[Amended 1-9-1989; 3-21-2005]
A. There is established under the provisions of the Historic Districts
Act, MGL c. 40C, as amended by Chapter 359 of the Acts of 1971,
and MGL c. 40, § 8D, a Springfield Historical Commission,
to be governed by and operated in accordance with the provisions relative
thereto of the General Laws or any special act or amendment thereto.
B. The Commission shall consist of seven regular members to be appointed
by the Mayor subject to the confirmation of the City Council, including
one member from two nominees submitted by the Springfield Historical
Society or, in absence thereof, from the Society for the Preservation
of New England Antiquities; one member from two nominees submitted
by the chapter of the American Institute of Architects covering the
City; one member from two nominees submitted by the City Board of
Realtors; and one member from two nominees submitted by the Springfield
Preservation Trust, Inc.
C. It is recommended that the remaining three members be selected from
among the following professions: a lawyer, a landscape architect,
a banker, and a public relations specialist or, in the absence of
any one or more of the aforementioned, a person or persons interested
in historic preservation.
D. Each such member of said Commission shall be a resident of the City
and any such member removing his residence from said City shall be
considered thereby to have resigned his membership in the Springfield
Historical Commission. The members of said Commission shall also include
one or more residents of or owners of property in an historic district
administered by said Commission. When the Commission is first established,
two members shall be appointed for a term of one year; two shall be
appointed for a term of two years; and three shall be appointed for
a term of three years. At the expiration of the respective terms of
the first appointees, the Mayor shall appoint a successor for each
office for a term of three years or until a successor is appointed
and qualified. In the event a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled in
the same manner as that of an original appointment for the unexpired
term.
E. There shall also be four alternate members to be appointed by the
Mayor subject to confirmation by the City Council, who need not be
from nominees of organizations entitled to nominate members, but shall
be residents of the City. In case of the absence, inability to act
or unwillingness to act because of conflict of interest or self-interest
on the part of a member of the Commission, his place shall be taken
by an alternate member designated by the Chairman.
F. Each member
and alternate shall continue in office after the expiration of his
term until his successor is duly appointed and qualified. All members
shall serve without compensation. The Commission shall elect annually
a Chairman and Vice Chairman from its own number and a Secretary from
within or without its number.
The Commission shall take action within 60 days of the filing
of an application for a certificate of appropriateness, a certificate
of nonapplicability or a certificate of hardship, as the case may
be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of the Historic
Districts Act, so-called, as mentioned in this chapter, or any section
relative thereto or in amendment thereof.
[Amended 10-18-2005; 12-30-2009; 5-4-2010]
[Amended 10-5-2020; 10-8-2021; 9-18-2023]
There is established under the provisions of and in accordance
with the Historic Districts Act, so-called, as mentioned in this chapter,
the Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic District as shown on the map
labeled Exhibit 27-2A, entitled “Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic
District”; said map to be considered a part of this chapter.
In accordance with Section 8, Paragraph b of said Historic Districts
Act, so-called, the authority of said Commission shall, however, be
limited so as not to extend to any buildings, structures or properties
located within the district however owned or controlled by the Springfield
Library and Museum Association and Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese
of Springfield. Notwithstanding the above, the limitation set forth
herein shall not apply to 220 State Street (also known as the “Springfield
Science Museum”), 222 State Street (also known as the “George
Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum”) or 49 Chestnut Street (also
known as the “D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts”).