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HDC - 10-24-19 - ApprovedCITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES COMMITTEE /COMMISSION: Historic District Commission DATE: October 24, 2019 LOCATION: Conference Room B, Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street MEMBERS PRESENT: William Finch, Chair Suzanne LaMont, Vice Chair Caroline Mason Wendy Pearl OTHERS PRESENT: Emily Hutchings; Anna Langstaff, Fred Hopps; Stella Mae Seamans; Mary McCaffrey; Margarita (Margy) Medini; Hannah Kurman Martino RECORDER: Amy McDonough LaMont calls the meeting to order at 7:36pm. Pearl motions to move to #6 on the Agenda - Approval of Minutes. LaMont seconds. Motion passes 3 -0. Finch joins the meeting at 7:37pm. LaMont motions to go back to #1 on the Agenda. Pearl seconds. Motion passes 4 -0. 1. Determinations of Historic Sienificance: Beverly Public Library Local Newspaper Dieitization Anna Langstaff, Director, presents to the Commission. Ms. Langstaff states that she has worked at the library for 35 years. The library has Beverly newspapers going back to 1851, which are on microfilm, but are not indexed or digitized. Langstaff explains that the library would like to digitize, index and set up the newspapers and articles so they are searchable. Langstaff emphasizes the value of the newspapers and how people will benefit from being able to easily search for articles and topics from the website. The paper versions of the newspapers are no longer available. Pearl asks when the newspapers were transferred to microfilm. Langstaff responds that they have were transferred gradually over time. Langstaff notes that the library will keep the microfilm and discs so that there are two backups of the digital versions of the newspapers. Pearl states that making the newspapers more accessible will educate others. LaMont motions to find the newspapers to be a historically significant resource. Mason seconds. Motion passes 4 -0. 2. Determination of Historic Significance: Photovoltaic Site at 100 Sohier Road Fred Hopps, Chair of Solar Now and the Clean Energy Advisory Committee, and Stella Mae Seamans presents to the Commission. He is here to request that the Commission designate the old panels and the site — known as the Dr. John W. Coleman Greenergy Park — as historically significant. Hopps describes the history of the site, noting that although the solar field was installed in 1981, it is historically significant for being "vintage" solar, one of the first solar fields in the United States, installed during the Carter Administration. Hopps explains that a 1- megawatt system is planned to be installed at the site, and while the High School will benefit from the installation of updated, more efficient panels, the goal of the project is to protect and preserve some of the historic photovoltaic panels and establish a "learning station" in the existing inverter house. Hopps emphasizes that the site is the legacy of Dr. Coleman, and it is important to protect this piece of history. Hopps notes that the learning station would be used by the high school and others for educational purposes. Finch asks what size the invertor house will be. Hopps states that the building is about the same size as Conference Room B at Beverly City Hall. Finch asks if the building will be heated, to be used in the winter. Hopps answers that yes, it will be heated and a net -zero building, running off the solar panels. LaMont states that the old solar panels qualify as historically significant, falling into the Category G, being historic significant, but built in the last 50 years. The Commission discusses the project and how it meets the criteria as historically significant, and reviews the site and the benefits of the project. Pearl moves to determine that Greenergy Park, the site, and inverter site are historically significant. LaMont seconds. Motion passes 4 -0. 3. Determination of Historic Sienificance: Beverly Farms Cemete Mary McCaffrey and Margarita (Margy) Medini are representing the Beverly Farms Improvement Society as the applicant. McCaffrey and Medini state the cemetery was founded in 1840, and reads brief description of the cemetery on the provided handout about the site. The first project regarding the cemetery would be to restore the fence around the property, which is believed to be historically significant. Although it is unknown how old the fence is, after talking to a 96 -year older resident, the Beverly Farms Improvement Society think it is at least 100 years old. A contractor has been found to restore the fence, and, based on estimates, it is believed the restoration will be about $150,000. The Beverly Farms Improvement Society are currently paying for a small piece of fence which needs to be de- leaded then restored. Ultimately, the Beverly Farms Improvement Society would also like to preserve gravestones and the entire cemetery. However, an analysis needs to be completed. Pearl states there are companies that do that specifically. Pearl states that the headstones are privately owned. McCaffrey and Medini acknowledges this and will be investigating what permissions they can receive for restoration efforts. Pearl moves to find Beverly Farm Cemetery historically significant. LaMont seconds. Motion passes 4 -0. 