The meeting was called to order on June 26, 2007 at 7:30 pm in the Wilton Town Library. Present were Stanley Young, Michael Dell’Orto, Phyllis Tallarico, Corinne Blagbrough, Jesse Salisbury, Dan Donovan and Nancy Clark.
The April minutes were read and accepted as written. The Treasurer reported that no money had been spent. Around $300 remains in the private account.
Work continues on the project to place the Town Hall on the National Register. Stanley turned over the existing research to Corinne who will continue the work. Stanley has lined up expert support for the architectural inventory.
As for the Four Corners farm silo -- the farmers want to remove the tile silo which is useless, in the way and an insurance liability. Steve Moheban wants to keep the silo as part of the farm’s “look” as, in the meanwhile, the silo continues to disintegrate. Phyllis pointed out that a working farm is not a static place and observed that a working farm in and of itself is an important entity for the Heritage Commission to encourage and foster. Michael suggested that S. Moheban himself can undertake to stabilize and save the silo. Also, LCHIP and the town have signed off on the exterior stairway which was built without following existing design and permit requirements.
Work continues on historical markers. Stanley and Michael will raise the Davisville sign soon. Stanley proposed the area in the vicinity of the police station as the next place to receive signage. He suggested erecting a kiosk with a changing exhibit which will tell in pictures and text the history of the mills. The kiosk at the Sheldrick Forest was suggested as a model. The downtown community message board was also proposed as a design to consider, one perhaps more in scale with the downtown setting.
Scenic Road status will be sought for Dwight Road. It is a good starting place because only two families live on the road. The signatures of 28 voters are needed to petition for a warrant article or a Selectman can present the request before the other Selectman. Dan Donovan volunteered to take the latter course.
Jesse reported on Lyndeborough’s Heritage Commission. They’re working on their Town Pound gate as well as the sale of house markers and Welcome to Lyndeborough signs. They are also looking for projects and Jesse hoped to hear some ideas at the Wilton HC meeting.
Phyllis brought up the subject of the disintegrating and broken cemetery stones. Dan Donovan said some efforts are underway to address the situation. The ground has to be brought up to standard before repairs can get underway. Soil analyses have shown that lime and fertilizer are needed and funds for this have been approved. The question was raised whether perpetual care money could be used to restore the stones. Dan reported that over the years, during gaps in the tenures of Cemetery Trustees, some perpetual care funds have gone into the general fund so some of the money is not necessarily there. (By statute, each individual grave must have a separate trust fund.) Dan would like the Heritage Commission to make a presentation before the Budget Committee about the state of the cemetery stones. Stanley and Phyllis will begin the process of documenting the damage and obtaining cost estimates for stone repair.
Dan also reported that he had received an interesting Wilton-related document from Daniel Sander of Tilton Center who found it inside an old sewing machine. The pamphlet, Wilton Doings, published in 1889 by H.P.Ring was turned over to Phyllis who will preserve it in the archives and send Mr. Sander a thank you note.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30.