Historical Commission - July 1, 2026

Uh, this meeting of the Westport Historical Commission is now in session.

Uh, members present are, um, William Kendal.

William Kendal, Garrett Stack, Deborah Chielfi, Ward Mooney, Katrina Strozik, and, uh, alternate Mark Armstrong.

Uh, everyone is voting tonight. Mark is voting in place of Caroline Bulter.

That would be Mark Thompson.

Thompson.

I know somebody named Mark Armstrong.

It's going to It's going to keep coming up.

He even got a new car just so that you could see.

I know.

I know.

I've been trying to See, had you not brought that.

All right. So, uh, correction, Mark Thompson, uh, is the alternate member who will be voting, uh, for in place of Caroline Bulter, who is absent tonight.

Okay.

So, uh, first item of business, uh, applications for certificate of appropriateness, 2015 Main Road, Robert Bronke, construct pool complex and pergola, continued from the June 3rd, 2026 meeting.

Uh, the applicant has requested a continuance to the WHC meeting on August 5th 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex.

Um, so I don't think there's anything to discuss. Um, we can, um, decide whether to, um, grant the continuance.

Motion to grant.

Second.

Okay, let's do a roll call vote.

Mark Thompson, for.

Katrina Katrina Strozik, I.

Ward Mooney, I.

Deborah Chielfi, I.

Garrett Stack, I.

William Kendal, I. The motion passes unanimously. The matter is continued until August 5th.

Okay, next item on the agenda, applications for certificate of non-applicability.

First one is 2001 Main Road, uh, Kristen and Christian Henningson, uh repair is to second floor deck on back of house.

Uh and this was approved by uh the chair and clerk using our authority.

Um this is the house right across the street from mine. It's a second floor deck on the back of the house. Um and they're basically replacing the the deck in and doing some repairs to the railing.

But uh like for like.

Okay. Uh second one, 1881 Main Road. Uh Corina and Lewis Frazier.

And I think I spelled Corina wrong.

It's Corinne.

It's Corinne. Should be c o r i n n e.

Um and I spelled Frazier wrong as well.

There's There's no i in Frazier.

It's just z e r.

z e r.

Okay. Um so uh anyway, 1881 Main Road, Corinne and Lewis Frazier.

Uh replace four rotting windows on back of house to match existing windows in addition.

Um Deborah and I looked at this. The the windows are possibly visible from from the river, but quite far away. And um and the they are similar to the uh to windows that are already in the addition. So we felt that it was uh of minimal impact.

And we approved it by our authority.

Awesome.

Okay. Uh 2042 Main Road, John Wong, replace rotted wood gutters with fiberglass gutters of similar profile.

Um I did call John Wong and um just verified that the details on the gutters, including the returns that are currently there, also um there's an interior mitered corner that is there.

And um he he uh assured me that it would be done exactly the way it is now only with fiberglass instead of wood.

Garrett, on the certificate it says John Perry and Patrick Long.

Is that do we need to change that?

There there were there were there were multiple Three owners.

Yeah, multiple owners you said John Long though.

I did. I just I just put the person who was listed as the contact.

Okay.

Oh, is isn't he on there?

It's John Long, Perry Long and Patrick Long.

They I just I just wrote all three names in Oh, I see now. It's not John Perry, it's John {comma} Perry and Patrick Long.

There's three owners.

Sorry, I misunderstood the way it's written.

Got it.

Yeah, and the contact information was was for John Long so I I just put Nope, that works. I apologize. Thank you.

Um so so Deborah and I discussed that and and approved it by our authority.

Uh next one is 1990 Main Road. Uh replace Anderson double door with similar Pella door.

Uh this is on the back of the house not visible from a public way.

Um and the the door will be um different brand but the same style.

So it's it's six um six lights.

Six lights in each door.

Um and so Deborah and I discussed that and and approved that as well.

He had provided a cut sheet that had different light pattern but then he confirmed by email that it was just for example not for the actual door.

Right.

Uh then uh last one is 1913 Drift Road.

Uh repair and paint trim and doors.

Um and uh refresh my memory was Russell Baker.

Uh Russell Baker, right.

It's yeah, it's the cottage and they're going to repair rotted wood and trim on the garage and on the main house.

Then they're going to repaint all the trim white and they're going to paint the doors.

Right.

Now, that's all with the red doors. Now, we can't make them paint them red or whatever colors, right? No, they're not on here. It's we have no jurisdiction on the color of the doors, but the rest of it the white trim will be still white.

