Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Preservation Commission met May 22.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

1. Roll Call: Mr. Sigler called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

Members Present: Wren, Clark, Doherty, Ittner, Sigler, Van Awken, Benedict, and

Zurlinden

Members Absent: Comparato

Staff Present: Lawrence and Price

Guests: Bruce Ashby, Tom Grant, John Terpinitz

2. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Wren moved to, and was seconded by Mr. Zurlinden, approve the minutes of April 17, 2017.

The motion to approve the minutes passed with a unanimous voice vote.

3. Communication and Reports:

a) Educational and Technical Assistance Committee

Ms. Ittner spoke about the First Presbyterian Church’s efforts to compile and maintain Snider Hill Cemetery history, she stated that the church had twenty to thirty members buried at Snider Hill. Ms. Ittner stated that the church wanted to work together with the Preservation Commission to compile the Cemetery history with the church putting in most of the effort. Ms. Ittner passed out a Snider Hill Interest Group Proposal sheet to the Commission and went over what the church was looking for as far as help goes, including being split into two pods: maintenance of the grounds and the cemetery’s history. Snider Hill is looking for the Preservation Commission’s help with the historic pod. Ms. Ittner spoke about what is currently known about the history of that land, which former members of the church are buried at the Cemetery, and the possibility of mapping out the cemetery in the near future so that it can be numbered and archived. Ms. Ittner also spoke about the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery and asked if anyone knows of anyone that might be able to volunteer to help with that.

Ms. Lawrence spoke about being involved in the field trip for the kids at Rainbow’s End School and she passed out schedule for the field trip to the Commission. She explained the Rainbow’s End program and what types of students attend the school. It was then discussed what the Commissioners would do on the field trip and what locations they would be taking the kids to and the history that they would be explaining to the kids. Ms. Ittner stated that she and Mr. Wren would be leading the children on the field trip and what they would be doing at the train depot on the trip. Ms. Ittner also expressed interest in doing more field trips in the future with older groups of children.

b) Nomination and Hardship Committee

Nothing to report.

c) Work Plan Committee

Mr. Wren stated that he and Mr. Clark met and looked over the previous year’s work plan to update it for the current year. He stated that the new work plan was included in the packets for the Commissioner’s to look over and Mr. Clark stated that in doing the revision of the work plan that some questions were raised about making sure goals that the Commission sets are being worked towards or completed. Mr. Clark stated that there were a number of the general categories that were activities listed in the work plan that had no activity throughout the year such as building historic fact sheets and web pages. Mr. Clark asked if those types of things should be left in the work plan or if certain things should be taken out of the plan in the next year. Ms. Ittner stated that certain things could be looked at as far as the historic fact sheets in regards to the tours and trips that the Commission has done in the past and the files are located in the Planning Department library.

Mr. Van Awken stated that he would like to see the historic properties in the city maintained and that he would be willing to help with the historic facts about certain areas of the city. Including this in the Carbondale Communique as an article in the near future and having a presence in the Communique on a more regular basis was then discussed. The slide show project’s purpose, what it would entail, and whether or not it should still be included in the work plan was also discussed. Ms. Lawrence stated that the presence of digital media and being on the webpage would be something that the Preservation Commission could look into and suggested reaching out to Amy Fox about having more of a presence. It was then discussed what the Commission would accomplish through social media outlets and what types of things they would want to present. One suggestion included the walking tour outlets and how to possibly use social media along with those types of historic things within the city.

Mr. Clark asked what type of trainings are required of the Commissioners and how trainings are reported. Ms. Lawrence stated that none of the Commissioners had reported participation in any additional trainings in the past year. This category was left blank on the work plan because it was unclear what types of training opportunities would be available for the Commissioners to attend in the upcoming year. Ms. Lawrence spoke about a training that she had taken in Springfield that was included in the previous year’s report. Ms. Ittner stated that there has not seemed to be as many training offered in the past few years. Mr. Sigler asked if there are a certain requirement of the trainings need for the Commissioner to attend within a year. Mr. Clark spoke about the historic nominations and that there really is not a reason that the Commission should not have nominees every year. This might be something at they work towards in the upcoming year and make sure that it is checked into a few times a year so it is not over looked, like in this past year. There was then s discussion of a property located near the old armory building. Mr. Clark stated that the three main things that need to be focused on for the work plan are being more active, what the fact sheet should consist of and needs to look like, and submitting articles to the Communique. Mr. Wren stated that maybe the work plan should be looked at on a monthly basis so things are not forgotten as the Commission works forward throughout the year. It was agreed that reviewing the work plan more often would be a great idea and something that could be included in the monthly meeting agenda to keep things on task and moving forward. Mr. Sigler stated that this would be a great idea moving forward, especially with things like the Communique articles and the events that are taking place later in the year. Mr. Sigler also stated that the Commission should use the work plan more and not just use it as something that they say that they want to do.

