Okay. Call the meeting of the Newbury Historical Commission to order. 70:05. Uh this is what the 12th February 12th. >> February 12th, 2026. >> All rise for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we uh
are not going in a regular agenda order tonight because we have important stuff to work on. Um uh so due to the lack of a working computer, we do not have the minutes for the month. So those will be pushed back
to our next meeting. And then uh what's the minutes? >> Treasur treasures report. >> Uh treasur support pretty much the same as last time. Uh uh we have a total
balance of 47 $4,712.65 and non-committed funds. In the general account, we have 900 available. And in the gifts account, we have $2,812.65. Um, and that's about it. And I'm sorry I didn't make extra copies. I ran out of ink.
>> That's fine. >> And there's Jan. And I sent you a a digital version. Jan, >> thank you. >> Uh, under your department lawn, have you gotten any correspondence back uh in reference to your warrant article at the town meeting? >> No, >> nothing back.
>> No. Okay. >> All right. Um, >> I didn't bring a copy of that >> website committee. Any emergencies? >> No, not emergencies. We're working on the um transfer. He did mention that um if we want to start looking into having
the tapes and stuff digitalized that that would be done under like it stuff. So I'm going to try to push for that as soon as possible. >> The audio >> audios and all that stuff. So we're kind of brewing about that. I think he's going to send it to somebody. But
>> Deb, I have a third range uh hall picture if you wanted. You got two left adjusted. You could stick the third one. Yeah, we're going I'm going to we're going to do a whole new like re re more things to put on once we're >> I'll send it to you. >> Sure.
>> Okay. Um and you don't have any emergency correspondence. You can't wait till next month. >> I don't have any correspond. Yeah, >> absolutely nothing. And and I couldn't Okay. The website was down for a week, so
>> nothing came in. >> Yeah, that's all right. All right. Um, what we're priority tonight is this uh letter from Joyce Stanton, assistant town administrator,
addressed to Peter Bernett, not us. Um, in reference to the uh please accept the application on behalf of the Newbury Select Board who voted Tuesday, January 27th to pursue the historical significance inquiry into the vacant
Newbury Town Hall, 25 High Road under chapter 65. So I I'm confused at best. Uh what this is is chapter 65 the
demolition delay bylaw. >> Yes. >> Yes. Um what the problem here is is uh this did not come to us in the form of an application
comes to us in the form of a letter. Um the application process is very clear and I spoke to the building inspector today. Um,
this is the application for a demolition permit. Um, so, uh, and that's how due process works. Uh, so, uh, I don't understand all the
the history printed out here. I guess somebody's just trying to be helpful with it. Um, so, uh, I spoke to the building inspector and he says no application for permit has been taken out. So I don't
know that this letter can be uh substituted for an official application because it doesn't have all the questions and it doesn't uh have the timestamp doesn't have uh all the
information. So, um, at this point, uh, we we've we've talked about this building before and, uh, it's basically,
uh, already covered by the demolition delay bylaw because it is in the National Historic District. So, automatically, it's considered a significant structure. So that is the first step. Um so this is
um in historical significance inquiry. Um so that is worded verbiage from the demolition delay bylaw. Um and uh it we're we're looking at that
now, but uh whether it's significant or not is already we're already past that at this point. >> In fact, this is the worksheet for significant review and evaluation that comes with the DB demolition delay bylaw. >> Right. >> Okay. You pick it up, you check the box,
it's in historic disc. We're done. >> Right. >> Right. So, but now we've got to if that means we that that would kick it immediately into the well, it won't kick it into the review because only the DBD kicks it into the full review,
>> right? So, um it needs to come in on the application and then come to our desk. Uh we know it is a significant structure already. So that will put it into the process. Thank
you. >> They're not asking us if they can tear it down. They're asking us for this if it's significance. >> Right. So that I guess that's my question is is do we just provide a packet of you know all of the documents that we have that basically says that it
is that what >> all we need is just the fact that it's >> or just that yes it's right. >> That's done deal right that kicks it in. Yeah. if if they try to tear it down, >> right? >> If it's just sitting there or >> Well, if it's just like structural
repairs and different things like that, then I would think that, >> you know, >> Well, that's a good point. >> Well, right. Like like up updating it and cleaning it up so it could be used, things like that. I don't see, >> you know, I don't I don't have objections to that. I would like I would
rather the the building be used other than a storage unit for IT department, which apparently is what it's being used for. It's not actually. It's because the >> That's what he told me that the um >> C not the cables. What do I want? What are you running the stuff off of
>> the lines that are there at for the >> service for the power for the service and everything is still there at the in the back of the of town hall. >> Right. >> That brings everything over to where to
the to the Kent way. Right. Please. Yeah. Well, I'm just saying like I would rather I want to make sure the building just doesn't become abandoned and unused. I the fact that at least somebody's going in and out of there for storage is more appealing to me >> to buy
storage because the steps >> and do we know if they're still maintaining alarms and fire protection and >> well because I was saying is it because that was my concern occupancy permit. >> Yeah, >> but that has that's nothing to do with us. So, >> well, I'm just making sure that it's not just like freezing pipes in there and
it's just freezing. So, >> it's not everything's been drained and done. The only thing that I know of probably >> it it's full of mice, rats, and snakes. >> Plus, there's the mold and everything that's downstairs. All right.
