Historical Commission

Sterling Heights Historical Commission February 4, 2021 6:00 p.m. Meeting held via conference call MINUTES I Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 6:01pm by Mott. II Roll Call Present: Cynthia Appleton (Sterling Heights), Nicholas Cavalli (Sterling Heights), John Connor (Sterling Heights), Douglas J. Harvey (Sterling Heights), Meghan Mott (Sterling Heights), Mark Schell (Sterling Heights), Bryan Wojciechowski (Sterling Heights), Tammy Turgeon (Troy), Karen Turk (Royal Oak) Excused: none III Approval of Agenda Added item V.B. Annual Report Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Appleton, supported by Connor. Motion carried. IV Minutes of December 3 , 2020 Motion to approve the minutes of December 3, 2020 was made by Appleton, supported by Connor. Motion carried. V Communications/Reports/ Correspond ence A. Report from Karen Turk, PT Local History/Archives Librarian Turk indicated that seven people have taken the tours so far. She and Garrett cataloged 203 items so far. They are working on returning Native American items to tribes. Some of the items in the house have been moved. B. Annual Report Appleton walked the commission through the Annual Report questions. VI Unfinished Business A. Historical Marker Program There have been no new applications.  B. Sterling Heights History Traveling Box MCHA requested that we show off the box at the annual meeting. C. Park and Canal Markers Turgeon will contact Kyle to pick up the sign. D. Cataloging Completed 203 items. E. History is Happening Now program Five submissions have been received. The deadline is March 1st. F. Online Trivia Program Commission thought it would be best using multiple choice questions. Commissioners should review by Friday. G. Upton House Museum Sunday Tour Volunteers March will be Doug and John. April will be Meghan and John (unless Cynthia can make it). Registration will close on Saturday afternoon. Commissioners can look at the library calendar to see if there are any tours scheduled. Click on the event that is listed in the calendar, then click on registration. It will show the event is full if there is a registration. The link is https://www.sterling- heights.net/1244/Calendar-Registration#/events/ If it does not say the event is full, then there is not a tour at that time. Volunteers do not need to open up the house then. There are up to three tours per day. Masks must be worn by Commissioners and visitors. H. Upton House Tours Commissioners are interested in Karen and Garrett creating a virtual tour of the Upton House Museum, specifically of the second floor since some individuals have a problem using the stairs. Another idea was to have an audio or video clip tour put on a QR code and that be posted outside the museum to give them a glimpse of what is inside. This QR code could also be put on a sticker to update the current brochures that we have. Turgeon will contact Finance to get the credit card instructions updated so that sales of the book, DVD and patches can be handled. Wojciechowski will investigate Venmo. VII New Business A. Victorian Christmas Program Appleton has started to work on this. Seven people are needed to participate. VIII Communications from Citizens  Appleton will provide Turgeon with updates needed for the website. Suggestion was made to have Bob from SHTV film the City Bus Tour route so that people can take their own tour. Harvey is interested in writing an article about the first autonomous vehicles (horse grazing story and ice box story). Schell asked about volunteers being eligible to get COVID vaccines. Turgeon will ask Community Relations department. Appleton wanted to make sure we sent a thank you to Eckert’s for the beautiful pots. IX Adjourn Motion to adjourn was made by Appleton at 7:12 p.m, supported by Wojciechowski. Motion carried. Next meeting April 8 , 2021 "The City of Sterling Heights will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at the meeting upon seven days notice to the Community Relations Office at 586-446-CITY (2489)."