1990-12-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • MINUTES OF MEETING of the Lexington Historic Districts Commission Wednesday 12 December 1990 A meeting of the Lexington Historic Districts Commission was held on Wednesday, December 12, 1990 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Office Building, Lexington, Massachusetts. Present at the meeting were Commissioners Linda J. McAulay; Richard S. Morehouse; Stephen M. Politi; Associate Commissioners Mary Harding Nye; and Walter S. Pierce; and Charles D. Grant, Clerk. In the absence of Chairman John L. Davies, Commissioner McAulay was elected Chairman of the Meeting pro tem. In the first hearing beginning at 8:10 PM the Conunission heard the application of the Lexington Center Committee and the Design Advisory Committee with respect to the installation of teakwood benches at Lexington Center, which is within the Battle Green District. David Wells and John Frey, representing the two committees respectively, presented photocopies of the "London" bench made by Barlow Yyrie in Braintree, Essex, England and sold in this country by Clapper's in West Newton, and a plan of proposed bench locations, with priorities. The need for the benches, which are part of the design guidelines for Lexington Center, is expressed in the summer when people are already sitting on the curb. Their relationship to the planters and the trash barrels was examined. In a discussion of the relationship between the Design Advisory Committee and the Historic Districts Commission, Commissioner Pierce, who sits on both, said the Commission gives teeth to the work of the Committee. It was VOTED unanimously that the design, material, location and number of benches as shown be approved. In the second hearing beginning at 8 :40 PM took up the application of the Lexington Historical Society with respect the the installation of a hand rail on the exterior of the building at 1332 Massachusetts Avenue, which is within the Munroe Tavern District. Peter Kelley, representing the Society, showed photographs of a rail of 1- 5/16" iron pipe already in place, thanks to the generosity of Elsa Sullivan. The point of the hearing was, therefore, to judge the design and decide whether its installation would be confirmed as permanent. Commissioner Pierce commented that the pipe rail is so unobtrusive that it hardly appears against the house, however, the pipe should not attach to the pilaster of the house, but rather turn down independent of it. The Commission VOTED unanimously (Commissioner Politi abstaining due to a possible conflict of interest) against the present rail attached to the house, then VOTED in a tie (Commissioner Morehouse and Assistant Commissioner Pierce voting Nay, Commissioner McAulay and Associate Commissioner Nye voting Aye; and Commissioner Politi again abstaining) on the motion to allow the rail with a vertical near the house, and therefore the recently installed rail is disallowed. After the vote, Commissioner Politi, who is also President of the Historical Society, said that the pipe rail had never come before the Society for approval in the first place. At 9:10 PM, while Owen Duff representing Mr and Mrs Ramish Ratan went