Heat. Heat. Good morning. Hi, I'm Frank Msina. uh like to welcome you to the March 17, 2026 meeting of the Chattam Historical Commission and wish everybody happy St. Patty's Day. Uh we have a couple of announcements to make. Um before we
start, please note this meeting is being recorded and will be available shortly hereafter for scheduled and on demanding viewing on any smartphone or tablet device. If anyone else is recording the meeting, including the use of AI note-taking apps, please notify the
chairman. Seeing none, pursuant to Governor Healey's March 28, 2025 signing of chapter 2 acts of the 2025 extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency suspending
certain provisions of the open meeting law GL 30A20 until June 20 June 30th, 2027. This meeting of the Chattam Historical Commission is being conducted in person and via remote participation. Every effort will be made to ensure that
the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the order. A reminder that people who would like to listen to this meeting while it's in progress may do so by calling the phone number 5089454410 conference ID 986715667 hashtag or join the meeting online via
Microsoft Teams through the link in the posted agenda. While this is a live broadcast ensemas on Chattam TV Xfinity channel 1072, despite our best efforts, we may not be able to provide real time access. Thank you very much. The first
item on our agenda here is a roll call. U vice chair Bob Leer >> here. >> Nancy Bar clerk >> here. >> Stephanie Hamilton. Stephanie is absent or late. Robert Stevens,
absent or late. Uh Janet Tennyson >> here. >> Robert Wilson >> here. >> Alternate Sandy Porter >> here. >> Peter Donovan, new alternate >> here. >> Want to welcome Peter to the uh Chattam Historical Commission. Peter was just uh
sworn in and is now uh an alternate member uh filling in or for an open slot that we had. Uh being we have two members missing, two regular members missing, we do have a quorum, but uh both Sandy and Donovan will be acting as
full members. Uh Peter, uh usually what happens when there we have a full set of members present. Uh as an alternate, you participate in every discussion and dialogue. It's just you you don't get to do the final vote. Okay. Um well,
welcome to the historical commission. We appreciate it. Uh >> thank you. just quickly, you know, Peter's got a little background in construction and u and I think we're going to appreciate that those of us who uh may not know which end of a blueprint they're up and uh but it'll be very
helpful to uh assist us. Um and again, thank you very much for joining us. Uh and we will have another change in the spring uh when Sandy decides to take a welldeserved early retirement after what 25 years.
Okay. All right. We will then proceed. Uh we have a a couple of applications. It should not be a long meeting and a couple of announcements to make. Uh I'm sorry. Somebody say something. No. >> The hearing uh minutes of uh February
3rd, 2026. Everybody has a copy. Was a short meeting. >> Any have anybody comments, questions, additions, deletions? No hope. Then a motion to uh >> move we accept the minutes for the
meeting on February 3rd, 2026. >> Second. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you, Nancy. Okay. No other comments. Roll call. Uh Bob, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> Janet Tennyson, >> yes. >> Robert,
>> yes. >> Uh Sandy Porter, >> yes. And uh Peter, you would amstain you weren't here. And the chair votes yes. Okay. Thank you very much. That's simple. The first application we have or first
hearing is uh unfortunately our uh continuation again of uh 65 Elephantes Lane uh 2543 which was heard in accordance with chapter 158 and accordance with the provisions of the Cape Cod Commission
regional policy plan. Uh we were supposed to get a information or uh an alternate proposal from R and the Cape Cod Commission's comment on the elevation of that property which is a uh contributing structure in the National
Register District. Little bit controversial to the commission and as well as to members uh people live nearby. Uh unfortunately uh they are not going to be submitting something today. We have a letter. Nancy, you want to read that letter from the
You got it. Go. >> Um, it's a letter dated March 10th, 2026, uh, from Bill Riley to the historical commission. Um, dear Mr. Msina, on behalf of the applicant, I am respectively
requesting a continuence of the hearing scheduled for March 17, 2026 until your April 21st meeting. Due to the recent blizzard and related power outages, the engineer has not been able to begin work on the plans, but has assured me that we will have a foundation plan ahead of the
April 21st meeting. Thank you for your time. >> Okay. Um, I know we get frustrated with this, but you know, the dog ate my homework, you know, excuse, but I think this one is pretty valid. Um and u I don't think we in my opinion have much
choice but to uh accommodate them one more time. Uh we are making it very clear in response which Christina will do or has done already that there's like about a week before the meeting that they have to have the uh the documentation in to her. So we have time
to review it, this Cape Cod Commission review it and then have it have it. Um so hopefully they'll meet that and we can proceed with this. U I do know that there have been meetings between the u applicant and uh Mr. Briggs the building
commissioner and possibly also with other members of parties who are involved and nearby neighbors. So there is discussion you know things are happening. It's not like it's just sitting here doing nothing. And um having said that u I I think we
should consider a continuence. So Bob, you >> I I have a question about it, Frank. Um >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Riley's letter me mentions a foundation plan. And I'm I don't know what that means. If it means they're just going to tell us what they're going
to do on the foundation and not what that means they're planned to do with the house, then we're not making much progress. >> It is my understanding from informal conversations with uh Mr. um Mr. Briggs, the building commission. Very informal
