Welcome and good evening to the historical commission meeting here at town hall for April 14th, 2026. May I have a o a motion to open the meeting? I make the motion to open. >> A second.
>> All in favor? I >> Okay. I'll stand for the pledge to the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Richie, you're doing pretty good. >> Yeah, so far healthwise. >> So far, we afraid to ask. He just got discharged for one thing. Now he's got knee problems. Oh. Well, you know, it
doesn't end. It just doesn't end. >> Yeah. No, I give up already. Uh, okay. Under new business, um, yes, the Perry Hill Church has got approval for mass historical nomination for the
state state of mass. Now, I have the letter that has been sent to Washington for the national approval. Do you gentlemen have any knowledge of supporting the under floor? I have contacted three contractors. Only one or
one wanted to see the plan for the flurry and I have not heard back. I even talked to the original engineer in Rochester that had uh taken a look at that building and to see and he drew up
the plan. I've got two of the plans in my car. >> Mhm. >> You know, that's going to be a big job. >> I sure think so. And I was just talking to who was I talking to yesterday that told me the house got they raised the
house to dig out the cellar. I forgot who I was talking to about it. >> Yeah. >> But there is a company I believe out of Metapo that that I had talked to once before. >> That might be where they're from.
These guys that did did the stuff for us. Oh, well, we'll have to get to it slow but sure. >> And uh let me see. Yeah, the street corn. Okay. And under o business. Oh,
oil. Oh, tell us about >> I've already spent $3800 at the museum and it's down to 52. Mhm. >> Well, we can blame the Iranians, I guess. >> Well, good old Trump.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. He he had the nerve to criticize the Pope, saying the Pope was soft on crime. Doesn't he understand that the only crime the Pope has any jurisdiction over is whatever happens in um
what do you want to call it there? Vatican City >> is population 1,000 all men, zero women. >> That's the only thing he's got jurisdiction over any crime going on. >> Listen, Trump is a psycho. He's losing
it. >> Oh, he's awful. I don't I don't think he ever had it. >> No, I don't think so. And he's showing it now. >> I mean, I'm Democratic now to my toenails, but regardless of that, I vote communist before I vote for him. >> God, no. this and know this this pope,
he's a first American. It's astonishing to have him on the news and to hear him speak flawless English to you as the pope and had never happened in all history until now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Just amazing. >> It is. It is very amazing. >> Yeah. No, he's quite a guy
>> and he just turned 70. That's we're youngish for a pope. >> We were 70 again. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh we also had a problem with the furnace and that got repaired. Whatever
happened on the furnace the they found um the belt for the motor on the floor furnace was running and text goes up there every day checks all three buildings >> and he goes down solar make sure everything's okay
>> and that one day he go he goes downstairs and he says something sound even though he's almost totally deaf. But here, yeah, something didn't sound right. And he was looking around and there's the the u where I want to say
>> on the belt. It was on the floor. >> So, uh, he shut it down because what was happening is the furnace was running. He was in oil, but no heat was coming out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> No heat. >> No problem.
>> I feel problems. Oh my god. That was Rick. He had appendicitis and had emergency surgery. Had his appendix removed. So, he's not going to be here. >> He was He was great the other day when we had the CPC meeting. Ah, the poor
guy. It's either him or his wife back and forth. She had hips replaced. Was it all in court for weeks? Weeks. He didn't even think she was going to come home. He was so nerved up about it.
>> She's doing better. >> Okay. So, yeah, this is where I I told Richard, I said, "I'm going to talk to you at our meeting because I'm going to retire June 30th." He said, "You're finally going to do it?" Yeah, but I got work for you to do.
That's probably why you got a pend instead. >> Gosh. >> Yeah. cuz I'm going to need help trying to see if I can get more of these houses that are over 100 years old with plaques. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> I mean, there's a lot of houses,
especially up in that Perry Hill, uh, North Main Street area. >> Yes, I think that's right. >> Oh my god. >> And I was even think >> How old is your house? How old is that house? >> We can we can go back to the mid 1800s,
but it before that. >> Yeah. I we really don't know. >> No records >> that far back. >> We've got pictures from around 1850, but other than that, >> I don't know. >> Now, who they raised your house, right? >> 1832.
