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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-30 Old Center Historic District Commission Minutes North Andover Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes August 30, 2023 Present: Ryan Schruender, Leslie Frazier, Roger Lawson, Martha Larson, Lisa Roberts, Kathleen Szyska, Laurie Belsito The meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m. in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall. M. Larson made a motion to call the meeting to order and K. Szyska seconded the motion. There was unanimous consent. L. Frazier made a motion to open the public hearing and R. Lawson seconded the motion. There was unanimous consent. R. Schruender recused himself, stating he sits on the board of Ridgewood Cemetery. R. Lawson stepped up to conduct the meeting in R. Schruender's temporary recusation. Ridgewood Cemetery 114 Academy Rd. (application to allow for fencing at Second Burial Ground Jim Lafond-was the first to speak, representing Ridgewood in the application to install a fence on the right hand perimeter of the cemetery property on the side of the Wakeman property. The proposal is for a steel fence running from the existing stone wall at the front of the cemetery, to the rear of the cemetery property, meeting a retaining wall at the back righthand corner. There will be a 30-50 foot gap in the fence to avoid running the fence over grave sites. The specifics of the fence proposed are located in the handout packet. Ameristar Perimeter fencing is the company being used, and the Genesis style fence with the triad style finials are what is being considered. The fence would be 4ft high, with three supporting rails for durability, with a multicoating process resulting in a black finish. Posts will have below grade concrete footings. When asked about a previously discussed wooden fence, J. Lafond said they decided not to pursuit it because of feedback from the commission previously. K. Szyska said this style fence is a better idea because it blends in better visually. L. Roberts asked why not continue the stone wall instead. J. Lafond said they wanted to keep things open visually speaking, due to feedback from the commission. J. Lafond said they will also try to resurrect three plots located in the cemetery that have wrought iron fencing around them that need repair. This proposed fence will hopefully compliment those plots once finished. M. Larson supports the fence design and thinks it will be an enhancement. R. Lawson agreed. Public Comment Sambit Mohapatra, 401 Stevens Street-In the back of the cemetery property where the fence is proposed to meet a retaining wall, there is currently a gap in the retaining wall he can see just behind his property. He is asking if the back wall will be finished so the fence will meet the end of the finished wall. They were using the gap as a road to move materials to rebuild the back wall. J. Lafond was unaware the back wall wasn't complete and said he would need to look into it. The Commission also received supportive emails from three abutters. L. Roberts motioned to close the public hearing and K Szyska seconded the motion. There was unanimous consent to close the public hearing. L. Frazier made a motion to vote in favor of the steel fence as referenced in the certificate of appropriateness for 114 Academy road, and in the body of the letter and referenced on the included map in the handout package. M. Larson seconded the motion. There was a unanimous vote in favor. Approve MeetiWMinutes from August 2, 2023 L. Roberts name is misspelled, and Harry Aznoian's name is also misspelled. M. Larson motioned to approve minutes and R. Lawson seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion on what happened to Harry Aznoian's lack of reappointment to the OCHDC R. Schruender rejoined the discussion and wanted to address H. Aznoian's sudden and unexplained departure from the OCHDC. He said he was shut down when asking to speak publicly at a selectmen's meeting about the reason for why H. Aznoian was not reappointed to the OCHDC. He said he had a call with J. Phillips and he told her that he was not happy with the way things were handled. He wanted the two selectboard members who made the decision about H. Aznoian not being reappointed, and M. Rodrigues to attend our last meeting. M. Rodrigues apologized for not attending, but didn't because she wasn't on the agenda. She also said with two Board of Selectmen at the meeting, it would need to be a joint open meeting setting. Thoy hts on having a joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen and the OCHDC L. Roberts thinks there needs to be communication, and that it is a good idea. K. Szyska said she went to a selectmen's meeting that M. Lenihan was also attending, and M. Lenihan asked the selectmen if there were minutes taken of the meeting of the two selectmen who were in charge of appointin commission members because he couldn't find them. They were not public. K.Szyska said there should be a reason given as to why someone who has served for so long wasn't reappointed. The town council who was in attendance at the selectman's meeting said they don't have to give a reason. She then proposed the joint meeting. R. Schruender said it shouldn't matter if there is a legal requirement for an explanation, it's common decency. He wants to address a better way going forward with appointments. L. Frazier wants to know if the members up for renewal next will be subjected to the same treatment that H. Aznoian encountered. K. Szyska said she heard there is a push to get new blood on town commissions and committees. R. Schruender said that would be okay if there were people wanting to volunteer, but the reality is that they can't fill current open spots. K. Szyska said the majority of our commission would be gone if too much time served meant they wouldn't be reappointed. L. Roberts asked if H. Aznoian should be at this proposed joint meeting. M. Larson and R. Schruender said he should. R. Lawson said there needs to be communication between the select board members and the commission, and transparency from the select board. North Parish Church requested a meeting R. Schruender informed the commission that the North Parish Church wanted to meet with the OCHDC to discuss repairs to the spires. R. Schruender then read an email out loud regarding the proposal. K. Szyska said in order to receive CPA money the NAHC has legal rights for oversite over what the North Parish does to the building. R. Schruender said they gave potential dates to meet: Sep 11, 13, 18, 19 or 20. After checking with present commission members, the 19th and 20m were decided to be the dates with the least amount of conflict. R. Schruender said he wants to bring up their signage as well, but will set the topic aside for a separate meeting. R. Schruender brought up the issue of needing to vote a permanent chair and officers at our next meeting. He said he would be willing to do it since it doesn't look like H. Aznoian will be back on the OCHDC. M. Larson moved to adjourn and L. Frazier seconded the motion. Unanimous consent to adjourn at 7:27 p.m.