SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: April 20, 2009
COMMISSION MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Sandy Momyer, Khalil Hihi, Joanne Brown, Doug White, John Gregory, Jay Stearly
SUPERVISORS IN ATTENDANCE:
Barbara Cohen
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ginny Stearly, Bob Wise, David Keifer
Chair Sandy Momyer opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
John Gregory made a motion to approve the minutes from February and March. Jay Stearly seconded the motion and all voted aye.
CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. The township newsletter has come out and featured our Citizen of the Year - Joanne Brown - plus a story on Moore Hall.
b. We interviewed David Keifer for a position on our commission. Todate we have met with Ginny Stearly and Keifer. We will attempt to meet with Mara Trumbell and Sean Dempsey in the near future and then make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to take on new members.
REPORTS - SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP
a. Board of Supervisors - Barbara Cohen gave an update on the historic Schuylkill School project
- Cohen is suggesting an open forum/town meeting format with the Phoenixville Area School District to discuss the school and how it could be renovated. We need to review past budget figures which at one time totalled $2.5 millions to come up with a price to do so. We need to put the numbers of dollars needed with a plan to make a clean and green space. We will work with Tom Carnevale to get the numbers and Barbara sees an opportunity to work with vendors re the green materials. It was proposed that a Schuylkill School Town Meeting could be held the first week of September 2009. This needs to be looked into. We would need to get into the fall township newsletter.
- John Gregory suggested that we discuss this with the township solicitor to see what affirmative steps we can take to move the project of stablilization forward.
- With new people running for school board it was also suggested that we hold a candidate forum so our residents can meet the people running for school board positions. We could also invite them to our meeting to discuss the school. We need to check with Mary to see if we can host a candidate forum.
-Bob Wise suggested that perhaps the Chester County Historic Preservation Network could help with the school.
b. Planning Commission - We would like to photograph the American Inks property before it is completely gone. We need to contact them to arrange it. We will check with Mary to arrange it.
c. Open Space - no report
d. EAC - no report
CURRENT PROJECTS
A.. RFP - Mary, with Dianne and John, rewrote the RFP that went out. Thirty sets were mailed.
b. Several of the contacts have called with questions to our request.
c. Bob Wise came to our meeting with his questions re the RFP
d. He said we needed more clarity on scope of services. He showed up copies of what he can do for us and suggested that we could get funding from the County up to 75%. They have forms available that we could use.
e. It seems we need an addendum to our RFP and we should write it and send new copies to everyone including extending the due date. Wise said for $20 he could help write the new scope.
f. We determined that there are about 300 properties that need to be surveyed. We will investigate the County support. We will also consider a new classification for the 1960 type homes, i.e. Evergreen Acres, etc.
B. Anderson Place - it seems a new driveway needs to be added to the renovation of this historic property. We would like to see the proposed plan for this and will check with Dr.Lukacs for approval.
C. Freedoms Foundation - still attempting to work with the administration
D. Reeves - no update
E. Update Ordinance - John to set workship date
F. Schuylkill School - discussed above
OLD BUSINESS - no updates
NEW BUSINESS
a. 345 Jug Hollow Road is up for sale again - we will watch sale due to Escherick design in the interior
b. We need to investigage the historic structures that are on the proposed Toonerville Trolley Trail.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Next meeting will be May 18, 2009
Meeting to begin at 7 p.m.
Submitted by:
Sandy Momyer, Chair