2018 Historical Commission members: Ellen McEwan, Kathleen Deviny, Debbie U. Oppermann, Amanda Goodheart Parks, Cynthia Gaylord, president, Carlene Bannish and Cindy Bronson.
WESTFIELD – City Clerk Karen Fanion met with the Historical Commission on Monday, to answer questions about how the commission might be notified before a building older than 100 years is demolished.
President Cynthia Gaylord said they were concerned because a house on Franklin Street had been razed without their knowledge. She said that one may not have been savable, but there are many other such buildings in the city.
Fanion said in order to redefine the process to include notification to the commission they would need to have a City Councilor make a motion that would then be referred to the Legislative & Ordinance sub-committee and to the Law Department. Fanion suggested contacting their liaison on the City Council, who is currently David Flaherty.
In other business, Carol Martin and Ray Casella of Casella Design Associates came before the commission to present their designs for the handicap accessible ramp for the side of the Westfield Museum building. Casella said they are working with the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB) to meet specifications, and are also taking great pains to match the historic look of the building, which has a preservation restriction attached to it.
“We hope to move quickly on this, and begin construction this construction season. We will be looking to you for approvals,” Martin said. She said they have several layers of approval to go through, and requested a letter from the commission on the presentation.
Dick Patterson was also reconfirmed as the official Wyben school house representative. Patterson, who Gaylord said has put many hours into the restoration of the lone remaining one-room schoolhouse in the city, had to leave the meeting due to a schedule conflict. At-large Councilor Dan Allie remained to discuss several school house issues with the commission.
Allie said he helped Patterson get permission from the city to erect a temporary sign during upcoming work on the school house that will list the Historical Commission and the Community Preservation Committee’s support of the project, with additional space for future donors.
Allie said the curb cut to the building was also approved, to allow trucks to drive onto the property.
Allie, who presented three period desks and a slate board as gifts from himself and Councilor Matt Emmershy at the last meeting, was given a letter of thanks from the commission for his donation. Gaylord said since their donation, two other desks have been donated from members of the community, and she just received a call about a third. She said over the course of the 60 to 70 year period the school was active, the styles of desks would have changed, so they welcomed the donations.
Commission member Kate Deviny offered to meet with Patterson to create a list of priorities and a timeline for the exterior and interior work that needs to be done on the school house. The commission will oversee the use of the Community Preservation Act money that was given to the project for historical renovation.
Gaylord reported on the work of the 350th anniversary committee. She said the Historical Commission’s first big signature event for the anniversary will be this year’s Ghost Tour, at which she hopes to have the founding families of the city “come to life.”
Gaylord also said she will be publicizing this year’s Preservation Award and is asking for nominations from the community. The award is meant to formally commend those who work to maintain the historic properties or landscape in the community.
2018 officers were then nominated and elected at the meeting. Gaylord was re-elected as president. Also elected were Deviny as secretary and Carly Bannish as treasurer.
