[MassHistPres] HDC use of staff time

[Jane Guy]

The City of Salem provides a staff person to all city boards. I staff
the Historical Commission.  Salem has approximately 600 properties
within its 4 historic districts.  Last year, the Commission met 22 times
and received 128 applications resulting in 127 certificates, 4 waivers
of the Demolition Delay Ordinance and 4 denials.  We estimate my time at
about 10% (3.5 hours per week) with meeting weeks taking more time and
non-meeting weeks taking less time.  

As the staff person, I answer all the questions that come in by phone
and email, receive applications, post meeting notices, issue abutter
notices, prepare the meeting agenda, provide PDFs of each application to
the Commissioners, determine if there is a quorum, and attend all
meetings.  I also prepare all Certificates and send them out after they
have been ok'd by the Chair and Vice Chair.  I also maintain the
historic building survey files and prepare the City's and the CLG's
annual reports.  I often draft letters on behalf of the Commission,
issue violation letters, deal with Section 106 review issues, etc.

In addition, I take the minutes of the meetings, but that is done as a
$75 per meeting stipend and the minutes are prepared on my own time, not
on city time.

The Commission's website is at:
http://salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Historic/index
 
 
Jane A. Guy
Assistant Community Development Director City of Salem Department of
Planning & Community Development 120 Washington St., 3rd Floor Salem, MA
01970
978-619-5685
(F) 978-740-0404
jguy at salem.com
www.salem.com