The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006 at 7:30 pm in the Wilton Public Library. Present were Stanley Young, Michael Dell’Orto, Don Channing, Nancy Clark and Dan Zabara.

The Oct. 17 minutes were read and accepted as written. The Treasurer reported that during the past year the Heritage Commission had spent $641 out of a $700 budget and he proposed that a request for another $700 to be submitted to the budget committee for the coming year. The budget request was formally approved.

Dan Zabara attended the meeting to discuss a matter concerning a silo at Four Corners Farm. He is a member of the organic farming community that has leased the farm and which is, at present, working the land. According to the terms of the lease, the farmers have to maintain the buildings on the farm, however, the farmers believed they had a verbal understanding with Steve Moheban that the silo could be taken down by the farmers. They have no use for the silo which is in poor condition and they want to put down a concrete pad for cows on the site of the silo, once it has been dismantled. However, Steve Moheban asserts that he is attached to the silo and he wants the farmers to pay $10,000 to repair and renovate the silo. Dan Zabara was seeking a clarification as to where liability lies and thus, he had undertaken to consult with the Heritage Commission as well as LCHIP to determine what should be done.

Photos of the silo were produced. It is constructed of clay tiles, with breaks in the construction and significant cracks. ( One fix would be to spray a cement-like mixture over all. ) The silo itself is not that old, nor is it of architectural or historic interest. Some aesthetic value may be ascribed to it, in general terms, if viewed from a distance as part of a rural scene. Commission members believe that the actual use of the farm as a farm preserves and celebrates the past in a vibrant and important way.

Commission members wondered whether there was not a difference between routine maintenance by the farmers on buildings that were of use to them and being asked to pay for the restoration of a building of no present or future use to them. Furthermore, the question of liability was raised, should the flimsy structure collapse and cause injury. The Heritage Commission gave its approval for the demolition of the silo. LCHIP will be asked for an opinion, as well. Mr. Zabara thanked Commission members for hearing him out, and he left.

The minutes of the Sept. 14 Special Meeting were discussed, next. The minutes were accepted, with some agreed upon amendments made. As a follow-up, Stanley reported he had called Bill Condra. To date, Steve Moheban had not yet applied for a building permit but Bill Condra had inspected the new exterior staircase at Steve Moheban’s request. He said the structure was okay, but he recommended additional bracing because the staircase is shaky.

As a final item, the subject of Scenic Roads was raised. Commission members decided to support a warrant article proposing that Dwight Road be designated as a scenic road believing that such a designation would necessitate a hearing before trees could be cut or stone walls removed or the road itself be widened. Further suggestions were made for other scenic roads, among them Stagecoach and Town Farm and Old Country Farm roads.

It was decided to suspend the Dec. 26 meeting of the Heritage Commission. The meeting adjourned at 9 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Clark, Secretary