PRELIMINARY until voted on at Wednesday, October 14, 2009, meeting

 

Minutes of the Stratham Heritage Commission
September 9, 2009

OPENING:                                                                                                                                                        Members present: Becky Mitchell, chair; Nancy Hansen, treasurer; Beverly Connolly, secretary; M J Werner, Planning Board Rep; Dave Canada, Selectman.                                                                                                        

Meeting: Held in the Municipal Center. Opened at 5:40 and adjourned at 7:40 pm.

 

Minutes:  July 14 meeting minutes, written by Bev Connolly, were accepted.

 

Treasury Report:  July 30, 2009, balances reported by Nancy Hansen. The town budget balance is $3404.15. In July there was an expense of $48.66, a reimbursement to Becky for purchasing historical design reference books, now stored in our HC file cabinet.  The Heritage Fund balance is $3,381.52. During July there was an expense of $108.30 for the purchase of ornamental grasses from Willow Mist Gardens for the Veterans’ Garden.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Town Planner: Becky announced that Lincoln Daley has been hired as the town planner. She has met with him and discussed the Heritage Commission.

 

Planning Board: MJ Werner met with the new planner. She reported on the Town Center Revitalization Committee and the Transportation grant. The committee would like the Town Center—with new curbs, bike lanes, bus stop, street lighting, et al, to carry out an historic appearance. She asked for input from the commission regarding design elements.

 

Survey of Historic Resources: Lucien McCarty, reporter for the Exeter Newsletter, wrote an article regarding the upcoming survey. Information on the survey is in the Library newsletter. Two letters have been sent to the property owners in the Portsmouth Ave. Corridor, the first area to be surveyed. People need to be recruited for this project.

 

Commission members’ assignments for Sept. 26th training session at the Fire Station:

  • Nancy will obtain pocket folders and lined paper and make signs for the Fire Station,
  • Becky will assemble manuals,
  • M.J. will be a greeter and also will purchase a gift for Mary Kate Ryan (DHR), who is donating her expertise and services for the day,
  • Bev will make forms for registering volunteers and design badges for use during surveying.

 

Commission information on wigginml.org: Becky and members went over the current information on the website and made several corrections. Bev will meet with Lesley regarding the updated version.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Next Meeting: Members voted to hold meetings on the 2nd Weds. of the month at 5:30 pm.

 

Virtual Town Hall: Discussion ensued on what to include in the HC portion. Several suggestions were the meeting agendas and minutes, photos, links to DHR (Department of Historical Resources) and the NH Historical Society and information on the Veterans’ Garden. Nancy will send a PDF for the latter.

 

Barn easement: Flossie Wiggin’s barn easement has been accepted.

 

OCTOBER MEETING: Municipal Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 5:30pm