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March 2, 2016 Community Preservation Committee Minutes.pdfNorthampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 1 March 2, 2016 Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes March 2, 2016 Time: 7:00 pm Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street Members Present: Brian Adams, Julia Chevan, David Whitehill, Chris Hellman, Linda Morley, Debin Bruce, Jack Finn Staff Present: John Frey Brian called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. General Public Comment None Approval of Minutes February 10, 2016 Debin noted some minor corrections. Debin moved to approve. Seconded by Jack, the motion carried unanimously, with minor corrections by Debin. Meetings with Applicants- Pulaski Park Overlook - Mayor Narkewicz & Department of Public Works Jim Laurila, Senior Engineer at Northampton DPW and Stephen Stimson, landscape architect presented an overview of past grants and components of the new grant application. Funding is sought for construction of the overlook and enhanced work behind Academy of Music. Currently, plans include only grading and gravel. $163K sought to lower the grading for a more functional loading dock and safety features including bollards. David asked if the overlook would be ADA compliant. Applicant replied yes as all grades under 5%, no railings necessary. There will be seating areas and a hillside garden presentation. Debin is concerned area behind Academy being used as parking. Feels like eminent domain for Academy. Applicant responded they are striving for shared space. Bollards limit use for loading for events only. Debin responded her preference would be for a contract with Academy to ensure understanding of shared use. David asked if handicap parking could be accommodated behind Academy. Applicant responded no, we want to demonstrate it is not a parking area. David asked about the $24K contingency and any change orders. Applicants responded they are looking to spend $10-12K for sod instead of seed so park can open immediately. Linda asked about the confidence level regarding round 2 contingency. Applicant responded very confident on costs at this point. Cost projections based on final plans. Linda asked about using granite blocks from reservoir. Applicant responded it is very unlikely at this point. Linda asked if there is a cheaper dock solution. Applicant responded they are using pavers instead of paving to give a more pedestrian quality. Debin asked if there is any leverage on utility pricing. Applicant responded generally no, competitive bids only on City Fiber line item. Historic Curtain Rehabilitation – Academy of Music Debra J’Anthony, executive director of Academy of Music presented an overview of the current application. The curtain has regional and national significance. Monthly tours are always full. The curtain would be dropped once per month and special occasions. Linda asked how it is stored. Applicant responded it is hung on batten with guy wires. Need to remove clamps and repair holes, then create a more secure frame. Re-rigging is part of the proposal. Fabric has integrity but not secure. Can only raise it once per month. It hangs flat. Shepherd Barn Repairs - Historic Northampton Nancy Rexford from Historic Northampton present an overview of the Shepherd Bard application. Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 2 March 2, 2016 Linda asked about condition of ell. Applicant responded siding of ell not regular clapboards. Siding is resting one on top of another. Building constructed at ground level and now ground is over sills. Will dig out and install footings. Install vapor barrier and frost wall. David asked about public use once completed. Applicant responded there is a pending change of leadership, therefore not certain. It may depend on provenance of barn. Possibly use for events though perhaps best used to interpret historical agricultural use of valley. David asked the size of the building. Applicant responded the main building is 30’x40’, and ell is 15’x20’. Brian asked if there are archeology concerns. Applicant responded they are never certain what is under ground. Likely just bones and nails, but won't know for sure until work begins. Debin asked if items found to be displayed. Applicant responded yes, absolutely. There is no space elsewhere. There are scales, sleighs, shoeshine chair and weather vanes among other items. Fitzgerald Lake Invasives Control - Broad Brook Coalition Bob Zimmerman discussed past grants and plans for this grant. Prior grants have successfully controlled those areas; BBC can now rely on their reserves for control of those areas. New areas are the concern now. David asked about duration of project. Applicant stated it is important to do re-evaluation after three years and that is max grant timeline anyhow. David asked if grant is for spraying and cutting. Applicant responded contract with Polatin is to do cut stump method then paint stump for over 5', then spraying for anything under 5'. Chris asked if other cost quotes received. Applicant replied no. They did get estimates at 2009 and Polatin was best. Happy with their work. Brian asked about handling Phragmites with herbicide. Applicant replied yes, must hire firm to apply. Some can be dug out by members but not all. Brian noted CPC is merely a recommending body for city council. One council member is consistently against use of herbicides feeling work can be done without. Opinion? Applicant responded some arguments are not accurate making it difficult to respond. Area is extremely dense with invasives. Near impossible to do by hand. Goverment standards using herbicide is only effective method. Invasives outpace hand-removal. Herbicide usage has full approval of BBC board. Stained Glass Window Restoration - First Churches Rev. Todd Weir introduced the project. Donna O’Neilly, church moderator, spoke of process of coming to decision to restore. Margie Brittle, talked of how they cannot sell but don't have funds to restore. They are financially stable otherwise. Brian asked of price quotes from 2007 and confirmed priority list. Fred Shea of Stained Glass Resources stated quotes are current. Tiffany window is top priority as it is most valuable and most deteriorated. Lead solder has deteriorated and must take apart to stabilize. Multi-plane window sags. It has cracked smaller pieces. Stabilization more suited for museum environment. Large window with single glaze is lower priority. Mary window is third priority. It would cost $300-400k to recreate the Tiffany window and antiquity would be lost. $82,450 for Tiffany restoration, frame $11,925 and glazing $2600. LED lighting not recommended. Chris asked about glass loss. Fred responded it is a very slow deterioration process, but damage along the way. He would not replace Tiffany material. Use epoxy to repair. Search for original material if needed. Recreate last resort. David asked about moving Tiffany window to higher light area. Applicant stated that is possible with approval of Mass Historic. Not pursued yet. Lien held by state. Brian asked if costs increase for phasing. Fred stated no since they are located nearby, can do one at a time. Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published None. Adjourn On a motion by Debin and seconded by David , with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:22 PM.