>> That's the ESA information. All right. >> Let's stick to the permit here. >> So, >> so um >> it isn't a permit, is it? Well, not yet. >> No application. >> It says I received an application for a
permit, but there is no permit yet. >> So, um that is the process. So, I will uh have to communicate back to Joy
that that needs to be done and submitted to the building inspector. And then the building inspector submits it to us. And on there we need the information exactly what demolition is being done.
Are they taking a hole in one wall? Are we taking the whole building down? Uh or is this letter just asking for our input saying uh do you think this is going to be a significant structure? >> Uh and the answer is yes. Uh are you
taking out a demo? Are you planning on demolishing this building or parts of said building? That's what we need to know and time frames and other things like that. Um, has anybody else found anything in
their their book? I once it's found significant once there's an application taken out the next step is we go to >> I believe we do two public hearings correct >> holds one or more Okay, one or more
>> public hearings to gather input. >> Yep. Um and then the historical commission determines whether the structure is preferably preserved. Procedure. Yeah.
>> Okay. All right. So, the applicant proposing the demol I'll one second I'll read this. An applicant proposing to demolish any structure uh part of shall file with the building commissioner application containing the following information. The address the structure
the owner's name, address, telephone number, description of the structure. Basically, when we say description, it's the dimensions uh age uh and uh general information on the building. reason for
the requested demolition permit. So the reason is is uh we're going to build a new building there or we are adding an addition on it. Uh so on a brief description of proposed reuse, reconstruction or replacement.
They're also supposed to submit photographs of the structure which consist of four angles, some brief interior pictures. Um from there uh then the building commissioner within 7 days shall forward
the copy to the historic commission with 15 days after the receipt the written determination whether the structure is significant. So that won't happen until we get that done. Uh upon the termination of commission structures is not
the commission shall notify the building commissioner. The building commissioner is saying issue the demolition permit. Upon the termination of commission the structure is significant shall notify the commissioner and the applicant in writing no demolition permit will be issued at this time and that goes on
from there. Um so um and when we once once we have our hearing we'll determine whether the building is preferably preserved
>> because it's already significant right like I said this in effect that form's done because one of the boxes >> sorry go ahead >> I just I had a question about the timing so uh 4.6 Six says, "Upon finding that the structure is significant, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing within 30 days of the
written notification to the building commissioner, is the written notification to the building commissioner the same as the application for demolition permit?" >> No. That would be the correspondence back >> from the building to us? >> No. No. From us saying it is a significant structure and we're going to
hearings. >> All right. Thank you. >> Lawn, did you have anything else? No, I I'm just I did a draft in the pink house and it's five pages. So if we when we get in and make have to make a decision,
we we know it's significant already. Yeah. And that's what this was for significance of it. But uh there's lots of information all the criteria that are that are in the in the application that has to be considered and and then and then we come back with the preferably preserved or not.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> so this saved us five pages of work that first. >> So, I'm reading the cover letter again to make sure we're not missing something
that they're asking for other than uh a delineation of whether we think it's a significant structure. Please accept this application on behalf of the Newbury Select Board who voted Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 to pursue a historical significance inquiry into a
into the vacant Newbury Town Hall located 25 road under chap 65. So, um I think that's it. Any more discussion? Any other questions?