Ms. Ittner motioned that the Commission accept the work plan as discussed, seconded by Mr. Zurlinden.

The motion was passed with a unanimous voice vote.

d) Certificate of Appropriateness Committee

Nothing to report.

e) Founder’s Park Subcommittee

Ms. Lawrence stated that at the last meeting she was asked to touch base with the City Council for a council member to become the chairperson for the subcommittee. Councilmember Tom Grant has stated that he would be interested in becoming Chair for the Founder’s Park Subcommittee and his position in this role would need to be voted on at the next City Council meeting on June 6th. Ms. Lawrence stated that with Mr. Grant taking that role that will help with the committee moving forward with plans for the park. Including Lee Fronabarger in the process was then discussed and Mr. Sigler stated that he was unable to draft a letter to Mr. Fronabarger because his laptop had been stolen and he would try to draft a letter once it’s been replaced.

Mr. Grant stated that he felt that the subcommittee should meet between the Preservation Commission meetings so that they will have information to report back to the Commission at monthly meetings. Mr. Grant also asked if the Advisory Committee had to follow the same city meeting standards and the best times for the subcommittee to meet was also discussed. Mr. Clark stated that the committee needed to set a date and it was decided that the Advisory Committee would meet on June 12th.

Holding a Commission meeting on June 19th was then discussed. It was moved by Mr. Sigler to hold the meeting, seconded by Mr. Wren.

The motion was passed with a unanimous voice vote.

f) Founders’ Day Subcommittee

Nothing to report.

4. Old Business:

a) Mr. Wren discussed the Historic Property Poster Project for the Solar Eclipse, he stated that the last time the Commission met he passed around four photos that he was thinking about using and asked if there was any funding to distribute the posters once they are complete. He had also discussed using areas that the Eclipse events are taking place with past and present photos of those locations and the history of that site. Ms. Lawrence stated that there are funds for printing posters but what will be on the posters and how big they will be needs to be clarified. When the installation of the posters would take place was also discussed as well as whether or not they could be more permanent in the future. Ms. Ittner spoke about different historic buildings in the area and the Commission working with them to showcase their histories.

c) The Annual CLG Report was then discussed, Ms. Lawrence stated that she had included a copy and no revisions were needed. Mr. Zurlinden motioned to accept the Annual CLG Report as presented, seconded by Mr. Wren.

The motion was passed with a unanimous voice vote.

d) Mr. Sigler then moved on to the Election of Officers. Mr. Wren stated that the Subcommittee would like to nominate Mr. Sigler as Chair and Mr. Clark as Vice Chair.

Ms. Ittner seconded the nomination for Mr. Clark for Vice Chair.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes – 7 (Wren, Doherty, Ittner, Sigler, Van Awken, Benedict, Zurlinden)

No – 0

Ms. Doherty seconded the nomination for Mr. Sigler for Chair.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes – 7 (Wren, Clark, Doherty, Ittner, Van Awken, Benedict, Zurlinden)

No – 0

5. New Business:

a) Ms. Lawrence stated that at the last meeting it was suggested that all of the Commissioners be provided with a comprehensive list of all of the Oral Histories that have been completed. Ms. Ittner spoke about a few of the different oral histories that were listed, including Wally Davis’ passing before signing off on the oral history. Mr. Grant gave information about Mr. Davis and that his family had owned the grocery in the Tuscan Lodge. Finding a relative that would sign off for it to be used was then discussed. Mr. Sigler asked the committee to look over the list to see if there might be someone else out there that would be nice to do an oral history on in the future. Ms. Ittner spoke about the time it takes to complete an oral history project and what it take to do the oral histories with each person.

6. Comments by the Public, Commission Members or Staff:

It was discussed about different properties that are included in the historic buildings and the oral histories that might go together.

Ms. Lawrence stated that she had spoken to Carbondale City Clerk about a Preservation member attending the Memorial Day service at the park. The designee places a wreath on the headstone of Dr. William Richard as part of the ceremony. Mr. Van Awken volunteered to attend the program and represent the Preservation Commission.

Ms. Lawrence also stated that she would no longer be the city staff member in charge of the Preservation Commission meetings and that Mr. Price would now be attending the meetings in the future.

7. Adjournment:

Mr. Sigler adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m.

http://explorecarbondale.com/sites/default/files/pdf/agenda/2017-agendas/082917/Boards%20and%20Commissions%20Minutes%2008-29-2017.pdf