Council refers Perry School to historic preservation commission for landmark review

The Belvidere City Council voted July 6 to refer Perry School to the citys Historic Preservation Commission for potential landmark designation, and discussed whether the application should be filed by staff or an alderman.

Gina, the staff liaison for historic preservation, told the council staff typically is not the official applicant for landmark petitions because staff must process applications and may need to be cross-examined at public hearings. “Typically, staff is not the applicant,” Gina said, explaining the practical role separation.

Alderman Peterson said he would volunteer to serve as the official applicant or signatory and offered to work with staff on assembling the application materials. Several council members suggested that having council support would strengthen the application. The city attorney cautioned about Open Meetings Act rules: unless the meeting is published as a city council or committee meeting, "you guys cannot get more than 2 of you together at any 1 time to discuss any business," he said, noting the constraints on council member gatherings outside published meetings.

Council members said Perry School has long local significance (the building served as an elementary school for 126 years) and affects nearby neighborhoods. The motion to refer the property to the Historic Preservation Commission passed by roll call (motion passed, 9 in favor).

Next steps: staff will process the referral; Alderman Peterson offered to serve as an applicant or signatory and more formal documentation will be prepared for the public hearing before the preservation commission and, if recommended, a subsequent council vote.

Because landmark designation requires a public hearing, the council discussed logistics for who will present the application and whether multiple aldermen should attend as members of the public or as part of a published council action.