Historic Preservation Committee

Meeting Minutes – June 23, 2016

A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee ("HPC" or the "Committee") was held on June 23, 2016, in the in the basement meeting room at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall. In attendance were Chair Lesley Karczewski, Vice Chair Tom Dagger, Pat Rusak, Margaret DeWitt, Alex Gotthelf, Sima Chowdhury, and Borough Council Liaison Bill Albergo. Dana Wilke was observing. Absent were Ginny Cassidy, Mike DeWitt, and Katy Roberts.

Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The minutes of the May 19, 2016 meeting were approved in the form in which they were distributed to the Committee.

Treasurer’s Report

Lesley Karczewski presented the report:

Opening Balance as of May 16, 2016: $31,630.41

Debits:
$53.50 Lesley Karczewski for 5 historic photos

Credits:
$130.00 5 historic photos

Closing Balance as of June 20, 2016: $31,706.91

Archivist’s Report

Pat reported that the Library Board was considering including a display about Mountain Lakes history in the hallway display cases. There is still no candidate to replace Pat as archivist – Lesley suggested Pat’s responsibilities may need to be split up among the Committee members. Lesley will take the historic photos. Pat explained what had been digitized so far (Hapgood home pictures, government papers, Hapgood work orders). The next items should be Belhall photos, WW2 papers (need to coordinate with IDI for pick-up of materials). Pat suggested questions about Mountain Lakes history could be referred to Patty Harold, Joan Nix or David Storrs.

Borough Liaison Report

Nothing to report this month.

Old Business

Ordinance Update

Tom reported the ad hoc committee had arrived at a set of recommendations for ordinance updates that were ready to present to Borough Council. Bill indicated this could be put on the agenda for a meeting in July. Tom offered to attend to present and discuss the recommendations.

32 Condit

Alex visited the house and found there were a number of architectural items that would be very useful. The owner offered to have her contractor dismantle and set those items aside for the Committee to pick up.

Oral Histories

There was discussion about the need to organize the oral histories so they are all readily accessible in one location on the Borough website.

Salvage/Dynamite Shed

Alex will prepare a statement of work for what needs to be done to repair the shed before the Committee begins using it, and Alex will do a run-through with Bill and DPW after that.

Committee Member Opening

Lesley reported that Rob Infante has volunteered to join the Committee. He appears to be interested in helping the Committee establish a social media presence. Lesley will submit his name to the Borough Council for approval.

Centennial Book Reprinting

Margaret reported the price would be $16 each for 50 copies non-hardbound. The Committee discussed getting quotes for hardbound with the dust jacket reproduced, and possibly a greater print run.

New Business

Facebook Page

Lesley reported that she had set up a Facebook page for the Committee, and the Committee authorized her to proceed to activate the page.

Send-off for Pat

This being Pat Rusak’s last meeting, the Committee members expressed their deep appreciation for all of Pat’s years of service and lasting contributions to the work of the Committee and preservation of Mountain Lakes history, and wished her the best for her move to Charleston, SC. Bill Albergo said the Borough Council would honor Pat at its next meeting and invited the Committee members to attend.

Date for Next Meeting

Next meeting is July 21st (Thursday). In lieu of meeting at the Library, the Committee will attend the Morris County Trust for Historic Preservation lecture, "What Are Preservation Commissions All About?" at the Morristown Library. Committee members will meet early at Mountain Lakes Library and car pool.

Minutes prepared by Tom Dagger and Lesley Karczewski.