Whately Historical Commission
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RobertJudge
Dec 18, 2007, 3:27:42 PM12/18/07
to South Hadley MA Historical Commission
12/18/07
Fellow HistComm Members:
Whately is applying for the same grant we received, and for which I
have applied for a second year's funding. It's interesting to see the
differences and similarities between the issue in S. Hadley and
Whately. - Bob
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Gazette December 17, 2007
WHATELY - Selectmen gave a contingency approval to the Historic
Commission to begin the process of a grant application that would
require secured matching funds from the town.
The goal of the grant, which is provided by the Massachusetts Historic
Commission and the federal parks system, is to have a professional
survey of the town's historic properties. The town would need to set
aside $10,000 in a special Town Meeting - $6,000 of which would be
returned to the town once the grant was awarded. If the grant is not
awarded, the money would simply return to the town's coffers.
The commission needed approval to pre-apply for the grant. If approved
by the state, the commission can go forward with a full application.
Awards would be decided upon in April. Lynn Sibley, town
administrator, said that there would need to be a special Town Meeting
in March if the group is able to go forward. "We'll also have a better
sense of where we are financially as a community by then," said
Selectman Alan Sanderson Jr.
The selectmen can also decide to ask the commission to postpone an
application until next year if they see that it wouldn't be prudent
financially in the next budget cycle.
Alan McArdle, of the town's historic commission, said that the last
historic property survey had been done in 1993.
"There are new properties that need to be added and there were some
areas that were not well represented," said McArdle. He said that the
commission is newly revived with five diverse members now, and that
they would like to do something substantial.
Selectmen questioned the relevancy to the town of having a historical
survey. "Once we get the inventory (of the historic properties), what
do we get for our money?" asked Selectman Jonathan Edwards. McArdle
explained that having an updated inventory of the town's historic
properties would help with decisions made by the Planning Board,
Conservation Commission, and the Open Space Committee.
"We would also learn things like if we can, or want, to create another
historic district," said McArdle.
He added that the commission wanted to pursue the grant now to
dovetail with a community development plan the town is working on.
Edwards encouraged selectmen to move forward with the contingency
approval, saying he "didn't want to curb the enthusiasm of the
Historic Commission."
Paul Newlin, chairman of the selectmen, said that he also felt the
survey would support the long-term planning and goals of the
community.
The survey would be performed by a professional who the commission
would also like to provide some training to commission members.
Fellow HistComm Members:
Whately is applying for the same grant we received, and for which I
have applied for a second year's funding. It's interesting to see the
differences and similarities between the issue in S. Hadley and
Whately. - Bob
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gazette December 17, 2007
WHATELY - Selectmen gave a contingency approval to the Historic
Commission to begin the process of a grant application that would
require secured matching funds from the town.
The goal of the grant, which is provided by the Massachusetts Historic
Commission and the federal parks system, is to have a professional
survey of the town's historic properties. The town would need to set
aside $10,000 in a special Town Meeting - $6,000 of which would be
returned to the town once the grant was awarded. If the grant is not
awarded, the money would simply return to the town's coffers.
The commission needed approval to pre-apply for the grant. If approved
by the state, the commission can go forward with a full application.
Awards would be decided upon in April. Lynn Sibley, town
administrator, said that there would need to be a special Town Meeting
in March if the group is able to go forward. "We'll also have a better
sense of where we are financially as a community by then," said
Selectman Alan Sanderson Jr.
The selectmen can also decide to ask the commission to postpone an
application until next year if they see that it wouldn't be prudent
financially in the next budget cycle.
Alan McArdle, of the town's historic commission, said that the last
historic property survey had been done in 1993.
"There are new properties that need to be added and there were some
areas that were not well represented," said McArdle. He said that the
commission is newly revived with five diverse members now, and that
they would like to do something substantial.
Selectmen questioned the relevancy to the town of having a historical
survey. "Once we get the inventory (of the historic properties), what
do we get for our money?" asked Selectman Jonathan Edwards. McArdle
explained that having an updated inventory of the town's historic
properties would help with decisions made by the Planning Board,
Conservation Commission, and the Open Space Committee.
"We would also learn things like if we can, or want, to create another
historic district," said McArdle.
He added that the commission wanted to pursue the grant now to
dovetail with a community development plan the town is working on.
Edwards encouraged selectmen to move forward with the contingency
approval, saying he "didn't want to curb the enthusiasm of the
Historic Commission."
Paul Newlin, chairman of the selectmen, said that he also felt the
survey would support the long-term planning and goals of the
community.
The survey would be performed by a professional who the commission
would also like to provide some training to commission members.
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