Commissioners defer action on petition to require two‑thirds HDC vote for demolition of 50‑year‑old structures

Commissioners discussed Article 72, a citizen petition from Hollis Webb that would require a two-thirds Historic District Commission vote to permit the demolition of structures 50 years or older. The commissions agreed not to take action at the CLG meeting and planned to convene HDC review and a public hearing in advance of town meeting.

Rita Carr introduced the item and asked whether the HDC had already reviewed it; members said HCC had not yet held an open meeting on the petition and would do so prior to town meeting. Staff cautioned that, under town-council guidance, increasing a vote threshold for the HDC to more than a majority may not be implementable by municipal vote alone and could require an amendment to the special act or other state-level action. "Per town council, in order to create a binding quorum of vote higher than a majority… an amendment will be required to the special act," staff said.

Commissioners agreed that public hearings at the HDC would be necessary to allow interested parties to testify and for the commissions to form an informed recommendation. Several commissioners suggested the HDC take the lead on formal discussion, post the item on future agendas, and confirm whether any legal changes are necessary to make the two-thirds threshold binding.

The CLG meeting therefore recorded no formal endorsement or opposition on Article 72; instead, the commissions committed to schedule HDC/HCC review and to seek legal clarification before any town-meeting action.