Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-07 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of the Livonia Historic Preservation Commission Meeting November 7, 2018 Members Present: Betsy Calhoun, Kathie Glynn, Kathy Johnson-Bartshe, James Kline Members Absent: Ralph Bakewell, Cindy Immonen Also present: Emily Tchorz The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. at the Alexander Blue House Minutes of August meeting not available for approval. 11/01 Jim Kline made a motion that we renew our memberships/subscriptions to the National Trust (Historic Preservation magazine) for $15 and the Old House Journal for $28. Kathie Glynn seconded, passed unopposed. Acadia Press royalty check for $77 was received (for Arcadia book on lost Livonia sites. The volume is often given to new City Council members). 11/02 Motion was made by Betsy Calhoun to elect a slate of officers for December 2018 through November 2019 and seconded by Jim Kline. Unanimously elected were Chair: Kathy Johnson-Bartshe, Co-Chair: Kathie Glynn, Treasurer James Kline, Secretary Betsy Calhoun. There is still one vacancy on the Commission; Kathie Glynn has someone in mind she will speak with. If she is unsuccessful, we can compose a “press release” for dissemination. Budget for 2018-19 is $5,000. Cemetery Maintenance $,3500 and Carryover monies for the Livonia Center Arch $1,900. There is $224.50 left in the 2017-18 budget. Discussion on Happily Ever After Event Thursday March 7, 2019: vendors donate cake, appetizers, etc., and an open house for the facilities is held for prospective brides and grooms. The HPC dresses mannequins with weddings gowns of different eras. th Discussion on the December 9 event for City Council/elected officials and their families will be at Hill House at Greenmead, hosted by the HPC and our families, to coincide with a planned concert and house tours. 11/03 Kathie Glynn made the motion to approve up to $180 for supplies (appetizers, desserts, napkins, etc.) for the open house. Jim seconded, passed unanimously. 11/04 Kathie Glynn made the motion, Betsy Calhoun seconded, to sponsor a $25 ad for the Christmas th Walk booklet congratulating the Friends of Greenmead on their 30 anniversary. Passed unopposed. David Carter did $2,000 of historic cemetery repairs recently; giant city mowers are creating scrape marks on these grave markers, though some city employees have denied this. Betsy Calhoun will gently inquire of Brian Wilson, Asst. DPW Director as to solutions to this issue. HPC is thinking that hand-held mowers and push mowers might be more appropriate to properly maintain these historic sites. Discussed fundraisers for 2019: Historic Properties Calendar, Cleaning grave markers workshop Some discussion of the HPC becoming a Certified Local Government, as this is the only way we can qualify for grants. it’s too late for this year; Linda McCann, Director of Community Resources at Greenmead can be approached about starting this process. Some discussion of the National and local Register listed Orson Everitt house/office on Seven Mile Rd. up for sale, and the chiropractor who wants to buy it and knock it down. Betsy reported that she called and spoke to the attorney who, with his business partner restored the house. He opined that he’d let the realtor know he wasn’t interested in selling to that type of buyer. Betsy will do a little research and contact Gary Bloom again regarding the possibility of him donating a (historic) easement to the state and also giving him some ideas for marketing a historic property. Emily Tchorz reported that the cupola on the Nankin Mills school is on and that grading has been done around the structure. There is now a washer and dryer in the basement of Hill House so linens can be washed on site. A window frame of the Bungalow is broken, and has been secured by a contractor while he explores repair options. The Church roof peak is scheduled for repair. A pre-bid meeting for the 1926 Greenhouse was held. There was discussion on clarifying to bidders that we don’t want to preserve or replicate the post-1991 roof “overlay” put up to keep falling ice and snow from breaking the greenhouse glass. Instead, we’d like bidder suggestions to prevent this damage. th We will meet again December 5 at the Alexander Blue House at 6 p.m. to finalize details for the open house. Betsy Calhoun made a motion to adjourn, Kathy Glynn seconded, passed unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Betsy Calhoun