conversation and a conversation with Mr. Riley when he called me. Same same question. Uh is that they need before they can proceed with any kind of a compromise raising it, not raising it, how far they raise it, they need information relative to the quality of
the existing foundation before they can can do anything. And that's what's unknown. I see Mr. Ford's come forward. >> I I was going to ask if Mr. Ford could enlighten us on that. Yes, >> I'll I'll try to uh Mike Ford, I represent the uh the owners of 61 and 63
Elephants, the Gold family, and uh Mr. Riley's office has kept us um uh up to date. Uh it's Ty Bon who's the engineer who's working on this and I have also been included and attended meetings with the building commissioner. And it is the
building commissioner, Bob, that has um indicated that the uh structure itself is um exempt from the uh flood plane um requirements, but the way he reads the um the state building code, the uh and
the zoning bylaw, the foundation is not. And so it is critical as to how the foundation uh gets put together for him to be able to make a finding that that is also uh exempt thereby allowing us to go forward here uh and know that at the
end of the day he's he's okay in issuing a permit. So the foundation's the critical piece uh at this point I I don't think there's going to be any change to the rest of there may be some minor changes to the rest of the proposal. I don't represent the
applicant obviously, but as you recall, the application before you was simply to raise it up and keep the historic structure. Well, there were going to be some major changes to the historic structure also, which was part of the concern. So, I I mean, if you got a yet another month, I don't see why you can't
get the foundation inspection done and modify or not whatever you plan to put on top of the foundation. >> I'm not not you. I'm not picking on you. you just here that's all. >> Well, uh it is a two-step process and uh
the foundation is critical and um uh Jay Briggs has uh given us some direction and uh Ty and Bon are are trying to follow that direction with a a foundation design. Um I'd encourage you to to grant the extension. Um I I don't
think anybody's being prejudiced by this continued process. um everybody's working in good faith and if we get here and we show you the or Mr. Riley shows you the foundation um there may be um uh
changes proposed uh to the uh structure at that same time. I just I don't know how far along he's going to be to be honest. >> Okay. Well, that's fair. I just wanted to sort of give the I give the impression that they show us where they're going to put the concrete end of discussions. >> Right. I hear you and that's why on
these requests for continuence my clients like me to attend so that I can kind of stay tuned with what's happening with the commission. >> All right. Well, if you could let Mr. Riley know about some concerns. >> I will. I'll pass it on. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, uh, one thing I was just going
to quickly say, Peter, u you know, it's possible that you may get involved in this discussion and even from a vote point of view and I would like to encourage you to take a walk by that property, take a look at it. Okay. Uh, also you got nothing else to do with
your life. Uh, maybe go back to the meetings that we had about three or four meetings on this and Christina could tell you which ones they were. Actually, she could tell you where in the tape there is that, you know, so it's not just to get a sense because technically for you to vote, you know, we would
require that you have uh, you know, uh, that you have information relative to what happened that you're not coming. >> Right. Yeah. Understood. I I'll take a look at it. >> Thank you very much. It's a It's a dicey one. >> And Mr. Chairman, if he goes out um uh
you really if it's um low tide, you're fine. You can walk along the shore, but if it's high tide, um my clients would not have an objection to you crossing their two properties uh to get there. Just give me advanced notice and I'll make sure they're aware. >> Thank you very much, Michael. Okay. Uh
all right, we need a roll call here. Um >> Oh, excuse me. Uh, no, not necessarily. >> Frank, did we not have a rather long discussion about the continuence on this particular application last month? And
did we not say that one more continuence, which we granted, this is another one. And if on April 21st they come and they ask for another one, is that finally the end? Well, the end will be in my opinion when this commission
votes. Okay. Uh and uh I you know I hear you. Uh but I think there's an you know it's not like there's a there's been an active dialogue between the applicant, the people concerned about it and the town. So, you know, I think we have to
be in my opinion. It's not like somebody is pushing us off for no good reason. Uh, and I think I, you know, I'm I'm not against continuences, uh, as long as the continuences, you know, uh, they don't come up the day
before and give us something we never saw. You know, that there has to be time to look at it. And I I agree with you. It gets to be a little bit silly. I know the zoning board has a different opinion about that, but I don't necessarily agree with it. But it's, you know, it's up to the majority. You know, do we we offer continuance? I think the
discussion from Mr. forward this letter. This was this this was a hell of a last five or six weeks. I don't think anything got done. So, including us meeting. So, uh I don't think there's anything wrong at this particular point to continuing. I think we even commented
uh that uh you know we don't have a policy of continuences and if we were to do something like that, I think it's a bigger discussion where we would change the rules and regulations to say you can only have one continuence. I don't I don't think that's fair to the
public. Um Okay. >> All right. Does a member of the public have their hand raised? >> Jamie Norcross. >> Yes. Could you introduce yourself? >> Good morning. Jamie Norcross on behalf of the applicant. Uh I apologize. Mr. Riley had a conflict uh this morning.
