Historic District Study Committee Meeting Minutes 1/21/21

LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT STUDY COMMITTEE

TOWN OF MONTEREY, MASSACHUSETTS

Minutes January 21, 2021

The Mission of this Committee, as established by the Monterey Select Board and sanctioned by Massachusetts General Law, is to promote the significance, benefits, public recognition and “pride of place” of the historic heritage of our town in its official incorporation as a town of Western Massachusetts in 1847. 

Specifically, we aim to:

• Build a town-wide constituency for the historic preservation of central Monterey.
• Provide all citizens and officials information on the criteria of an Historic District; its significance to the history of the community of Monterey, determine the distinctive characteristics of the area, and how this designation would benefit property owners as well as the community.
• Explore the opportunities for designating Monterey’s downtown area as an Historic District through a National Parks program.
• Preserve and protect the original schoolhouse on Main Road as an historic building in the district, with the intention of returning it to Pre-K and K schooling.
• Submit a formal report to the Town and its citizens in anticipation of holding a Town Meeting vote on this District prior to applying to National Parks.
• Funding for the application will apparently be needed, through hiring a consultant.