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Boonton preservation commission seeks consultant money for design guidelines, calls for stronger enforcement and an annual report
Summary
Commissioners discussed commissioning updated design guidelines (estimated $8,000–$14,000), producing an annual report to document Main Street improvements, and reinstating monthly enforcement reports from code enforcement to improve compliance.
The Boonton Historic Preservation Commission agreed to pursue an update of the town's design guidelines and to press for improved enforcement reporting and an annual commission report to the council.
Commission member Zeke estimated the cost of hiring a consultant to update the guidelines at roughly $10,000 (he said a plausible range would be $8,000 to $14,000) and recommended issuing an RFP to get firm bids. Members said an adopted, consultant‑crafted guideline set would be easier to defend to the council and would strengthen the commission's position when negotiating with property owners.
Separately commissioners urged the town to resume a monthly tabulation of warnings and violations issued in the historic district so the commission could track compliance and push staff to issue warnings or fines when appropriate. "We used to get a report of warnings and violations issued to whom and for what," one member noted; others agreed to ask planning staff to restart those reports immediately.
Commissioners also proposed producing an annual report with before-and-after photos to show the economic and visual benefit of preservation rules and suggested targeted outreach to realtors and prospective buyers (mailer and downloadable materials) so new owners understand historic-district obligations.
The commission reported recent graffiti incidents on the arch bridge and other historic masonry, and said DPW has been asked to remove markings while police check camera footage. Members urged the town to take a firmer stance on littering and illegal dumping in business districts.
Next steps included checking budget availability for a consultant and asking staff to prepare an RFP and to reinstate monthly enforcement reports to the commission.
