All right. This Historic Preservation Commission meeting is being held on October 21st, 2025 at 7 p.m. Statement of adequate notice to the Sunshine Law. Adequate notice in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. NJSA 104-6
was provided on January 28th, 2025 of this meeting's date, time, and place. The agenda was mailed to the Cranberry Press and Home News Tribune, posted on the township bulletin board, and mailed to those requesting personal notice, filed with the municipal clerk. Roll call and volunteer hours, please. Miss
Smire, here Miss Ryan, year two and a half. >> Mr. Fire >> here two >> Mr. Hull >> here five >> Miss Marlo here two
>> Mr. Sabbo is out Miss Billerini >> here one and Mr. Christopher is here. Miss Yan is not here. And we have a forum chair. Great. All right. So, we will begin with
um our application for 19 sorry 19 Maplewood Avenue. Um I actually spoke with the homeowners and they're not able to attend this evening because they have a a conflict. Um but basically they are
um interested in putting in a privacy fence in their backyard. Uh the reason is for privacy. It's not like for a dog or anything but it's uh for privacy and um they are proposing a white vinyl
solid uh fence in their backyard. it has gone through zoning. Um zoning approved it with the sort of heads up that um in the historic district you're supposed to use
wood um but it needs to get reviewed by HBC. Um so the one thing that um I discussed with them is that um they are after
working back and forth with zoning officer um they broke up of the fence and they want to put it just in the back. Um so they believe it will not be visible from the street. Um, I
personally did a drive by. Um, and I'm pretty sure you can't see it from the front from Maplewood. Um, the only thing I wouldn't know, and it's hard for me to know because it's not there, is if you're driving through that parking lot
if you could see it if uh leaves came down or something. Um, and so that is an is something I guess for us to discuss. >> So just just for clarification, they just want to put it on that short section along the back property line.
>> Yes, sir. >> Hi. >> Just there. >> Just there. Yeah. They're um looking to have a little bit of privacy from their neighbors backyard. >> Just just this section right here. Yeah,
>> there was no attempt. >> No, >> no. The issue was the issue they described was issues with >> um wanting privacy from the neighbors in the back.
>> It's a pretty thick hedge line, isn't it? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But it's pretty thick. >> It's pretty thick. I I mean the only thing I couldn't tell is like given that this thing is bright white, would you be able to see it through the edge? I don't
know. >> Yeah, you could possibly see it from the parking lot. Um I also look around I saw most people do do like a um an unstained plain wood fence. Um but that's usually what I can see from the street as well.
So, I don't know what's back behind some of these other houses on Main Street. and such a small amount of >> personally since it's in such a >> any other comments. It looks like there's well it looks like
there's a lot of shrubs around the area kind of asking back that little section. >> Okay. Yeah. The only thing could the shrubs be not as transparent. Let's just
think worst case scenario the shrubs were less transparent. Let's assume that like you had a bad year all the leaves came off the trees or whatever. They all died. You still wouldn't see it from Maplewood. >> You only see it through the parking lot. >> Through the parking lot, you would see
it. >> Yeah. >> The parking lot property has its own. >> Yeah. >> Does it really? I didn't even notice. Oh my god. >> Good. All right. So, >> one of the things that might be a
problem for them, though you said they don't talking zoning, is that >> with a 100% solid fence, I think they're only it's only allowed to be 20 foot fence chapter 150 section 35. >> Exactly.
>> I think this would be a type and it looks like in the application it's a little over 31. So, as long as as long as they I'm already it's not up to us to enforce the line of defense, but just wanted to make sure that they didn't get caught, you know, further down the process running into an issue.
>> Yeah, let me let's let's we can reinforce it because so I have written down six foot tall and they said they worked with them on the height and the and the width of it. Um, so what did you have what did you see written down
>> in well chapter 150 section 35 I think it makes it specifies a maximum length width length of 25 ft because it's 100% solid if it was less than 50% solid as long as they want. >> Okay. So 20 ft 25 just confirm that it's
not 25 less than 25 ft. I don't I don't us to enforce this. It's not zoning. I'm just want if they you know if they're listening like just want to make sure that they were aware of any you know pitfalls ahead of time for >> earlier in the process. >> I mean I also shared with them that like as a homeowner like I actually
personally own a vinyl fence as well like and not it's not even solid and it is like the bane of my existence. It is the biggest pain in the butt. I have to power wash it every freaking year. It gets mildew on it. It's disgusting. Well, that would happen if it was wood.
