Historic District Commission Minutes - 2024-11-14

Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes November 14, 2024 Eureka Community Center, 6:00pm

Meeting called to order 6:02 pm

I. Establish a quorum Quorum established

II. In attendance

Present Lois Kilby-Chesley, Chair Emily Alexander, Secretary David McLellan Candace DeCsipkes Paula Erdmann-Purdy Sandra Hilton, Alternate

Guests Heather Roy (in the capacity of Select Board member) Joe Roy (unclear in what capacity)

III. Approve Minutes

a. Approve meeting minutes from october 10, 2024

Motion to approve minutes Seconded All in favor

Paula Erdmann-Purdy abstains

IV. Information and Reports (no vote necessary)

a. Select Board agenda was amended October 29th SB meeting DHDC on agenda

V. Continuing Business

B. Reactions

1. SB received the legal recommendations from several people and groups

2. Letter from the lawyer was received by the DHDC. View points need reconciling. Letter mentions the architectural survey is required as a legal document.

3. In May 2024 Jerry Douglas sent the DHDC 3 tasks

4. No answer on the architectural survey received from Joe Roy by the DHDC as of this meeting

Election Table Overview

● Lots of interest from town residents

● Overall positive experience

● Passed out lots of brochures

Directed people to Tia Wilson if they asked about property

A. Vision Discuss

1.The Durham Historic District was started when Durham was growing fast as a way to prevent the center of town from being developed by a business (e.g. gas station or fast food chain)

2. The value of a historic district: provides a preserved heart of a town’s heritage, a place that is maintained and easily connect to the town’s past

3. Awareness and outreach should be part of our vision, maybe a historic district sign

Motion that the DHDC respectfully requests that no changes be made to Durham town ordinances 5.14, article 12 until 2026 Seconded

Discussion -Article 12 is the only article that pertains to DHDC -The 1500ft is a sticking point -Potential letter amendment for the Historic District -The DHDC requires the time to reflect about the legal recommendations and ramifications of the lawyer letter

Friendly Amendment Proposed

Submit a request to not decide on final ordinances until the DHDC has had time to reflect from the lawyer until town meeting 2026. Rather than hold off, give us time to reflect on the legal adjustments. Now that DHDC has seen that legal recommendations, we would like to reflect on what that means for our group and the ordinances pertaining to the Durham Historic DIstrict and the Durham Historic District Commission

Amendment not accepted

New Amendment: *(until the commission has adequate time to review the lawyers recommendations as submitted with a vote by town meeting April 2026) Seconded as amendment

Discussion Question proposed as to why the DHDC ordinances are in review and focus to the Select Board this year for town meeting 2024 Inquiry: is it possible to review in January. The DHDC needs more time to consider the lawyer’s recommendations. All in favor 1 Nay

B. Architectural Survey

Discussion on what DHDC would potential do to move forward Parameters

DHDC reached out to Maine Preservation in Augusta for recommendations, synopsis

Motion to begin collection for surveys, informal way for budget estimation Friendly amendment just reach out to Margaret Amendment accept David will contact Historic Home Advisor Margaret to get ballpark figure

Discussion All in favor

Motion to create boundaries for communication with Margaret, Paula letter’s recommendation from Phippsberg is 50 years or older, Whole town of Durham, 1950’s Seconded

Discussion Parameters for the architectural survey be Structures/ buildings (including barns, schoolhouses, residential, churches, governmental buildings) in the town of Durham that are 50 years or older archeological sites might be outside of our purview

Reconnaissance survey, a drive-by All in Favor

David will report back to the group whether via email or at next meeting about correspondence

C. The Future of the DHDC *Youtube video reference, October 29th

1. Future depends on what the Select Board decides to do with the ordinances, at the next Select Board meeting if the Select Board goes with George Thebarge, Town Planner, suggested changes the DHDC gets demoted to an advisory committee as a result

2. Vote for these changes will go to town in warrant

Town Planner summary reviewed and read aloud

-Objectives: come up with a focus for questions for the Select Board -Question posed as to why John Talbot is speaking on the behalf of the Durham Historic District -Commission was discussed at the October 29th Select Board meeting. -Comprehensive Plan was the original trigger for the DHDC to review and rewrite ordinances

D. Change of Name One of the three tasks that the Select Board has requested of the Durham Historic District

Motion to remain the Durham Historic District Commission

Seconded Discussion The DHDC has more pressing matters than to change the name of a commission

All in favor

November 26th DHDC is on the agenda for the Select Board and back up is December 10th Reply to SB’s invite, inquire with SB what the format they are thinking for this meeting, reach out in an official capacity for survey

VI. New Business Have some of the commissioners attend the Dec 10 Select Board meeting

Vote taken to extend the DHDC meeting for 15 more minutes No objection

Vision discussion continues

VII. Final decision summary

Actionables

● Chair to send respectful request for extension to the Select Board

● Vice Chair to connect with contact over architectural survey

VIII. Future topics for the next meeting

● David’s findings from architectural research

● December 10th Select Board review

IX. Adjourn

Motion to adjourn Seconded