>> They they raised it up, built the first floor. >> Yep. >> And then the back edition was uh the first and second floor was built on after that. >> Oh my god. So 1928 it'll be
100 years >> as it is now. >> 1928. >> I mean in 2028 >> 2028 years >> it'll be 100 years old. >> Well the way it is now originally it's
1800s. >> And how about your neighbor next door? She left her phone number for me to call her about her house. >> She's there. I don't see her >> so many times. the chickens. I had a little problem with a chicken coming in my garden, my flower garden,
but she's she's there. >> I don't know what where her problem was because she was so anxious to talk to me about it. Call calls. She never answers the phone. >> I think she works. I'm not sure. >> Well, I'm sure they they have to work
today. Two pays are not enough. >> Um Okay. So, I would like help with that with the homes over 100 years old that we can get plaques on them. The plaques are $50. Okay. And uh they're made out of a nice
material. It's not really wood. It's a different material. I can't tell you exactly what it is, but it's it'll last for years and they do a nice job. >> Yeah. As I may have mentioned to you last time, so our house is over 50 over
100 years old and we did have a plaque, but that could backfire on us if we're trying to sell it to somebody say, "Oh, I don't want to buy a house." I know. >> They're going to know how know that anyways through the deeds, the >> Oh, there's other ways they could find that doesn't make any that doesn't give
you any rules. >> Some people want older homes, >> right? They're looking for older homes today. But see, there have been additions made to this house on two more recent occasions. So it the whole thing is certainly not 1832. The original part was, but the other
parts came later. I I can't imagine anybody squawk them because the place is in good shape. >> We guard against mice by putting traps down a cellar and we we catch them. Just >> How many rooms you have in the actual house? >> Let me think.
Oh, there must be at least six or seven. Oh, there's got to be more than that. >> Well, >> cuz the time I went there, you took me in through the kitchen area. >> Yeah. >> Dining room. >> Yeah. >> And wasn't there a living room? >> Yeah, I suppose. If you could call those rooms. >> And what's upstairs? All bedrooms.
>> Yeah. Nothing but bedrooms up there. >> Four of them. >> One, two. No. No. Actually, we've got three rooms upstairs. Then we've got a substantial attic.
And we've got downstairs, you know, there be several rooms, but I I must admit I never really counted them down, you know. >> I bet your wife says when she cleans. >> Yeah, she knows already. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. It's right.
>> God bless you. >> Yeah. >> You know, you know the kids sit in school, he said, "You may think it's mucus, but it's not." Ah, >> that is what he said. >> After we ate supper.
>> Okay. >> All right. So, I know Larry's got some information for us. >> Yeah. Just this is the email from uh Michael Stein. I just underlined Michael. >> Okay. So, >> how does this all work? What is that?
What has to be >> want to read it? A fact sheet about preservation restrictions. This tells you what you need to do. You basically you need to have another uh charitable corporation
or trust. See, to like they hold hold it, I guess it's called what is it? Well, I came across the one for the meeting house. In fact, I got it in my car. >> So, who who's the what what do you call it? Who's the person that is holding
that trust for the for the meeting house? It's on I think it's on the paper. You showed it to us. >> Well, from what I've read on it, it's it the trust was drawn up and uh it was recorded at the registry of deeds and I had copies of it in my paperwork.
When I was going through it, I came across it and I said, "What is this?" But now, now because we were going in for state grants on the museum. >> Yep. >> You've got to have this.
