BENNINGTON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
                   Bennington Town Office Conference Room
                        Wednesday, January 17, 2007
                               MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:  Tordis Ilg Isselhardt, Vic Rolando, Laura Gresh, Meg Campbell and
Scott Murphy.
ALSO PRESENT: Neal Goswami, Bennington Banner Reporter 
EXCUSED: John Dostal and Anne Bugbee
1. Minutes of December 13, 2007
Minutes were  accepted as written.
2. DRB - There were no DRB items for review.  Meg wanted to follow up on the site visit that Scott, Laura, Vic and Tordis made to the Bennington Brush site on December 29, 2006.    
Meg noted that she will document in writing any history of the building and Vic will provide any photographs.
Below is a copy of the memo that went to Daniel W. Monks, Town of Bennington Planning Director: 
To:  Daniel W. Monks, Planning Director
From:     Meg Campbell, HPC Chair
Date:     December 29, 2006
Re:  Former H. W. Putnam Hardware Mfg. Building
The Historic Preservation Commission approves the proposed development of the former H.W. Putnam Hardware Mfg. Building by Applejack Historic Real Estate, LLC. Presented at the December 13, 2006 HPC meeting.
Part of the proposal includes the demolition of a portion of the late 19th century brick industrial buildings.
Initial research by the HPC has shown that the town records for this property (Vermont Sites & Structures Survey and National Register Listings) are incomplete.
The HPC respectfully requests  the time and opportunity to do more research on the building to be demolished as well as the opportunity to access the building in order to document the historic fabric that will be lost with the demolition.
Any information and photographs prepared by the HPC will be filed in the Town of Bennington Sites & Structures Survey and made available to the developer.  It is our hope that the developer may use any information uncovered in a display about the history of the building in the newly renovated space.
3. Community Meeting Updates  
Design Committee - Meg & Scott reported that the Town of Bennington will be taking over "Bennington in Bloom" The Town of Bennington will maintain the contract with Design & Sweet William Farm for the upcoming year and then put next years contract out for bid.
Planning Commission - The Planning Commission has one more meeting for the proposed sign ordinance.
4. 2007 CLG Grant
The discussion included sending out the RFP to consultants the first week in February, then in March we would hire the consultant, April-June work with consultant, Scott will provide a time-line at the next meeting along with having the RFP available for members to review.  
5. Other Preservation Issues 
Meg shared with members the following booklet: "Making Defensible Decisions", a manual for Historic Preservation Commissions, Meg also wanted to impress upon members just how Bennington does have their act together.  Meg also handed out an Agenda for a Commission Training Workshop by the National Alliance of Preservation Commission which will be offered January 19, 2007 in Shelburne.  Vic will attend the workshop.
It was suggested that the next CLG round, HPC should consider obtaining funding to have a Preservation workshop here in Bennington.
Meg noted that the Preservation Conference will be held Friday, April 13 in Montpelier, it will be more of a symposium, a series of talks by preservation professionals, she will share the agenda once she receives it.
Scott reported that a public hearing on the proposal to rehab RAHC historic buildings will be on the Select Board Agenda, Monday, January 22.  Scott also noted that two proposed large developments - Fillmore Street and Stocklee Lane will be on the DRB Agenda, Tuesday, February 6.
It was suggested that a Map of Bennington be located in the conference room for HPC members to use as a tool when discussing projects in Bennington.  Scott will look into this.
       
                       Future HPC Meeting Dates
                   February 14 & February 28, 2007
  
Respectfully submitted
Scott M. Murphy, Secretary, HPC
Community Development Director
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