Commission asks Memorial Hall honor roll applicant for clarification; mixed eligibility on adding plaques

The Community Preservation Commission reviewed a pre‑application from town proponents for work on the Memorial Hall honor roll. Commissioners agreed that repairing or rehabilitating existing historic plaques could fall under the CPA historic resource category, but that creating new plaques or adding new names in new mounted displays looks like new construction and would not qualify under the historic preservation rules.

Commissioners asked the applicant to revise the application to distinguish strictly restorative work (preserve/rehabilitate existing plaques) from activities that would create new signage or new mounted displays. They asked for a clearer scope and a budget that separates eligible restoration work from ineligible new creation. The commission suggested the applicant consult state CPC technical guidance if the distinction remains unclear and assigned a liaison to work with the proponents on revisions and on coordinating with the Select Board (the Select Board must also be aware, commissioners noted).

Commission members voiced a preference for waiting for the town‑wide historic inventory (MACRIS numbers were mentioned) to better prioritize restoration needs; they said small corrective fixes that maintain historic fabric are more clearly allowable than creating new honor plaques or expansions.