Was not able to attend. Um just to uh reiterate Mr. Ford said it the foundation is a critical piece to the overall design and and um coming up with what we hope is something that's um acceptable to the abutters and to the board. um the project has been at the
mercy of the engineer schedule and then with the snow uh fall he was unable to go out and physically visit the site to view the foundation but I think once that happens we'll be able to proceed in a expeditious manner and um again I think the goal here is to come up with something that um is acceptable to all
parties. So, they are pursuing that as quickly as they can, although it may seem at a snail's pace uh to the commission. Um, and you know, we appreciate the patience and hope to have that filing in as soon as possible. >> All right. Thank you very much. Uh Jamie, I would encourage you, you know,
to move things along and also to make sure that we get at least a week, if not more, you know, notice of the drawings because in addition to the commission looking at it, I am definitely going to be reaching out to the Cape Cart Commission because because they're involved, you know, as well as to the the neighbors. So, uh the sooner the
better. Thank you very much. >> Understood. Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right, Bob. Can we have a motion? I'm sorry. Is there another question? >> Yeah. I I just wanted to just I guess pipe in about um the whole idea of the continuence and to support you what
you're saying which is I think anytime we have good faith compromise among parties and town if as long as we have that kind of constructive process happening we should encourage that we don't want to make command decisions we don't want the the um Cape Cod
commission to go in and make and take it away from the community and the butters. So, I just wanted to say that I think we do need to have them respect our process and our needs for notification and time. You know, they have to respect that in the continuences, but I don't think we
should have a blanket problem with a continuence that is constructive. >> Okay, Miss Leer, >> go ahead. >> Um, okay. Um, I move that this application be continued until a date
certain of um, April 21st and that the commission also require or urgently request that the materials be provided by April 14th for a review in a meaningful way before April 21st
and to the extent possible include the entire plan for the project. >> Thank you. We have a second. So moved. I mean so seconded. >> Okay. All right. All right. We'll do a quick roll call. >> Bob. >> Yes.
>> Nancy. >> Yes. >> Uh Janet. >> Yes. >> I think she was hesitant. Okay. Robert Wilson. >> Yes. >> Uh Robert Wilson's. Uh Sandy. >> Yes.
>> That was Yes. >> Apologize. hearing. Uh, Mr. Donovan, >> yes. >> And the chair votes yes. All right. Well, your first vote, Peter, your salary is commensurate to the number of votes you take. Okay. All
right. Here we go. We're going to move quickly here. Uh, 277 Old Harbor Road. Here we go. This I want to just comment quickly. uh the members of the commission
site visits to me are an an integral part of our our group roles and responsibilities and I know it's difficult for people sometimes to get there but I I would encourage you in the future I mean I know everybody's busy uh
and the weather was really bad but uh if you could just let Christina andor I know whether you're going to be I mean I try to make every meeting as chair and of course Nancy and and and Bob. So just let us know you're going to be there. So
you know we don't stand around in a rain waiting for people. Uh so we know who's coming and who can't come. And of course if you can't make the meeting, we certainly encourage you independently to to get to the site and take a look at it. Uh uh I think it's an integral part
of of the process. So having said that, I give Christina her sticky back which told me to talk about site. Okay, here we go. Uh, we got an application 26 U3 to be heard in accordance with chapter 158. Uh, there was a site visit. A
number of us stood out there. You could see how ragged up my application is from the rain. So, why don't you uh this is a a property. Just give me a second here. It is u there is a form B on the property on the
macro. This is a original structure goes back to 1890. There is a form B with the macro which lists some of the history of the property which is kind of interesting. Um the application is for a relatively straightforward change but uh at this particular point why don't you
introduce yourself? Uh Ken Murphy. Um thank you u Mr. Chairman and the board. Uh well actually thank you for making your site visit because I know it was pretty bad out there. So, I was really shocked that you guys are uh the few that didn't make it um didn't get blown away. Uh I'm here to
represent um Jim and um Pat Wag uh the owners of the property. And what they're proposing to do is they have now an existing mudroom in the back and they have a growing family. They're, you know, three three generations that visit the house, you know, uh throughout the
year and they're just looking for a little bit more room. As you know, it's an older home. Uh there's areas of the house you have to kind of tip your head to to walk around. So what I propose is do an addition off the back of the property. Uh there is a mud room there
