PRELIMINARY until voted on at January 15, 2007 meeting

Minutes of the Stratham Heritage Commission
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
EOC room, Municipal Building

OPENING BUSINESS
Members present: Becky Mitchell, chair; member and secretary Nancy Hansen; alternate Bev Connolly, planning board rep. MJ Werner.

Meeting: The meeting was opened at 5:35 and was adjourned at 7:30pm.

Minutes: Minutes of the 11 November meeting, written by the secretary, Nancy Hansen, were approved as written.

Treasury: HC Town account as of 11/29: $5714; Heritage Fund as of 10/31, $2425.39. Immediate expenses are anticipated in both accounts.

Next meetings: Tuesday, 15 January, 5:30pm, Municipal Center, EOC room.

Note change of date to the THIRD Tuesday of the month.

OLD BUSINESS:
Historical Resources Survey: Database manager, Deb Long, reports to the chair that she is making the data field numbers correspond with the DHR Inventory form numbers and working on the input screen. Members present decided to purchase a copy of the Access program and its accompanying license; computer to which this license is to be identified was not determined at this meeting. Deb Long will make that purchase (covered in her most recent invoice).

Master Plan: The chair reported that she attended and presented the general principles and aims at the Workshop meeting to the Planning Board the section of the Master Plan just completed by the HC. The next step is a public hearing meeting on 16 or 30 January (to be announced). Members were encouraged to attend this meeting to support the HC section of the Master Plan.

Planning Board: The chair reported that she met with Colleen Lake, owners of “The Look” decorating center on Rte 33. Ms Lake wants to develop her lot, and the chair will be giving design help for the buildng/concept design.

NEW BUSINESS:
Budget for 2008: The chair circulated a proposed budget for the coming year. Each item was discussed and the newly proposed plan, lower than last year, was accepted by those present. The chair will present the budget proposal to the Town Administrator prior to the deadline date of 12/14/07 and email a copy to each HC member.
Slate of Officers: To be voted on at the January meeting: Becky Mitchell, chair; Nancy Hansen, treasurer; Sarah L. Kellner, secretary. All present were happy to have Becky continue on as chair and Sarah agree to become the secretary.
Annual Report: The chair brought up this topic and was reassured by the past chair that an email would come from the town administrator re the timing and format and that the minutes and past reports could act as guides in preparing this year’s annual report for the Town Report.
Space Needs: The chair will contact the town administrator about our space needs as they pertain to the substantial work to be undertaken for the historical survey.
SPNHF Tract of Land: The Heritage Commission received a letter from Jeffrey Scamman concerning the name of the tract of land behind the new Shaw’s shopping area. Developers had referred to the land as the Strathlorne Tract, and Mr. Scamman suggests in his letter that it be changed to the Richard F. Scamman Conservation Area. Members agreed in their support of this change, but felt it important to have a letter of request from Mr. Scamman delineating the specifics. The chair will contact Mr. Scamman.
Meeting in January: Because both the chair and current secretary will not be in Stratham on 8 January, the date was changed to the third Tuesday of the month. The chair will seek to find alternate meeting space in the town hall for this date: 15 January.

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