Historic Preservation Committee

Meeting Minutes – January 12, 2012

A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee (“HPC”) was held on January 12, 2012, in the meeting room at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.  In attendance were Co-Chairs Tom Dagger and John Grossmann, Pat Rusak, Roberta Matalon, Beth Mauro and Borough Council Liason Blair Bravo.  Jess Mahony, John Lester and Brigid Walsh were absent.

Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of the November 10, 2011 meeting in the form distributed to the Committee in advance of the meeting. 

Treasurer’s Report

On behalf of the Treasurer, Chris Sheasby, John Grossmann reported the following financial information.

Opening Balance as of 11/9/11:  $19,437.80

Debits:

$66.17             historic photos

  87.50             historic photos

Total: $153.67

Credits:

$400.00           Hapgood plaques

  204.00           historic photos

Total:  $604.00

Closing Balance as of September 1/8/12:  $19,888.13

Archivist’s Report

Pat Rusak talked about the need to purchase protective plastic sheets for oversized maps and additional plastic sheaths for photo binders. This led to a discussion of the evergreen issue of how cramped for space she is. Simply put, the archives room is getting packed to the gills. 

John Grossmann pointed to two solutions: 

1)         The possibility of shifting some of the lesser-viewed contents to a secure, climate-controlled off-site storage setup to deal with historical documents of this nature.  Beth Mauro will look into this and report back on possible locations and how much this might cost. 

2)         Moving the archives to a new and larger location.  No one had any good ideas for where in town that might be, but it was suggested that this might be what the bulk of the HPC’s money might eventually go towards and that saving money for this possible eventuality might be wise. 

Another likely upcoming expenditure would be hiring professionals to digitize materials such as Hapgood’s work papers and notes to his workers and homeowners and other primary source material -- much of it one-of-a-kind.  This would facilitate accessibility for research and other purposes and would help guard against the possible loss of the town’s priceless historical records.  Pat will draw up a wish list of materials to digitize, on the order of a five-year plan, with cost estimates for doing so.

Pat also shared a binder and CD version of a Cultural Resource Inventory of Mountain Lakes recently completed by the Morris County Department of Planning & Development Preservation Trust.  Beth Mauro volunteered to look through the binder and provide a summary of the inventory at the next meeting.  Pat will add a CD version to the archives. 

Centennial Report

Pat Rusak reported that despite an earlier understanding that the Centennial Committee had intended to donate any left over money from the sale of Centennial merchandise to the HPC, it had not made the decision to do so with the $7,000 balance it had on hand at the close of 2011. Talk ensued about the HPC still being the logical recipient for this money, since it would be used for preservation and understanding of the historical underpinnings of Mountain Lakes, consistent with the town-wide enthusiasm over the Centennial that generated the funds to begin with.  There was concern that the funds not disappear into the general budget, which would be inconsistent with the spirit of the sales of Centennial merchandise.  The consensus:  the Borough Council should keep that in mind when deciding what to do with the money.  If not to the HPC, for its projected needs, then it’s hoped the $7,000 should go to some project with an historical focus.

Public Comments

None.

Old Business

Historic Preservation Ordinance

Tom Dagger reported that drafting of a proposed ordinance implementing the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee was under way. 

Oral Histories

John Grossmann reported that one person—Paulette Edelson-- signed up on the sheets on the HPC table at the recent Laker Voices performances asking for volunteers to conduct oral histories.  John contacted her to confirm her interest and suggested that she read and study some of the oral histories on the HPC web site and then they’d meet for a training session before she would conduct her first interview.

John announced progress on the Frank Wiswall oral history, having finished transcribing the tape. He shared that he had dropped off a hard copy of the transcript for Frank to read and assist with identifications of some names and recollections that weren’t clear on the tape.  When those rough spots get ironed out, the oral history will go to the webmaster for posting. That should be before the next meeting.

Salvage Trailer

Though not present at the meeting, Brigid Walsh shared via e-mail that her daughter Keara expects to be moving forward with the website inventory photos and descriptions of the trailer contents. She’ll be working from the data sheets and photos that were produced on the workday back in the fall.  She hopes to begin in earnest at the end of January after taking the SATs.

Tom Dagger said he will contact Tom Menard about his offer to build storage shelves along one wall of the trailer.

New Business

New Member Suggestions

With Peggy Bulfer stepping down, the need to fill the vacant spot on the HPC was discussed.  Suggestions are to be made at the next meeting. 

Parting Gift for the Bulfers

It was decided to thank Peggy and Andy, now that they’ve both complete their extended terms on the committee, with a $100 gift certificate to The Station. 

Date for Next Meeting

The Committee decided to meet one week later in February, on Thursday the 16th, downstairs at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.

Minutes prepared by John Grossmann and Tom Dagger.