Historic District Commission

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION, NORWICH, CONNECTICUT 22 January 2009 The regular meeting off the Norwich Historic District Commission was held on 22 January 2009 in Room 319, Norwich City Hall at 5 p.m. Members Present: Malcolm Edgar, Chairman Desiree Champagne Gideon Lowenstein Marco Middleton Court Murphy Absent: Judith Hamblen Nancy O’Neil Special Guests: Gregory Farmer, Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation William Champagne, Norwich Historical Trust I. SECRETARY’S REPORT Minutes of the regular October meeting were approved as amended. Minutes of the regular November meeting were approved as presented. III. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 1. The Preservation Awards were presented in City Counsel chambers on 1 December 2008. One recipient, Madelyn F. Easley, was unable to attend. The chair will arrange delivery of her plaque. 2. The Construction Award has been received and the chair will arrange for a representative of the Mattern Company to attend the next commission meeting for presentation. III. OLD BUSINESS The letter to Mr. James Troeger dated 8 December 2008 was read. This led to a lengthy discussion of matters of concern about the commission decision regarding 21 West Town Street. Mr. Farmer led a lengthy discussion on the importance of avoiding setting a precedent in situations like this. He advised that the commission should require a COA application to be filed even though work has been completed on a property. A public hearing should be held and the application approved or denied for reasons carefully documented. No further action need be taken. The property owner and the Building Official should attend the hearing. In regard to 21 West Town Street, the following facts should be noted: 1. The project consisted of replacing wooden sashes with white vinyl window systems. 2. The wood dividers were “replaced” with vinyl snap-in dividers. 3. The work was done with building permits issued by a building official, but that official failed to refer the property owner to the NHDC for processing of an application for a COA despite the location of the property being well within the boundary of the Norwichtown Historic District. This is in violation of Section 7 – 147d.(b) of the Connecticut Historic Districts and Properties Enabling Statute, and the building permits issued were therefore not legal. IV. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Farmer and Mr. Champagne were initially invited to discuss the role of this commission in respect the report by Racel D. Carley, Norwich Connecticut Historic Neighborhoods. Both gentlemen agreed to attend a future meeting for that purpose. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25p.m. Respectfully submitted, Malcolm S. Edgar, Chairman