>> It breaks. If it was wood, it's like you can put another coat of paint on it. Like, it doesn't look as bad. [Music] >> You know, we didn't change their mind. >> I mean, she just said she just said that she went to Home Depot. They picked this
one out. They thought they looked like this one the best. So, >> I mean, just looking at Google Earth and, you know, the plantings along the edge of the parking lot there at Sweetwater. >> Yeah. It's mostly evergreens along there and those are taller than the cars that are
parked in the parking lot which is probably high. So cool. >> I don't know just but not much visibility into the property. >> Sounds like a plan. Okay. So then um I
shall make a motion to approve it unless anyone has any other. >> All right. Roll call for HPC 263-25. Miss Sutmire, >> yes. >> Miss Ryan, >> yes. >> Mr. Guyer, >> yes. >> Mr. H, >> yes.
>> And Miss Marlo, >> yes. >> Thank you. Motion passed. >> Awesome. Okay. Minor and ordinary maintenance and repair approvals. >> Yes. So, this is weird, but there actually weren't any this month. I was like, wait, don't I have to print them
out? little slow month, but yeah. >> Awesome. Um, okay, good. So, next we have old business. Uh, we have the amendments to the Cranberry Historic
Village District and we have a huge update. Uh thanks to Brendan and Liz and uh just our plan kind of went in front of a zoning subcommittee group and
we two huge things. First off, remember that the document we kind of were confused about that was like the zoning document. So, they are revising that to specifically state like chapter 93, like just stick with chapter 93
and they're going to use their thing for like stuff outside of the historic district. >> So, that's huge. The other thing is um they are going to they're looking at creating some design guidelines for areas that are outside of the
historic district but are major thorough affairs for cranberry. And so I I wrote back like cool or maybe we are a resource, you know, since we've worked on design guidelines um to work with them and their subcommittee as you
will. Um so that's huge. Um and then the big news is that they are drafting the ordinance and so our buffer zone stuff is I think going to hopefully we are one step closer to getting rid of the buffer. So, thanks to
Brendan and chiming in on emails, working with Liz. Liz is great. Um, and uh, so yeah, I think we're we're moving things forward. >> Any other thoughts, Brendan? >> No, you got it.
>> Okay. Um, okay. Let's see. So, we have to wait on the So, now the ordinance is going to get drafted and then I'll we'll just kind of let this go with Liz and >> Gina that >> don't let me know
>> is our kind of done then and it has moved on. It's moving. But I think the next big thing for us is we are going to need to start working on our like PDF thingy with the pictures um that document with the details of in the
pictures because that document is a reflection of like all of our ordinance in our chapter 93. >> So that's the design guidelines itself. >> It's the like it's the it's the guide of the design guidelines. >> The design guideline with photos.
>> Yeah. line by line. Yeah, >> they're both called. >> Yeah, >> one is photos and one's the actual code. >> Yeah. Okay. And um so and we talked with Liz about it too because um you know we
kind of stated that um putting submitting that in conjunction with the the full ordinance and stuff is it's too granular. Um, and it's this document with the pictures is the interpretation
of the bigger thing. Um, so you know, we may need to go into more detail on certain things in that PDF uh with the pictures that don't need to be written in the big full ordinance. Um, so but I think in the meantime, we will need to
start working on that. um and starting to like make edits and stuff. And so like I there's software we can use to kind of start editing that thing um and figuring out how we want to
update it and you know if we want to like a suggestion was made by um someone in another HBC town that like it's great to break it into chapters and put it on the website in chapters so it's easier for people to see like what they're looking for. Um, so that that will be
like a next step project while the ordinance and all that stuff is going through. Any thoughts? Okay. Um, okay. Good. Okay. So, next we have
um CLG grant. Um, I don't we have any update there any updates on the CLG grant? >> Not that I've heard. >> Okay. So we'll table that for next time with dates here. Um okay, next we have identifying and designating historical
sites outside the village district. And so um the 1860 farmhouse. Um we received a letter from uh Cranberry Historical Preservation Society. >> Yes.
>> Did you guys all have a chance to read it? Yes. Okay. So, do we have any comments? I think this was it was sent to us and to township committee. Um, I guess it's opportunity for us to
share if we have any comments on this document. I mean, I would just say that the historic society is taking it very seriously and is not prepared to to give up on it.
>> Yeah. >> Well, that's a good thing. >> Let's see where it goes. I mean, are they asking are they asking us to do anything in support of >> their efforts? The letter is to both the committee and
>> to us. Yeah. >> Well, the call to action at the end is for township committee to take immediate action to enforce restrictions and we're an advisory committee to TC. So could we provide some
letter of support to the township committee reinforcing >> well I think we need to enforce this because if we don't then >> it's just >> it's very clear in the demolition by
neglect is not an excuse. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. What I'm what I've taken away from the letter is that um it's been quite some time since we had our um
our working session at the library. It's been like over six months. Um and there hasn't um and it sound says in the letter that there was a there was a formal complaint made in May um and that
nothing has happened. And so I think what we might want to what what they're asking for and what I think we might want to support is taking more speed actions because I think that I mean
actions I we know that there were some tours that happened but um in terms of enforcing the code we haven't seen or heard anything about that. Uh am I correct that HPC has no
enforcement capabilities? >> It's up to the township. >> So we advise Yeah. We make the recommendation and we could write a letter very simple that just says if we support this and we >> strongly recommend
>> we yeah their call to action is to take immediate action. I think >> that's the biggest issue is that things haven't been taken care of in a timely manner. Do we know when this was written because there's no date on it? >> Sometime between now and the last.
