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

HISTORICAL
PROPERTIES
COMMISSION

TOWN OF WATERFORD
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
860-442-0553
SOCIAL SERVICES GRANT FUNDING REQUEST
ORGANIZATION NAME: Hi in P : C ® ecani
REQUEST DATE (FISCAL YEAR): FY -2024
REQUESTED AMOUNT: $400.00
BENEFIT STATEMENT (Describe how these funds will be used)
Postage, copies, memberships preservation outreach/programs, workshons/
seminars, grant application fees, minor cemetery maintenance, egpenses, 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.
— Abas Qidier fe ai Ra a hae
Zp

PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: John J. O’Neill, Jr.
Chairman, Historic Properties Commission
DATE: December 9, 2022
RE: Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operating Budget
LI 10120-52635
The Operating Budget for FY July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 for the Historic Properties Commission in the
amount of $400.00 is herewith attached for your review.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
oath

HISTORIC PROPERTIES COMMISSION Social Service Grants/Misc 10120
Operating Budget FY 2023-24
LI 52635 (Historic Properties Commission) $400.00
Postage
Membership, CT Trust
Preservation outreach/programs
Workshops/seminars
Grant application costs
Minor cemetery maintenance expenses
Misc.
FY’22 FY’22 FY’21 FY’21 FY’20 FY’20 FY’19 FY’19
Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual
$400 $115 $400 $158 $400 $158 $400 $355
Historic Properties Commission Donations Fund Balance FY’22: $3,307.00
Expenses associated with the cost of speakers, programs, activities, projects, matches for grants,
publishing costs, etc., expenses above and beyond and/or in addition to operating costs, cemetery
maintenance/repairs, equipment, misc.
Nevins Cottage Donations Balance FY’22 $9,394.00

vbielucki
YEAR-TO-DATE
BUDGET
REPORT
glytdbud
06/30/2022
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
52635
HISTORIC
PROPERTIES
COMM.
10120
52635
HISTORIC
PROPERTIES
COMM.
400.00
0.00
400.00
114.57
0.00
285.43
28.6%
2022/01/000438
07/01/2021
BUC
400.00
REF
ORIGINAL
BUDGET
2022
2022/01/000485
07/31/2021
GEN
9.57
REF
JULY
2021
METERED
MAIL
2022/02/000294
08/31/2021
GEN
2.55
REF
AUG
METERED
MAIL
AUGUST
2021
2022/03/000056
09/17/2021
API
75.00
VND
002008
IN
mbr
John
J
O’Neill
m
CT
TRUST
FOR
HISTORI
membership
for
305860
2022/03/000284
09/30/2021
GEN
3.38
REF
METER
SEPT
2021
METERED
MAIL
2022/04/000293
10/31/2021
GEN
0.53
REF
OCT21
METERED
MAIL
2022/04/000306
10/31/2021
GEN
0.25
REF
GB60
COLOR
COPY
CHARGES
093021
2022/05/000247
11/30/2021
GEN
2.65
REF
NOV21
METERED
MAIL
2022/05/000249
11/30/2021
GEN
0.05
REF
GB59
COLOR
COPY
CHARGES
103121
2022/06/000279
12/31/2021
GEN
7.66
REF
DEC
21
METERED
MAIL
2022/06/000280
12/31/2021
GEN
0.05
REF
GB52
COLOR
COPY
CHARGES
113021
2022/07/000257
01/31/2022
GEN
1.59
REF
JAN22
METERED
MATL
2022/08/000194
02/28/2022
GEN
0.10
REF
GB43
COLOR
COPY
CHARGES
013122
2022/08/000234
02/28/2022
GEN
1.59
REF
FEB22
METERED
MAIL
2022/09/000294
03/31/2022
GEN
0.53
REF
MAR
22
METERED
MAIL
2022/09/000303
03/31/2022
GEN
2.60
REF
GB52
COLOR
COPY
CHARGES
022822
2022/10/000315
04/30/2022
GEN
2.92
REF
APR22
METERED
MAIL
400.00
0.00
400.00
114.57
0.00
285.43
28.6%
**
END
OF
REPORT
-
Generated
by
Ginny
Bielucki
**

10/18/2022
13:35
Town
of
Waterford,
CT
vbielucki
BALANCE
SHEET
FOR
2023
3
FUND:
243
HISTORIC
PROPERTIES
DONATIONS
NET
CHANGE
FOR
PERIOD
ACCOUNT
BALANCE
ASSETS
243
14101
DF
GENERAL
FUND
TOTAL
ASSETS
FUND
BALANCE
243
31510
FUND
BALANCE
TOTAL
FUND
BALANCE
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
+
FUND
BALANCE
**
END
OF
REPORT
-
Generated
by
Ginny
Bielucki
**
P
glbalsh
1
t

11/08/2022
09:16
Town
of
Waterford,
CT
Pp
1
vbielucki
YEAR-TO-DATE
BUDGET
REPORT
glytdbud
10/31/22
FOR
2023
04
JOURNAL
DETAIL
2023
4
TO
2023
4
ORIGINAL
APPROP
REVISED
BUDGET
YTD
EXPENDED
MTD
EXPENDED
ENCUMBRANCES
AVAILABLE
BUDGET
%
USED
400.00
400.00
5.53
1.62
0.00
394.47
1.4
ae
2023/04/000230
10/31/2022
GEN
1.62
REF
OCT
22
METERED
MATL
400.00
400.00
5.53
1.62
0.00
394.47
400.00
400.00
5.53
1.62
0.00
394.47
1.4
ale
**
END
OF
REPORT
-
Generated
by
Ginny
Bielucki
**

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’ ° oS
“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.
“!> A 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
- 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. : ;
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

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,
Phat eek, Aa
John J. O’Neill, Jr., Chairman, Historic Properties Commission
Robert M. Nye, Municipal Historian