Um that's where we're at right now. So um >> do we have any idea whether the intent is to to tear it down or if the intent is to repair it?
>> Nothing has come to us in writing. So I I I have nothing else. They discussed it at the selectman's meeting but didn't invite us. >> I apologize for that. >> I know an oversight. >> I know it was on the agenda but you
didn't get a formal invitation. I apologize for it and I thank Becky for showing up. >> Thank Jan for paying attention to the >> Thank you Jan. >> It's happening. So, um, we will go to a motion. I'd like to, uh,
have a motion for the chair to communicate back to assistant town administrator with the procedural corrections uh, to be forwarded to us. >> I move that the chair communicate with the assistant town administrator.
>> Slower, slower. She's going to write it. the requirements for an application >> and they may not be Oh, sorry. I can't talk during it. Uh, so I need a second and then discussion. >> Oh, I second
>> lawn on the second. Okay, discussion. Uh, I'll put in that they may not be ready for to do the application. Mhm. >> Maybe they're just checking with us to see what our thoughts are on whether
it's going to go through the process or not. And that is if that is the case, uh we've just we've uh done that here tonight once we vote on this motion. Uh all in favor of the motion? >> I
>> I against All in favor. All right. Um, that is done. So, uh,
let's review in preparation for more of this. Um, so if and when we get to this point, we have um significant structure.
Once it goes there, we have Yes, it's significant. And we've got 30 days for the hearing. >> 30 days. Yeah. So once we determine uh it is significant
and we have 30 days to the hearing and then we have 14 days um for final hearing. I don't know why it says final hearing.
I think it I think it's in for a meeting. And so yes, so we'd have one or more. So we have one hearing. If we have attendance and we can't cover it all and a lot of people show up, we can still go for a
second hearing um public hearing to gather input. But the the input is going to be limited to the structure not and it and it's our job here is to
examine the structure, make sure the information about the structure is correct, the dates are correct, the construction materials are correct, uh the h the history of the building is correct, and then we analyze it from
there to make sure everything that's been reported is correct on the permit to make sure uh everything that's been accumulated is correct. And then um go and then get input from the hearing uh
to make sure there's nothing else we missed there. And then we go to another meeting. Then we will determine whether it is preferably preserved. the meetings, the the the application, the meetings and the hearings are about
the building. It's not about what the building what is happening in the future, what has happened in the past uh in that our our job and and maybe uh the historical commission needs to do a walk of the
building. Maybe we need to look at the sills. Uh uh maybe we need to go through to see what the condition of the roof rafters are. Um so that'll that that probably needs to be something we do do.
>> Think might be thought a little to see some reasons. >> Uh yeah. So the ball's being sent back over to the other side of the court. Um Ch. >> Yes. >> I did just offer one thing in regards to
it's not it's a little bit more than the structure for everybody. This is from the bylaw. This bylaw is enacted for the purpose of preserving and protecting significant structures which it already is has been determined. >> Yeah. within the time of puberty which
constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural, cultural, economic, political, agricultural or social history of the town. >> So it's a little bit more than the building.
>> I take a correction in hand. Yeah. Um, so we need to consider all of that as part of the recommendation to come because the building certainly stands for a lot more than 100 years old and a piece of wood on the side of the road.
>> Yep. Yep. You are correct. Thank you. >> I've received phone calls already. >> I don't know who they're calling. We don't have a phone number. >> Well, they know I'm on historical commission and they know we're deciding it. >> No, no. No historical commitment. Sorry.
>> Yeah, Jen's doing that because they don't want to call >> the draft one that you put together for the pink house is the cultural which clicks over. It's not the building itself. It's has some unique features. >> No, a lot of people have made similar
connections. >> Yep. Yep. Okay. Um any other discussion about this? All right, we'll close this discussion on this. Uh, any other comments or
questions from the, uh, gallery? Um, any other more any anything else that's timesensitive before the board tonight? >> Okay.