now. Um we're using the same footprint, but we're expanding off of that same footprint because I'm trying to meet a zoning board of appeals requirement too should this pass. Um I try to keep the same detail uh as the existing house now
with the gamrell roof. Um there are some, you know, a number of hip roofs that are existing. I try to incorporate that same type of detail on the the garage. They have a garage there now that they really just kind of store um
you know a number of their summer items, but you know, again, trying to meet the zoning board of appeals uh requirement and the lot coverage. We uh we want to demo that uh garage to uh and then attach a garage to the back of it, a onecar garage to again, like I said, to
meet the zoning board of appeals lock coverage. >> Okay. Well, maybe I' I've misunderstood. Uh, I apologize. I understand what you're doing to the house, but the application also includes the work on the garage. >> A demo in the garage.
>> Did you see that, Nancy? I I missed it. >> Can you show what is you're doing with the garage? >> There's a two um there's a should be an image on a twocar garage and um this garage right here. >> All right. Well, that's a nice picture.
What are you doing with it? Uh we're going to demo it. >> Oh, complete demo. >> Yes. >> Oh, I missed that in the rain. Uh >> the garage is not an an older structure at all. It's it's been renovated uh you know a number of times >> and again to meet the law coverage for
zoning board of appeals um that structure would um which put us over the limit. So that is reason why we would like to um remove that as well. And we're going to add a garage to the proposed structure. >> You're going to add a garage? Yes. >> And that's in the plan.
>> I think the plan I think what's confusing Sorry to interrupt, Frank. Um is that we um often are looking the best way for us to try to figure things out is to have this is what it looks like now. This is what it's going to look like later. And I think your plan is what it's going to look like after you
do the addition. That's not the house now. And so us understanding. >> Right. >> So that's the addition with a garage. Correct. That is and so and then it looks like do you have one of the pictures that show us what the back what that area of the house that looks like
now? That's it. So it's that jut out is is chain is going up into a twostory edition >> and then you are putting a garage on the back of that. >> Where's the entrance? use your >> So this is the uh the garage we're going
to add and this is the addition >> the part which is over there >> the proposed room correct? >> Yeah. >> So this is the existing house right here. This is the end of it >> and there is a as you um you visited there's a mudroom that sits in this spot
here. that mud room will be replaced and then we're going to add the a room up above a a walk-in entry and in the garage the garage that's there now um uh is definitely yeah will be removed just so I can meet the zoning boardroom >> okay >> and and
>> any sorry well I just I guess this is kind of a point of process I don't see the garage in the application >> um and I wondered what the date is of the garage if you >> go go to the site the site uh the site I thought I wrote a note in in the
description that the garage would be as well. >> I think I looked it up. I'm just trying to find my retrace. I'm just trying to retrace my tracks. I'm not sure if that it's historic. The garage. Just trying to retrace my steps on >> You understand the garage was part of it?
>> I did, but I think it's not historic. I don't think it's 75 years old. So, I just want to look. >> No, no, that's all right. I just want to understand what we're doing. Can you enlarge that, Annie, so we can see? >> Sure. Are you showing on the site plan here? >> All right. Where where is the this >> the garage addition? The existing garage
is right here, which is doesn't meet setbacks. And this spot here, I believe there's an existing site plan, too. >> Where's the entrance to the garage? Where's the driveway? >> It will drive in right in this spot here. >> Oh, so it comes off Barl Cliff. >> Yes. Oh, >> okay. That's my That was my confusion.
>> Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> All right. And how old is the garage? existing garage. >> The form says it's contemporary. >> The last line of the architectural description on the form B um does say
that it's a detached garage contemporary to the house to the rear. >> It just, you know, not major problems. We're just trying to understand it. Make sure we we can get it clear. >> All right. Does anybody else have any questions for the application now that I
cleared my head up? Robert, anything else? No, I uh I visited the site. I have uh the uh waterproof uh drawings here. >> Yes. >> And I find that the uh architectural uh conformance of the shingling plan is
is very attractive. So, >> thank you. >> I think that's a good job, >> Janet. >> Yes. I think uh that it will not u diminish the historical value of this home. the the plan changes. So, I would have no problem support I would support this
>> Nancy. >> Yeah, I agree. And um the addition does not in my mind impact the historical significance of the main house. >> Thank you very much. Uh Peter, >> are you going to carry the uh brick veneer around the uh foundation?
