A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee was held on March 07, 2007 at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.  In attendance were co-chairs Andy Bulfer & Peggy Bulfer, John Grossmann, Maria Iacullo-Bird, Joan Nix, Bonnie Rosenthall, Pat Rusak, Chris Sheasby, and Borough Council Liaison Ellen Emr. 

Opening Items

• Minutes Approval -- The minutes from last time were approved.
  
  
• Treasurer's Report -- Treasurer Chris Sheasby reported the following financial information for the period Feb 02, 2007 through Mar 07, 2007.
  
  

  Opening balance (2/02/2007)	$2818.93
  Revenue	$0.00
  Expenses	$236.00
  Closing balance (3/07/2007)	$2582.93

  
  The major expense during the period was a payment made to Erie Landmark Company ($236).
  
  
• New Member -- Bonnie Rosenthall was introduced and welcomed by the attendees.
  
  
• Member Resignation -- It was announced that Margarethe Laurenzi has resigned.

Public Comments

None.

Old Business

• Market Project -- The Committee discussed this project.  Andy Bulfer reported that the planned letter from the HPC to Christopher Palazzi, the developer, was sent on March 4 suggesting the benefits to retaining the original historic building that he might not have considered and offering to meet with him.  Bulfer said he has not heard back as yet.

  The Borough Council has requested a presentation by the HPC about the project and the Committee discussed it.  It was decided that the presentation will be given by Maria Iacullo-Bird, Andy Bulfer, and Joan Nix covering the historic significance of the market building, examples of other commercially successful renovations, and a review of the financial incentives available.  The presentation will be given at the March 26 Borough Council meeting if the mayor concurs.
  
  

• Updating the Borough Master Plan -- As discussed last time, the Historic Preservation chapter of the Master Plan needs to be reviewed and strengthened now that the historic district has been accomplished.  Joan Nix will draft a letter to the master plan committee of the planning board urging such a review and suggesting areas that need enhancing.  Maria Iacullo-Bird and Andy Bulfer will review and polish it if necessary.  The HPC will be happy to assist the planning board if they wish.  Nix said she hopes to have the draft available by March 14.
  
  
• Public Awareness of the Historic District -- Chris Sheasby discussed a design of the markers to have a more Arts and Crafts look/feel with Erie Landmark Company and reported that it might increase the cost of the signs. 

  Ellen Emr told the committee that funding for the signs had been removed from the Borough's preliminary capital budget.  It was decided to pursue several other possible sources of funding.  Andy Bulfer will provide the original letter to Chris Sheasby and Pat Rusak who will modify it appropriately for this purpose.
  
  

• HPC Brochure -- Last time, the Committee decided to change the emphasis of the brochure from the HPC to the historic district.  Maria Iacullo-Bird said she has drafted another version of the text.  She will forward an electronic version of it to Peggy Bulfer who will flow it into her design of the brochure.
  
  
• Oral Histories -- Andy Bulfer said there are now 15 Oral Histories on the Web site with none waiting to be uploaded.  (Unfortunately he was mistaken; later Bulfer found out there are still two to be uploaded.)  John Grossmann reported he had received a number of items from the previous coordinator, Margarethe Laurenzi, including her status spreadsheet and interviewer briefing material.  He discussed several other possible names and his plans for getting them done.
  
  
• Updating the HPC Pages on the Web Site -- Maria Iacullo-Bird has reviewed the material and found several inaccuracies.  She will forward her proposed changes to Andy Bulfer for inclusion on the Web site.
  
  
• Audio Walking Tour -- John Grossmann reported that he has made some progress but there is still more to do.  Bonnie Rosenthall volunteered to work with him on it.
  
  
• Picture Scanning -- Andy Bulfer said that there are now a total of 602 pictures on the Web site, 507 of houses and 95 photos of early life.  There are 268 individual houses on 32 streets represented.  All previous scans have been uploaded.  Pat Rusak said there are still several streets left to do.
  
  

New Business

• Library Display -- Pat Rusak reported that she had put an interesting historic exhibit in the Library display cabinet entitled "Mountain Lakes 1910-1915".  Several committee members said they had seen it and it is wonderful.

Date for Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on Wed April 04, 2007 at 7:30 pm in Borough Hall.

Andy Bulfer