[MassHistPres] S. 2053 action

[Sara Wermiel]

As members of this list know, a bill was introduced in the legislature, S.
2053 (An Act relative to certain projects referred to the Massachusetts
Historical Commission for consultation, copy attached), which is still
active in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory
Oversight. This bill restricts the Massachusetts Historical Commission's
regulatory oversight on historic properties throughout the Commonwealth.  As
the law (MGL Chapter 9, Section 27C) now reads, MHC has the ability to
comment, and cause the applicable state agency or private developer to
eliminate, minimize or mitigate, adverse effects on any project, if the
project is listed in the State Register of Historic Places or any town
Inventory of historic assets. (This Inventory is available online through
MACRIS.) The bill would limit MHC's review only to properties on the State
Register, which means that many other significant properties would not be
reviewed. Moreover it would be retroactive.  

Yesterday a hearing was held on a new bill, H. 3953, which exempts the
property in Freetown that launched this situation from MHC review. As I
understand, only legislators in favor of the bill spoke. While it deals only
with one site, it sets a bad precedent, allowing a developer to avoid state
oversight.

The Joint Committee and your own representatives need to hear from you about
this matter. This is not just a south coast issue - S. 2053, if passed,
would negatively impact the historic resources of the whole state. 

To facilitate making your feelings known, a draft petition is attached. The
idea is to collect signatures from your friends and send them to the
committee, with copies to your Senator and Representative. You can modify
the petition as you wish. The main goal is to let the committee know that
all historic properties in the state must be included in reviews for
possible adverse effects of state action.

Because of the short notice of the hearing yesterday, it seems something
could happen on S.2053 any time. Don't delay contacting the committee or
your representatives.

 

--Sara Wermiel

Historian of technology/historic preservation consulting

Jamaica Plain

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