>> Uh we would like to. the the brick now is in rough shape and the existing um structure the they only have a probably a 5 and 1/2 foot uh basement brick and it
I'd like to see if we can and if they can add that to the budget but right now the existing brick is in rough shape so maybe we can do a veneer to uh yes because it you know yeah having it so much exposed is not a a pretty look so >> we We usually don't have any problem
with the veneer, you know, and that's if we could if you could do that and if we could note it on the drawings, I'd appreciate that. >> Right. Because as you can see right now, this addition, this existing addition is still concrete exposed. >> Yes. >> So, what we're adding on is really going
to be lower. Um, so it's, you know, it's most likely going to be this is the only area that would be brick veneer. >> Okay. >> All right, Sandy. You're going to do all this and you're not going to lift it and put a basement
under it. If you say there's a it's a block or a brick basement 5 and 1/2 ft tall, >> this is the only area that will have a full foundation so they can store family um items because right now uh I think they only have one closet in the whole
house. So, uh, yeah. So, a lot of the storage will be only, um, there's a bumpout room here. >> So, it's not much because obviously this is a, um, a garage, so it'll be slab on grade. So, this part here will be the
only, uh, I think that's, uh, 12 ft will be a little, um, bump out. When they do demo the existing mudroom, they will encroach into that part in the low level to have a little bit more storage and access to go from the the
the old part into the new part. >> Okay. >> Okay, Robert. >> I agree with not negatively negatively impacting the historic structure. Um, with regard to the garage, it's a little
unclear as to its age because it says it's contemporary to the house and I'm not sure what that means. But looking at the garage, I would be it would be reasonable to say that it is less than 75 years old. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm in favor.
>> All right. U, I think we have a consensus here. Bob, can you give us a motion to uh approve? >> Yeah. Uh, I move the Chattam Historical Commission find that the building located at 277
Old Harbor Road is historically significant because it is in whole or in part 75 years old or more. And the commission also finds that it is that it possesses architectural value or significance in terms of period and style.
>> Second. >> Thank you. Got a second. Thank you very much. All right, we'll do a quick roll call. Bob, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> Janet, >> yes. >> Robert, >> yes. >> Sandy, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Thank you very much. And chair votes
yes. Number two, >> Chadam Historical Commission also finds that the um proposed work to be done dated February 12th, 2026 will not materially diminish the historic significance of the building and therefore the commission does not impose
a demolition delay. >> Second. Second. >> Thank you. Any member of the public wish to speak for or against the application? >> Seeing none. Bob, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> Janet, >> yes. >> Robert, >> yes.
>> Sandy, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Chair votes yes. Thank you very much. I got you out before 11. All right, here we go. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh the next application is um 26004
accordance with chapter 158 uh demolition delay 45 old harbor. This is a uh really beautiful structure uh goes back to the 1700s before the
revolution 1773 the original home. Um again thank you very much for the uh site visit and for those members of the commission who u trudged their way out there. Uh again there's a form B macros on the property. It has a lot of history
and the family has a lot of history or going back on this property. So, it is really historically significant. I don't know if we're going to have any issues with that in claiming it historically significant and there's some significant changes being made. Uh so, why don't you introduce yourself and we can get
sorted. >> Sure. I'm uh Jonathan Fox from Schneeberger Collective and representing um Holly Todd, the uh owner of property with Old 45 Old Arbor Lane. Um and as you mentioned, the this home has been in
her family for several generations. Uh so it's very important to them and they want to preserve the character and the historic nature of it. Um, so we are doing everything we can to maintain the home as is, uh, while doing some minimal
work to it to help with their family as it's growing and adapt with their needs. They have grandchildren now. Um, so they want the the home to be able to work for the next generations. Um, so basically the the the the largest
change that's being proposed is replacing all the doors and windows. They're covered in lead paint. And as I mentioned with the grandchildren, they want to make the home safe. So we'll be replacing, we're proposing to replace the windows with authentic historic wood
windows. That will all be the same proportions and divisions, uh even the reverse cottage style, the projected frame, um maintaining the shutters, all the details that are there. Now >> should you not make any changes in the opening size?
>> No changes to the opening size. some windows with it with the exception on the kitchen wing. So the north wing and that's >> which one is that? >> That's this portion of the building here. So the gamrell you can see this portion here.