>> It was like >> it was like in the past week I think >> like the past two weeks. Yeah. >> Maybe when >> Yeah, that's what I was trying to definitely very recent. Yeah.
>> Do we have any updates from DC on this property? >> Not yet. >> So, and last month, I believe you said that there were updates coming a month ago. >> There has been converation.
That is essentially our update at the moment. Um, and I'll say yes, you guys. letter in support of that letter. It feels like a letter in support of your previous positions. So understood that both bodies are are aligned. So feel
free to write another letter. >> So as >> well I think since this letter was written since that >> last groundhog repeating ourselves over and over and over. >> Yes. But I just think, you know, we are in receipt of a letter addressed to the
township committee and we just reiterate our support for media action to be taken or something to that effect. I think that's all we need to do. >> Maybe something that's worth calling out is that when we met at the library, one of the things we asked to help us make
an informed decision was actually having it surveyed by an architectural historian who could help help understand it better than just a structural engineer. And if that's been done, that report hasn't been given to us. So, um, what we said then is still all we can
say now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But Yeah. Exactly. And it does. And the topic of this letter is the the fact that it's still not being a complaint was filed about maintenance code. Why are we not enforcing
maintenance code on the property? >> Yeah. I backwards. Um, so I think do Rob as a member of TC, why why hasn't this been taken care of?
If a complaint's been made, what's our process? Why doesn't town committee if a complaint gets made? Does it just get does a complaint just go to on the table? And is there a process
for addressing these complaints that are made about maintenance codes? >> There there is. And to my point, it was it's it's being discussed. It's actively discussion as you certainly know. Um and more information will be there has been
conversations between attorneys. There's things going on. Yes, there will be action shortly. >> So defined shortly just so we can follow up. shortly. >> Okay.
All righty. Any other comments or >> Well, I just haven't. So, we >> Sorry. >> Are we going to write anything? >> Yeah, I have written down. I'm going to just I'll I'll write a very oneliner. >> Yeah. >> You know, just says we received it. We
discussed it in HBC. >> We agree. We agree that, you know, if a complaint was filed, it needs to be followed through >> and and if the inspection by the start of Dr. Tech is taking place, we'd like to >> Yeah, we're still awaiting the followups
that we had from April. >> Yeah. Okay. Um Okay. Uh do we have anything any updates on I guess there's the um the historic Victorian home that's that's
now going to be there you know for the affordable housing and are there any updates that we >> I haven't um and then I guess the the other thing that um Sue and I were talking about too
was just when we talk about the hamlet is um as we prep for our sale brand next year, taking a fresh look at our our strategy for that um with these, you know, because we have a lot of things going on. We have the farm houses,
we have these, um you know, properties that are getting added to the historic district. Um we have what else? um so >> inside the start district some properties that were overlooked in previous surveys or aspects of
properties that were removed and we're almost at 10 years since those first buildings were surveyed and the recommendations have been surveyed every 10 years >> so um there's a lot in the district that
that get redone but I believe Mr. O that was his his recommendation is that that should be the focus for the CLG grant next year is just staying within the historic district and splitting it from the farm houses. So and then we had also
talked about uh pushing through the the eligibility document so that he could apply for a CLG grant for the uh station hamlet. So we have three options to consider for the CLG grant.
So, what do you guys think preference it? I think we should talk about what having any of those three options done allows us to do like what it enables, what's blocked by not having things surveyed. That that would help me decide what's
most important for us to do first. And I think what I could do too is ask I think Dave has a list of everything. I' I'd be curious to know about how many properties are in each kind of bucket that we're looking at because like for example like with the work we were looking at the Hamlet it's only like
>> three or four houses. Yeah. And then there's some in Monroe. Are we paying for the Monroe ones to be done? >> So I mean it's our application though so we might need to. >> Yeah. So um
>> that's true. I think I think from the state's point of view they didn't want to do the station for example they didn't want to do cranberry without >> Yeah. Correct. >> Yeah. So I I was voting for farmhouses
personally because of recent events and um having at least documentation of all of our outlying properties. um to create kind of thematic district at least the documentation whether it actually
becomes a district or not uh for future protection. >> Yeah. So what I'll do is um I'll follow up with Dave. I'm going to ask you how many properties for each bucket as you will and um I think we collect that
information have a think on it maybe we can try to make it re look at it next week next time the days back. >> Cool. >> Sounds good. >> Okay. Do we have any sense of the timing for the CLG grant like due dates? I know it ended up being April or something
this year. >> I don't think you're going to have any money, >> right? They they haven't sent anything else out since then. So I want to say last time I'm forgetting what it was if it was
like they said but >> okay >> then it was yeah it was like something that couldn't have worked. >> Are there any other grants we could get >> other than just putting all of our eggs in CLG? I had l talked to the county to
Middle Sex County about various grants and uh uh the majority of them were um matching and I was told by the township that is a nogo. So that's a challenge.
