Wakefield Heritage Commission

 

September 16, 2009

 

Members Present

Pam Judge, Nancy Hall (alternate for Connie Twombley), Snooky Shea, Kelly Shea (alternate for Nancy Bancroft), Joe Brejwo

 

Members Not Present

Nancy Bancroft, Connie Twombley, John Waitner, Barry Bishop (alternate), Ken Paul (selectmen representative)

 

Guests

Peter Brown, George Pearce, Garrett Anthony

 

Minutes from September 2, 2009 meeting were reviewed.  Kelly made the motion to accept minutes with corrections.  Nancy H. seconded the motion.  Joe abstained because he was absent.  Motion passed.

 

Financials

No additional bills presented.  Renewal for website is $32.61 for three years.

Pam met with the town administrator regarding the legal bill from Sager Law and she agreed it should go to the town not the WHC.  The 2010 budget request went back to where it was before the bill for legal work; $25.00 back to printing and supplies, $75.00 back to utilities.

 

Correspondence

2010 Capital Improvement Request (CIP) has been received from town planner.

Fuel carrier will be DF Richard they will be charging $2.10/gallon.

 

Peter Brown – Wakefield Library Association

Peter Brown came before the commission to discuss the repairs necessary to the Wakefield Library as some may come under the purview of the Wakefield Heritage Commission. The Library needs work in front and around the building.  One column made of plaster has been crumbling.  They need to be replaced.  Someone has offered to try using molds and rebuild the columns using composite material.  It has not been determined yet if this is how it will be done.  Other work on the library includes the brick vault which was hit by lighting years ago.  The bricks need to be refaced and the ceiling brought back down.  The brick wall in the bathroom is also cracked and will be repaired along with the bulkhead in the basement, shutters and painting.  It was discussed that a hearing may need to be held if repair of the capitals is done with a composite material.

 

Eagle Scout Project

George Pearce a leader for Troop 198 and scout Garrett Anthony has come to the board to ask for suggestions for an ‘Eagle Project’.  It needs to be at least 100 hours, everlasting, and benefit the community.  Garrett needs to plan and execute the whole project.  A few suggestions were mentioned including, parking lot at the Union Railroad Station, The Town Pound, The Hay Scales, and The Sawmill Bridge.  Garrett will come back to the next meeting and tell us what he has decided to do.  If there are other projects the commission can think of, in the mean time, please bring them to Pam’s attention so she can contact Garrett and give him more to think about.

 

Appreciation Day

Thirty six people enjoyed a cookout on Sunday. Some very positive comments were made and more people volunteered to help.  Craig Farley has officially volunteered to oversee the rebuild of the station masters office and the move of the bathroom in the Union Station.  Beverly Grant thought we could do an art show.  It was a great fund raiser for the Gaffney Library.  Lance McLain and Suzie Goodwin mentioned they would play again for any function WHC may need them at.  Marshall Fox was also there and spoke to Pam about the Union School House.  Overall it was a very good turnout with a lot of great things that came of it.

 

Spinney Meeting House

Painting will be taking place by volunteers on Saturday, September 26th at 8:30 AM; rain date is Saturday, October 3rd.

White satin paint needs to be purchased.  Volunteers are asked to bring what they can such as; scrapers, brushes, and ladders.  Contact Pam or Valerie and let them know what you will be bringing.

A pump organ has been offered by Bea Tibbetts.  She said it is good shape and still plays.  Everyone is in agreement to accept the offer.

 

Master Plan/clg/TE Funds/ Corridor Management Study

Pam spoke with the town administrator, town planner and planning board chairperson.  The Conservation, Historical and Economic Development over lap each other and may be able to do their chapter together.  CLG Grant is available.  It is a 60/40 split and if the three divisions need to combine funds for their share that would be a lot easier than the Historical Commission doing it all themselves.  The funds will pay for a professional planner to work with these three divisions to write their chapter of the master plan.  Pam spoke with someone in Concord who mentioned Jaffrey, Pembroke, and Stratham were some good chapters for us to view.  Joe made a motion to make application for CLG Grant for professional consultant to work with us on Historical culture resource chapter.  Snooky seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

 

Transportation Enhancement Funds – we chose not to apply because the town did not pay dues to the Strafford County Regional Planning we lost 15 points right upfront.  It will not come back again for two years so the town does not have to pay again next year but they will the following year.

 

Corridor Management Study

Senior planner at the DOT announced some Scenic Byways may be removed from list. It has been decided to request a meeting with Milton not to loose this designation.  We will get someone here from Concord to let us know what needs to be done.  Peter Brown will check to see if he has any original paperwork to help.  A corridor study committee, within the town, needs to be organized.

 

Association of Historical Societies of NH has an award to recognize organizations for achievement in historical preservation and promotion of appreciation and understanding of NH history. Pam has nominated the Wakefield Heritage Commission for this award. Letters of support were written by Friends of Spinney, Planning Board Chair and Town Administrator. Pam and John worked on the power point presentation and sent it in.  The award will be chosen at the October annual meeting.

 

Memorandum of Understanding

Town attorney concurred that a memorandum of understanding is all that is needed between WHC and Terry Gammon for the rail car.  We need to think of our responsibilities to Terry and Terry’s to us.

 

Semaphore

Phil Twombley was going to pick the semaphore up from Chris Bancroft and get it to David Towle's house to assemble.  The lenses are here.  Pam spoke to John Crowell about helping to install the semaphore.  He said he would.

 

Jim Miller

He has agreed to video some older folks that have worked on the railroad.

 

Union School

This is something Marshall Fox said WHC can have.  We need to think about this and discuss at the next meeting.

 

Website

This needs to be worked on outside of the WHC regular meetings.  Photos will be taken by Joe and Peter Brown will see if he has something to send to Joe.

 

Winter Project/ Union Station

Craig Farley will oversee the whole project.  They will start when Craig is ready.  The station master’s office and the bath should be done next summer.

 

2010 Plans

Think about the future.  What do we want to accomplish, what we want to work on?

 

Additional Discussion

Peter Brown has brought to our attention that The Historical District has requested a reduced speed limit to 30 mph and a crosswalk over two years ago and no change has taken place yet.  A letter to Police Chief Fifield will be written.

 

Peter asked what is happening regarding the canal and bridge.  Pam advised we are still waiting for a meeting with the representatives from the town of Acton.  Peter mentioned maybe the Great East Lake Association meeting would be a great start on a fund raiser for this project.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:10

 

Submitted by,

Valerie Ward, secretary