>> There are some this is the portion of the building. I think we discussed this a little bit yesterday on site, but this is the part of the building that's going to be supported. The existing foundation is going to be de demolished below and then a new foundation will be put in um to properly
support and waterproof and maintain the building. This part of the building is being renovated on the interior. Um so we are moving some of the window locations to accommodate that. Um there's also the entry door here. We're extending that
out slightly. So it's about a 35 square foot little entry vestibule that's being added there. But the door, the detailing, all the trim, the roof line over the overhang is all the same as what will be the same as what's there now. It's just going to be slightly bigger. >> The chimneys are not going to be
affected. >> The chimneys are not going to be affected. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh want to proceed or that's it. >> Yeah. Unless there's any questions, I'm happy to answer any questions.
>> Okay. Uh well, let me wait. Let's go around the room. Uh Peter, let's start with you. Any questions? >> Uh not really. I took a look at the window manufacturer and they seem like they do a really good job. Uh
>> excellent >> recreating um historical windows. So >> yeah, unfortunately or fortunately, you guys tend to do good work. We appreciate it. >> Thank you, >> Sandy. No, I have no questions.
>> Okay. Generally a supportive what you see Sam. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Robert. >> Yes, I'm also supportive. I I do appreciate maintaining the detail when you do the um alterations to the windows
and doors. I think that's an important factor. >> Thank you very much, Nance. >> Yeah, I agree with what everyone said. um and appreciate um the sensitivity of what you're doing to shore it up and not change too much. And I think um although
there is the addition um a little bit to the entrance way on that one side and there is a screened porch being added um they are not from either the water or the entry um side of the house and feel like it will not impact the historical
significance. >> Thank you Janet. I agree with everything that's been said so far. It's a fabulous house and it's great that you're saving it as it appears. >> Thank you, >> Robert. Yes, I did visit the site and
appreciate the extra umbrellas that were available and u Peter and I took a look in this at this rear side of the house toward the water and uh I know you have a drawing that I I appreciate that you've made the new design consistent
with the window facade there as well. I notice that you're leaving in the spiral staircase, which to my eye is is not uh consistent with 1773, but >> yeah, >> whatever. >> That's just the other one. I I know.
>> Yeah. Overall, I approve. I think the uh it's a fantastic uh effort to preserve and reproduce all those unique windows and doors, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Well, again, I I agree extremely supportive of it. And um you know, like
I said, you guys do a pretty good job. Uh not only that, but your applications usually understandable and which makes it a lot easier for us to uh to walk through. I mean, it was example that the previous one with the the garage garage in garage out, you know, and u just keep
it simple and it goes fast. Uh anyhow, uh having said that, I guess uh we can look forward in a couple of years for uh Leslie putting another application into preservation awards. But uh thank you very much. >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh we need a couple of uh motions, Bob.
>> Oh, before Well, we'll do it under vote. >> Yeah. Historic preservation, Bob. Um historically significant. >> Um I move the Chattam Historical Commission finds that the building >> All right. I move that the Chattam Historical Commission find that the
building located at 45 um Old Harbor Lane is historically significant because is in whole or in part 75 years old or more and it possesses architectural value or significance of period style and method of construction which
includes the detailing on the windows. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you very much. Okay. Um, any member of the public wish to speak for against the historical significant issue? Seeing none, roll call. Bob, >> yes.
>> Nance, >> yes. >> Janet, >> yes. >> Robert, >> yes. >> Sandy, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> And the chair votes yes. Okay. Application number two. Chadam Historical Commission also finds that the proposed work to be done dated
February 17, 2026 will not materially diminish the historic significance of the building and therefore the commission does not impose a demolition delay. Do >> have a second. >> Second. >> Thank you very much. Any member of the public wish to speak for against the application?
Seeing none. Okay, roll call. Bob, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> Janet, >> yes. Robert Wilson, >> yes. >> Sandy Porter, >> yes. >> Donovan, >> yes. >> Chair Vochess, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um,
we've got a couple of quick announcements and I think we have administrative approval we have to take care of. Uh, Christina, new business. Do we have any information yet on the issue of preservation restrictions?
>> Um, I I recall you somebody was going to do something. I you know between the snowstorms my head is >> I know I I think um I don't have any new update um but I will look back to see what who was supposed to do what >> all right now we all had a we had an
interruption here you know in in our lives so okay we're going to we'll carry it on to the next meeting um we do have a um administrative approval 92 Barliff want you give us a quick update who who presented that
>> one of who look 92. >> I can give a a brief update. So, it was um the three windows in the back of the house that they're putting into a French door and I believe was it Janet and Nancy? >> We did. >> Okay. Yeah. >> No, that's all right. It was a long time ago. >> Um and that's just the brief overview.
