Representative Town Meeting Budget and Special Meeting - DAY 2 (linked)

Town
HISTORIAN

TOWN OF WATERFORD
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
860-442-0553
SOCIAL SERVICES GRANT FUNDING REQUEST
ORGANIZATION NAME: Municipal Historian
REQUEST DATE (FISCAL YEAR): FY - 2024
REQUESTED AMOUNT: $800.00
BENEFIT STATEMENT (Describe how these funds will be used)
Conferences, workshops, reimbursable expenses, printing,
copies, books, supplies, memberships, misc.
Per Town of Waterford Budget Guidelines: please attach a certified audit report of all funds
appropriated during the last completed fiscal year to your funding request.
DECLARATION
|, the requester, understand that | am requesting public funds from the Town of Waterford.
| declare that this request does not pose any potential conflict with the Town of Waterford
and | will provide any documentation requested by the Town of Waterford to authorize
funding this request or review the appropriateness of the request.
Caen 7S a J F/R
—
Signature Date f /

PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
TO! Board of Selectmen
FROM: Robert M. Nye
Municipal Historian
DATE: Decemher 9, 2022
RE: . Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operating Budget
The Operating Budget for FY July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 for the Municipal Historian in the amount of
$800.00 is herewith attached.
Thank you for consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Nye

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MUNICIPAL HISTORIAN
Operating Budget FY 2023-24
LI 52646 (Municipal Historian)
Conferences, workshops
Reimbursable expenses (rnileage,
out-of-pocket exp., etc.)
Printing, copies
Books, supplies
Memberships
FY’22 FY’22 FY’21 FY’21 FY’20 FY’20
Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual
$800 $610 $800 = $730 $800 $776
FY’19
Budget
$800
Social Service Grants/Misc 10120
$800.00
FY’19
Actual
$799

10/18/2022
11:44
Town
of
Waterford,
CT
Pp
1
YEAR-TO-DATE
BUDGET
REPORT
glytdbud
FOR
2022
13
JOURNAL
DETAIL
2022
1
TO
2022
13
ORIGINAL
APPROP
TRANS
/ADJSMTS
REVISED
BUDGET
YTD
EXPENDED
ENCUMBRANCES
AVAILABLE
BUDGET
%
USED
10120
SOCIAL
SERVICE
GRANTS
10120
52646
TOWN
HISTORIAN
800.090
0.00
800.00
610.13
0.00
189.87
76.3%
2022/01/000310
07/23/2021
APL
35.00
VND
000121
IN
ROBERT
NYE
RENEWAL
F
NEW
LONDON
CTY
HISTO
ROBERT
NYE
MEM
305252
2022/01/000310
07/23/2921
API
31.00
VND
002481
IN
OHJ0157357021
MEMBR
TOWN
HISTORIAN
MBR
ROBERT
NYE
MEM
305286
2022/01/000377
07/30/2921
APTI
25.00
VND
000726
IN
MEMBER-R
NYE
WATERFORD
HISTORICAL
ROBERT
NYE
MEM
305366
2022/01/000438
07/01/2921
BUC
800.00
REF
ORIGINAL
BUDGET
2022
2022/02/000218
08/27/2921
API
25.00
VND
002161
IN
IND
MBR
R
NYE
RENEWA
FRIENDS
OF
THE
OFFIC
ROBERT
M
NYE
I
305674
2022/03/000056
09/17/2921
APT
25.00
VND
000838
IN
R
M
NYE
RENEWAL
MEMB
NEW
LONDON
LANDMARKS
ROBERT
M
NYE
R
305905
2022/04/000239
10/29/2021
API
20.00
VND
002970
IN
MEMBERSHTP
R
NYE
THE
INDIAN
&
COLONIA
ROBERT
NYE
REN
306546
2022/06/000109
12/10/2021
API
74.00
VND
000475
IN
SEAPORT
11/26/21
ROBERT
M
NYE
REIMB
ANNUAL
2
307157
2022/06/000109
12/10/2921
API
60.00
VND
000475
IN
FL
GRISWOLD
11/26/21
ROBERT
M
NYE
ANNUAL
MEMB
RE
307157
2022/06/000179
12/23/2921
API
40.00
VND
002756
IN
2022
IND.MEMBERSHIP
CONNECTICUT
LANDMARK
ROBERT
NYE
307231
2022/06/000180
12/23/2921
API
34.03
VND
000475
IN
wreath
from
Scott’s
ROBERT
M
NYE
wreath
for
Nev
307317
2022/09/000012
03/04/2922
API
50.00
VND
000475
IN
020922
ROBERT
M
NYE
CT
HISTORICAL
308146
2022/09/000134
03/18/2022
APT
35.00
VND
000475
IN
ASSOC
CT
HIST
2022
ROBERT
M
NYE
022822
MEMBERS
308333
2022/09/000134
03/18/2922
API
35.00
VND
000475
IN
WFD
LAND
TRUST
2022
ROBERT
M
NYE
030222
MEMB
RE
308333
2022/10/000007
04/01/2022
API
35.00
VND
000475
IN
031822
HARKNESS
ROBERT
M
NYE
RENEW
INDIVIDU
308477
2022/11/000054
05/09/2022
GEN
1.10
REF
GBI1
COLOR
COPY
CHRAGES
033122
2022/11/000090
05/13/2922
APT
30.00
VND
000068
IN
ROBERT
NYE
2022
NATIONAL
TRUST
FOR
H
ANNUAL
MEMBERS
308960
2022/11/000090
05/13/2022
API
30.00
VND
000475
IN
2022
NL
COUNTY
ROBERT
M
NYE
REIMBURSE
FOR
308982
2022/12/000076
06/10/2022
API
25.00
VND
000475
IN
060222
CT
EXPLORED
ROBERT
M
NYE
22-23
1
YEAR
M
309444
GRAND
TOTAL
800.00
0.00
800.00
610.13
0.00
189.87
76.3%
**
END
OF
REPORT
-
Generated
by
Ginny
Bielucki
**
ee
Ne” * anawo

