HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 15, 2021 Minutes of Nantucket Historical Commission Meeting — January 15th, 2021
Establishment of Quorum
Commissioners Present: Hillary Rayport (Chair), Angus Macleod (Vice Chair), David Silver
(Secretary) Mickey Rowland, Georgia Raysman, Clement Durkes, Don Demichele, and Tom
Montgomery.
Guests: Marty Hilton, Dawn Holdgate, Rita Can, and Esta Lee Stone ,%.,
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The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. r 0
3.) Public Comment: N/A °° Z
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Motion to accept the 1.5.2021 minutes of the NHC:Angus — 0
Second: Tom m
All in favor via roll call ^s
4. Announcements
- `Sidewalk and Historic Pavement Report' has been sent to select board. We are requesting our
recommendations be accepted and a policy be adopted. It has also been sent to the HDC — we
would like the HDC to formally vote to accept the recommendations in the report.
-announcement: Resilient Nantucket '`Toolkit" discussion with the HDC 1/15 at 1pm via zoom
-We will be moving forward with the CLG Application with Select Board's blessing. National
Parks Service to review next. Great news and an exciting update.
5.) Setting 2021 Goals
We want to set some achievable and measurable goals for the upcoming year. The Commission
wants to define some key results and put together a goal `scorecard' to track our progress and
stay up-to-date. The Commissioners brainstormed some ideas before the meeting and a
productive discussion ensued.
List of Goals (in no particular order)
Survey Plan (Grant Application)
Master Survey Plan for entire NHL
Become a CLG
Continue with training and development
Increase and broaden awareness of Preservation
Real Estate Professionals (listening tour)
Inspire People to live in/preserve historic homes
Engage Other Groups (Black homeowner, younger generation)
Build public awareness of what we've lost
Working with and helping the HDC
Discussion: Our goals need be realistic/feasible since we are still in the midst of a pandemic.
Among the Commissioners, the most important goals seem to be survey planning, becoming a
CLG Land working with the HDC), and increasing awareness of preservation.
Fine-tuned list of 2021 goals:
1.) The NHC will Further the Expansion and Updates of Surveys of the NHL
2.) The NHC will Improve Town's Policies and Procedures Regarding Historic
Preservation of Public Realm.
3.) "NHC and HDC Help and Support Each Other" or"Connect Cultural History to
Current Values and Aspirations"
Path Forward: Chair and Staff to fine-tune these goals and discuss further so that we can vote on
them during our next meeting in two weeks.
Motion to finish discussion/vote on goals at next meeting (1.29.2021): all in favor via roll call
6.) Other ATM articles—comments
Annual Town Meeting has a new timeline and will take place on June 5th, 2021. We have asked
the select board to suggest a change to the limitations on road construction in order to further
protect pavement. The Commission will continue to advocate for preservation of historic
pavement.
Discussion: How might the commission take a stance, or not on proposed articles? We are a new
commission and do not have a "history" of commenting publicly, and or taking"committee-
wide" positions on ATM articles.
Path Forward: Continue to discuss our role and to be selective on what we comment/expend
energy on. We wrote a letter in 2020 in support of the Planning Commission's article to limit
swimming pools, we might continue that practice.
7.) MHC Survey grant application
Update: Betsey Tyler and Brian Pfeiffer are helping the NHC with the pre-application. We felt
that in addition to produce a survey plan, we should also be able to produce some actual surveys.
The MHC, working with Holly, Betsey and Brian, will identify the geography of different areas
and resources ahead of time.
Path forward: Continue to devise the survey plan, but also begin a pilot survey of the fish lots
with a consultant. Deadline on February 8th and a draft will be circulated to the Commissioners
ahead of our next meeting on 1.29.2021.
8.) Potential Exhibit: History of Preservation on Nantucket
In Summary: This exhibit seeks to educate the entire Nantucket community—residents, home
owners, contractors, craftsmen, architects, municipal officials about the history of the
Preservation movement— its history, importance, and values.
This is a tremendous opportunity for different preservation groups on Nantucket to work together
and collaborate on an educational exhibit. Esta Lee Stone has put together a plan for the exhibit
and presented the plan to the Commission. A special thanks to Esta-Lee for putting this together.
Discussion: The Commission wants to work on this and continue discussing ways to make a
prospective `preservation exhibit' most accessible and digestible to the general public. There is
some concern over getting public traction with a museum exhibit, but there are creative ways to
make history/preservation fun and interesting and engaging. We need to focus on the exhibits'
presentation and marketing the event to make this worth all of the time/commitment this will
take from several different individuals and groups. Rita Can(NPT) and Marty Hylton (PIN)
offered to assist.
Path Forward: NHC Commissioners who are interested in volunteering some time will continue
to make headway on this. The Commission is very excited about partnering with Esta Lee and
supporting the project.
9.) Other Business
We plan to go back to meeting monthly rather than every two weeks.
Motion to adjourn the meeting: Tom
Second:Angus
All in favor via roll call