Um I think there is a small grant available so I could look into that with my contact at the county. um a smaller grant in the sense of like maybe like writing a nomination or something like that.
>> That's right. It could maybe help us for one of the projects. >> Let me let me see what the current status is because I I told him that story that the township um would not you know match grants and he's like oh but we had X and Y and stuff. So there there there was hope. So I'll I'll try to
report back next month. Um, all right, good. Um, so, all right, if we're ready for our next topic, um, we have Primary Station Hamlet Historic District COE. Um, so we have updates on that. Um, I
actually spent some time this month. That was my 16 hours. um doing some I've been doing a lot of thinking about it over the few months and you know with everything we've been doing of this year and everything like
that and um it's something that just sort of hit me as we were going through this process and and you know we submitted our first application several years ago the state said oh you know we want more more we want to be more
comprehensive period of significance you Um, and as I was starting to try to put together a narrative, one thing I realized is that we've pretty much anything agricultural in this area is
gone. Like our town's pretty much the ship has sailed with that. Um, our planning board, you know, it's zoned light industrial. We've got warehouse, warehouse, warehouse, and then adjacent to it, housing development. So
there's not really an agricultural story anymore for the animal unfortunately. Um and so I started thinking about the narrative for our application and really I think our best bet is to just focus in on the railroad. >> On the history.
>> Yeah. The history of the railroad. >> I think that's always been >> uh they were starting to talk about wanting to get very big and comprehensive. >> Yeah. They were talking about like the agricultural story of various fields, the retention ponds, >> areas, ponds and all that stuff. And I
mean the ponds are going to be gone except for that one little >> Yeah. >> So um >> I think I mean historically it's certainly >> huge. There's such a case to keep it. Um, so I spent a lot of time also trying
to figure out like because we have to define our area and so I spent some time on the Google maps and I wanted to get your take on this. >> Yeah, we have. >> So yeah, this is what we had originally
submitted. If you guys can see this here where we had just said like here are the the four houses in Cranberry. >> Yeah. So what I was gonna suggest is is we create the boundaries based on modern
streets because I looked also at the old maps of where the old houses used to be and a lot of them have been demoed of course um because like up in that green area um that forest thing there were houses there. Um,
and so I thought we would define it as the area south of Station Road, east of Heightstown Cranberry Station Road, encompassing all of Holly Reed Road, both sides.
And then north of the what do we call that? burn. Is it a burn tarn or a tarn? A tarn thing that's there. [Music] >> Pond or it's like a tarn. Um
>> retention pond. A man pond. >> The long thin. >> Yeah. Um >> and is all this in cranberry? >> No. So, as a result though, um it would
include the houses on the other side that are in row. >> Yeah. >> And I counted like three three maybe four. I wasn't I was having trouble figuring out if one of the properties was two addresses owned by the same
family or if it was two separate families. So, we had to research that. Um, so I guess my question for you guys, does this make sense? Um, the other Oh, the other thing that
really hit me was when I was looking at the preliminary application is it stated that the um they asked if the if we own the property and they said you don't have to own it, but they asked us in the application to submit who owns the
property. Um so we will have to list the names of the owners. Um and then it said that if a property owner is objecting to it, it may not be listed.
And that is different than what the state representatives have told us. However, it makes me think that we have no it would not be a good idea to go out here into this area where we have the
fluorescent pond and the old Chamberlain and Barkley property. I think if we just go for that one sliver um that includes the depot and the rail line um we have chance of having support from the owners
and um Yeah. Or at least like and not objectify from the owners. And I don't know how to handle the owners of the rail line, the con rail people. Like I don't even have a contact. I have You're going to have to
list the names and the the owner name and the application somehow. I don't know. >> I have a contact at the New Jersey. She works at the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, but she's she's the
New Jersey transit representative for historic properties. >> Oh, really? >> So, she's not Conrail because Conra's private, but she might have >> she might know someone contact >> and had we uh several years ago you'd been looking into the Rails for Trails.
Did we ever make any contacts? We have contacts with them, but they're >> not the sales for trails people, but like for the actual owner of the the line. It's just the rest. >> No, just from the tax map. And I And the problem too is now the tax records are
now hidden. Remember, like you're not allowed anymore to look up property on the internet. >> It's private now. >> The county has a website that you can look at. So that would you >> really?