Right. And I think this is the same house where they had an extra window and they came before us to put put a window in the back of the house.

On the back. Now, they're not on the agenda. Is that okay?

No.

Uh Uh do you have the revised agenda?

revised agenda?

It came out.

I might have sent the one in the packet was before these changes were made on the continuance.

Yeah, but I I sent I sent a revised agenda. It's also also on the website.

it as a separate email.

I got it.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um Yes. So, um And it doesn't say here on the agenda, but but Deborah and I also discussed this and uh um got a little more detail from from the owner about what exactly he was planning to do and and and then we went ahead and approved it.

Yeah. That was you know, today.

Using our authority.

Okay. So, um Yeah, those were all pretty straightforward. Any any comments or questions about any of any of those?

I just want to make mention that when we have a CNA we don't assign monitors. We just Right.

They're on their own. The building department has what we've agreed to. So, the building department would be the last call on whatever they do. So, it's kind of out of our hands at that point.

Um Also, I mean, sort of on the same topic of of of non-applicability I had a call from Ralph this week [clears throat] about I think it was 1809 Main Road, which is the first house that's outside of the historic district.

Mhm.

And but it has kind of a funky lot. So, the the lot for 1809 actually goes behind the lot of 1813, which is in the historic district.

Wow.

But the So, so Ralph was just wondering whether you know, where exactly the line was in in my opinion that that the line is the lot line.

1813 is Linda Roy, and she did come before us for her shed.

did, but 1809 is is is not a before it, so it's And it's not not in the list of of houses in the district, so.

Um Okay.

Um So, that's odd.

Is it to the south, or is it to the north?

It's to the north.

Oh, okay.

1809 is to the north. I might have said south then.

Okay.

Uh okay.

Next item, demolition permits.

Uh so, we have a an application from uh 790 Sodom Road, Richard and Mary Lou Thibodeau, to demolish a two-bay garage. And I sent you all photos. Bill and I went out and and uh looked at it last week with Lynn Potter and with the owners.

And um it was our feeling that it was not a historically sig- significant building.

It had been sort of cobbled onto a to a barn, which which probably was historically significant, but is no longer there.

Blew down about 10 years ago or so.

Um Did you want to add anything, Bill?

Uh well, it was just a kind of a a shed type of structure, a little garage type structure, but it and it wasn't anything significant. I mean, I couldn't find any anything old in it, really.

There was some old timbers.

Yeah, they I guess they were something that were reused, yeah.

Um And a sassafras log which was used as a structural element.

Yeah.

Um, so um, I I guess uh Bill and I if I may speak for you Bill, would would recommend that that we approve this um demolition.

Um it not being a very significant building.

Thank you for the pictures and the pictures have been sent to you, right? Yeah. And you can see that uh yourselves.

The pictures are very helpful.

Yeah, thank you.

So, a motion to accept the recommendation to allow the demolition of the building.

So moved.

Second.

Ryan McAmis, I.

Katrina Strozyk, I.

William Kendall, I.

Deborah Chaffee, I.

Garrett Stuck, I.

William Kendall, I.

The motion passes. The demolition permit is approved.

So, we do an actual separate permit for that. I've not done one of those. So, we're going to There's a There's a form form on the on the website.

I'll do that tomorrow.

Yeah, and you've got all the I've already done it.

all the contact information, yeah.

Um, so I thought that we might receive an application from 253 Adamsville uh for this meeting, but uh we did not.

So that'll sure that'll come before us sometime in the future.

Okay.

Um General business, monitors reports.

Okay, I've got a few updates on the monitors reports. I've tried to update the whole schedule, so I've got a few that still have to get back to me so I can take some photos, but I've got a few updates I can put on the record.

Um, and I had a question for you and Bill, too. Okay, so um 1904 Main Road, that was completed in November, December of 25. I went and visited the home and it's consistent with what we approved.

Um 1940 Main Road, that actually was done back in September and we're finally just reporting it out that it was done. 1940 Main Road, both replacing wooden gutters with fiberglass and solar panel installation, two separate certificates.

They're both closed out.

That was Deborah Lawrence, if you Okay. Um next is Josh Lobel, his solar panels are completed. That was done in September of 25 and he invited me to come by and take photos of that, but they're not very visible actually from the street.

It looks It looks quite good.

What address was That's 1954 Main Road, Josh Lobel.

