Committee Minutes

Minutes
March 29, 2011
6:30 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Sharon Bures, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Melinda Leach, Doug Munski, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater
Others: Mike Sullivan, Red River Valley Community Action; Peg O’Leary

Minutes
Motion: to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2010, meeting. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Red River Valley Community Action Weatherization Program - Mike Sullivan
  220 Walnut Street, built 1908 – The house is a contributing element in the Near Southside Historic District. RRVCA proposes to use federal grant funds to insulate the interior basement walls, the sloped roof and the attic; to replace the front basement door, the front main floor door, and the rear door with steel insulated doors; to add a storm window over the existing historic leaded-glass window in the porch; and air seal the house. Sullivan said the basement and the rear doors are not original and would be replaced with paneled steel doors. The front door to the main floor is an original wood, single-light door.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect at 220 Walnut Street if the main floor original door is not replaced; the basement and rear door replacements are paneled and have appropriate lights, if any; and if the storm for the leaded-glass window is a single-light, wood storm appropriate to the opening. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.
  420 Fenton, built 1913 – The house is not in an historic district and is not individually eligible for the National Register. RRVCA proposes to use federal grant funds to insulate the attic from the interior, the side walls by removing (and later replacing) asbestos-shingle siding and blowing in insulation, and the basement by applying foundation panels to the exterior of the brick foundation. As part of the project, four basement windows will be replaced with vinyl units, and a wooden storm window will be placed over the existing leaded-glass window in the front of the house. It was noted that most of the windows in the house have been replaced and the asbestos siding covers original narrow-lap wood siding. The insulation panels for the basement are applied with glue and Tapcon screws. Flemmer noted that, if this house were on or eligible for the National Register, it would not be acceptable to cover the foundation or screw into it, nor would it be acceptable to drill through the original lap siding to blow insulation. Concern was expressed that drilling into the already deteriorated brick of the basement would further contribute to its deterioration. When asked, Sullivan said the basement insulation will not stick out beyond the asbestos shingles.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the proposed work at 420 Fenton Avenue. (Slater, Leach)
Motion carries.

Chair Report
  No Report

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
  Synagogue Nomination – Steve Martens has signed the contract for writing the Synagogue/ Cemetery nomination. O’Leary will submit it for the Mayor’s signature upon approval by the Commission.
Motion: to approve the contract with Steve C. Martens for the B’nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. (Flemmer, Sickels)
Motion carries.
  Griggs Award – O’Leary distributed copies of the criteria and former awardees.
Motion: that Ted Jelliff be posthumously awarded the Griggs Award for a lifetime of commitment to the preservation of Grand Forks’ history and its built environment. (Iseminger, Sickels)
Discussion: The award will be presented by the Mayor at a City Council meeting in May, Preservation Month.
Motion carries unanimously.
  Property Awards – O’Leary distributed information about a second tier of preservation awards that could recognize individual Grand Forks projects. Suggested categories include restoration, rehabilitation, new construction in historic areas, and stewardship. Nomination could be made by the Commission and by the public. The commissioners will review the options and potential recipients. It was decided these awards could be made in the fall, following construction season.
  Kegs Nomination – O’Leary reported that she had finished packaging the nomination according to federal and state regulations and had shipped the hard copy, pictures, and CD to the State Historical Society. The nomination will be reviewed at the April 29 State Review Board meeting. O’Leary cannot attend the Bismarck meeting due to a scheduling conflict with a presentation to the PND state meeting in Jamestown the same day. It was suggested that O’Leary try to arrange a video-conference from Jamestown; Munski said the State Hospital is linked to the state video network.
  Near North Neighborhood Association Mini Home Show – Several private contractors, along with city programs, Red River Valley Community Action programs and GFHPC provided information at the Mini Home Show. The neighborhood turnout was good.
  Front Porch Program – This is a small, new grant program, funded by the Knight Foundation Near North Neighborhood grant. The objective is to improve the streetscape in the NNN by yard and façade improvements. The basic grant is for any project that meets the grant goals, but an additional amount is available for projects that are “historically authentic restorations.” HPC has been asked to advise regarding this component. O’Leary will attend the meetings and provide advice.
  Valley Homes and Services – Valley Memorial Homes is proposing to use HUD funding (a Section 202 Capital Advance) for new construction at its 3350 Cherry Street campus. The building will consist of a single, two story, wood frame building (site plan and elevation attached) constructed in a manner designed to complement the adjacent nursing home and residential neighborhood. Properties in the neighborhood date to the 1970s; there is no historic district.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by new construction at 3350 Cherry Street, provided that the potential for buried features and cultural deposits is addressed by the cessation of all earth-moving activities should such deposits be encountered and reassessment of the situation then provided by the State Historic Preservation Officer. (Flemmer, Leach)
Motion carries.
  HPC Rosters – O’Leary distributed a list of commissioners and staff, including contact information.
  Donor Time Sheets – Commissioners completed records of time donated to HPC.

Other Business
  Communication Tower – The emergency communication tower at the Police Department went up today.

Motion: to adjourn. (Bures, Sickels)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,




Peg O’Leary
Coordinator