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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Historic_11/20/2008VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 1. Call to Order and Roll Call The Village of Tequesta Historic Preservation Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Tequesta Village Hall, 345 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Thursday, November 20, 2008. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Chair Bethany Humpage. Present were Bethany Humpage, Alice Klimas, Kathleen Smith, Dottie Campbell, and Lee Resnik. Also in attendance were Village Clerk Lori McWilliams and Recording Secretary Betty Laur. Clerk McWilliams announced she had invited Ms. Laur because she was a local artist and she was going to discuss gallery molding and pricing. 1. Approval of 7/31/08 Minutes MOTION: Vice-Chair Campbell moved approval of the minutes of the 7/31/08 meeting with removal of the reference to Down's Syndrome; seconded by Committee Member Klimas; motion carried unanimously 5-0. 2. Review Long Time Resident List Vice-Chair Campbell reported she had been advised by Clerk McWilliams that she and Chair Humpage could not discuss the list outside a public meeting because of the Sunshine Law. Vice-Chair Campbell requested a meeting be set up for the purpose of going over the list, and asked that in the meantime everyone go through the list and make notes. Clerk McWilliams indicated she would advertise for a meeting date chosen by the committee. Vice-Chair Campbell suggested waiting until after the first of the year. The committee chose January 7, 2009 as the meeting date to review the list. Vice-Chair Campbell asked if anyone would like to make an attempt to contact previous business contacts such as Attorney John Randolph and others who had been with the Village through the years who might have resources, because the list was from current records. Clerk McWilliams suggested making two fists-one of residents and another for others. Clerk McWilliams noted there was a resident letter and forms included as backup for item 2, to be sent to residents once the list was completed. She explained that the forms included were drafts tweaked to fit the Village's situation from forms collected from other historical sources, and everything presented was in draft form and could be changed. Vice-Chair Campbell suggested changing "Dear Tequesta Resident" because some of the people who would receive letters were not residents of the Village. Clerk McWilliams advised she could do a mail merge so that each letter was personalized. 3. Discuss Loans, Donations, and Permanent Loans of Historical Memorabilia and Tax Deductions Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 2 The length of a loan would be up to the owner, and the loan form had a place to fill in the date loaned and returned to owner. Vice Chair Campbell commented that years ago she worked with the Historical Society and they had stored everything at the lighthouse with no forms. She related a story illustrating the importance of having forms to prove items were a gift or a loan, regarding a whole room of Indian artifacts that had to be given back because after the grandfather died his grandson claimed his grandfather had promised the Indian artifacts to him. He had sold them, and thus that history was lost. Village Clerk McWilliams noted she had created a form for a permanent donation and a form for a loan, so each party would have a copy. Vice Chair Campbell commented the Historical Society had done a series of interviews with Bessie DuBois regarding the early years before Jupiter and Tequesta existed, and recommended the Village request a copy of those interviews. The Loxahatchee Historical Society might have those. It was suggested to add a sentence to the permanent form saying `the donor acknowledges this will become the property of the Village of Tequesta', with the date received, and have the person making the donation sign it, and a member of the Historic Preservation Committee would sign that it had been received. A similar sentence would be placed on the loan form, `this is a loan to the Village', with a place for the date and a member of the Committee to sign that it had been received. Vice Chair Campbell asked that Ms. McWilliams place her contact information with her extension number on the forms. Ms. McWilliams provided her direct line and cell phone numbers for the committee's use. Betty Laur reported on information she had gathered regarding differences between loans, donations, permanent loans, and tax deductions. Ms. Laur commented she had contacted Steve Erdman, who was in charge of the donations and loans for the Palm Beach County Historical Society, and was an expert in his knowledge of these items. Ms. Laur reported she had contacted Kathleen Glover at the Loxahatchee Historical Society, but Ms. Glover had indicated she was not comfortable providing information regarding tax deductible items for a municipality, since she only knew about the museum. However, Ms. Glover had indicated they collected information on the local area and probably had hundreds of old photographs of Tequesta and the area, if the Committee would be interested in working with Lynn Drake in their archives area. Ms. Drake had been imaging, which would mean the Village might obtain copies, which would be perfect for a photo book such as the one shown to the Committee by Vice Chair Campbell. In the backup material provided to the Committee, Mr. Erdman had provided a definition of a loan and there was not really such a thing as a permanent loan-it was either a donation or a loan. Mr. Erdman had sent copies of their forms. Ms. McWilliams commented she believed a donation would be tax deductible but a loan would not. Vice Chair Campbell expressed her opinion that in addition to contacting the Loxahatchee Historical Society, the Chamber of Commerce should also be contacted. Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 3 When she had worked on the Tribute, they had gone to the Chamber and looked for pictures, and there were many boxes of pictures. Chair Humpage commented there had also been a box of history items, including the original telephone book. Some items had gone into a time capsule, and there were other pictures that were mentioned. Vice Chair Campbell commented Jupiter Courier should also be contacted, and there had been a Beacon newspaper in the past that might have information. The Committee looked at the Lightkeeper, Book 1 and 2-there were some names in those that were not on the Committee's list. Chair Humpage described a map with business cards all around it that they took to Mike Crow to have laminated and mounted just last year, but it had disappeared. Discussion took place regarding various items and people who might have information. Vice Chair Campbell suggested Lighthouse Center for the Arts might have some items. Village Clerk McWilliams reported she had found just one box of items in the Village's storage unit, which included pictures, legal advertisements, and newspaper articles from the 1960's. Village Clerk McWilliams announced she was going to item 7 on the agenda. 