>> You got to have this. Yeah. >> So, you have to you have to figure out who what entity you want them. You have somebody else has to hold the hold the the restriction whatever. The agreement can only be held by a charitable
corporation or trust whose purposes include the preservation of historic properties and sites or another governmental entity but not the town. >> No, it can be held by the town >> and then you have to then it's going to have to be voted on at a town meeting
also once you decide. >> Oh, really? So you have to you you I think it says on one for the uh meeting house who who is the hold what entity it is >> but I mean I don't know who else you could could do
it. >> I thought of the fair haven Krishna. What is that? >> The land trust. Don't even talk to them. Don't even talk to them. In fact, I'm a little upset right now because when we had that meeting, the selectman said that they were going to
call Kora back with their decision if they were going to try to take it over again. >> Mhm. >> And have the DPW put some kind of a barrier to keep people away from the factory itself. >> Oh, that Yeah.
>> You know, I mean, it's in bad shape now. And I've this week I have seen so many cars there, people walking around, not kids, adults. Okay. So I don't know. I don't know. But I can get in touch with
Michael Steinets by a charitable corporation trust whose purposes include the preservation of historic property sites or another government entity, not the town. Since the preservation restriction
is also a transfer of real property interest owned by the town, you will also need a town meeting vote allowing this. Once you have identified what entity will hold the
preservation restriction, I can uh I can provide additional guidance and that's Michael Stein. This man is terrific. He's up in Boston. That man has helped me out. so much with stuff.
>> If you want me to reply to them, since you emailed me, I can ask him for ideas of place of what we should >> Yeah. Tell me if you can explain a little further. >> Yeah, because this this is the thing he he said he said it's it's the rules or
whatever. >> Oh, on both sides. >> Yeah. >> But that's just that doesn't tell you. And you know what they what they're afraid of with this the biggest reason I guess they have this
>> is that like we're going to do some work on the building right now. Okay. And whatever wood we use is going to be used what's there now. >> You know because it's historic. >> Yeah. >> You know you got to be very very careful.
>> That's why I got I got three bids for three parts of the job. The first one is to do the whole exterior. Take all the shutters down, all the routed wood, sand, and get it ready for
painting. >> Okay. They got to replace all that work and wood and clean up and make sure that building is uh good. The back side that faces the back field, you wouldn't believe how much rotten
wood is back there. probably the weather, you know, just hitting at it all the time. >> So, that's the first bid that came in around 17,000 and some odd change, >> which
CPC is gut money. CPC. You know, I hate to say too much on camera, but when I first took over uh for uh M uh >> win >> thank you. I can never say that man's
name. And uh when I first took over from him, I didn't know crap. Okay. But I found that you can learn an awful lot by coming to town hall, talking to the different people, going through the different offices, just
chatting, chitchatting, and you'd be surprised what you find out. >> Oh, I am. And I'm never surprised. >> This is how I came about CPC. >> Yeah. >> Like Karen Gette, she's on the society with me. >> Yeah.
She pays big taxes where she is with her house. I said, "You never notice that money that comes out. It says CPC on it." Not really. Mhm. I thought, "Well, that's what's going into the money that we ask for every
year." And I've done that every year. I've done something with one of the buildings or the other. If I can get this museum up and running and done, h it's going to be a prize. It really will. It's going to be gorgeous. It'll
have fresh paint. Then I got another bed. Uh the kid's a painter. I call him a kid. He's he's up there about 50ish. He's a painter. Has his own business in Metapo. And usually what he does, he works with realtors that are ready to
sell houses that need uplifting painting. He does that. So, I had called him because I got his card and I had called him. I said, "If you could come up and take a look, I want to show you through the museum." We walk through each and every room, okay?
