BENNINGTON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Bennington Town Office - Conference Room - October 10, 2007 October 10,2007 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Meg Campbell, Tordis Ilg Isselhardt, Anne Bugbee Scott Murphy for DRB discussion Laura Gresh arrived 2:53 ALSO PRESENT: Beth Antognioni 1. Minutes of September 26, 2007 -Minutes were approved with the following amendment: Item 2 DRB Sign Permit - 124 Pleasant Street Town of Bennington Senior Center There was no picture submitted with the application. As a reminder to all applicants it is necessary to provide a picture of the building with a drawing to show impact of the proposed change of the existing structure. 2. DRB - Building Permit - 663 Main Street, Po Mat Lee - Proposed vinyl siding HPC felt there is a lot of original material left on the building, it is a very prominent building on the corner of the Design Review District. Please refer to page 48 of "Time and Place in Bennington" what is not appropriate - "1. Covering wall surfaces with metal or vinyl siding, or other synthetic cladding which differs greatly from original methods." What is appropriate "A. Repairing and keeping clapboards and other wood wall materials." HPC recommended that the building be scraped, primed and painted. HPC also noted they will mention to the applicant that there are Town Revolving Loan funds available. John Lee representing 663 Main Street did join HPC and HPC noted the above recommendations to the applicant. Sign Permit - 194 North Street, Twin State Signs - Rite Aid The proposed sign was approved as submitted. 3. CLG 07-2 Grant Discussion - RFP Preparation - tabled for next meeting 4. HPC Workplan Discussion - minutes attached 5. CLG National Register Expansion Discussion - Suggested changes/questions attached. Attachments Submitted, Scott M. Murphy, Secretary, HPC Community Development Director K:\Community Dev\HPC Folder\Minutes\Minutes\2007\101007.wpd HPC Meeting 10/10/07 Notes for Beth to incorporate in to meeting minutes In an attempt to define the HPC role within the Bennington Town Governance and to defuse some of the frustration the Board has been feeling about its role Meg lead the Board members through the following exercise. The following three categories served as focal points: Who are we? Who are we not? Who do we want to be? Initially, the following functions were included under each category. Who Are We? Meg read the definition from the CLG Handbook defining the purpose of a HPC. Beyond that definition and relating to Bennington in particular the following purposes were added. a. Public Commission appointed by the Selectors of Bennington. b. Advisory Committee to the DRB. c. Educational resource to the community for HP issues in the historic district. d. Advocate for historic preservation resources in greater Bennington. Who we are not. a. We are not an independent non-profit preservation organization. b. We are not an independent organization with resources and staff. Who we want to be. a. Partner with other town boards such as BBC. b. Watchdogs for the greater community regarding Bennington's historical resources c. Provider of education for citizens of the greater Bennington community: realtors, business owners and historical houses owners. After identification of tasks the Board moved to determining strategies and tactics. After a bit more discussion it was decided that there were two categories that were of utmost importance and that we should focus on them. The following is the final outcome. Who are we? a. Advisory commission to the DRB b. Educational resource for community HP issues within the Historic District c. Select Board appointed public commission for Greater Bennington. d. Advocates for HP Resources in greater Bennington Community. Strategies -Educate general public/outreach -Make people more aware of HP resources, encourage use of R.I.T.C.-Build better relationships/partnership with BBC, Town staff and other organizations -Cultivate a better relationship with the Banner -Cultivate a positive attitude about preservation -Create/encourage HP advocates outside of HPC -Educate ourselves Tactics -Development of website -Update and expand National District -Have round table meetings -Have lunch or other mtg. W/other people in Town -Invite reporters to meetings, reachout to reporters, press releases -Encourages articles about HP issues -Write editorials -Attend other public meetings, Selectboard, PC, DRB, BBC - introduce ourselves -Educate people about Econ. Development -Speaking @ other organized mtgs. -Interview on CAT-TV Who do we want to be? -Partners with other town boards, BBC -Watchdogs for the greater community -Greater Citizen educators for individuals, relators, business owners - more targeted & in depth. Strategies -Build better relationships -Consider changing zoning regulations -Consider jump starting the Preservation Trust Which of these Tactics has HPC initiated? 1. Development of Website. 2. Getting GLC training 3. Updating and expanding National Registry District. Wrapping up, Meg reiterated that she knew that Commission members were feeling frustrated by what was felt to be a lack of awareness of HPC's role by the Town. This exercise was an attempt to get at that frustration and to move ahead. All agree that it was a positive and productive session. Other Business New State Director of Downtown Program The new State Director of Downtown Programs, Leanne Tingay will be the keynote speaker of the BBC 2007 Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place at Tally's on Thursday, November 8 at 5:30. The cost is $35.00 per person. Meg encouraged all Board members to attend. Meeting adjourned at 4:55 pm. Next Meeting: October 30, 2007 at 2:30 Please find below comments/changes/questions HPC has on the "First Draft" of the National Register nomination that Paula Sagerman submitted: Comments/changes/questions will be in italic. In the copy when Village is noted it should be change to Town. Page 1 - 1st Paragraph - suggestion to include date of demolition. Page 1 - 3rd Paragraph - The two-story building... isn't this farily new? What is the date, c.1980? Page 2 - 1st Paragraph - The front Neo-Classical Revival section and the first story of the rest of the South Street section were built in 1926... Is this much later? Page 2 - 4th Paragraph - fourth line down, last word - should mid be hyphenated? Page 2 - Item 9 - is there a description? Page 6 - Item 37 - First National Bank, 338 Main Street, 1931, contribution ? Page 6 - Item 43&44 - questions on naming. National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section 7 - Page 3, second paragraph - Fourth line down - should mid be hyphenated? Section 7 - Page 3, fourth paragraph - second line from the bottom - include former Dunkin Donuts building, now a Chinese restaurant.