4. Determination of Historic Significance: Gillis Park (Pleasant View Park) Applicant Hannah Kurman Martino for the Ward 2 Civic Association (W2CA) is present to describe the project. LaMont recuses herself and joins Ms. Martino to describe the project. LaMont briefly describes the history of the park and the research that was completed. LaMont states that, unfortunately, not a lot of information is not available about the history of the park. She states that the project involves repairing a portion of the staircase and the seawall, which are believed to be historic features of the park. Finch asks whether the applicant should apply for CPA funding under the open space and recreation category. Martino and LaMont state that the W2CA was encouraged to apply for CPA funding under both historic preservation category and the open space and recreation category. Hutchings presents two older postcards from the library showing the park. Hutchings shows that there are no dates on the postcards, but the clothing worn by the people in the postcards is historic, and the postcard appears to have been colored in by hand. Hutchings states that Historic Beverly has no additional information regarding the stairs and the wall. Pearl asks if the park can be considered historic with all the new additions. Finch states thinks that it is historically significant as a place, as opposed to artifacts. The Commission reviews the provided pictures of the site, and discusses the park. Pearl moves to determine Gillis Park /Pleasant View Park historically significant. Mason seconds. Motion passes 3 -0 (LaMont recused). S. Updates on Projects Powder Huse- Hutchings describes a pre -bid conference this morning for the Powder House restoration project, where three contractors in attendance. Hutchings and architect Richard Smith are reviewing how to approach staging, and how to get energy to the site for the construction phase. Hutchings describes the pre -bid conference, and notes that bids are due on November 14, 2019. Pearl asks when the project will start. Hutchings states that construction will start in spring, but Richard Smith said brick making could start this winter. The project must be complete by June 2020. Pearl ask whether installing lighting on or around the structure is an option. Hutchings states she will look at options. Historic Preservation Plan Hutchings states that the City received one bid for the historic preservation plan, from Heritage Strategies, LLC. Hutchings describes the bid's review, and notes that all references had positive things to say about the consultant, particularly regarding community engagement. The selection committee has made a recommendation to the Mayor to contract with Heritage Strategies, and it is anticipated that the project will begin soon. The plan's estimated completion date is July 30, 2020. GAR Hall: Hutchings states that the only two outstanding items are the installation of (a) the front door hardware and railings, and (b) the storm windows. The front door hardware and storm windows have been ordered, and will be installed immediately upon receipt. The contractor is in the process of installing the railings. The GAR Hall Restoration - Phases 1 and 2a will be complete after the installation of these outstanding items. Hutchings states that the project is approximately $70,000 under budget; the unutilized funds will be returned to the CPC. Pearl asks if there will be some type of celebration or ribbon cutting. Mason agrees there should be some publicity about the project. Hutchings says there will be, at a minimum, a press release, and agrees that some sort of celebration in the next couple months would be a good way to publicize the project. Mason asks to invite the Mayor. Briscoe School update: The City is reviewing the four proposals received and is in the process of analyzing how the two proposals that involve significant senior housing components differ. The other two proposals include Miranda's Hearth, which includes, among other uses, educational programming and affordable creative workspace to artists, and 20Mission, which includes, among other uses, co- housing and maker /incubator space for a variety of businesses. There is a Selection Committee, designated by the Mayor to evaluate each proposal and make a recommendation to the Mayor, is in the process of reviewing the proposals. Pearl excuses herself from the meeting at 9:01pm. 6. Approval of minutes • January 27, 2016 • February 24, 2016 • March 23, 2016 • June 27, 2019 • July 25, 2019 • August 8, 2019 (Site Visit and Special Meeting) The Commission reviews the minutes and notes minor revisions. LaMont motions to approve minutes as revised. Mason seconds. Motions passes 3 -0. 7. New /Other Business /Other discussion or action items None at this time. 8. Adjournment LaMont motions to adjourn the meeting at 9:14pm. Finch seconds. Motions passes 3 -0.