HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-03 Historical Commission Minutes (2) North Andover Historical Commission
Meeting Minutes —June 3, 2026
Present: Ron Rudis (chair); Jay Dowd; Anne Lafond; Stan Limpert; Jim Wefers
1. Meeting called to order at 5:02 pm.
2. Public comments: none
3. Correspondence: none
4. Old Business:
a. Merrimack School bell
• St. Michael's School declined interest in the bell.
• NA Public Schools superintendent has expressed interest in placing the bell in the new
Kittredge School.
• Action Item: contact superintendent regarding her interest in using the bell in the new
Kittredge School.
b. Scholfield Mill Assessment:
• An architectural firm has been selected: Spencer Preservation Group/Preservation
Architects
• Andrew Shapiro is the town representative coordinting the project
c. Demolition Delay & Preservation Initiatives
• 169 Chestnut St. Subdivision: CPA application to buy two lots on the Colonel Fry house
was rejected by the CPC; CPC rejected the proposal due to the lack of partnership with a
conservation organization and the high price of the land; Property has been broken up
into four lots: one with the house and one with the barn.
• 400 Great Pond Road: Correspondence from the MHC was received, indicating no
immediate action is required. The DPW will eventually apply for a demolition permit,
which will then trigger the standard demolition delay process.
• Demolition Rights & Commission Powers: The Historical Commission holds power
regarding "demolition delay." Local Historic District Commissions (LHDCs), such as the
Old Center and Machine Shop Village, claim "demolition rights or the right to keep things
from being demolished," though the exact nature of these rights and the ability to
permanently prevent demolition remains unclear, often resulting in a delay.
d. Historical Preservation Plan Tasks:
• Design Guidelines:
- Heritage Strategies accepted the budget of$20,000 for the project.
-Contract can now be signed.
• MACRI S RFP:
- No quotes were received for the Macris project.
-Commission members are encouraged to think of other approaches.
4. Other Business:
a. Town Monuments Inventory and Maintenance
• Founding Families Monument: A dedication for the "Founding Families monument"
(described as "that stone with... the QR code thing") is scheduled for June 27th at 3 PM.
• Monument Inventory: The Historical Commission currently lacks an official inventory of
town monuments. A list of 30-35 "brass plaques on rocks" was created by Terry Holland
approximately 10 years ago and could be added to the Historical Commission's website.
• Maintenance Funding: Discussion included using CPA money to clean these monuments,
potentially through a CPCPA grant application or by requesting assistance from the DPW.
b. Local Historic District Commission (LHDC) Authority:
• Jurisdiction and Powers: LHDCs, including the Old Center and Machine Shop Village,
have jurisdiction over properties "elucidated in their bylaws," which can vary and may
include modifying a building's silhouette, signage, or right of way. They possess "slightly
more power" than the Historic Commission for their specific properties, including the
ability to deny a certificate of applicability.
• Machine Shop Village Clarification: Initially thought to be a committee without demolition
delay or certificate of appropriateness power, it was clarified that Machine Shop Village
has similar responsibilities to the Old Center Historic Commission over the exterior
"envelope" of buildings within its district. Property owners consult them for changes like
siding or windows.
• Enforcement Challenges: While LHDCs can deny actions, the Historic Commission (HC)
signs off on demolition permits, not the LHDC, raising questions about how LHDCs
enforce their "no" decisions on demolition. A case study of the Davis Mansion in Machine
Shop Village noted a slate roof removal despite its historic district location, suggesting
bylaws might not have been strictly enforced or options not exercised.
c. Meeting Schedule: July and August meetings are canceled, with future meetings to be held "as
needed" for specific issues such as initial discussions on design guidelines or if demolition
permits arise.
d. Commission Openings: There are two open positions on the Historical Commission. David, a new
resident and educator for the Historical Society, was present at the meeting. It was suggested to
contact Steve Foster, who retired in August, regarding these openings.
5. Lafond motioned, seconded by Wefers to approve the May 6, 2026 meeting minutes.Approved 5-0.
6. Meeting adjourned at 5:37 pm
Documents Distributed: none