Pittsfield Historical Commission Considers Expanded Role
 The Historical Commission is discussing ways to have a greater presence in preservation efforts. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Historical Commission believes there are many ways, both small and large, that it can become more involved in preserving local heritage.
But prioritizing which cases to devote limited time and resources to will require careful planning.
At its monthly meeting on Monday, members of the local advisory body discussed the implications of events both local and statewide driving interest in the invigoration of historical commission activity.
"I think it's important for the Historical Commission to respond to the interest that has been expressed in the community," said Chairman John Dickson.
Dickson and other members discussed a number of ideas and issues raised at an informational Community Preservation Summit hosted by the city the week before, partly in response to ongoing public interest in the uncertain future of the former St. Mary the Morningstar Church.
"I think one of the encouraging things was that people had some pretty concrete suggestions of things that can be done," Dickson said.
Among the sentiments put forth at that session was a general interest in expanding the role of the local Historical Commission, which in Pittsfield has been largely confined in recent years to the review of demolition requests as mandated by the city's Demolition Delay Ordinance.
The re-invigoration of municipal historical commissions was also among the recommendations of the recently adopted Sustainable Berkshires county action plan, and also of growing interest within the wider regional domain of the Western Massachusetts Historical Commission.
While that association serves as an umbrella for local commissions throughout this half of the state, there is now momentum to form a broader statewide coalition.
"Some of the smaller towns have been acting on their own, because they don't know what's available," Dickson said.
Another issue raised at the community session was the need for better outreach and marketing of resources available for preservation, both informational and financial. The commission had some preliminary discussion of forms that could take, from creating a Web presence for the commission to production of an informational brochure.
More assessment and advocacy for other historical properties is also a future planning concern to the commissioners, particularly the vacant, state-owned William Russell Allen house on East Street.
Other, smaller ways that they might be able to contribute to the historic landscape include providing research and input to inform the installation of more street plaques denoting historic buildings as the city prepares to enter into its next phase of streetscape construction on North Street next year, in the section between Madison Avenue and Columbus Avenue.
"There are quite a few buildings in that stretch that would probably be worthy of a plaque," suggested City Planner Cornelius Hoss.
The availability of funding will have the largest impact on what types of activity the commission will be able to undertake, and members of the body mulled possible sources of money, from available grants to the possibility of city budget allocation for certain initiatives, or to match any grant funds obtained.
"If there's something that you want to take on next year, you're welcome to request funding from the mayor for the next budget cycle," Hoss told them. But he added that if the commission is serious about pursuing an allotment for the 2016 fiscal year, it should begin to finalize its ideas within the next couple of months.
The commission is also interested in taking on a leadership role in organizing a follow up to last week's summit within the coming months, with a focus on proactive next steps that can be taken to advance preservation in the community.
One such step may be more exploration of adopting the Community Preservation Act, which allows municipalities to approve a small property tax surcharge that would provide an ongoing stream of funding available for historic preservation, parks, and other community improvement needed.
Williamstown, for example, has used its CPA money to fund affordable housing projects, restore historic cemeteries and support historic venues, and update public parks.
CPA adoption was explored in 2006, but was narrowly defeated by voters following what many of its advocates have characterized as a "disinformation campaign" by several former elected officials and local newspapers. Such advocates are also quick to point out that the act has undergone a number of key modifications in the past several years, and 47 more Massachusetts communities have adopted it since Pittsfield rejected it.
Most recently, in last week's election, CPA adoption was struck down by two local Berkshire towns, Otis and Sheffield, but passed in New Bedford, Arlington and Boxborough, while Amherst voters overwhelmingly endorsed raising its CPA surcharge from 1.5 to 3 percent.
Dickson pointed out that dollars from Registry of Deeds fees paid by Pittsfield residents are already going into the CPA fund, but the city is seeing no benefit in return because it has not opted into the program.
Commission members agreed that a more detailed public presentation on CPA adoption would be ideal for the next summit meeting, tentatively planned for January, as a cornerstone priority for advancing preservation activities.
"That seems sensible," said Thomas Martin. "Because then that becomes a funding stream for everything else."
The Historical Commission will meet again on Dec. 8 to further finalize an agenda for the second preservation summit.
Tags: CPA, historic preservation, historical documents,
