ASHLAND HISTORIC COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes

April 4, 2012

Community Development/Engineering Services Building – 51 Winburn Way – Siskiyou Room
 
CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR MEETING, 6:00 pm
 
Historic Commissioners Present:  Dale Shostrom, Keith Swink, Tom Giordano, Ally Phelps (arrived late), Kerry Kencairn, Terry Skibby
Commission Members Absent:  Allison Renwick (E), Sam Whitford (E)
Council Liaison: Greg Lemhouse
High School Liaison: None Appointed
SOU Liaison: None Appointed
Staff Present: Planner: Derek Severson; Clerk:  Billie Boswell

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 
Mr. Giordano moved to approve the March 7, 2012 minutes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kencairn and was approved unanimously.
 
PUBLIC FORUM:   No one in the audience wished to speak.
 
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT:  Greg Lemhouse, Council Liaison reviewed the Land Use Code Revisions discussed at the April 3rd City Council meeting.  There was more discussion on the deer fencing but it looked like it was going through with the 80% visibility on the top section of the fence.  He commented there was no discussion on the Historic Design Review Standards.  Mr. Lemhouse says he is promoting that the downtown plaza be spruced up. He asked if it should go through a public process.  The Commissioners said it should to keep it at the public level to avoid politics.  There was also discussion regarding a second water system and pump house.  The original would be kept.
 
 
NEW BUSINESS:  27-29 North Main St.  Repair of Fire Damaged Buildings.  Ms. Gunter explained the submittal would be looked at as a PreApp. Mark McKechnie, Architect, explained that the business owners want to pull the landing on the damaged stairway closer to the property line to make the landing more visible. Removing the awing over the doorway will also increase visibility and exposed the decorative period trim. Chairman Shostrom suggested installing doors with glass in the upper half.  He asked if removing the flagstone would be part of the renovation but Mr. McKechnie said the owner did not have the budget for it at this time.
 
OLD BUSINESS: 
 
A.  Review Board Schedule
 

 
 
B.  Project Assignments for Planning Actions – no changes

3.  Ms. Gunter said approval was received for the CLG Grant.  A portion of the grant pays for 2 Commissioners to attend the Oregon Heritage Conference on April 26^th in Salem.  Mr. Skibby will go but will miss Review Board for that week.  Chairman Shostrom commented that the definition of the CLG Grant should be more specific and asked for the subject to be placed on the May agenda.

4. Historic Preservation Week – Chairman Shostrom shared the information he learned about the Hargadine Cemetery including the Brethren of Dunkers – Meyers Cemetery.  It originally had about 20 grave markers and was landlocked.  The neighbors started to maintain it, and eventually, the City Sexton. It has remained in pretty good condition and is not badly in need of a “clean-up”. Chairman Shostrom suggested using the grant money to add more Historical links to our website and produce more brochures to show the importance of our history.  There was general discussion of ideas of what to produce. He also spoke of his conversation regarding the Railroad Museum and its history.  Mr. Skibby said that the Cemetery tour would be changed to Sunday, May 20^th so as not to conflict with Mothers’ Day.

 
DISCUSSION ITEMS: 
 
There was general discussion regarding demolition of historic homes.  Mr. Giordano made a motion to draft a letter to City Council voicing the concern and provide suggestions to protect them.  Ms. Kencairn seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
 
Mr. Skibby reviewed the email he received from Tom Foster regarding the Lincoln statue.  It stated that the Arts Commission had no interest in restoring.  Ms. Gunter had forwarded the email to Planning Director, Bill Molnar.  Mr. Lemhouse said he also could take it to Administrator, Dave Kanner to resolve the issue.
 
Chairman Shostrom reported on the seminar training he took on how to preserve brick buildings.

ADJOURNMENT:

It was the unanimous decision of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m.