First floor and second floor. And told them what we needed to be done. There's a lot of walls that are bulging out. That's all going to be done. Um, the guy that did my front hallway last year,
unbelievable. You would not believe the job he did on that plastic. I mean, that had a bulge. It was even pushing the picture frame off the wall. And he fixed everything. He did the ceiling, he did all the walls, then he
did the woodwork, and he did the floor. >> Mhm. >> Very reasonable. Now, he gave me a bid this time to do second floor hallway in the back cuz I never got finished and front uh hallway upstairs on the second
floor. He will do just the hallways, ceilings, walls. >> Mhm. >> You know, woodwork and and uh floors. >> Mhm. >> And his bid came in at 28,000. But the clothing room, if you're familiar with the clothing room,
>> that ceiling, oh, is god awful. >> You know, it's just hanging with peeling coming down. >> But when he jacked it, it's got slats. >> Yeah. The old uh plaster. >> So he can sheetrock over it. He doesn't have to take it down.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Create sheetrock probably and just skimp load it. >> Yeah. and give us a brand new SE. That's the worst ceiling in the building. That one right there. The main room, the ceiling was done over God knows when,
but it looks still looks good. >> The classroom is going to need painting. It's not in bad shape, but it needs painting. And then the clothing room upstairs, that ceiling's not bad. just a couple of places that he's going to have to patch because when they did the blown
in insulation, they had to go up in the attic and somebody must have put their heel or foot down through the ceiling. So, there's a couple of markers there. >> So, he gave us a a bid of $28,000, but when we they read it all over to see
what he was going to do, it's a deal. It really is a deal, you know. And then Tom the painter will do the hallways that on the second floor. So we've stopped all the leaks down in the basement.
I'll tell you if I get another drop of water down there, we'll die. But no, over the years, God, we had that um from the Boy Scout room. He's a mason and he worked in that cellar. I remember
on the outside in the back he had to dig down, move all that dirt out away and he fixed that wall and then he painted fixed it inside. Never a drop of water since. >> Not one. My husband even made me call
him back and say, "You did such a wonderful job. Thank God. Not a drop of water." >> He said, "Well, that's good to hear." >> Yeah. >> So, we've done a lot of work. That kitchen downstairs was painted last year. >> That a gentleman Tom that's going to do
the hallways. He did that whole kitchen. >> Mhm. >> All by himself. >> But it looks good. >> Yeah. >> So now it's a matter if we can do one room at a time. We're probably worst case scenario. Um those rooms have got a
lot of stuff in it. And what what they're talking about is maybe getting a pod to put in the yard and hire a couple of uh guys from a moving company, >> right? >> And then, you know, take one room, put everything out there, let it get done,
and then he'll do another room. You know, >> there's a lot of stairs to climb. >> Oh dear. >> What? What? >> There's a lot of stairs to climb up and down all that. >> I'm so glad all that stuff in there. I have an awful time with the stairs in my house. Just going down southern to do
laundry. Getting harder and harder. >> Tell me about it. >> Yeah. Well, you've had more than your share for sure. We're going to keep you upright. So, anyways, yeah. Uh we've got three I got the three different bids. Uh I had a
meeting with CPC last week. They approved everything. >> And the selectman tonight I they were going to make copies and give it to them. They don't I don't see no problem with them. If the money was not there, I could see I'd have a problem, but they
got plenty of money in CPC funding, especially historical. That's another thing I wanted to talk to you guys about. Districts, historic districts. I didn't Isn't there some type of plan
right now? >> There's a master plan that's being worked on, but I don't know just where they are on that >> because I thought this was like the center of town was uh classified something I
>> as a district >> whatever it was. >> Yeah. Well, Riverzen, you remember? I got that on the national register, >> the historic district. Okay. >> From River's End uh up to
uh Shockley's Old House, I believe the stone church and maybe the cemetery. It might come that far up. And there's a couple of houses in there that could use plaques. >> Mhm. >> You can't catch the people home. And you
know, but I think if two go together, it would probably be a lot better. >> Oh, yes. You know, people today are very nervous about letting anyone in, which I don't blame them because I've had a few characters on Hamlin Street.
One is windows, another one is solar, and another one is siding. And then my husband will come in the house and he'll say, "What the hell did you call those guys for? >> I did it. He blames me for everything. I didn't
fair. In fact, I'm at work all day. You're the one that's home. Oh gosh. But anyways, I was thinking about that because I know on Main Street now near the golf course from the golf course up, but they see
they got some new ones built in there, too. But that one could be a district all the way up. Oh my god. almost all the way up to country whip. There's a lot of those houses in there are all historic.
