The March 4 meeting of the Historic District Commission ended on a positive note, as Chair Debbie Davis closed the meeting by welcoming the arrival of spring. “We love to see people working on improving their properties,” she said.
Earlier in the meeting, commissioners discussed plans for continuing education in the coming year. Cassie Dishman, director of Planning and Community Development, had previously explained that the HDC will see reductions in the grant funds which have previously paid for these programs.
Dishman said the limited grant funds would force the commissioners to make some difficult choices about which members would attend the sessions. The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions will be held in Minneapolis in July. If Davis and Dishman attend that conference, the budget will still allow three commissioners to attend a statewide preservation conference in Hot Springs in October.
In other business:
- Steven Mongeau received approval to replace a failing wooden deck with a stamped concrete patio at 10 Eugenia St. A separate application asked to replace other wooden decks with stamped concrete and cover the siding on a chapel building with river rock. The application also asked approval for new awnings, which were already in place. Mongeau said the decks were not original. All approved the application.
- Ryan Strode represented owner Terry Eichor with a request to add on to the rear of a house at 14 Breeding St. The house dates to 1879 and is considered contributing. The addition will continue the existing roof line, and it will match the stone exterior of the existing house. All approved the application with little discussion.
- Commissioner Peter Graham has served as secretary but asked if another commissioner would take over those duties. The commission secretary now has to prepare minutes from the meetings. A new secretary will be selected at the next meeting.
- The HDC will next meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Level III applications were due March 5, and Level II applications were due March 11.