Historic Preservation Committee
Meeting Minutes – October 16,
2014
A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation
Committee (ÒHPCÓ or the ÒCommitteeÓ) was held on October 16,
2014, in the basement meeting room at the Mountain Lakes Library. In attendance were Co-Chair John
Grossmann, Mike DeWitt, Margaret DeWitt, Lesley Karczewski, and Ginny
Cassidy. Absent were Tom Dagger,
Pat Rusak, and Borough Liaison Frank Borin.
Approval of Prior MeetingÕs Minutes
The minutes of the September
4, 2014 meeting were approved in the form in which they were distributed to the
Committee.
TreasurerÕs Report
John Grossmann presented the report prepared by Chris Sheasby:
Opening Balance as of 9/2/14: $29,825.01
Debits:
$63.70 Pat
Rusak for Historic Photos, Morristown Parking and
$25.00 Archive
helper
$88.70 Total
Debits
Credits:
$0.0
Closing Balance as of 10/13/14: $29,761.31
ArchivistÕs Report
There was
no official report this month, but via email Pat Rusak told of continued
progress pinning down construction dates of Hapgood homes by checking deeds at
the County Courthouse.
Borough Liaison Report
Although unable to attend the meeting, Frank Borin
emailed the following:
ÒI did raise to the Council
and the borough manager the HPC's concern about using historic preservation
funds for the replacement of the bathroom window at the station. Based on our
conversation, it is my understanding that the project is not going to proceed
that way. It is unclear to me if the project is going to move forward at all at
this point.
ÒThe council also discussed
the sidewalk beautification project on Midvale Rd. Bob Tovo advised the council
that he had reached out to the owners of Hapgoods, and was told that they are
not interested in participating in any such project at this time. It was Bob's
understanding that they wanted to get on a little more solid ground with
respect to the operation of the restaurant, before they commit to such a
project. Since it is important for the restaurant owners to be supportive and
involved in any such project, it is the manager's recommendation that we hold
off for now.Ó
Old Business
Borough Website Redesign
The Committee
decided on the headings for the links to its web pages and finalized the
wording on the About the Committee blurb.
Mike DeWitt was to send the requested materials to Bob Karczewski of the
BoroughÕs web redesign team.
302 Boulevard Notice of Intent to
Demolish
Via email, Tom
Dagger reported that he had established October 27, at 9 a.m., as the time for Committee
members to join Peter Berlin from Edberg Obeo Marketing at the house. Berlin will take interior and exterior
photos and work up a floor plan of the house, in keeping with the provisions of
the Historic Preservation Incentive Ordinance calling for documentation of any Hapgood
prior to proposed demolition.
Committee members were invited to tour the house to assess possible
salvage items.
Transition of HPC Account to Borough
Administration
No progress to
report. A meeting with Borough
officials still needs to be scheduled.
Morris County Historic Preservation
Grant
Lesley Karczewski reported
that she was close to completing the application for the October 30 deadline,
but still needed financial information from HPC treasurer Chris Sheasby and
also price quotes from the Borough Manager should the HPC decide to purchase a
laptop for the archives through the Borough.
Trolley Tracks Roadbed Repair Project
John
Grossmann reported that repairs to the rain-damaged roadbed have been made and
the path looks great.
HPC Writing Projects
The Committee
briefly discussed possible stories for Margaret DeWitt to write for upcoming
issues of Mountain Lakes Living magazine.
Among the suggestions: a roundup of bygone sites such as LeonardÕs
Beach, the old sled run, and the Rifle Range.
New Business
Town
Club HPC table on November 20 and HPC table at December 5 House Tour
Pat
Rusak passed on word that she can man an HPC table the morning of November 20
for the Town Club Holiday Boutique.
Ginny Cassidy and Lesley Karczewski thought they could do so in the
evening. Ginny said she would
check with Hapgoods restaurant to see if they wanted to be open on the night of
December 5, perhaps selling food, and if so, she suggested that HPC have
historic photos and items on display there for the House Tour visitors who
might stop.
Date for Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 11, at the downstairs meeting room in the
Library at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by John
Grossmann.