>> So I would not the main like I have to go with the individual county website. >> Yeah. >> Well actually I just mean Middle Sex County. I don't know about the other counties. >> Yeah. Well, both Monroe and Cranberry are Middle Sex.
Is there anyone who's really good at like researching and helping me figure out like >> Yeah, because not only do we actually need to notify the property owners or do we just need to list the property
>> I think we don't have to notify I I think it would be right to notify them. I know that the >> I think as it gets further along >> Yeah, as it gets further along >> just preliminary to have them say yes. >> Yeah. And I think they kind of already know like I mean except the only people
are those rail line people but at the same time this rail line is already shipped opinion as a historic district. >> So >> that's what I was wondering. So their address might be listed in that >> from
the state application. Yeah. >> The um the the the man-made pond, forget the term you used for that. >> Um is that on the property where they're
building our warehouse? >> Yes. Except um I remember when we were going through that process, they they agreed to save it. >> Okay. >> So, they're not building on it. Do we um what would be the justification we'd give for including the pond or not
including the pond in the district? Like in what way does it help make the district stronger? >> I don't have a firm opinion for against like I mean I just trying to give it as much like acorage I guess would be the goal. But I
can't think of the pond being it has nothing to support the narrative of the railroad line because it came I think after the railroad line. >> Okay. And we might it might be stronger than >> you think we'll do it right up to the end of the property where the um that
warehouse is those owners are. It would just make it um >> possibly >> we could Yeah. What do you guys think? Do you think we it would be better for us to do it that way? Sure. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I don't think they're going to
build on it on the the pond because of that. Yeah. I don't think that's happening. So, I don't know if they'll ever I don't know if we need to protect it from from them from themselves trying to build on it in the future. That's the only other
thing. Well, the the state and national listings is really just protecting from the government, not really inhibiting private owners. It's not that much protection. >> I know, but it's still still something.
So, but um qualify as wetland. >> That's I was just going to say like I remember the reason why they saved it was because of the environment. >> Yeah. Yeah, environmental cleanup.
>> I think if we Yeah, maybe we can simplify it because then it's just one less owner too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I have to uh I think I need to figure out what I need to figure out is what is the tax where do we see a picture of the
tax maps on the Cranberry site? How do we get that? And then >> like the township tax maps. >> Yeah. So you can see the lots that everybody ends. >> They're just of it. >> They're just on the website. I can send it to you if you want. >> That'd be awesome.
>> Yeah. >> And then we have to find the one from I think. Um >> probably on their town website >> to do that research what I actually prefer using. There's a map from the state that has all the parcel boundaries. You can click it to block a lot that way. So rather than like trying
to zoom in on the cranberry tax maps, we can just go to that area state cranberry. It'll show both towns. >> You have that. You know where that is? >> Not in my head, but uh >> you think you know it exists. >> Okay. >> Yay.
>> Okay. All right. Cool. Thank you. Um, and then the other thing too is that um, Sue has a call a connection that might be able to help us with like articulating this because they in the application they write it a certain way and I'm not an expert in how to write
like the articulation of the boundaries and the um, support for it. Um, so we might try to tap her expertise as well. Um, but I think it's good that we are all aligned on kind of like where we're we're looking, which is again I think
it's a very small area, but it's going to be important that we save it for the um like and preserve it for the railroad story. Um, >> can I I want to understand better the uh the existing railroad uh is it an
opinion or a designation or like what >> opinion going all the way from New Brunswick to >> so the opinion is that if someone were to do the work it would be eligible but it's not >> and I believe >> as a real >> even though you know there's that question about ownership right of
property ownership um I think there is a percentage of the owners that to agree to the nomination. >> I think there's so many parties that that's really why they didn't do it.
>> Yeah. >> Um but the good news is there's tons of research. Um the other thing we're going to do is I started collecting like a ton of different research, just different articles. Um there's like chapters of
books online that I found um with bibliographies from other people, references of other people. So like there's there's a lot of there's a burden of evidence out there that we can use to submit and I think I think we if we narrow if we narrow the focus on the
railroad and explain our rationale why um and I spent a lot of time crafting the language around the threat to the area um you know describing how you know the zoning areas around it um has led it
to kind of be getting like you know pushed in the way it is um then you know I think it makes it really strong. So um as a next step I think we'll um we'll work on getting these maps together um
soon and I are going to have a working session and then we should be able to get a draft over to all of you guys to look at. So cool. Um, next item. Revolution New Jersey.
Bobby, Revolution, New Jersey. >> I don't know what's next. >> How How was the graveyard? >> It was very >> Was there a volunteer who was >> I thought it went very well. >> You? >> I loved it.