>> Go for it. >> Yeah. Oh, okay. So, um Nancy and I both uh visited this property at 92 Barliff and um actually the the day I was there, Tim Smith, who's the owner from Minglewood uh Homes Construction, and he
invited me in to see not only the exterior, but took me around the exterior, too. And um the exterior will remain unchanged with one exception. uh while they're redoing the kitchen, which is not in the uh historic section of the
house, they're they plan to replace three windows with French doors, and that will not be visible from the streetscape. Um and therefore that'll remain the same. And there's a 2004 preservation award plaque displayed on the house already. And um they purchased
the home in uh January 21st, 20ou 2026, and they're the new owners. And um so I I have no problem with these alterations. >> Thank you. Uh Peter, what what this is is we found that we were getting a lot of applica not a lot of applications
which were kind of minor and we're dragging people have to hire attorney all that kind of stuff. And similar to what the HBDC does, they do administrative approval for sign change and stuff like that. So, we changed our rules and regulations a couple of years ago and we incorporated this process and
basically Christina when she because she's she's the focal point, you know, she's the nexus when an application comes in. Well, this could be an administrative approval. And after discussion between herself and myself as chair, we determine, yeah, let's try it. And then we get two independent members
of the commission to go out and take a look at it. And now what we do here after they agree or disagree, if they disagree, you know, we come back and ask a full hearing. If they agree, we then come back and reaffirm. I guess that's a term we use, reaffirm the
the motion is what? >> Ratification. Okay. Having said that, I think we have consensus. So Bob, can you give a motion? >> Um, yes. I uh move the historic commission ratify the the administrative
review conducted at 95 92 Barkliffe Avenue. >> Second. >> So seconded, >> Nancy. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Second. Yeah. >> We got a lot of seconds. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. I'll leave it up to Annie to see who she'll be.
>> I don't think I said anything. >> All right. Uh motion. Um, any member of the public wish to speak against the application or for it? None. Bob, >> yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. >> Janet, >> yes. >> Robert Wilson, >> yes.
>> Sandy Porter, >> yes. >> Donovan, >> yes. >> And Frank Msina. Okay. All right. We have a some couple of quick announcements. Um, uh, old business. Uh, Nicholson Family Association. I had a actually a meeting with Holly Herbster who is the
archaeologist who's doing the work for us which is being paid by the Nichson family association to actually do the formal application to mass historic for the listing of the Nickersonson family historical archeological dig on national
register. She's about a month or two, you know, she's finishing up that that doc. It's a big deal to get it done. she remains very positive the fact that we did get an a uh approval for eligibility that we're probably going to make that happen but you know we've got to go through the process and we don't really
know what's going on in Washington about how things get delayed right now so but we're moving forward on that um by the way Holly gave I think I asked you mentioned you guys Holly gave a a presentation to the uh men's club last
Friday which was wellreceived about you know everything we've done in Chadam um this commission has done this actually was started by uh Don Don Aman you know maybe 15 20 years ago when the the historical commission decided that
archeological history was part of us and we did that survey and then we updated it and I guess the obviously the key thing that we all know is we found during that uh survey the fact that Chadam is not five or 6 thousand years old it's like 12,000 years old where
they found uh artifacts and the at the uh airport where they were doing some work on the airport. They did it they were doing a dig and when every time you do a dig on public property when it's paid by federal or state money you're supposed to have an archaeologist and they uncovered these spearheads which
they dated back to 12,000 BC which is really amazing. Yeah. >> So anyway, things change. Uh so that's happening there very simply. Uh just to give you a quick update. Uh we have no letters to the editor letters, excuse
me, correspondence. Uh preservation awards. That's important. Uh the commission, the commission, the committee met on March 12th, finalized and we approved 11 of the 13 applications. Is that right? Okay.
