741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Historic District Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Ty Lamb

Regular Meeting

Monday, May 20, 2024

7:00 PM

Town Hall Annex -Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Lamb called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner William Barnes

Commissioner Douglas Kelley

Chairman Ty Lamb

Present

Commissioner Kelly Lamb

Commissioner Ammie Chittim

Alternate Member Kenneth Geer

Excused

Alternate Member Vincent Godino

Alternate Member Karen Parkinson

Non-voting

Also in attendance was Sharon Primmet, Nathan Lester House Caretaker.

III.

IV.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Not needed.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from April 15, 2024, as written.

Approved with amendments to:

Change "Erikson" to "Ericson" and "Finlayson" to Primmet"

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kelly Lamb

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Lamb Lamb Chittim

Geer

AYE

EXCUSED

VI.

TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT

Town Council Liaison - Councilor Tim Ryan.

Councilor Tim Ryan was not present.

VII. CHAIRMAN REPORT

General Report.

Chairman Lamb noted that Ms. Chittim and Ms. Parkinson are both working on Research and

Preservation. In the future Ms. Chittim will be taking more of a leadership role.

It was agreed that the Commission should do some research on the historic status of the

buildings and update the registries. It was mentioned that the Sawmill was designated historic in

1972.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Financial Reports.

No changes in the Sawmill donation account.

Chairman Lamb asked previous Chairman, Godino if most of the funds in the NLH donation

account were from the movie productions, he answered yes.

Chairman Lamb asked about the source of donations in the Sawmill account. Mr. Barnes said the

Sawmill has had some significant donations from visitors. He added that there are no restrictions

as to how the money could be spent, spending is at the discretion of the Sawmill. The donations

are not used often. It may need to be used this year for the penstock.

Chairman Lamb also asked about the source of donations in the NLH donation account. It was

answered that it consists of modest visitor donations and two movie production donations.

ARPA - Funds have recently been used for the NLH siding project and the Sawmill raceway.

Mr. Barnes asked to clarify that the remaining ARPA funds are mostly set aside for the Sawmill.

Chairman Lamb agreed.

Chairman Lamb will ask for new reports because additional funds have been used since the

reports were created. There were several POs created for the Sawmill, Nathan Lester House

Renovations, and an electrical emergency at the NLH that are not reflected in the current reports.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE

Chairman Lamb mentioned that if there are any forms of correspondence meant for the

Commission it should be forwarded to both him and Ms. Lamb.

Mr. Barnes reached out to the State of CT Development Management via email. Jessica Bilyard

from the Office of Innovative Partnerships and Planning Connecticut Department of Energy &

Environmental Protection responded to his questions. Mr. Barnes reached out to ask if there are

special requirements for the lining of the Penstock. There is an application that will need to be

completed.

In addition, the State of Connecticut may start having less oversight on smaller dams. Mr.

Barnes stated that the session is closed for the year but may be applicable next year.

IX.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Sawmill Committee - Mr. Barnes.

The highest priority for the Sawmill is the lining of the penstock. For this project the State

requires an application and not filing is considered a violation. The expectation is to file, get

approval, send out bids and select a vendor. Mr. Barnes questions the ability to complete all the

required steps in time to use the ARPA funding. If the deadline is missed, the Capital and

Sawmill donation funds would be available. Mr. Barnes said he will be seeking assistance in the

application process to ensure that no details are missed. He will request a quote for the assistance

cost.

Mr. Barnes reported that the tail race repairs, and restructured landscaping have been completed

and look great. One item still left to finalize is to reinstall the handrails. Possibly Mr. Kelley

could help with welding and restoring. Mr. Barnes requested a motion on reinstalling the

handrails. Mr. Kelley asked if a vote is needed to approve Sawmill subcommittee items. Mr.

Godino answered no and added that Bill could withdraw the motion. Chairman Lamb agreed.

A structural assessment is being completed by Beth Ackley and she will have some suggestions

for improvements. Mr. Barnes said the sum cost of all the projects needed for the Sawmill may

exceed the Sawmill funding, therefore the projects will need to be prioritized. For example, the

siding of the mill may not be required. Once Ms. Ackley has the recommendations ready for

review, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Ganong and Mr. Godino will prioritize the list. A few known necessary

improvements will be improvements to the outside of the Sawmill (but not a completely new

siding), and the gutter on the back side of the Sawmill. Ideally the pitch of the gutter should go

in the opposite direction to what it is now.

On June 1, 2024, the Historical Society will be holding a meeting at the Sawmill. It was asked if

permits were needed for food trucks and getting approval from the Town. It was answered no

because the Commission is in full control of the Sawmill and the surrounding 11 acres.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Nathan Lester House - Mr. Kelley.

Mr. Kelley reported that the restoration work on the East side of the Nathan Lester House has

made significant progress. The partnership with the Quiet Corner has been an outstanding

experience. All siding on the East side has been removed and all materials have been handled

per lead remediation regulations. Inspection of the exposed sheathing showed that some required

replacement which has been done with white oak. A couple of limited areas of timber framing

underneath the sheathing have been found to contain either rot or old termite damage. There is

no new termite infestation. Fortunately, the small amount and the exact placement of the sites

meant that using advanced epoxy was a good solution, rather than the far more extensive work

that would have been needed if pulling and replacing timber was required. The sites are above

the second floor and do not support the attic story, therefore the Committee is confident that the

repairs will hold up, especially with new sheathing in place.

