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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-30-CPC-min Community Preservation Committee Monday, November 30, 2009 Room G-15, Town Offices 3:30 pm Present: Betsey Weiss, Chair; Joel Adler, Norman Cohen, Marilyn Fenollosa, Jeanne Krieger, Wendy Manz, Leo McSweeney, Nathalie Rice, Admin. Asst; Sandy Shaw, and Dick Wolk. Mr. David Kanter of the Capital Expenditures Committee was also in attendance. Ms. Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:36 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to listen to a presentation on four projects before the CPC, and to receive updates on three additional projects. 1.Munroe Tavern Restoration and Rehabilitation – Ms. Susan Bennett, Director of the Lexington Historical Society, introduced this request for $400,000 for restoration and rehabilitation work on the Munroe Tavern at 1332 Massachusetts Avenue. The five aspects of work and their respective percentage of the $400,000 requested, included; repair and restoration of historic fabric, including restoration of the historic Colonial fireplace (33%); renovation of underutilized space to create a museum room and public bathrooms (11%); handicapped accessibility to both the first and second floors and site work to replace deteriorated stairs, landings and railings (9%); systems replacement including installation of heat in the museum, climate control to protect artifacts, complete re-wiring of the house and replacement of the 90-year-old sprinkler system (29%); and curatorial storage improvements (18%). Ms. Bennett explained that the Historic District Commission (HDC) had approved an addition to the historic house, but that CPC funds would not be used on this aspect of the project. In response to a question from Mr. Kanter, she explained that the Historic Structures Report, funded with CPA funds in FY 2009, is complete, and defined the needs for the work proposed for FY 2011. She noted that that the request to the CPC for $400,000, half of the project total, was based upon the Society’s funding capability. The additional $400,000 to fund the restoration will come from private donors with ties to England, and from the Society itself. 2.Cary Hall Signage – Candy McLauglin, Organizational Development Director, presented this request on behalf of the Town Manager’s Office for $18,000 for interior and exterior signage. She explained that interior signs in Cary Hall would be similar to those in the Town Offices, and that exterior signs would be affixed to the front doors or facades of Cary Memorial Hall, 1 Town Offices and the Police Station. In response to a question from Mr. Kanter, Ms. McLaughlin explained that the HDC had been very supportive of the project. Ms. McLaughlin also explained that she was looking into the price of a free-standing sign for the semicircle in front of Cary Hall. This sign would be informational and would be consistent with historic signs in Town. She said she would like to submit an amendment to her proposal to include this sign. 3.Amendments to the Library Archives Project, Cary Hall Venue Improvements Study and the White House Historic Structures Report – Mr. Pat Goddard, Director of Facilities, addressed each of these projects. He had been asked by the Committee to investigate the costs of various aspects of the projects and return to the Committee with amended figures. a.)Cary Library Preservation Project – Mr. Goddard had been asked to determine the cost of installing the climate controlled vault in the Library. The Library Trustees had initially requested $10,000 for a study, and the CPC felt there might be greater economy to doing both the design work and the actual construction in FY 2011. Mr. Goddard reported that the cost of the vault construction would be $90,000, making the entire project $100,000. He said he based his cost estimates on the vault that was recently completed in Cary Hall. The Committee agreed to accept this amendment and asked Mr. Goddard to submit an updated application form for this project. b.)Cary Hall Venue Improvements Study – Mr. Goddard had been asked to investigate the cost of having a consultant knowledgeable in theatrical venues work on this project. He reported that he had consulted with Mendors, Torrey and Spencer, who confirmed the suggestion that he use a theatre consultant for the Cary Hall Study. They also suggested he have the mechanical system evaluated by a professional. These aspects of the project, he noted would increase the study by $30,000, for a total project cost of $60,000. Mr. Goddard agreed to submit an amended application for the project. In response to questions from Mr. Kanter, Mr. Goddard explained that there were no anticipated changes in use to Cary Hall, but upgrades to the hall and its performance space. He said access would be improved to various rooms, bathrooms would be upgraded and made ADA accessible, and unused areas, such as the Bird Room would be re- evaluated. Mr. Kanter brought up the need for a lift to the Bird Room, a project for which there had been an appropriation made at the 2006 Town Meeting. There was considerable conversation about the lift and the Committee agreed that the lift could be added to the present proposal. Mr. Goddard reported that the bid for the lift had been $75,000 under the original appropriation. He said he preferred to request funding for the lift 2 under a separate application to the CPC, and would do so in the coming week. (The application for the lift was subsequently not submitted at the advice of Mr. Valente, Town Manager.) c.)White House Historic Structures Report – Mr. Goddard reported that he had met with Mendors, Torrey and Spencer regarding the White House Historic Structures Report (HSR), and said the consulting firm gave him a more realistic idea of the cost of a limited HSR. As a result of his discussion, he will amend the application for this project to $18,000 from its original $25,000. He said the HSR will give the Town specifics on the cost of stabilizing the building. Mr. Goddard said he would meet with the Historic Commission and the Historic District Commission to get their input for specific objectives for the Report. 4.Battle Green Master Plan – Ms. Dawn McKenna spoke to a proposal for $50,000 for a Master Plan of the Battle Green on behalf of the Battle Green Master Plan Committee. She explained that the Green presently has issues related to parking, lighting, use of the historic green, visitor access etc. She said the Master Plan Committee had identified problems with the Green, but needed a professional consultant to help determine appropriate solutions. She said the Study would not included design and engineering, and anticipated it would not cost the proposed $50,000. She will submit a more detail description of costs and an amended application. 5.Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey, Supplemental Funding – Ms. Fenollosa addressed this project, on behalf of the Historical Commission, which requested additional CPA funding to complete the final phase of its Comprehensive Cultural Resources study of Lexington, initially approved by Town Meeting in 2007. Ms. Fenollosa explained that the Commission initially understood that they had $10,000 in unexpended funds. They hoped to use these funds to apply for a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) for the completion of work on its Comprehensive Cultural Survey. In researching the matter further, however, it became apparent that there was only $4,875 remaining. Ms. Fenollosa said the Commission could do one of three things; (1) reduce their request to the MHC to $5K and receive a grant of only $8-$9K; (2) ask the Town for an additional $5K in CPA funds as a supplemental appropriation and thereby take advantage of at $15K grant, or (3) seek all $10K from the Town as a separate CPA article and apply for the $15K grant. She said the preference of the Commission would be to seek a $5K supplemental appropriation. She said she would be putting in substantial volunteer time to assist the project if it was approved for supplemental funding. The Committee discussed this 3 proposal and voted to approve $5,250 in supplemental funding to be added to the existing funds, for the study of historic neighborhoods as part of the Cultural Resources Inventory. (This amount was later amended to $5,300 to reflect advertising costs associated with putting the work out to bid.) 6.Approval of Minutes – Minutes were approved from the following meetings in 2009; 5/5, 5/5 Information Session, 5/6 Caucus, 9/14, 10/26, 11/2, 11/12 and 11/12 Financial Meeting, The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 4