>> I think we need to do it every year. >> A >> It was great. >> Was it well attended? Did they? >> Yeah, it was a good crowd. >> I mean, it the weather was fine. >> It was fine. >> Not perfect, but fine. Preferred for the
ghostly mood. >> Yeah. >> You know, it wasn't sunny and hot. It just ominous scatter. Yeah. Um, so we haven't heard anything about
anything else that they're planning. >> Um, okay. Next we have public outreach. Um, and I do not have any updates on public outreach. Um, did any I I have a question. Did anyone see our chips versus HBC flyer in the
mayor's email? Did anyone see it? Okay, I'm going to put in another request because I put in a request and then I was looking at the mayor's email. I didn't see it in there. So, either my request didn't go through or we need to do it again, but I'll um
I'll repost it or re request it as you will. >> That'd be great. Um okay. Um other business, uh town hall doors. Wait, wait, wait.
>> They were going to ask our student if she had looked at the interactive map. >> Interactive map. I feel like our entire website is just so bad. Like
I don't even know where to begin. Like >> I do know where to begin on that. I' I've never been through this process with websites. You You first got to figure out what's on the website now. How is it organized? List out like kind
of build a map of what's there now. Then figure out what of that is the most important and which of that is so not important it shouldn't even be up there anymore and then figure out how to reorganize it based based on what we figured out.
>> Yeah, I think the website has ended up the way it is because things get added one at a time over many many years and it could use a whole scale, you know, reorganization. >> Yeah. >> Is that even a possibility, Gina?
thinking no. >> Well, our finance guy does the website. So, I don't know in terms of like rearranging the actual layout and things like that.
Probably unlikely, but in terms of like editing what's on there, I'm sure it's possible. Yeah, I don't think we have to change a design.
It's just like what's on each page and in what order do we link to the pages and how do we group things? >> Yeah. what what is a web page versus what is a flyer a PDF that it's not too familiar like those sorts of decisions I think we
do better on would be the first step would be fig um does anyone have an appetite for um I think I mean I think this would be a good project for like next year like
as a goal maybe What do you guys think? >> Sure. >> Sounds right. >> Emily, do you have any interest in in this in working on this project? Maybe with a committee member. You do? >> Yeah. >> If you don't, just please say I'm not
going to hold it against you. >> Because you this is for you as well. Like this, you know, we're not just going to give you a project we all can't figure out. Yeah, we're not going to be >> I mean you if you're familiar with a lot of websites, I think then you might be
helpful. It might be helpful >> like to have your your insight. So, okay. So maybe committee you guys like let's think about who might have time next year um or even at the beginning of end of this year to start you know
thinking about this like you know what's our goal with the website? What are people coming there for? What are they coming to do? What are they coming there to learn? um when you go to the website, what's the first thing you see? Is the first thing you see the most important
thing? >> And then how can we work with in the framework we have? Um not the design but like the links and stuff to fix it, make it a little more customer friendly.
If if it's something that we can do, I would be willing to participate lead the effort to participate. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Next year, I'll probably
>> three three of us. >> Three three minutes. Perfect. >> Love it. Okay, cool. >> Awesome. Um, great. Any other comments on public outreach? >> Any updates on the librarian?
>> I found out she's back. >> Okay. >> And I I think I had sent her an email, but she didn't call me email me back, so I have to follow up with her. Um, but I did find out she is back. She's back about a few weeks ago, so I am going to
call her. Um, okay, cool. other business, town hall doors. Um, so we received Okay, let's let's start here. U, so we received a letter and the letter ended I'll start with
what the letter ended with. It said um um if HBC has further suggestions, we'd be happy to entertain them um about the doors. And so Sue had a great idea. She um found we found some old pictures of
the doors before they were removed and I got ass soon thrown away. Um and what we were going to talk about is you know what what would be our if we would would we have any suggestions for uh TC
um since it said in the letter they are open to it. Although if if um any alteration to the door itself affects the integrity of the doors and their or their warranties. So I'm not a door.
So, um, we could have molding applied to the door to kind of mimic the lower panel of the original design.
