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Council approves acknowledgement letter for Glen Manor House National Register nomination
Summary
The Portsmouth Town Council voted unanimously to approve an acknowledgement letter supporting a National Register nomination for the Glen Manor House area after a presentation from Steve Johnson and brief staff Q&A about review and impacts.
Steve Johnson, speaking for the Friends of the Glen Manor House and the Portsmouth Historical Society, asked the council to sign an acknowledgement letter so the group can move the Glen Manor House nomination forward to the state review board. "We do not need cash. We do not need any effort. We just need a signature on the final application once it is ready," Johnson said.
The council heard a short explanation of the benefits and review process from Johnson, who said listing would increase the town’s ability to pursue grant funding and provide a formal avenue to review state or federal projects that might affect listed properties. Johnson said the friends have identified funding to hire a consultant to prepare the application.
Councilors asked whether state review through the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (HPHC) would limit the town’s ability to make local capital improvements. Town Administrator Rainer said the HPHC reviews plans and offers one of three common responses — approval, recommendations, or objections — and described the process as consultative rather than an automatic veto. Rainer noted that prior HPHC reviews had been completed quickly in at least one recent case.
After questions from the dais and comments from staff, a councilor moved to approve the acknowledgement letter and the council voted to approve the request (motion passed, recorded by the president as 6 to 0).
The council’s approval means the Friends of the Glen Manor House can finalize their application and return it to the state review board for consideration. Town staff and the friends indicated they will follow up with the council at required points in the state process.
