HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Comm Minutes 7/29/1997MANSFIELD HISTORICAL COMMISSION
TOWN OF MANSFIELD
MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 0204;
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.L0 Office at:
xl5 r O West Street
Mansfield, MA 02048
MANSFIELD HISTORICAL COMMISSION MINUTES
for July 29, 1997 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall
Present: Pat Cataloni, Gean Parks, Jean Nordbeck, Leslie Pasch, Charlotte
Scozzafava and Kate Viens,
The Chairperson, Kate Viens, presided. Minutes from the May 27, 1997
meeting were approved with a correction: Harry Chase was not present at the
meeting. Approved on a motion from Gean, seconded by Jean. All in favor.
Correspondence
1. Letter fiom DPW Director Dan Clifford on Fisher - Richardson House
2. Letter from Mass Historical Commission on F -R House nomination to National
Register
3. Letter from Rep. Barbara Hyland on Historic Landscape Preservation Grants
4. Letter from Historic Mass on membership
Kate reported that an animal has been entering the Fisher - Richardson House
and leaving droppings in a closet for several weeks. The Annual Control Officer,
Jeff Collins, has set a trap in the basement, the most likely entry point and the
Historical Society has been cleaning the closet. The Department of Public Works
visited the House but was not able to sea? the holes in the foundation as they are
too numerous: The floor joists are not properly seated on the sill. The hole behnnd
the chimney where the animal enters the closet is very inaccessible. DPW sent
Kate a copy of a memo sent to former Town Manager Bill Williams in July 1996
stating that the gaps in the foundation of the house were serious and siting a 1988
structural engineering report which also noted the same. No action was ever taken
on the engineering report and Bill never sent a copy of DPW's memo to the
Historical Commission.
Leslie spoke to Mike Ahern from DPW about checking and cleaning the closet
daily. He said he had only been able to check once and found no evidence of the
animal. The Historical Society reported more droppings on the weekends. When
she received no further response from DPW, Kate wrote them a memo outlining
the health and safety aspects of the problem. After much discussion, it was
decided to write to the Acting Town Manager Richard Boucher and to invite trim
to our September meeting to discuss the state of the house. Kate will include a
copy of the engineering report and the DPW memo to Bill Williams. She will
send a copy to the Selectmen as well. Leslie will call DPW and ask them to
remove boards and block the hole behind the chimney. Motion by Gean and
seconded by Leslie. All in favor. The Commission will look into opportunities
for grant funds to fix the house at our August meeting.
The date on the sign at the Fisher - Richardson House was discussed. Kate
refrained from writing to the Historical Society asking them to change the sign
because she had a number of questions on the matter. She sent a memo to Leslie
to distribute to all members for input. Leslie misunderstood and did not send the
memo out. It was decided to invite George Yell from the Society to attend our
October meeting.
The Commission is scheduled to meet with the Chatter Review Commission on
Monday, September 8 at 7:30 pm. Leslie will bring copies of the present Town
Chatter to the next meeting.
Leslie called the Town Planner for information on the William St. Bridge. She
reported that the Planning Board supported the architect's concept at the public
hearing but withheld approval until they can view the plans at 75% completion and
identify the actual trees to be removed. This should take 45 to 60 days at which
time the public hearing will continue. The new bridge will be very close to the old
and will not affect the knife factory site. The Town Engineer is running the
project.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
t -
Leslie A. Pasch
Secretary