>> The glass light is not exactly the same proportion, but >> yeah, >> but but it's okay. We we could have a panel um you know that somewhat mimics the old doors with applied molding. you'd have
to um attach it with adhesive >> because you can't do any mechanical fastening because any mechanical fasting would definitely >> as the attorney said would would
something I mean there are moldings available at Home Depot that have double stick tape on them peel the tape off and stick it off. I mean it's that's probably not the right solution because it's the exterior application but but we could do an
application like that to at least mimic the design. >> So I don't think we can dimension it precisely. This is the extent of documentation. >> The glass the glass lights on the new
doors are not the same. So I'm thinking >> So I'm thinking that maybe that middle rail that is directly below the glazing um
that that is correctly that that general height of that middle railing >> you know should be the same and that way the panel can absorb the >> Mr. Christopher should see this. >> It could be obviously the width of the
glass, >> right? >> And then the middle dimension could be whatever works with the hardware and then the lower dimension could be something similar to what's here. Or, you know, this is pretty close to a square. So, you could
almost just say, okay, let's make it a square, position it. I'm I'm concerned that if the glazing is much is it shorter? >> Make it shorter. >> It's shorter. That if we make it square, we're going to have like a real huge middle rail. So that's why I'm thinking
if we try to keep that middle rail dimension. So this is challenging. Um, >> uh, I could take a photo of the new not when it's not dark and just sketch out a
layout that would sort of mimic this if that's >> I also had um a chance to talk with Dave a little bit um about the letter and um he provided maybe some of his thoughts about it as well as um he shared that um
the firehouse. They replaced their door and they have done something kind of with the paneling similar, but it's a more modern door, but they, you know, kept the historic integrity going. >> The firehouse. >> Yeah. So, it might be something to look
at. And I don't know who they worked with because that's not really our job to figure that stuff out. But um there are people I guess I don't know if it was embedded in their door or if they attached it. But he said he saw it because he walked that way.
>> Okay. So the um if we were to supply a sketch of trim that would be u applied adhesively and not mechanically. Is that something you think that the township would
consider? >> Right now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Great. >> All right. Good. Um, any other comments um regarding the letter itself that we received? >> No comments.
Okay. All right. I'm gonna I prepared some comments. I'm sorry. I >> Yeah. >> So, I will say that I just want to point out that the town hall building, the old Cranberry School building is Cranberry
Township's only individually registered building in the whole town that's on the national register. So, uh front doors do have significance. It's uh in the ranking it's it's our most significant historic
building according to the national register. So that's something to consider. >> I mean I'll jump in. So So I mean I don't think I certainly don't have any question that doors need to be replaced. That's
>> you brought it up in January >> and I just think that it would have been nice if we had been, you know, consulted with before a decision was made what kind of door to put in this place and and theoretically through an
application. Um, what was the other thing I wanted to say? Oh, I don't understand the word instrumentality of the municipal government. So that's incorrect. The HPC is an instrumentality of the
municipal. >> It's a very common word. You record is an instrumentality of the state. So I'm very it's a very familiar word. >> Okay. But never mean instrumental government. I can understand that. Sorry
my only question but >> yeah so what do we know what that means instrumentality >> I just have to say I feel >> subordinate body sorry >> I feel like though that we it says as subordinate body we cannot dictate the governing body I agree but we should be
on the same team with the whole idea of restor story and keeping the look of as you say the nationally recognized building. That's all I have to say. We should be on the same team. >> So definition
instrumentality as a noun is the fact or quality of serving as an instrument or means to an end agency. A thing that serves as an instrument or means to an end. So, >> in
synonymous >> synonymous >> I'm still scratching my head too about um uh where it says it cannot dictate how a government body spends public money. I'm I'm trying to understand when did we say that they needed to spend
public money a certain way. Uh, have we ever I think the only time our committee's ever spent money was when we did the uh street sign project? >> Yeah, >> we certainly didn't take any. >> We sure didn't. Nope.
>> I'll take a minute to provide context to the drawing that I passed around. In 1964, when the school board planned to demolish this building, Cranberry residents responded by creating the Save
the Old School Committee and filed a lawsuit against the board of education along with the Cranberry Historical and Preservation Society. The Save the Old School Committee achieved state and federal recognition of this building when it was added to the National Register of Historic Aces in 1971. Said
these efforts predate any of the primary village historic districts which this building is now part of. In the hallway outside this room hangs a cranberry town council resolution adopted in 2012 thanking the members of the save the old
school committee. One of the 14 residents commended in that resolution was a talented artist and she drew this building years ago. Hence the initials C bottom right as you can see in this drawing the door panels are prominent.
So you know we're not just make it big deal out of nothing. This is something a building is very important to this town and that was part of what this town says. >> Okay. Um, I I saved my comments just because I wanted to hear what everybody
had to say. Um, but I did prepare a statement because I spent a lot of time reflecting after our last meeting. Um, as well as this communication that followed. And uh I'll start by just saying that I
really believe I do not believe I do not believe that individuals working within or on behalf of our town are exempt from the rules that are established by our township. Uh township ordinance 010602
applies to any property located within the historic district or on a designated historic site. Town Hall is in our historic district and listed as a national historic site, so it deserves
proper oversight. No individuals or entities should behave, that they have more power than this ordinance. Our commission followed standard procedure in notifying the township administration that a retroactive application was required. The routine
steps should not have caused resistance, especially given that township staff and administrators are responsible for handling administrative matters. Instead, this manner was escalated and taxpayer funds were used to involve
legal counsel in drafting a letter to this committee. This letter contradicted our ordinance. It did not address the fact that we have an emergency application process. It misrepresented our role in this public budget disc
discussions and decisions and it contain language that in my opinion belittle the committee and the volunteers who worked tirelessly to support our community. To further prevent misuse of resources, I am not going to respond to this letter
that was sent by the township attorney on this matter. However, the individuals who engaged the legal council over this matter adore owe our committee an apology for their unnecessarily intimidating actions.