The next one is um 1985D Main Road, Tom Trainer and Genie Siegel.

They just completed in June their project. So, they're finally That was That was since 12 24.

That's good.

Wow.

So, how's That's now done.

It's closed out.

Um the other one I had a question for you and Bill. I ran into the Joncas's at the WPTNA party and they said they were about to move in. So, I assume you guys are doing monitoring at at We We have We've had our final We've had our final inspection.

and 2040, have have you monitored We've had our final inspection, Garrett and I.

Mhm.

Uh and we also read the relayed information to Ralph.

Okay, great. So, I'm going to put it on the monitor's report that it's closed out as of June 30th or what would you days ago.

Okay, so say June 30th.

So, I'm going to close out all the 2038 and 2040 Main Road.

Yeah, and I want to say that they And the demo of the two sheds, is that done too?

Uh you know, I mean that was a separate It's a separate certificate.

certificate. Um I don't believe the shed has been rebuilt.

Cuz we have demo and replace. So Yeah, we didn't Yeah, we didn't really I don't I didn't see anything like that. I think the sheds are gone. They've been demolished.

So they did half of it. They haven't replaced them yet. They haven't replaced. They have a certificate to replace.

Right, they replaced one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay, so we'll leave that as open.

Yeah, they they did a um they did a nice job on the exteriors. I mean they they showed us the interior as well, which which was very nice, but that that's not in our purview. Um but they did do a nice job and um one one of the things that struck us both was the um the granite cladding on the new concrete foundation in the in the um in the back house, 2040. I think that is.

Mhm.

And you really cannot tell that it's I don't know.

Not not from here.

It's the best job the best of veneer of granite that I've ever seen. It looks real.

up and they put the veneer on.

Right, it Well, to to um to give the replica of the foundation that was there, Right.

which was granite, they did it and uh That's great.

and with all the texture, everything about it is just great.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And uh That's worth it to take some photos of that of that particular thing. You're right.

Yeah. So you could do that. That would be great. I can I I actually have his email. I can ask him if he can send me a photo.

Do do that. If you could, and then put it in our file as it when someone comes in, we can say this is how it should be done.

Yep. Yep, that's a good example.

been a real problem to get people to do it right.

We'll end up with something that looks like bubble gum or something, which has happened.

Okay, great.

But just I mean lot Mhm. You know, all the all All exterior features were were well done, you know, reproduction windows, replacement windows um lots of architectural detail. But plus on the older structure or structure in the back, and not that it's older, they both are in about the same age, 18th century.

Um they did preserve a number of windows that had that had them carefully restored with the plank window frames and then install them in the original places.

One window was moved, as I remember.

They had they had it Well, that was on the other side, but this was on the old side, which is the north side of the building, yeah.

Great.

Um I had one question on my monitor's report. Um we have a George Robson 2028 Main Road. We have a Caroline Bolter and Katrina. Could we get a replacement for Caroline as a monitor, since she's not going to be joining us this next fiscal year?

Okay.

Get somebody else to be that monitor. We need a volunteer.

I'd be happy to.

What?

Yes.

I'm going to put you on with Katrina for 2028.

And what What is that project?

It's a modified dormer. Kid Wise was in here explaining it to us, if you remember. It's pretty recent.

It's a dormer on the second floor that's very large.

And they wanted to put in full-size windows yeah.

2028 2028 Main Road.

And they're not starting yet.

Right.

So, you'll brush up.

So, how how will I be notified?

Well, I have to notify them to notify you, Katrina, cuz they just have Katrina and Caroline. So, now I have to tell Kid Yeah.

to put you on. Sometimes people forget, so I usually always look and then I'll ask or remind.

But I think um and I think I have 1871 Main Road, but I haven't seen that they have started.

There is a sign out front, but I haven't seen that they have started yet.

Okay, any other monitors reporting?

you and Richard Richard D'Entremont, yeah. He's not going to be doing that, he told me until December.

He's getting windows ordered, so that's going to be a long-term Okay.

Okay, other topics.

So, I can report that Carolyn Bolster has decided not to request to be reappointed to the Historical Commission. So, she's retiring. Her term was up June 30th.

And I just wanted to publicly thank her for her great service to the commission.

And she told me in an email yesterday that she was um she was not recruited to the commission, that she actually saw an ad somewhere for members of the commission and she responded to that that ad or announcement. I don't know if it was an How many years ago did she join? Do you I I I wish I knew. I wish I knew.

