
Tom Willson and Gary Tondorf-Dick provided updated information on the project. Consultation with a contractor revealed that the exterior of the tower is sound, and that taking off the roof is the best way to remove the bells for shipping to England. There are only 2 foundries in England that are able to work on the unique change rung bells that are in the tower. The one American foundry that works on large bells only works on carillon bells, which the tower does not have. The tower’s damp interior would affect the possibility of installing carillon bells with electronic controls. Chairman Reardon and Phil Edmundson stressed the importance of finding additional funding alternatives for this project.
B. Building Envelope Restoration – Bare Cove Fire Museum
Project Proponent Lisa Andre reviewed the need to replace the leaking roof and repoint the bricks on the building. Chairman Bill Reardon encouraged the museum’s committee members to go after the worst problem first, i.e., the roof. Ms. Andre agreed that the roof is the most important; however, there is water coming through the brick on the north wall as well. She said that she would break out the cost of repairing that wall. Gary Tondorf-Dick advised that mitigating the asbestos on the roof is the best value, and would allow probing to determine the condition of the eaves.
C. Samuel Litchfield House Restoration – Country Club
Jay McGrail told the committee that the house is in tough shape. The Country Club Management Committee plans to have a crew clean the house out and cut the trees back. The roof needs to be secured, however. Mr. McGrail said that he received an estimate of $10,000 to put a temporary cover on the roof. Chairman Reardon commented that if the roof isn’t secured, the building will probably be lost. Phil Edmundson suggested that the Historical Commission might be willing to replace the roof or restore the building. Mr. Reardon then asked if there has been more discussion on the Housing Authority Trust’s interest in moving the house to 80 Beal Street for use as affordable housing. There has been no further discussion.
D. 375th Anniversary Time Capsule
The CPC recommended that the 375th Committee seek donations to pay for the time capsule, as had been done for the 350th anniversary.
E. Foundry Pond Restoration
A brief discussion took place re the merits of dredging the pond vs. removing the dam. Phil Edmundson would like to know the implications of removing the dam. GZA should be asked to attend the public hearing.
F. Noonan Property Acquisition
There was no new information.
G. Nosiglia Property Acquisition
The OSAC is waiting for the appraisal to be completed.
H. Sawmill Pond (Chase) Property Acquisition
Sarah Dewey will talk to the schools to determine if they think the property has educational value.
I. Fort Hill Veteran’s House
Veterans’ Agent Mike Cunningham expressed concerns regarding the nature and extent of services that would be expected from his office to support the residents housed under the Father Bill’s/Mainspring program. John Yazwinski, CEO of Father Bill’s/Mainspring met with Mike Cunningham to identify issues and concerns. Further discussion is required. Mr. Yazwinski stated that in order for the project to go forward and receive state funding, the project would have to have the support of the town.
J. 80 Beal Street Affordable Housing
HAHT will take possession of the property at the end of this month. The closing takes place on December 28, 2009.
K. Thaxter Park Boiler Replacement
Sally Weston will obtain a status report on anticipated state funding for the boilers.
Follow-Up required before the January meeting:
Sarah Dewey will talk to Alec Macmillan re paying for the roof on the Litchfield House.
Bill Reardon will talk to Cliff Prentiss re getting a representative from GZA to discuss Foundry Pond.
Dan Coughlin will talk with Mike and John Yazwinski to determine if there are issues that need to be resolved.
The Public Hearing for all projects except property acquisitions is on January 27, 2010 at
7:00 P.M.
Chairman Reardon adjourned the meeting at 10:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrea Young
Administrator