Looking ahead, I hope that township leadership will respect the role of the HPC. They'll consult with our committee on decisions that affect historic properties and leverage our expertise to strengthen and preserve the character of our community. Together, we can ensure
that town hall and other historic sites are properly cared for and celebrated. Good timing right at the bell. >> Okay. Um any ready to move on to the next topic? >> Yeah. Okay. Commission training. Uh any
updates? >> Yeah. Um I went to a uh president ofation and J in partnership with chicks hosted a workshop titled homeowners guide to historic preservation. >> The one at the museum. >> It was right here. >> Oh yeah. >> It was presented by architect Margaret
Hickey. And um I would say that particularly relevant to some of our efforts, she identified the recently released historic design guidelines for Glenn Ridge as an excellent example of what design guidelines can be. Um so when we were talking before about how we
had two things called design guidelines, those would be the one >> we looked at that is a is a good one. Uh, one of the things that came up was that linseed oil is a good way to maintain cedar shakes. And so I'm wondering if the township has a
maintenance plan for the new roof on the village park pavilions so that they just doesn't disintegrate. Uh, and then I'd say that the overwhelming feedback from the audience was that homeowners want help identifying contractors with the
experience and skills to work on historic buildings. There's not an easy answer to that, but I know that that's a home looking for. >> Yeah, I don't think that we are allowed to
recommend contractors, right? So, it's not chips. >> Yeah, chips. Yeah, I had someone reach out to me and I I ordered them on chips. >> That's the right place. >> Yeah. Um, but I can send a note over to
parks and wreck about um, linseed oil and and just kind of say that we learned about this and that it might be good for their maintenance plan of the the new roof. Um, any other training notes? >> Okay, new homeowner letters.
>> Yeah, no new homeowner letters this month. And then I don't know if you want to do the meeting dates. Let's do the meeting dates. >> Um so it's just the column on the right that's highlighted. It's pretty much just the third Tuesday of every month
still except for um November because of League of Municipalities. So it's pretty much all the same. I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss any like holidays that would affect multiple people or anything like that. But I
think I was okay with these ones. So, >> yeah, I think we're good. >> Thank you. Okay, next we have our minutes. >> He said he did. He already did. Um, can I ask about salvaging components
of the existing house? >> Yeah, that I don't remember stating that I but it was a lot. It was a whole month ago. Um, but that was something we were talking about doing. So, I will follow up on that. >> Yeah.
>> Because I promise to do that. >> So, I This is 127. >> Yeah. >> I will follow up on that. Okay. The award
that we got to follow for that too. Follow up on that. May I make motion to approve the minutes? >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call for the September 16th minutes. Miss Sutner,
>> yes. >> Miss Ryan, >> yes. >> Mr. Guyer, >> yes. >> Mr. W. >> Yes. >> And Miss Marlo. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Motion. Yes. All right. So, we have >> public comation
award. Does anyone have any further thoughts about >> That's right. >> the award. >> I don't you know what I'm thinking so we all think about it again and maybe we research to see what other folks have
done in terms how they evaluate and ask questions. Um um so we do a end of year list right the Gina compiles of all our applications for the year and
such. So maybe that's a tool that we can use at least to be looking at potential award ease but the how is what figure out. Right. Let's have a think on that again and maybe B will dig into it next next
one. We got a little distracted this one, but we'll uh get back on track. Okay, cool. >> So, public comment. Any public comment? >> No. Okay. Discussion. Anything else
you'd like to discuss? >> All right. Discuss quickly. >> Yes. >> I almost understand you before when you said that we don't no longer have access to the homeowner's names of the property. >> Yeah. I understand. >> Well, that's not true. I mean, I just
if you look in public records, it's still there. >> Okay. I had heard that it it was all um like for privacy reasons was all hidden. And then I remember last year for the wasel I had a lot of trouble when I was
trying to figure out who owned certain >> it's not implemented. >> Okay. My understanding was that it was for government associated like officials because it was based on that judge in South Brunswick who had an incident at
her home and that it may not be for everyone. >> And in response to that, some websites took down everything because it was easier to just take that website than to filter out whose information you protected. >> That might be why I had >> you look in public records, it's there.
>> Public records. So the one that I found the most helpful is the county one. That was one when I was working with the state office on some of our things that that they include me into that. So that's very much and if it was cranberry specific
you can actually go to the where you pay your your taxes >> tax the tax. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Any other comments before we
adjourn discussion? Okay. All right. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. >> This is our fastest meeting ever. on the
second.