Well, I want to also make mention that she trained me. She was clerk when I joined and she wanted to start trimming back some of her responsibilities so she mentored me to become the clerk and she did I mean, she really did take time to show show me the ropes and I

am grateful to do that.

Yeah, so we'll miss her.

Now that Carolyn is is leaving, Mark, you'll step into a full member role and that requires an act of the select board. So, they're planning to do that on July 20th.

Okay so we you as a full member Does that mean I should do anything?

I don't think you need to do anything.

to attend. They will just put your name on the appointments list and they'll vote to appoint you. You're already on the commission and then I think you already got sworn in and so you don't have to do that again.

And you're already in compliance with the conflicts rules. So, you don't have to do anything different. They're just going to put your name in as full member instead of alternate.

So, it's a formality.

Do you suppose it's because I finally brought my plate in?

Maybe. Yeah. Now you can be official.

Good timing.

But what's Ward's excuse?

Well, he had his plate when you swore him in and then he decided [clears throat] to lose it and it. But we have another We haven't been able to, yeah.

I didn't lose anything.

Oh, okay.

It disappeared.

Okay, you can take it.

So, what is our final count now for members and alternates? What We should have seven so, I think I think we're still at seven members. Well, with with Mark we'll be at at at seven full members.

Yes.

Uh and uh And we have one alternate position filled by Catherine.

Catherine Reppard, yeah. Who isn't living here at the moment, but um she hasn't Yeah, and and and we have seven alternate members slots. So, that's why there's no rush for Catherine to resign.

So, we have six available for alternate.

Six available alternate slots.

Do you have to And you don't have to be in the commission to be on the commission. Sorry, you don't have to be in the district to be on the commission.

No.

Okay.

Yeah.

In fact, I mean We welcome carpet baggers.

Yes.

But the previous chair, Rod Rod was was not in the district. And I'm not in the district. Rod's not in the district.

I live in the the Yeah.

Uh And there are some important buildings over there, too.

There certainly are.

And it's there are no historic districts over there, and there certainly should be.

Yeah.

In a coxed.

It should be.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

So that covers Okay. So, um any other any other items of general business?

Okay. So, We didn't do the minutes at the beginning.

We didn't do the minutes. Thank you.

Thank you. I skipped right over that.

Uh let's do the minutes.

So, I think you all have copies of them.

I've already given my um comments and they've been incorporated, so I don't have anything further to add.

Um if there are any changes to the minutes of the executive session, we should not discuss those.

Right. This is This is just for the regular meeting.

This is just May 13th.

Right. Yeah.

Motion to accept the minutes of May 13th.

Second.

Okay. Uh let's just do a roll call vote.

Mark Tamsin, I.

Katrina Strozeca, I.

Ward Rooney, I.

Deborah Chialli, I.

Jared Stucki, William Kendall, I.

Okay. The minutes are accepted.

Uh and then the other item I skipped over was the treasurer's report, and there is no treasurer's report this month.

Okay. So, um uh the next item on the agenda is uh an executive session, uh which if you're looking at the original agenda won't be there, but it it's on the revised agenda.

And um I wonder if someone here would be able to pull up the open meeting guidelines.

I I'm having trouble with my my the disk on my computer is full, and I actually can't open the file.

Okay. Are you looking for a what?

I think I think we close this to the public.

Yeah, and there are there are four four things I have to say.

And I I don't I don't remember those off the top of my Would it be in the um It would be in the Google Drive.

of the last meeting we had in executive session. You agreed to open that.

Um probably not.

I I prefer to the the guide actually has something so Let Let me Let me see if I can open this document.

I might have it.

Um My resources are in there.

There we go.

It is.

Okay.

So What's the show up?

Okay.

So So the four things are to convene an open session, which we've done.

State the reason for the executive session, stating all subjects that may be revealed without [clears throat] compromising the purpose for which the executive session was called.

The purpose of the executive session is to discuss strategy with respect to litigation known as Robert Branca, trustee of the ANC Nominee Realty Trust versus Town of Westport Historical Commission.

Um we will not reconvene in open session after the executive session is finished.

We will adjourn directly from the executive session.

Um and now we need a motion to enter executive session.

So moved.

Second.

And a roll call vote.

Mr. Chapman, I.

Katrina Shostak, I.

Board Mooney, I.

Deborah Chi, I.

Garrett Stack, I.

William Kendal, I.

Okay, we are now in executive session.