uh you know the way the process works here this is this preservation awards committee which is independent of of the historical commission and we meet every two years we get applications we ask for applications for homes which were historically significant and and worthy
of a preservation award committee consists of two members from the historical commission myself and Janet uh two members of the HBDC and two members from the historical society it's an independent committee it's not part of the commission but know we kind of started it and we continued it. Nancy
started what year was that? 12 years ago. >> Oh 12 years ago. It was like 2005. >> Okay. >> 200 years 2000. So 22 years ago. >> Yeah. >> How many? >> 22 years ago. >> 224. >> That's >> sorry 2004. 22 years ago. My first stint
with the historical commission. >> But that can't be because you were like 12 years old then. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> All right. Let's go. Uh so anyway, we do have the applications. I have them here. Two of the 13 were rejecting. Why'd reject them? Because they didn't we
didn't feel they were significantly uh significant amount of work was done or were not really worthy of a preservation award. Next day or two, Christine and I will take care of the process of notification. uh this is not open to the public but on
June 14th you you know that there will be a ceremony to provide that I hope all the members of the commission can attend it'll be at the maronei we'll be getting more information about it so that's where we are if somebody really wants to see them I have them here we can do that after the meeting
uh moving along uh no other questions we have a current demolition delays which are about to expire um there's been no activity on those have Okay. You know, that's a that's always a sore point for me. You know, we put a
demolition delay and then we kind of ignore it unless, you know, and we just sit back and wait for it to be demolished. So, we have two homes which are going to be coming down in the next couple of months. 45 Crows Pawn and 127
Stage Harbor. Um, we do our best, but you know, we just have a delay. And now the most important thing is the return of the Coastg Guard boat house. This commission, myself, Don Aman 20ome years ago were involved to try to save
the boat house on from Stage Island and you know it's been a long haul and but the boat is the boat the boat house is coming back to Chattam. It probably will leave it's in New Bedford being refitted with the floor and and it's being
braced. The current uh estimate is that somewhere around March 25th, it's been delayed obviously with the weather. It's going to sail back from New Bedford to outer stage harbor in the outer harbor and then probably maybe the 27th they're going to bring it in, float it in uh to
90 Bridge Street, pick it up on a crane and put it back and begin the process. Uh just so you know, Bridge Street is is going to be closed because it's a big deal, big tractors and big things. So, uh, but there will be some viewing areas for certain people, but you know, you'll
probably find ways to get a look at it. Just seeing it come in. I It's quite a I mean, it it goes to the idea that we, you know, you got to stick with it. You know, you can't you can't give up with these things. You can because it gets frustrating. But, uh, I know Don and
myself and, uh, Stu Smith and Jack Farrell and then Dave Dy, Dave is is the prime guy right now because he was the guy who took ownership of it. You know, when we had him, we picked it up and moved it. So, what do we do with it? So, somebody needed to sign and so Dave Dave
already owned it and he done a lot of good work sticking with it and some financial funding to help make it happen. So, it's quite a big thing for Chadam. where we come in. We have been for the last you know 10 or 15 years
assembling documentation through our macros. We haven't actually submitted it formally uh the form B's that we do uh to mass historic because the town kind of said well don't do that you know let us bring it back to Chattam and and the
information from our preservation consultant let's wait till it's back in Chattam. when it's back in Chattam, which it will be, then we will assemble the information that Eric Dre, who is our preservation consultant, is working on, and we will then I will chair with
your concurrence, submit a letter to Mass Historic Commission on the eligibility of the Coast Guard boat house as a National Register property. Well, the one in um I think the one in there's two other ones on the Cape, but
uh one in in um Nantucket and the other one is someplace on the vineyard. I name it just escapes me. And I believe the one in Nantucket is on the National Register. Well, everything on Nucket is on the National Register, but um but I think it'll be it'll be good, you know,
get it formalized and and the commission because some of you guys were not here. When the town was doing its design of the changes necessary to make it an upweller, they did consult with us on the changes. We tried to minimize the ex, let's put it this way. It was like
it was an application, but it wasn't an application. But I think they've minimized any exterior changes. Uh, and for instance, the two doors, the, you know, the garage doors, which is typical of it, which was where the boats came in, they're going to be faux, but they'll be there. You know, those kinds
of things. And, uh, and the roof, the roof is scheduled to be red red color, just like the roofs of the barrage. So, it's going to stand out. And like anything else significant and chatter like that, people are going to complain about it. You know, it's just a fact of life. But I think it's going to be
really a very significant addition historically to the stage oper. Boy, that's a long speech. I've done it. That's all I got. You folks have anything else? Okay. All right. Uh
I guess if there's nothing else, we have a meeting on uh what's the next meeting? >> April 7th. >> April 7th. We have applications. >> We do. Uh we have one for 70 Queen an Road, which is the old Queen An in.
>> Okay. All right. Uh other than that, I don't know of anything else that we have significant we're going to be doing then, but we'll we'll see about it. All right. So, uh if no other comments or questions, we'll get a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I move we adjourn the meeting.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Thank you very much, >> Bob. >> Yes. >> Nancy, >> yes. Janet, >> yes. >> Robert Wilson, >> yes. >> Sandy, >> yes. >> Peter, >> yes. >> Chair votes yes. Thank you very much, guys.
>> Good quick meeting.