HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959-11-04•
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Minutes of Meeting
of the Histories District Commission
on November . 1959
All five Commissioners net at 7 :45 PM in the Selectments Off-
ice and were joined shortly by Mr. Douglass, the contractor, and
by Mr. Whitten, representing the architects, in connection with
the oral request, presented by Mr. Douglass to the Chairman on
October 29, 1959, of Depositors Trust Company for an amendment to
the Certificate of Appropriateness previously issued to it in con-
nection with the reconstruction of the branch office in Depot
Square, within the Battle Green District.
Mr. Douglass presented a revised (October 29, 1959) sketch
of the proposed porch which Depositors Trust Company desires to
build over the walk -up banking window and night depository appear-
ing on one of the sketches which formed the basis for the Commis -
sionerst granting of the existing Certificate of Appropriateness.
The dimensions and details appear on the sketch, and the color
proposed is the same as that of the rest of the exterior of the
building. It is desired to have a tar and gravel roof, which will
not be visible from any public street, and the underside of the
roof of the proposed portion will be plastered with two lights re-
cessed therein.
The Chairman stated that the two principal questions before
the Commission at this meeting were, first, whether the Commission
could amend the existing certificate without the notice and hear-
ing required by the statute and, second, whether, if the first
question were to be answered in the affirmative, the proposed
change might be appropriate within the meaning of the act.
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Members of the Commission then asked Mr. Douglass what, if
• anything, either the Depositors Trust Company or Mr. Cataldo, who
was not present, intended to do about the subject matter of the
Commission's letter to them of October 9, 1959. Mr. Douglass
stated that the replica of the Minute Man could be removed in
about four seconds and that there were still several exterior
painting details to be taken care of before the building should
be completed and that Mr. Cataldo might possibly instruct him (Mr.
Douglass) to paint the copper gutters and downspouts. When
specifically queried by the Chairman, Mr. Douglass stated that he
did not know Mr. Cataldots intention in regard to either of these
two aspects and would only remove the replica of the Minute Man
and paint the gutters and downspouts if so instructed by Mr. Cataldo.
In response to a question, Mr. Douglass stated that it would take
only about four days to construct and complete the proposed new
porch.
The Commission took the request in question under advisement,
and Messrs. Douglass and Whitten withdrew. The Commission there-
upon determined that the proposed change would involve a change
in exterior architectural features and, after careful considera.
tion of the matter further determined that it had no power under
the act to grant the proposed amendment to the existing certifi-
cate except upon a written application and after the notice and
hearing prescribed by the act. The Chairman was instructed to
so advise Depositors Trust Company and Mr. Cataldo by letter,
copy to the Building Inspector.
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After discussion of the subject matter of the aforementioned
. letter of October 9, 1959, it was decided that no further action
should be taken by way of enforcement of the terms of the exist.
ing certificate until it was clear either that the reconstruction
was completed or that the holder of the certificate definitely
did not intend to comply with the pertinent provisions thereof.
The Chairman then presented the two applications, both dated
October 31, 1959, of the Lexington Historical Society in regard
to a proposed tool shed at the Munroe Tavern and of Mrs. George
E. Smith in regard to proposed changes in the building at 9 -11
Meriam Street. It was determined that each application involved
an exterior architectural feature within the meaning of the act,
and it was agreed that hearings on both applications should be
held on Tuesday, December 1, 1959. The Chairman was instructed
to advise Mrs. Smith by letter of the requirements of the act and
of the Commission in regard to the data which must be submitted
by her at the hearing.
There was some discussion of the inquiry by New England Tele.
phone and Telegraph Company in regard to replacement of the exist.
ing telephone booth in front of L. M. Foster Inc., 1832 Massachu..
setts Avenue, in the Battle Green District. The Chairman advised
that he had sent a copy of the act to the Telephone Company's rep..
resentative, but, as no application had been received, the matter
was not further considered.
The Chairman reported that he had contacted Mr. Stevens, ex-
ecutor of the will of Mrs. Thomas, in regard to the amounts appar..
ently owing to her for her services and disbursements prior to
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her decease. Mr. Stevens had submitted a statement which the
• Chairman reported he had approved and forwarded for payment.
There then followed some discussion as to the necessity of
replacing Mrs. Thomas as Clerk. The Chairman reported that he
had contacted various persons suggested by members of the Commis.
sion and had followed other leads without success. The Chairman
was thereupon authorized to place a classified advertisement in
the Lexington Minute Man.
There was no further business before the meeting, which ad—
journed at approximately 9:30 PM.
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Philip B. Parsons,
Secretary
Nov . t� IgS9