[MassHistPres] combining commissions

[Dennis De Witt]

In Brookline the traditional (non-design review) functions of an historical commission basically were lost due to the ever increasing LHD design review load after the town adopted having a combined commission in the ‘80s and the number of LHDs grew from two to eight — plus demolition delay.  

The commissions were combined in conjunction with becaming a CLG.  Apparently there was an impression then that a combined commission was a requirement for having a CLG.  If it ever was true, that is no longer the case.

In a place with a very active local historical society/museum/archive, perhaps it might matter less than it does here.  It is a loss.  For instance, if there was an historical commission it might focus more on NR nominations, which have largely ceased to happen, although there is continuing inventorying, using consultants.  And, there has been zero time for outreach and education for perhaps 20 years.

Dennis De Witt

> On Oct 8, 2021, at 10:24 AM, sally milne <urbanosally at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Our Town consolidated years ago when they could not get enough volunteers for both committees. It solved the problem in the short run. However as the town grew , in my opinion this became a problem. Primarily our HDHC  now conducts hearings for COA and other plans with the historic district. They do a heroic job and are always very busy. In my opinion other aspects of historic preservation within the town have lagged because it’s simply too much  for a combined commission to do. As a result my town government  has no overall  Historic preservation plan and  is  mostly unaware as to what Historic preservation ( rehab and reuse) holds as advantages for the town at large.  Our combined commission does try to do other work  when they can  and have contracted for historic inventories and is working on a new demolition delay bylaw.  If you can have both committees then think about that as once a combined committee is installed it seems to be entrenched. This is my opinion alone as I do not serve on the commissions.
> Sally Urbano
> Captains’ Row 
> Harwich
>  
>> On Oct 7, 2021, at 10:57 AM, Olivia Davis Mausel <liv1946 at gmail.com <mailto:liv1946 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Do you have two historical commissions: a historical commission (MGL Chap. 40 sec.8D)and a local historic district commission ( MGL Chap 40C) in your community? 
>> 
>> Have you considered consolidating your commissions? Have you already consolidated into one? I'm asking for our city. It is under consideration and I would like to hear from you if your community has consolidated those commissions. What advantages have you seen-- or disadvantages have you encountered--if any. Thank you in advance for your comments. 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Olivia Mausel
>> Holyoke Preservation Trust
>> 92 Race St.
>> Holyoke, MA 01040
>> info at holyokepreservationtrust.org <mailto:info at holyokepreservationtrust.org>
>> www.holyokepreservationtrust.org <http://www.holyokepreservationtrust.org/> 
>> 413-237-1950
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
>> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
> 
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20211008/fa5989b6/attachment.html>