Historical Commission

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Oct 03 2022 10:10 am Fitchburg Historical Commission Fitchburg Historical Commission Virtual Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 3:00 P.M. Members Present: Keith Chenot, Don Ostrowski, Ellen DiGeronimo, and Sam Blair Guests: Judy Peria, and Michelle Sciabarrasi, Agenda items taken out of order. 1. Update on Endorsement of Fitchburg Trustees of Public Burial Grounds: Guests Judy Perla, Chair, Trustees of Public Burial Grounds and Michelle Sciabarrasi discussed with the Commission their options to designate all six public burial grounds or only the four older inactive burial grounds as historic sites to have the option to apply for Massachusetts Historical Commission matching grants and perhaps other outside grant funding. A discussion followed on the designations as National Register Historic Places and Districts, Local Historic Districts, and possible city designated historic places as ways toward acquiring eligibility to receive grant funding. Additional discussion continued on the MHC funding process ($50,000 max), the application process, and acquiring matching funds with limited city budgets. At this time Ms. Sciabarrasi is going to contact MHC again to clarify the type of local designation terminology option they might request, and Ms. Perla stated that their request for an endorsement letter from the Commission to City Council designating all or some of the cemeteries as historic is on hold. 2. Review and approve minutes of the June 24, 2021, Meeting: Tabled 3. Review and approve minutes of the August 26, 2021, Meeting: Tabled 4. Review and approve minutes of the September 30, 2021, Meeting: Tabled 5. Proposed Fitchburg Historical Commission Rules and Regulations: Sam and Keith are reviewing sample R&R from other communities on the operation of the duties of the Historical Commission and our dual role as Local Historic District Commission (Monument Park LHD) and hope to have a draft for review at a future meeting. Ellen noted that Salem has a good LHD guide. Keith will forward a copy to Sam. 6. Update on proposed Demolition Delay ordinance draft: Meagen was not present to discuss latest draft. Discussion followed on getting initial feedback from the Building Commissioner, Community Development, and the City Solicitor. 7. Update on proposed Stone Wall Preservation ordinance draft: Don will send the latest to Commission members for review. Discussion again followed on getting initial feedback from the Building Commissioner, Community Development, the Planning Board, and the City Solicitor. 8. Update One Oak Hill Rd. Building 5 renovation permitting review regarding maintaining National Register status: Keith noted that he has been in contact with the design detail regarding the retention of existing large exterior windows that will have interior blank walls panels built behind them and the issue of condensation and potential rotting of the existing wood sash. The design is ongoing and must be approved prior to issuance of permits. 9.  9. Review wording for historic site marker for the new housing development at the NW corner of Blossom and Crescent Streets: After consultation with the FHS and referencing “The City and the River” the following test is proposed: Site of Fitchburg’s first meetinghouse c. 1766 and later a brick schoolhouse on land donated by Thomas Cowdin 10. Update on status of Monument Park repairs: Coordination with Parks and Recreation intended 11. Updated on Demolition of Simonds Saw and Steel, Intervale Road: Time capsule opened and Mayor has turned over contents to the Commission. Voted unanimously to transfer to the Fitchburg Historical Society. 12. Update on Historic Districts Information Brochure/Map Information Guide, Signage, Web Posting: Project has begun with a FSU graphics student working with her faculty lead, Dr. J. J. Sylvia. Committee members are gathering text and images for the layout. 13. Filling Vacancy on the Commission: Continuing to seek a member from the local real estate community 14. Next meeting scheduled for November 18, 2021, West Meeting Room at City Hall and Zoom hybrid. 15. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by Keith Chenot