Status:

Sheathing repair is complete.

A new membrane is attached.

Western red cedar siding has been delivered.

The stock for the water replacement table was delivered to Quiet Corner.

Window restoration is off site and under way.

Interior maintenance projects are ongoing.

Mr. Barnes stated that overall, he is very pleased with the progress, quality of work and

partnership with the vendor.

Mr. Kelley has been working with the Historical Society to assist with their new inventory

system. This consists of consolidating inventory ledgers into a computer system. Chairman

Lamb expressed concern that information the owners and donors of the items will be lost in the

new system. Mr. Kelly said the program the Historical Society is using is also used by museums

and will contain the accession number, description, where it is held, the item's condition and all

other information on the item. The Historical Society will also have the ability to edit and add

information as need be. Mr. Kelley said often during tours and reunions people request

information and it would be helpful to have details on hand to give them. The tool collections

will also be incorporated into this system.

Mr. Godino asked if the table he made from the cherry tree that died (front entrance), would be

given back (not sold) if the table is not wanted in the future. Chairman Lamb agreed.

Chairman Lamb said that the Ledyard Oak tree died that it has not been replaced. He put up for

consideration that it be replaced with the offspring of the original tree. It was mentioned that

Sprig and Twig donated an oak (not of historical significance), that is now about 20'-25' tall.

The Ledyard Rotary Club had a meeting at the NLH on May 9, 2024. Sharon Primmet, Nathan

Lester House Caretaker greeted the guests, gave an update on the Committee's activities, and

answered questions.

Mr. Kelley asked the electrician to remove the floodlights that were non-operational on the East

side of the NLH. At the same time, he asked the electrician to look at the floodlights on the back

of the carriage house. He determined that not only were they non-operational, but they had burnt

out and a possible fire hazard. He then asked the electrician to review the current going into the

NLH. The electrician engaged Eversource on the review. Eversource determined that all the

wiring from the connection down was unsafe and proceeded to turn off the power. The

electrician disputed this opinion but could not arrange for a grace period to have repairs made.

The electrician assisted with activating the generator, and then worked Sunday to replace the line

down to the meter.

Interior maintenance projects are underway and will be on view when the NLH opens for the

season. This maintenance will delay the opening past the Memorial Day weekend to June 1,

2024.

The Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed addition to new exterior

doors to the front of the barn is on the docket for this evening’s public meeting, held just prior to

this meeting.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Research/Preservation - Ammie Chittim.

Archeology days at the Nathan Lester House will re-open on June 22nd, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.,

asking for RSVP’s.

Mr. Lamb mentioned that the BOE connect with Ms. Chittim on these endeavors. Ms. Chittim is

offering help presently as to the timing of her leave finishing up in the middle of July.

Chairman Lamb, Ms. Ericson, Goshen and the Garden club will be working on clearing the land

in late summer and putting up the sign by Fall at the Lambtown Pollinator site.

Ms. Parkinson talked about the Spicer project during a site walk on May 21, 2024, at 4:00 pm

with the Land Use Committee. A meeting to be held with the Land Use Committee on the road

map and general discussions of the next steps. The Town already owns the Clark Farm, it's not

an open space. The intention is to get the Spicer Ruin identified as a local historic site first and

then recognized by the State later.

The Committee will request a meeting of the Land Use Committee and the Town Council

regarding the designated area so the town Council can give rights to the Ledyard Historic District

Commission. Will also need to designate the boundary lines, the foundation, the well and

gardens. Chairman Lamb suggested keeping it simple. A question was asked if the site would

need to be surveyed and if so, who would pay for the survey? Peter Gardner was suggested as a

surveyor. Breakdown of the phases of the Clark site: Agreement of the property, get

administrative control to the District Commission.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Center School - Mr. Geer.

Discussed the Gallup Hill Elementary School visit to the Ledyard Center One Room

Schoolhouse. There were people present who had attended one of the one room schoolhouses

which made it more special.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Social Media - Kelly Lamb.

Updates of the projects and pictures. Posting of the before, process and final stages of

Commission projects: One Room Schoolhouse (Ledyard Center), Sawmill and the Nathan Lester

House.

Events to post - Ms. Lamb asked all Commission members to be mindful of events and projects,

to send information and pictures to be posted on social media.

Ms. Lamb asked members to spread the word of the Commission's Facebook page. Mr. Kelley

asked if Ms. Lamb had access to the Instagram page. She said, not at this time but she is working

on it with Ms. Dyson.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

OLD BUSINESS

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

XI.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to ACCEPT the Certificate of Appropriateness for the Nathan Lester House Barn Door.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Ty Lamb

RESULT:

MOVER:

Douglas Kelley

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Lamb Lamb Chittim

Geer

AYE

EXCUSED

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

None.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 8:18 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

William Barnes

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Lamb Lamb Chittim

Geer

AYE

EXCUSED

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.