Woburn Train Station

MINUTES OF THE WOBURN HISTORICAL COMMISSION

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2006

Time: 7:30 pm

Place: Committee Room, City Hall

Members Present: Siobhan Curran, Marie Coady, Walt Kearney, Marcia Andrews, Paul D’Addario, Tracey Harwood, Carol Seitz

Associate Members: Gerry Kehoe

City Council Liaison: John Cirello

Guests: Lois Surette, Sky Gladstone, Cathy Moore

Meeting Minutes: Siobhan Curran

The meeting was called to order at 7:31 p.m. and was videotaped by the Historical Commission.

Agenda Items

1. Commission members reviewed minutes of December meeting, M. Coady motioned to accept, W. Kearney seconded, all in favor, 7-0.

2. Vice Chair Report Highlights:

a. Historical Commission office was staffed most days this month.

b. Walt and Tracey met with Don Borchelt, who will assist with the RFP for a Preliminary Survey Plan. Mr. Borchelt, of the WRA, proposed changing the RFP to an RFQ (request for quotation), and will so revise.

c. Walt presented the atlas project to the Mayor. Will meet with the Mayor, Alderman Ciriello, Planning Director Tarallo, and Don Borchelt February 9 to address the 903 Main Street up for sale.

d. Mr. Kearney wrote a memo to the City Clerk and City Council regarding procedure when ordinances conflict such as Demolition Delay with a Nuisance Order. The City Clerk put this on the agenda for the February meeting of the City Council Ordinance Committee.

e. Mr. Kearney requested architectural historian Alan Hill to review five Pearl Street properties threatened by the proposed Kimball Court expansion. Mr. Kearney and Ms. Coady are leading the effort to document Pearl Street properties on inventory forms.

f. Walt will help Toni Lasseter’s “Ye Olde Woburn” website with promoting her new URL higher in search engine priority.

3. Communitywide Preliminary Survey Plan: Will change RFP to RFQ to expedite the process and continue photographing properties. Black and white print photos are required. Guest Sky Gladstone offered to assist with photo printing.

4. 327 Main Street – Project notification from Massachusetts Historical Commission regarding removal of green glass façade covering building where Malvy’s Flowers is housed. The Commission is aware and approves of this project by the Woburn Redevelopment Authority as part of restoration plans of the downtown revitalization effort.

5. 523 Main Street – Invitation to comment by consultant Ryan Hale on behalf of Nextel who is conducting a MEPA review under the NHPA. The project is the installation of a cellular antenna in the Methodist Episcopal Church. After reviewing the plans, the Commission agreed the addition and changes will not compromise the historic value of the property. Tracey will write a letter in response that the Commission does not object to the proposal.

6. Commission members will research possible fee structures for services, public records, and material it publishes on CD-ROM and discuss at the next meeting. Need to determine what fees are reasonable and compliant.

7. Community Preservation Act provides matching funds from the state. CPA is an initiative the WHC should research and consider supporting as a ballot question.

8. Yearbook Project: Walt will continue scanning yearbooks. Walt will inventory all of the books and then determine what years are missing.

9. Commission Business: Commission has two new members, Siobhan Curran and Carol Seitz. Siobhan Curran made motion to change meeting nights to the second Wednesday of each month, Paul D’Addario seconded, motion passed, 7-0. Commission elections will be held in February.

10. Look Ahead – The Chair asked proposed that the Commission be prepared to discuss goals and events for 2006 .

11. Next Meetings: Thursday, February 23 (February Meeting)

Wednesday, March 8 (March Meeting)

Public Participation:

Cathy Moore of Stoneham requested assistance in filing a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the Mary Cummings trust. She will submit a written request that the Commission will take under consideration.

Other Topics

WHC to purchase .com and .net extensions: It is customary to purchase all available web address extensions to avoid inappropriate use of the organization’s name. Siobhan Curran made a motion to purchase the alternative Web domain names, Walt Kearney seconded, motion passed unanimously, 7-0.

Woburn History Channel: Walt Kearney: Has investigated the possibility of implemented a Woburn History Channel consisting of complementary website and public television programming. The overall goal is to get the citizenry to be thinking about history and ultimately form and promote a historical society. Walt will form a subcommittee to work on the project.

Monthly Newsletter: Tracey will write a monthly topical piece including meeting times and submit it to pertinent news outlets.

Action Items

Action Item and Person

Make copies of 950 code, sec. 70 for commission to review. Marie Coady

Update website with new meeting day and time Carol Seitz

Inventory yearbooks Walt Kearney

Compose text for newspaper to request a credit line to WHC when people use our services, photos and documents Tracey Harwood

Create a photo website Carol, Walt and Tracey