[MassHistPres] Annual Reporting to Mass Historic

[Dennis De Witt]

I'm not sure how how closely the reality fits the theory, but in  
theory at least, a lot of the sort of reporting you are suggesting is  
required of the state's 20 or so CLGs.

On the other hand, be careful what you wish for.  Unless the reports  
are really put to some good use, they could just absorb a lot of time  
and not accomplish all that much.

The annual meetings is another matter.  MHC's former annual  
conferences always seemed to me like a very positive and reenforcing  
experience -- especially when they happened in places like Salem or  
Newburyport or New Bedford -- to name three memorable venues.  The  
last was at UMass Boston and was very efficient but less funky.  But  
I have the impression it was deemed by some not to have been as  
successful -- (maybe re attendance?  I'm not sure exactly why).   
Also, for better or worse, Preservation Mass is now doing some of  
that good work with their separate seminars -- and I trust doing it  
very well.

Dennis De Witt
Brookline


On Mar 12, 2008, at 5:27 PM, Gregory Zakarian wrote:

> I have to agree with Jonathan on this one.  We have a lot of  
> projects going
> on here in West Boylston, but it doesn't seem like we have the correct
> amount of interaction with MHC.  We call on Chris and his team when  
> we need
> them, but other than that, not much is done.  I'm a big believer in  
> a local
> commission having a state commission to answer to and so on up the  
> line.  It
> would be difficult to set up a list of standards on which each town is
> judged on, but it would be nice to have a little more contact and  
> more input
> on projects.
>
> Greg Zakarian
> Historical Commissioner
> West Boylston, Ma
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Feist
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:37 AM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Annual Reporting to Mass Historic
>
> Here's a  brainstorm for a new annual procedure for all HCs. Maybe  
> everyone
> will hate the idea, but I would find it useful, personally.
>
> What would you think about someone from the Mass Historic (i.e., Chris
> Skelly) sending a checklist (or online survey) once per year to all  
> HDCs,
> requesting information such as the following:
>
> 1. Updated list of members.
> 2. Annual report of the year's activities, including a list of  
> proposals and
> modifications, any demo delay activity, etc.
> 3. Updates of any significant documents, such as changes to bylaws,  
> rules &
> procedures, design guidelines, maps...
> 4. Summary of any CPC projects done over the past year
> 5. Confirmation that all scenic roads and LHD homes have been  
> looked at and
> certified as being compliant with the law.
> 6. A free-form area to list other items of potential interest, such  
> as new
> housing in sensitive areas, issues relating to publicly-owned historic
> buildings, and so on.
> 7. Maybe a survey to run by HC members, getting a general sense on  
> things
> like demo delay, HDC signage, sense of community support, or whatever.
>
> And whatever else is top priority, though it can't become so  
> obnoxiously
> complex and time-consuming that we'd never do it.
>
> Basically, I'd see this as a way to improve communication with the  
> state,
> to help keep us all on track regarding top priorities, and also to  
> remind
> all HC members that there are resources available to us regarding  
> our work.
>
> I think some kind of accountability might help spur some higher  
> quality
> activity, if the dynamic of many HCs is like that of mine. A little  
> external
> prodding could help us accomplish more.
>
> And an annual guest visitor from the state (i.e., Chris Skelly...)  
> would
> make us feel so important and relevant.
>
> Also, what about a state-sponsored annual meeting/retreat/training  
> session
> of HC chairs? Maybe, something regionally based would be best.  
> Something
> very focused, productive, and informative, with free lunch and a T- 
> shirt.
>
> --Jonathan
>
>
> ===============================================
>
> Jonathan Feist, Chair
> Harvard Historical Commission
> 978-772-4864 (home)
> 617-747-2148 (Berklee office)
>
> Preserve Historical Harvard, MA:
> http://harvard.ma.us/histcomm.htm
>
>
>
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