APPROVED
Historic District Commission
Public Meeting
May 14, 2009
Members attending: John Fitzwilliam, Ken Beckwith, Lottie Guild, Eileen McHugh, Reuel Walling and Carmen Yon, Selectmen’s representative.
CTO: 4:05 p.m.
Minutes. Commissioners reviewed minutes of the April 9, 2009 meeting. Beckwith moved, Guild seconded and the Commission approved the minutes as written.
Master Planning. Guild read the brief history of Fitzwilliam she wrote for inclusion in the Master Plan. Walling read the overview she wrote. All agreed that both hit all the necessary points. They are attached to the minutes.
Commissioners discussed what they would like to see in Fitzwilliam going forward, in preparation for their meeting with the Planning Board on May 19th.
- Use the inventory of old houses, prepared by Carmen Yon, as an education tool to sensitize new and young people to the historic nature of Fitzwilliam.
- Evaluate the historic district boundaries and realign if necessary.
- Identify old buildings that reflect the history of Fitzwilliam businesses, and work to protect them.
- Identify and inventory old barns for preservation; pre-1900, post and beam construction in particular.
- Work to insure that the Fitzwilliam Inn is not lost as an historic building, as the historic center of the community (“It’s key to any master plan…”).
Bruce and Ann LaFond application to enclose an existing porch. The existing porch is already partially enclosed (to the rail) and they plan to complete the enclosure to create an unheated mud room. Windows similar to the rest of the house will be added and the roof and side shingles will replicate the rest of the house. The entrance will be moved so people entering will not be able to look into their child’s room. The construction will take place in the same footprint as the original porch.
Fitzwilliam said that judging from the overall history of the house, this project is a continuing adaptation to make it more livable, a weatherization. As long as the windows, siding and doors are in keeping with the existing house, the project seems OK with him.
Guild moved, McHugh seconded and the Commissioners approved the application as presented.
Guild moved, Beckwith seconded and the Commissioners voted to adjourn the meeting at 4:55 PM.
| 