11/08/2022 09:16 Town of Waterford, CT PB 1
ORIGINAL
APPROP
REVISED
BUDGET
YTD
EXPENDED
MTD
EXPENDED
ENCUMBRANCES
AVAILABLE
BUDGET
%
USED
10120 52646 TOWN HISTORIAN
800.00
800.00
155.00
55.00
0.00
645.00
19.4%
800.00
800.00
155.00
55.00
0.00
645.00
19.4%
insert Ncw Pc

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FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MUNICIPAL HISTORIAN
HISTORIC PROPERTIES COMMISSION
FY 2021-2022
The MUNICIPAL HISTORIAN is an agent of the town, appointed by the board of selectmen for a term of
three years. The current historian was appointed in 1993. There is no job description. The 1987
- enabling legislation simply allowed for municipalities to “[p]rovide for the appointment of a municipal
~ historian...” What municipal historians statewide do is determined mostly by personal inclinations and
local situations.
"The historian was instrumental in the establishment of the HISTORIC PROPERTIES COMMISSION (HPC) in
1999. The HPC qualified the town for designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG), a program
- designed to promote the preservation of historic and cultural resources in partnership with the National
Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The town has subsequently benefited
"from technical assistance and grant funding, amounting to some $70,000 over the years, allowing
Waterford to participate in federal and state historic preservation programs, including National Register =;
nominations and historic structure assessments.
; The HPC’s challenge is summarized in its mission (Ch. 2.86, Code of Ordinances):
In order to promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the Town of
Waterford, the purpose of [the Historic Properties Commission] shall be the preservation and
protection of buildings, archaeological sites, landscapes, and places of historic and cultural
‘ significance and their settings in Waterford, Connecticut, recognizing such as landmarks in the history -
of the town, state or nation. .
- In the twenty-plus years since its establishment, the HPC has worked closely with the historian. Listings
in the National Register of Historic Places include the districts in Quaker Hill, Graniteville, the
Oswegatchie Colony, and the Hartford Colony, as well as the individual listing of the Walnut Grove Farm
(former Hammond Estate). Listings in the State Register include the 1923 Cohanzie School and the
Secchiaroli Barn. Additional National Register listings include the Jordan Village District, Eolia (Harkness -
Estate), and the Seaside Sanatorium. :
_ On October 15, National Register coordinator Jennifer Scofield hosted a meeting at the library relative to
the status of the proposed Oil Mill district. On December 7, the State Review Board approved the
nomination pending minor edits which did not affect listing in the State Register. Listing in the National
Register is anticipated in FY’23. An argument from the developer and supported by the town to exclude
the industrially-zoned parcel at 21 Gurley Road (site of the former town poor farm) was deemed
irrelevant.

