[MassHistPres] Historical Markers For Houses

[Lee Caras]

At the Maynard Historical Commission, we have two programs, one for historical markers, and one for historical house plaques.  The markers are paid for by the commission and are for buildings that are listed with the Town as being protected by our demolition-delay bylaw.  The house plaques are paid for by individual property owners.  They do the property research (sometimes with commission help) and present that information to the commission.  Our markers and plaques are modest in price at $90, but attractive.  Lee Caras, Clerk, Maynard Historical Commission

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> On Mar 11, 2020, at 10:33 AM, Liebowitz, Jonathan J <Jonathan_Liebowitz at uml.edu> wrote:
> 
> In Littleton, we're asking homeowners to pay for their plaques though in the past the Commission has done so.  We've never heard that it would be a conflict of interest; I guess that issue just never came up.  We decided after some discussion to have property owners to pay because we thought if lots of them applied it would be a drain on our very modest budget.  We get them for about $60.  Price, of course, depends on size, materials, design, etc.
> 
> Jonathan J. Liebowitz
> 
> Littleton Historical Commission
> 
> 
> 
> Jonathan J. Liebowitz
> History Department
> University of Massachusetts Lowell
> Lowell, MA  01854
> USA
> 978-934-2530
> From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of RafaelRobertDelfin <rafadello at gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 9:14:56 PM
> To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Historical Markers For Houses
>  
> This e-mail originated from outside the UMass Lowell network.
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I launched a Historical Marker Program in my town, Dighton last year and I and other members of the Dighton Historical Commission have just approved the application of a resident whose house is over 100 years old and has a lot of historical significance. 
> 
> Initially, the Commission had voted to pay for the manufacture of the historical marker by using funds that the Town of Dighton had granted to the Commission. The average cost of a historical marker is $125. However, when the Town Administrator learned about this, she suggested that paying for the marker would be a conflict of interest (ergo, "unethical" and possibly "illegal'), and that the recipient should pay for the marker himself/herself. I have always thought that the Commission is acting on its own jurisdiction and that we have the right to use the funds as we see fit as long as it assists in the preservation of local history.
> 
> I am addressing my questions to members of town historical commissions who grant historical markers to residents: "Do the recipients have to pay for the marker, or does your commission pay for it?" And would you agree/disagree with the Dighton Town Administrator's statement? I guess I am looking for a legitimate recourse to bring to the table when the Town Administrator attends our next meeting on April 10.
> 
> Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Sincerely,
> -- 
> Rafa Delfin, Vice-Chair
> Dighton Historical Commission
> 774-766-2928
> rafadello at gmail.com
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