Present:W. Bailey; C. Doyle; T. Furlong; C. Pynn; C. Webber; also present: D.Sullivan, Town Administrator; A. Turner, Planning Director
Excused: M. Stolz
Absent: C. Todisco

Heritage Commission:

1. Comments to Planning Board re: Tai-Deh Hsu site plan (warehouse) 11-A-200. No historic structures were noted. The stone wall on the rear of the property appears to be a boundary and cannot be altered without consent of the abutters.
2. Comments to Planning Board re: H and B Subdivision 1-C-/1300 10 lot open space. The stone wall that bounds conservation land and should not be altered. There is also a stone wall running through lots 1-C-1305, 1307 and 1310. If these walls must be removed the Commission requests that the stones be left on the properties so that the new owners may rebuild the walls or use them as they see fit.
3. The Commission joined the Conservation Commission and the developer Mr. Carl Dubay of T.F. Moran for a site walk of lot 11-C-1101. This area behind the Presbyterian Church is being developed for senior housing. This parcel has great significance as a historic mill site, dam and bridge. The developer plans to preserve the mill foundation, the original section of Rt. 111, and the ancient bridgework as focal points. Trails will also be built around the property. Any stone walls that must be removed will either be rebuilt or the stones used in landscaping on the property. The Commission will suggest to the Planning Board that the entrance drive width be reduced to twenty feet to help preserve the historical ambiance of the area. The Commission would like work with the safety committee and Mr.Devlin to develop a guardrail design for Church Road that would be more in keeping with the character of the area. The rail at present is a generic steel guard rail. The Commission suggested to Mr. Dubay that the entrance drive be named Tannery Drive as an historic reference to one of the businesses that was once carried on here. The Commission appreciates the sensitivity that T.F.Moran has shown in designing this area around its historic character.

OLD BUSINESS: On Monday Apil 6, the Board of Selectman heard a request to rename Landry's Hill as Lincoln Hill. The Commission as well as private individuals made recommendations against this name change. The BOS agreed that this would not be in the best interest of the town. The request was subsequently withdrawn.

Historic District Commission:

1. David Sullivan presented a plan drawn by Nancy Surette for plantings around the Town Hall, Bartley House and Senior Center. The Commission is in favor of the idea and the design but would prefer to see native, period plants. Some suggestions were forsythia, mountain and perennials of the daisy family.
2. Al Turner was present to present plans to rebuild front steps of the Bartley House There is a problem with the short top landing, high steps, and rot in the porch roof columns. Suggestions were made to rebuild with brick but to cap the landing with granite, to set the columns on top of the step, and for safety reasons, to mark the granite with a black strip to define the edge. This will also be done at Town Hall. A metal railing will be installed and will be painted green as will the railings at Town Hall. Mr. Turner will put out to bid both with and w/o the granite cap.
3. Discussion on General Proposal for presentation to the BOS for long term use of the Bartley House. RFP will include ideas for adaptive reuse with special emphasis placed on restoration and preservation of the existing structure. The Commision thanks Jim Garvin of the NHDHR for his help with the feasibility of this project. The Commission will order the book published by the National Park Service entitled "The Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation" along with two booklets published by the National Trust on this subject.
4. Discussion on the removal of the "dunking well" after the Strawberry Festival. FLOW will be required to move this structure out of sight after the festival.

The next meeting of the Commission will be held on May 13, 1999 at 4pm, Town Hall.

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol Pynn
Chairman, Historic District/Heritage Commission