[MassHistPres] Policy re Memorials & Plaques?

[Alexander Macmillan]

Here is the bylaw we adopted in Hingham last year to deal with such matters, after a couple of controversies arose:



This bylaw is enacted to establish the process by which, in naming, renaming or otherwise designating public buildings and public lands, the Town seeks to recognize individuals, locations and/or events of significance in local history and local affairs.

SECTION 2. Definitions:

1.     “Designate” - the act of calling by a distinctive title, term, or expression any public buildings or public lands as defined in this bylaw.

2.     “Name” – a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of any public building or public lands as defined in this bylaw.

3.     “Rename” – the act of redesignating any public buildings or public lands as defined in this bylaw.

4.     “Public Building” – any structure, edifice or other facility owned or maintained by the Town of Hingham, or any department or agency thereof.

5.     “Public Lands” – any real property owned or maintained by the Town of Hingham, or any department or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, playgrounds, parks, courts, athletic fields, intersections and medians, and private ways on public lands, but not including public ways regulated by Article 10 of the General Bylaws.

6.     “Features” – benches, bricks, flagpoles, plaques, parking spaces, trees, scoreboards, and signs or other markers located on public lands or within public buildings.

SECTION 3. Procedure:

1.     The naming, renaming or other designation of any public building or public lands shall be by majority vote at the Annual Town Meeting. Once a public building or public lands have been named, they shall not be renamed unless there are exceptional circumstances.

2.     Any proposed name or designation of any public building or public lands shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen for its review and recommendation as to the appropriateness thereof. Following a duly-advertised public hearing, and with the advice of the Hingham Historical Commission, the Board shall forward its recommendation to the Annual Town Meeting.

3.     No public building or public lands shall be named for any living person.

4.     The naming or designation of individual rooms, areas or subareas  within a public building, or areas or subareas associated with any public lands, shall be by the department or agency having jurisdiction over the same, and paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this section shall not apply, provided that: (a)  such rooms, areas, or subareas  constitute less than 25% of the public building or public lands at which the same may be located; (b)  the same shall not be named for any living person; (c) no such room, area or subarea shall bear the name of a commercial enterprise; and (d) a duly-advertised public hearing is held at which such naming, renaming or designation is considered and acted upon by said department or agency. Any person objecting to such naming, renaming or designation by the department or agency may, within 10 days thereafter, appeal the action in writing to the Board of Selectmen, which shall, after a duly advertised public hearing, approve or reject the action.

5.     The installation and naming or designation of features shall be by the department or agency having jurisdiction over the same. The Board of Selectmen may, after a duly-advertised public hearing, establish standards and specifications for signs, plaques or markers to be erected on public property within the Town.



Alexander Macmillan, Hingham
alexandermacmillan at gmail.com




On Feb 1, 2012, at 9:46 PM, Suzanne W. Pelton wrote:

> Lenox is dealing with fallout after a park committee permitted a non-resident to build a large granite memorial and plaque to honor his son who felt very at home in the park. The Historical, Planning, and Zoning Commissions were not consulted. 
> 
> To prevent another such "mistake", the Select Board has called for the writing of a bylaw.
> 
> Does such a subject fall under the purvue of the Historical Commission in your town?
> Do any communities out there have a policy for any of the following, which you like and works well?
>  	  - erecting memorials or plaques on public land
>           - naming opportunities of parks, benches, trees, etc.
> 
> While we're on the subject of naming, does any town have a policy re naming streets?
> 
> Thanks very much-
> 
> Suzanne W Pelton
> Lenox Historical Commission volunteer
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