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Heritage commission delays adoption of updated rules pending staff historic-resource protocol
Summary
The Londonderry Heritage Commission postponed final adoption of revised rules of procedure until planning staff provides a written protocol for checking properties against the EMTT and the town historic list; members flagged staff turnover as a risk to timely implementation.
The Londonderry Heritage Commission reviewed a redline draft of revised rules of procedure and found the draft inconsistent and difficult to follow. Commissioners said the document’s redline and the updated text did not align, with edits appearing in different parts of the draft and explanatory notes scattered across columns.
Members emphasized a missing operational detail: a staff protocol that documents how planning staff will check incoming site plans against the EMTT and the town’s historic property list and then report those checks to the commission. Commissioners asked that the protocol include a 'positive affirmation'—a staff confirmation that each property had been checked and whether the commission should be notified—so that historic resources are not missed in staff screening.
Several commissioners also noted that planning staff member Kelly will leave at the end of June, which could complicate timely implementation of the protocol unless staff documents and communicates the process promptly. The commission agreed to defer final adoption of the rules of procedure until planning staff provides the written protocol and a cleaned-up redline/final document.
Next steps: staff was asked to circulate Kelly’s protocol when available so the commission can review and, if necessary, modify it to include a reporting function. The commission will revisit the rules once staff confirms how historic-resource checks will be carried out.
