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Lakeville Historical Commission asks FINCOM for funds for Town House ramp; seeks outside input on proposed Native American statue
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Lakeville Historical Commission voted for the secretary to request a Finance Committee meeting to seek encumbrance of prior-year free cash for a Town House accessibility ramp. Commissioners also reopened discussion of a proposed statue of John Sassaman and agreed to seek outside consultation before advancing the project.
The Lakeville Historical Commission voted to ask the Town of Lakeville Finance Committee (FINCOM) to meet with the commission about returning previously unencumbered funds so the commission can fund an accessibility ramp at the historic Town House.
Commissioners moved that the commission secretary write a letter to FINCOM requesting a meeting to discuss using fiscal year 2018 free cash to encumber funds for the ramp and to apply fiscal 2019 allotments toward outstanding rent. The motion was moved and carried by voice vote; no individual mover or second was recorded in the meeting transcript.
The commission discussed the procedural reason for the request: one member noted that anticipated funding had not been encumbered at the end of the fiscal year and instead went into free cash, leaving the commission without the expected reserved funds. “The money was not encumbered at the end of the fiscal year; it automatically went into free cash,” the member said. The same member described the transfer sheet as the mechanism the commission should use to request that FINCOM make those funds available.
Why it matters: The Town House ramp affects access to a public historic building and requires funding decisions that exceed the commission’s operating budget. The commission does not control FINCOM’s decisions; it requested the meeting to seek FINCOM’s approval to reserve existing municipal funds for the project.
Commissioners also resumed a longer discussion about a proposal to commission a statue of a historical Native American figure, identified in the meeting as John Sassaman. Daniel Casari (who presented the idea to the commission and to the Selectmen) was described as the primary proponent and invited to return to the commission’s October meeting to present his research and rationale.
Members reviewed prior outreach and concerns. The commission chair reported earlier contact years ago with the state office described in the meeting as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs; that office reportedly advised against the statue at the time because of concerns about historical interpretation and community reaction. The commission also reviewed a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights document (cited in the meeting as a 2001 statement) about stereotyping and the use of Native American images and names, and members discussed the risks of promoting inaccurate or stereotyped imagery.
The commission agreed to gather additional information and outside input before taking any formal steps on the statue proposal. Members named two potential outside contacts: (1) Daniel Casari, invited to present his background and research at the October meeting; and (2) Jennifer Pacheco, an art-department contact at Bridgewater State University (email provided in meeting: jenniferlynnpacheco@gmail.com), who the commission said could advise on costs and artistic issues. A commission member also suggested contacting federal or state tribal affairs offices for guidance and possible consultation.
Other business discussed at the meeting included the town’s scholarship awards, museum collections and conservation practices, and planning for the town’s 170th anniversary index and possible publication. The commission received a thank-you note from Gage Ramston, an Eagle Scout who received a $250 scholarship after building raised garden beds for the Lakeville Senior Center; the commission also reviewed account balances for the Town House, the historical commission account, and the scholarship account.
Votes at a glance - Motion to accept minutes of the previous meeting: approved (voice vote; no individual votes recorded). - Motion to accept financial report (accounts including Town House, historical commission, scholarship account): approved (voice vote; no individual votes recorded). - Motion that the secretary write to FINCOM to request a meeting to seek encumbrance of FY2018 free cash for the Town House ramp and to apply FY2019 funds toward rent/balance: approved (voice vote; no individual votes recorded). - Motion to adjourn: approved (voice vote).
The commission instructed the secretary to prepare the FINCOM letter and confirmed a plan to invite the statue proponent and to contact academic and tribal-affairs resources for further guidance. The commission set follow-up items for its October meeting, including possible presentations on the statue proposal and more detailed fundraising or encumbrance paperwork for the ramp request.
