Cecil County Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes

2 December 2003

Present: Cairns, Ed & Sally; Dixon, Mike; Edwards, Ron & Audrey; Sennstrom, Eric

Absent: Malin, Jesse; Simpers, Nancy

Call to order

Chairman Ed Cairns called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

Meeting Minutes

Motion made by Ron Edwards to approve minutes of 4 November 2003 Historic District Commission meeting, seconded by Sally Cairns.  HDC voted unanimously to approve minutes.

New Business

Chairman Ed Cairns asked for volunteers to perform State easement inspections.  Easement inspections were assigned as follows:

1. Center School & Rose Hill - Ed & Sally Cairns
2. Wallace Carter Mill - Jesse Malin
3. Gilpin Falls - Mike Dixon
4. West Nottingham & John Churchman House - Ron & Audrey Edwards
5. Fair Hill Inn - Nancy Simpers
6. Yacht Elf - Ron & Audrey Edwards

Chairman Ed Cairns requested that the easement inspections be completed by June 2004. 

Old Business

Chairman Ed Cairns lamented the dearth of new applications for historic nomination.  He queried the HDC on what can be done to encourage voluntary nomination for designation by property owners.  Ron Edwards stated that eye to eye contact is best method to encourage property owners to voluntarily nominate for historic designation.  Audrey Edwards stated that she gave a nomination form to the owners of the Reynolds House.  Chairman Ed Cairns provided samples of press releases to be sent to the Cecil Whig.  Mike Dixon suggested an enhancement of incentives.  Chairman Ed Cairns interjected that the prime incentive should be the desire of the property owner to protect and preserve their property.  Mike Dixon suggested an increase in the tax credit, speaking to more civic and service groups, address the Historic Society luncheon and provide an article for their journal.  Chairman Ed Cairns asked Director Sennstrom to discuss an increase in the local historic preservation tax credit with the Board of County Commissioners.  Audrey Edwards suggested sending letters to individuals that sent in pre-applications but never followed through on nomination.  She also stated that a telephone call and site visit would also help.  The HDC decided to send Chairman Ed Cairns' letter to the Rising Sun Herald and Sally Cairns' letter to the Cecil Whig.  The HDC would like Nancy Simpers to follow up with the Cecil Whig to ascertain how the newspaper's publicity efforts are proceeding.  Chairman Ed Cairns stated that the student from Harford Community College has sent a list of historic preservation classes available at the college.  Chairman Ed Cairns provided an article from the Kent County News regarding the State's heavy handedness in dealing with an easement property owner.  The HDC perused the article and discussion ensued.

Meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.