Historical Commission

Chicopee Historical Commission Voting Record and Minutes The Historical Commission of the City of Chicopee public hearing for Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 4:00 PM, in the Chambers Conference room, City Hall Annex and via Zoom. Meeting was brought to order at 4:02 PM by Josh Clark, Chair of the Historical Commission in the Planning Department Office. Historical Commission attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Joshua Clark, Chair X Ray Hoess-Brooks X Vice Chair Linda Menard-Mruk X Clerk Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron X Vacant Vacant Planning Staff attendance: Member Present Absent Excused Lee Pouliot, X Director James Dawson, X Development Manager Patrick Collins X Nick Kiser X Item 1: Presentation by Valley Opportunity Council on the redevelopment of the former Belcher School into 20-25 apartments. VOC is requesting a new letter of support from the Commission. The last letter of support was issued by the Commission in June of 2023 and dated July 31, 2023 for VOC’s late summer submittal deadline. VOC Executive Director Steve Huntley updated the Historical Commission about the progress on the Belcher School project and asked for a letter of support for the Massachusetts Historical Commission tax credit application. VOC became the owner of Belcher School about one month ago. The budget to convert the school into apartments is 13 million dollars. Construction is expected to begin in March 2024 and the completion date is March 2025. To date VOC has received 1.73 million dollars in tax credits. Motion to approve the letter of support was made by Commissioner Osetek and seconded by Commissioner Mruk. Vote was unanimous to approve Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Joshua Clark, Chair X Linda Menard-Mruk X Raymond Hoess-Brooks Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron Item 2: Update by Commissioner Clark on the letter to the City Solicitor with regard to the rights of the Historical Commission concerning the Assumption Church Rectory and the Holy Name Church. Commissioner Clark sent an e-mail to the City Solicitor requesting an opinion as to how the Historical Commission could proceed with the churches in question. As yet there has been no response. Item 3: Update by Commissioner Clark regarding the status of the Edward Bellamy House tour and structural report. Commissioner Clark contacted Bellamy House Association President Jason Amos about hosting a meeting at the Bellamy House on Church Street. Mr. Amos informed Commissioner Clark that the Bellamy House currently has no heat or adequate lighting, therefore it might be better to wait until spring for a scheduled meeting. There was no update about the structural report. Item 4: Minutes from November 14, 2023 Motion to accept the minutes as amended was made by Commissioner Osetek and seconded by Commissioner Mruk. Vote was unanimous to accept. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Joshua Clark, Chair X Linda Menard-Mruk X Raymond Hoess-Brooks Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron Item 5: Discussion/New Business The Historical Commission has two vacancies. Commissioner Clark stated that Joel McAuliffe has expressed interest in serving on the commission and will submit a letter of interest to the mayor. Item 6: Adjournment – Next regularly scheduled meeting is January 9, 2024. Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Mruk and seconded by Commissioner Osetek Vote was unanimous to adjourn. Member Approve Deny Table Abstain Joshua Clark, Chair X Linda Menard-Mruk X Raymond Hoess-Brooks Louise Osetek X Kathryn Gawron Meeting adjourned at 4:39 PM.