Historic District Commission elects new officers; members raise concerns about appointment process

At its Jan. 15 meeting the Historic District Commission elected a new slate of officers and heard an extended report from outgoing leadership about delays and confusion in the city’s commission appointment process.

Vice Chairman Reagan Minor proposed a temporary leadership slate and the commission voted to appoint Reagan Minor as chair, Greg Johnson as vice chair and Nancy (last name not specified in the transcript) to continue as secretary. The motion passed by roll call (Greg Farlow: aye; Greg Johnson: aye; Commissioner Dane: no; Reagan Minor: aye), 3‑1. The commission also approved the Dec. 18, 2024 meeting minutes and adjourned for its next meeting scheduled for Feb. 19.

Tim (identified in the meeting as the commission’s recent chair) delivered a detailed overview of the appointment and reappointment pipeline used by the city. He described the sequence the commission uses to move prospective appointees: an online application triggers notices to the mayor’s assistant/city clerk (Bonnie Hooperick) and to council subcommittee contacts (Jackie Barbarossa and Sheila Hayes), which then leads to a subcommittee interview and a recommendation forwarded to the full city council as a resolution. Tim told the commission that several applicants appear to be in a backlog and that some applicants have not received notifications or interview opportunities; he named multiple applicants who, according to commission members, had applied or reapplied but were not yet scheduled for interviews.

Commissioners and members raised three recurring concerns: inconsistent guidance about whether alternates must reapply, lack of applicant notification after submission, and apparent gaps between the online application and the scheduling of interviews. The commission’s staff and members agreed the practical effect is uncertainty for applicants and potential unfilled vacancies; Tim and others urged applicants to follow up directly with Bonnie Hooperick, Jackie Barbarossa or Sheila Hayes to help move applications forward.

Separately, the commission briefly discussed a functional issue at the Huntington House (a furnace replacement) and confirmed interior mechanical work not visible from the exterior typically does not require commission approval.

Votes recorded at the meeting included the COA for 21 West Towne Street (approved unanimously), approval of the Dec. 18 minutes (approved unanimously), the officer slate (approved 3‑1), and the motion to adjourn. Staff confirmed the next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.