Though the HPC and the historian continue to advocate and/or support projects/issues consistent with
their mission, there remains real concern regarding the condition of the several town-owned buildings.
Time is running out for both the Cohanzie School and the Nevins Tenant Cottage. The town approved
$100,000 for the latter in the FY’22 budget and allotted another $100,000 from ARP funds. In addition,
approximately $20,000 has been collected in donations. Add a matching $200,000 Historic Restoration
Grant and it is likely the cottage could be structurally stabilized and the exterior completely
rehabilitated. Meanwhile time continues to run out for the Secchiaroli barn. It is, in fact - and has been
for several years - a town liability. A fourth town-owned building, the Jordan Park House (formerly the
*- town’s first purpose-built library, 1928), is in urgent need of repairs. An established “historic property”
and contributing property to the Jordan Village National Register Historic District, a long-term
_maintenance program must be set in-place. Repairs have been delayed for far too long. Further delays
amount to nothing short of demolition by neglect. Chairman John O’Neill and Municipal Historian
Robert Nye met with First Selectman Rob Brule on March 9 to discuss these very issues. All agreed that —
funds must be included in the Capital Plan each and every year for maintenance.
. At the Library on May 24, during National Historic Preservation month, R. Nye, with librarian Jill Adams’
assistance, presented “Town-owned Historic Buildings: Taking Stock” at the Library. In addition to the
Cohanzie School, Nevins Cottage, Secchiaroli Barn, and.Park House, buildings at Walnut Grove (former
Hammond Estate), site of the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater, and the 1936 Hall of Records, were also
discussed at length. J. O’Neill is a member of the ad hoc committee selecting a firm to determine the
specifications and draw up bid documents for roof and related repairs to the Hammond mansion. ..
issues related to the town’s neglected/abandoned cemeteries have been widely discussed but remain
largely unaddressed. Nonetheless E. Olynciw has made progress with her research for a book, and P: ~
Crotty has contributed to the “Find A Grave” website and continues to singlehandedly maintain the
Durfey Hill, Gorton and Church & Williams Cemeteries. He also anticipates applying for state funding for
a much-needed fence for the Gorton Cemetery.
Legal action regarding violation of the delay of demolition ordinance at 151 Oswegatchie Road in FY’19 ; .
"was never initiated. This is unacceptable. An enforcement procedure must be made clear.
“> number of ongoing projects and concerns remain on the table, action stalled in some cases due to the
pandemic. Looking ahead to FY’23, the HPC could consider collaboration with the Historical Society as
well as the Land Trust to explore common heritage themes relate to history, conservation and
preservation. There is also a need for a discussion regarding an historic cemetery association, separate
from HPC and officially recognized by the town to assume responsibility for neglected burial sites,
- among them Gorton, Durfey Hill and Church & Williams. In addition, the HPC could benefit with an
7 increased on-line presence. Worthy of HPC agenda consideration are the nomination of the Hall of
Records to the State Register; re-installation of the Jordan fishway marker and repair of the fishway
itself; updating the 1996-67 Historic/Architectural Survey; and monitoring Seaside Park and Friends of
Seaside developments. HPC continues to support Save the River - Save the Hills, Connecticut
Preservation (formerly Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation), and the Hartford-based lobbying
group Preservation Action. af
There remains a critical need to rally public support for the HPC mission. Fortunately the 2022-23 Plan
of Preservation, Conservation and Development offers the HPC an opportunity to participate in
discussions relative to the town’s commitment to providing storage for historical archives, contracting a
om

third-party historic architect to advise relative to maintenance of town-owned historic buildings, taking
some responsibility for neglected/abandoned cemeteries, designating Jordan Village a “village district”,
and supporting the Town Center Project connecting public spaces among other issues.
At the 2021 Annual Meeting in November, HPC officers elected were John O'Neill, Chairman; Patrick
Crotty, Vice-Chair; Secretary, Debra Walters; and Treasurer, Robert Nye (Municipal Historian). Rounding
out the membership are Vivian Brooks (Assistant Municipal Historian), Eileen Olynciw and Mark Olynciw.
There remains an alternate vacancy.
Both historians R. Nye and V. Brooks continue to field historical and genealogical inquiries directly from .
_ individuals as well as through the town clerk’s office, the Historical Society and the Library. The Historic
Properties Commission and the Municipal Historian serve the entire Town of Waterford and are, in vturn,
supported by the town pursuant to state statute and town ordinance.
Respectfully submitted,
fie i lel, Aa
John J. O’Neill, Jr., Chairman, Historic Properties Commission
Tey 2
Robert M. Nye, Municipal Historian