>> I don't think it's called a historic district. There's another because the historic district is the one like he's talking about that you have to you have to go before the boards to paint your house and all that. This is really >> well that's um what is what's the other
word for it in town? They have no restrictions. They have no restrictions on historical property. Now, Irwin, I remember Irwin telling me that they went to town meeting one time and the voters
turned it down. >> They didn't want no restrictions. >> No, of course not. >> No, because we we could have saved the uh oh, what do I say? In the nuns home. We could have saved that if there was a restriction,
>> but no, they took it down. That was it. They were going to do it. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. But we went in there. That was that was >> That was bad. >> Oh, yeah. The mold cost plenty of money to fix that. >> It was a mess in there. >> Yeah,
>> it was a mess. But there is no restrictions in a cushion on colors, paintings, anything like that, material. Some houses even have vinyl on it. >> Yeah. But if it's over a hundred years
old, they can have a plaque. >> I'm telling you. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> but these are all things that, you know, if I have a little more time on my hands, which it doesn't look so right now. I got more work piled on me. You should
see what my table looks like. I mean, I got my uh laptop and then on the desk I've got my desktop and Oh, God. One is Windows 11.
The other one's only Windows 10. Yeah. Oh gosh. So, and then we're supposed to get the We're supposed to get a computer for the museum. The Wi-Fi is up there. It's not completely hooked up. We're
supposed to get a brand new computer for upstairs. >> Mhm. >> Uh through that grant that um Nick had got for the town there. We all those wires that were going on the poles all the way up >> Wi-Fi. >> Okay. >> So the residents can tie in.
>> Now you can tie in if you want cuz I've seen a few tying in on Middle Road. Yeah. So, he had gotten that grant to have all that work done. He's the IT person. That's the one you talk to. Um,
and but they're getting married in the beginning of May. So, right now, I got to wait for my computer and set it up. Yeah. So, yeah, it's coming along. It's coming along. It's taking a long time. And then the meeting house, too, right
now. Uh, I'm going to see if the uh the other painter that put a bid in, but he was kind of high, so he turned him down for the museum. I was going to see if he would give me a price because uh it's got a lot of rotting wood, all the
corner boards, and it needs a good paint job. >> So, at least in that uh that one there, we've got the account that we can take the money from. you know, you just got
to go before now. They've got um what do they call it? H I'm not thinking too good with my head. Um oh god, I can't think of what they call what
they call that. Uh there's a board. Anyways, there's a board. So now when if I get an estimate on it, I got to get approval from the board before we can actually do the work. A little more paperwork.
>> How about the D Roach boys? They I was so angry with Seth. Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy. Lily so busy. >> Yeah. >> He can't take on anymore. Do you see what he did at Pan S? >> No. >> They made an apartment. A garage.
>> Well, is it an apartment? They tell me it's not an apartment. Well, >> you take a good look at that. >> I know. He doesn't feel good enough. >> Yeah. >> I called him. I don't know how many times. Yeah. I called him I don't know how many times to give me a bid at on
the museum. I'll try to get out there. I'll try to get out there. Week haven't heard from. Call him again. Seth. He said, Pauline, I have been out straight. Well, then forget it. Okay. I'll try to get somebody else blame if
he's busy. >> He said they're overwhelmed with work. >> Yeah. >> And last year I had gotten money for his brother Joel to do the back of the museum, replace the wood and paint and and do all that on the back. And that
was like 5,800 and something. Well, I still had the paper at home. So, I brought it last week with CPC and I told him, "You see this money? This money is not used. This money is still in the account."
Okay? Cuz he never did the job. He claims that when Seth told him that it was my bloody phone. Um says uh Joel said that by the time Seth
told him that the money was there for him to do the job, he had lined up jobs for whole summer. So he couldn't squeeze us in. So then that's good because the money is there now. They're going to shift that money to what we're looking to do this year.
>> A lot of work. A lot of work. And I can see a lot of mess. It's going to be it's going to be rough. It's not going to be easy. That's why I figure, you know, if by leaving work, I'll have more time. I can be up there kind of watching what they're doing cuz I've already been told
by a zillion people, do not let them in that building alone. So, what do they think? I want to sleep there. No. >> Not likely. >> No. No. No. No. >> Okay. So, is there anything else you
would like to bring up? Old or new business? >> Everything kind of quiet. >> See, that's too bad about Richard. >> All right. So, do you want to >> I can follow >> you want to follow up on this? >> Yeah. Get ideas of what kind of places we should be looking at?
