Historic District Commission

NORWICH HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION Minutes of the November 20, 2019 Regular Meeting The regular meeting of the Historic District Commission was held Wednesday November 20, 2019 at 5:32 PM in City Hall Room 319. Members Present: Scott Learned (Chairman) Regan Miner (Vice Chairman) Timothy Dowhan Nancy O’Neil Members Absent: Richard Guideback and Greg Johnson I. Public Meeting The public meeting was convened at 5:32 PM. The order of COA presentations and discussions are at the discretion of the commission to accommodate all participants. ● COA #402 - 428 Washington Street (Franklin) – Restoration, Roof, Chimneys Timothy Dowhan reported the COA is requesting to replace the existing broken bluestone chimney cap with a solid piece of bluestone when installing the liner for a basement woodstove. Mr. Dowhan stated the COA also includes asphalt and like-for-like roof shingle replacement on the garage.
COA #403 - 71 East Town Street (Society of the Founders of Norwich): Reconstruction, Roofing, Chimney Dayne Rugh of the Society of the Founders of Norwich stated they are looking to use grant funding to replace the entire roof of the Joseph Carpenter Silversmith shop, which they own, with like-for-like red cedar shingles. Mr. Rugh stated the second portion of the COA is for a partial reconstruction of the chimney from the roofline up for which they are planning to acquire old bricks for. Regan Miner added on behalf of the Norwich Historical Society, which is collaborating on the project, that the bricks would be ‘hard bricks’  and they are also planning to extract some mortar from the exiting chimney to achieve same look as the previous one. ● COA #404 – 5 Town Street (Drena) – Restoration, Perimeter Richard Drena stated he is looking to replace a picket fence that previously existed on the property by utilizing Navajo White pressure treated fence posts installed with coat steel spikes that will be grade-level and therefore not visible. ● COA #405 – 6 Ox Hill Road (Lefkowitz) – Preservation, Roofing Mark Lefkowitz provided a brief history of the property explaining that the existing structures date from 1743 to the early 1900s garage and 1930’s carriage house, including small additions in between. Mr. Lefkowitz stated his wish is to replace the carriage house and garage roofs with as much asphalt architectural shingle as possible and red cedar shingle where required to be cost effective. Mr. Lefkowitz explained that the garage currently utilizing a combination of asphalt and cedar shingles and that the CertainTEED brand shingle he is considering to use is designed to replicate the look of a weathered red cedar shingle. Scott Learned closed the public hearing at 5:55 PM. II. Regular Meeting The regular meeting was convened at 5:55 PM. A. Action on COA’s ● COA #402 - 428 Washington Street (Franklin) – Restoration, Roof, Chimneys Motion to approve the COA as written and presented (Timothy Dowhan, Regan Miner seconded) was approved unanimously. ● COA #403 - 71 East Town Street (Society of the Founders of Norwich): Reconstruction, Roofing, Chimney Motion to approve the COA as written and presented (Timothy Dowhan, Nancy O’Neil seconded) was approved. (Scott Learned, Nancy O’Neil, Timothy Dowhan in favor. Regan Miner abstained). ● COA #404 – 5 Town Street (Drena) – Restoration, Perimeter Motion to approve the COA as written and presented (Timothy Dowhan, Regan Miner seconded) was approved unanimously.  ● COA #405 – 6 Ox Hill Road (Lefkowitz) – Preservation, Roofing Motion to approved the COA as written and presented (Timothy Dowhan, Regan Miner seconded). Discussion ensued regarding the variation of vintage between the sections of the property. A revised motion to table the COA until the next regular meeting to allow the HDC to investigation recommendations by the National Park Service and to allow the applicant to bring in samples of his suggested asphalt shingle (Timothy Dowhan, Nancy O’Neil seconded) passed unanimously. B. Minutes of October 16, 2019 Regular Meeting • Motion to accept the October 16, 2019 Regular Meeting minutes as written (Nancy O’Neil, Regan Miner seconded) was approved. (Scott Learned and Timothy Dowhan abstained) C. Chairman Report: None D. Old Business: Regan Miner reported she submitted the 2020 HDC Budget to the City for review. E. New Business: Discussion ensued regarding updating the current COA application. Add to future agenda items. F. Next Meeting Date ● Scheduled for Wednesday December 18, 2019 at 5:30 PM. G. Adjournment ● Motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting At 6:27 PM (Nancy O’Neil, Timothy Dowhan seconded) was approved unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose Recording Secretary