7. Historical Experts Attendance at Upcoming Meetings • Lynn Drake, Kathleen Glover -Jupiter Lighthouse Museum • Steve Erdman -Palm Beach County Historical Society • Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman, Desca Dubois, and Harvey Oyer, Jr. - known by Mary Miles, Previous Village Clerk Village Clerk McWilliams suggested bringing in someone with historical knowledge and who knew how to archive photos and other memorabilia. Ms. McWilliams reported Lynn Drake, who was currently archiving historical items for the Town of Jupiter, had called and asked to be involved; with this Committee. The Committee Members were in favor of having some of the people listed come to speak about archiving. Vice Chair Campbell suggested trying to locate Donna Myers, who might have some old photos. Village Clerk McWilliams commented she could provide some resumes from local people for the next agenda, and the Committee could pick who they would like to come speak to them. 4. Discuss Gallery Molding and Artwork in Village Hall Village Clerk McWilliams reported she had seen Mrs. Campbell's molding in her home for hanging artwork, which was great. Betty Laur reported her experience using rods and hangers purchased from Walker's Display for artwork, and explained that company's system for hanging paintings using molding purchased from them. She had roughly measured the walls in Village Hall and the two side walls in the Council chambers where the artwork would hang, to be able to figure estimated cost, which came to $197.55 just for the molding. The hardware and rods would be extra. Vice Chair Campbell explained she had four rows of molding and only used hooks; the hooks were removable if there was no art hanging and it still looked good since the molding Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 4 was painted the same color as the wall. Mrs. Campbell commented it was very easy to change artwork with the system she used. Ms. Laur expressed her opinion that the molding with hooks would be a much better system than using rods. If two rows of molding were used, the cost would be double; molding could be obtained locally so that shipping costs would not have to be paid, but care would need to be taken that the hardware would fit. Vice Chair Campbell had some hooks she had ordered that worked well, and advised she had a source for molding. Two sizes of hooks would be needed in order to hang both large and small paintings. Ms. McWilliams commented this committee had $2,500 that was budgeted for this year, and they needed to approve the glass shelving and molding, if that was what they wanted to do. She would need some archival materials when she learned what was needed. MOTION: Vice Chair Campbell made a motion to pursue the molding application with hooks. Committee Member Alice Klimas seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. Glass shelving was discussed. The proposed design would place glass shelving on each side of the Village Hall entry doors with lighting from the top and an acrylic panel to cover the shelves so no one could take items from the shelves. More shelves could be added later as more items were received. Ms. McWilliams reported the Village used Beacon Glass for their glasswork, and asked Vice Chair Campbell if Jeff could contact Beacon Glass with the design and find out the cost for the January meeting. Vice Chair Campbell suggested textured glass for the backing, and indicated that would be pursued. Board Member Kathleen Smith recommended thicker glass for the shelves rather than thin glass because even though it was not needed for the weight, it would look much more elegant. MOTION: Vice Chair Campbell made a motion to pursue the glass shelving and obtain a price per shelf for both thin and thicker glass shelves. Committee Member Kathleen Smith seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous vote. 5. Discuss Possible Placement of Past and Current Council Member Photos in Village Hall Ms. McWilliams reported the Village Council, and especially Council Member Amero, when he was on the Council, had been interested in placing the Council photos on the wall. It would be difficult to get pictures of past Council Members, and to get all of them would mean there would be over 300 pictures on the wall. Vice Chair Campbell had suggested placing the names on the outside of the frame of the picture in the lobby; but there was no more room. She suggested a walnut plaque with the names and room for future names, which could be placed on the paneling in the lobby or could hang from molding in the Council Chambers. Ms. McWilliams suggested possibly displaying Historic Preservation Committee Meeting Minutes November 20, 2008 Page 5 photos of only the current Mayor and Council. Vice Chair Campbell recommended formulating along-range plan, and possibly asking Council Members for donations from their discretionary fund. The first thing to do would be to obtain costs, then figure out what to do. This did not have to all be in this year's budget, it could start with the display cabinet, the next step could be the growing Mayor and Council Member name plates, and the molding. Frames would be needed for some items. 6. Discuss Past and Current Village Clerk Photos -Group Photo Ms. McWilliams announced this item had been removed from the agenda, and item 7 had already been discussed. 8. Schedule Next Meeting Ms. McWilliams asked if the Committee wanted to set the next meeting date, at which time the Committee would review their list of long-term residents. Consensus was to wait until after the holidays to decide on a meeting date. 9. Any Other Matters Vice Chair Campbell asked about acknowledgements to display with items that people donated. Ms. McWilliams noted having small plaques made could get expensive. Ms. Laur suggested printing small acknowledgements on the computer, all in a uniform font, on heavy paper that could be folded to stand next to the items, similar to a place card. Adjournment Upon motion by Alice Klimas, seconded by Kathleen Smith, and unanimously carried 5- 0, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. Respectfully submitted, ~iak: ~'L~.~.e.ce~~ Lori McWilliams, CMC Village Clerk