>> Yeah. Only a government body or a qualified charitable corporation or trust whose purpose include the preservation of hysterically. Well, that's us. What's we're doing is preserving. >> Yeah, but you're just going to have an
outside party. >> I forgot what the when you look when you think about it, look on the um the one for the museum. You said has one >> meeting house. >> The meeting house and see what it says if if it has the name of whoever. I I
thought I saw it in there and something that cuz that was a long time ago. >> Maybe you could have the same person. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that would make sense. >> If they still live, God only knows how long. >> No, I don't think it was a person. It was like a an organization. >> An organization of some kind. Yeah.
>> I can't even imagine putting that together in the town. >> Maybe when did it get done? Maybe Irwin did it. Oh, that hasn't been done in the 80s. I think it was uh stamped. I believe it was done in the 80s.
But you know, all these little things like I talked to the the girl that's doing the master plan about the um trying to get funding and when we got into it, she talked to the uh that other
organization. I think they're out of um Oh, shoot. Brian's not working tonight. He's too tired. Um it's another organization that she's working together with for grants and they told her, "Is this restriction on
me on the museum?" So, she called me right away and I said, "I have no idea." I said, "I know. I found it for the uh meeting house. Nothing for the museum." So that's what got the ball going. >> So we had to drop uh the application for
the funding >> because we didn't have this. >> So we just got to be careful uh that the building stays pretty much what it looks like and it stays that way, you know. >> Yes. Yes. Of course.
>> I don't think fresh paint is going to hurt it. >> No. Of course not. >> My husband keeps telling me a museum is a museum. Why do you want to do all this work? I said it's not me alone. I said the whole my group of society people,
you know, we do have a peachy and everything else. >> They want it to look nice, clean. I mean, we try to keep that building spotless. >> You can't let it go anyway. >> I would. Not me. >> Not me. And Chad from the uh CPC
every year he tells me, "I hope I don't see you next year." >> Chad, you're going to see me every year until I die. So last week when we had our meeting,
>> I'll see you next year. >> I love it. I love it. I think it was so cute. He's He's funny when he gets going, I bet, >> but he's a big guy. He's He's He's a boozled. >> Yeah. >> So, anyways, uh Okay. Are we done with
this? What have I got on? >> I think we are. >> Oh, all right. You can read that back page. Uh if you take that home, that tells about uh when we were watching it on the uh TV here when they approved the mass
historical Yeah, Karen took all these notes and we typed him out. Mr. Kelly talked to um it wasn't Mike Stein was the other guy. >> Oh yeah, sure. I remember the other
name. >> Yeah, he's the one and he talked to him about it and keep up the good work folks. Keep up the good work. Who would have ever known that years ago I would be doing this? I don't know cuz
I flunked history in school. I did not like it. Was not interested in it whatsoever. >> That was always my favorite subject. >> What got me started was when they had the acoustic history book for sale. >> Oh yes. >> When they had there was an ad in the
paper. Um they were taking orders for it. >> Yep. >> And I called up and I ordered one of the books. When they came in, we had to go to the museum to pick it up. >> Yeah. >> I got hooked right then and there for the society. >> Oh, wow.
>> They would let me go. No. No. You Oh, you got to come and join us. Oh my god. So, it's been like that ever since. >> But I really love that. I love I enjoy doing this. And you know, I told my husband again tonight, this is crazy.
He's always like pick pick. I told him, you know, you should stop and think and say, my wife is doing a good job trying to keep these old buildings going. >> What did he say to that?
>> Yeah, he he said no, no, no. See, you don't look at it that way. >> Banana. >> Oh dear. >> Okay. Motion to adjourn. All >> in favor? >> I >> Okay, we're adjourned.
>> Oh, what?