[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Winchester 8-21-2023. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the terms of Article III, Section 302, Subsection
A of the Town Charter, there is hereby established the Winchester
Historic Commission.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to safeguard the heritage
of the Town of Winchester by preserving the elements of its historic,
cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; to
actively seek funding sources for historic preservation projects and
to advise Town staff and elected boards and commissions on matters
pertaining to historic preservation; and to promote the use of historic
sites for the education, welfare and pleasure of the citizens of Winchester
and of the general public.
[Amended 1-2-2024; 4-15-2024]
Said Commission shall consist of up to nine members, appointed
by the Board of Selectmen, with a minimum of at least one of whom
shall be the Municipal Historian (also known as the "Town Historian").
The terms of the nine regular members shall be as follows: three members'
terms expire December 31, 2024; three members' terms expire December
31, 2025; and three members' terms expire December 31, 2026. Thereafter,
the terms of all members appointed shall be for three years. The Town
Manager may, for a period not to exceed one year, fill any vacancy
for the balance of the term of such vacant position. "Vacancy," as
used herein, shall be deemed to result upon the expiration of the
term of a member or the resignation, removal from the Town of Winchester,
or the death of any member. Nothing herein shall prohibit reappointment
by the Board of Selectmen of a member at the expiration of their current
term. All members shall be electors of the Town of Winchester. Members
of the Historic Commission shall serve without compensation.
A.
The Commission,
subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, shall designate
sites and buildings owned or hereafter acquired by the Town of Winchester
as historic land sites, and, upon such approval by the Board, such
sites shall come under the purview of the Commission. The Commission
may from time to time recommend to the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen
the acquisition or relinquishment of additional historic land sites.
B.
The Commission
shall be charged with serving in an advisory capacity to guide the
development, management, operation, improvement and maintenance of
the historic land sites so designated and shall, additionally, institute
and carry out programs designed to acquaint the general public with
the historical, cultural and economic history of the Town of Winchester.
C.
The Commission
may create subcommittees of their membership to constitute Historic
District Commissions for the purpose of working to establish and manage
historic districts within the Town of Winchester.
D.
The Historic
Commission, with the assistance of the Town Historian(s), shall:
[Added 4-15-2024]
(1)
Promote
an awareness of and an appreciation for the Town's history by the
following methods: through research, writing and public speaking;
through publications, projects, exhibits, displays, celebrations and
commemorations; through the maintenance of plaques, markers and monuments;
and through the preparation of classroom aids, guides, workshops and
training.
(2)
Advise
the Town government on historical issues and subjects, including historical
objects, structures, sites, districts, preservation and National Register
properties.
(3)
Serve
as a liaison among the Town's museums, libraries and historical organizations,
and with similar outside groups, to encourage historical coordination,
cooperation and resource-sharing, as well as maintaining a reference
library of historical information and serving as a central referral
point for informational inquiries.
[Added 4-15-2024]
A.
Pursuant
to C.G.S. § 7-148(c)(5)(d), the Town Historian(s) shall
be appointed to promote a knowledge, appreciation and dissemination
of Town history.
C.
Term of
office; method of appointment.
(1)
The
Town Historian(s) shall be appointed to a term of three years by the
Board of Selectmen. The same person may be reappointed for additional
terms.
(2)
A
vacancy in the position of Town Historian shall be appointed by the
Historic Commission and confirmation by the Board of Selectmen for
the unexpired portion of the term vacated.
D.
The Town
Historian shall serve without compensation.
A.
The Commission
shall elect its own Chairman and such officers as may be necessary
at any meeting in January of each year.
B.
The Commission
shall establish regular meetings at least once each month and designate
the time and place thereof.
C.
Each Commissioner
shall be notified of all meetings, and public notice, on the Town’s
website and in the Town Clerk’s office in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act, shall be given of all meetings.
The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the operation
of meetings and the transaction of business within its jurisdiction
and shall keep records of all its proceedings in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act.
A.
The Commission
shall prepare a requested annual operating budget for the following
fiscal year for submission to the Town Manager on or before the first
day of January in each year.
B.
The Commission
shall submit recommendations to the Town Manager for historic-preservation-related
projects to be funded by the Capital Improvement Plan for the ensuing
five-year period on or before the first day of January in each year.
The Commission shall make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen
regarding reasonable charges for the use by the public of historic
landmark sites and for any of its purposes as set out above.
The Commission shall have the right to call upon any other department
of the Town government for assistance in performing its duties. Any
question as to what shall constitute a proper request for assistance
shall be decided by the Town Manager.
The Commission may receive gifts in the name of the municipality
for any of its purposes and shall make recommendations regarding the
administration of the same for such purposes, subject to the terms
of the gift.
[Added 4-15-2024]
No person shall have the right to expend any public funds of
the Town in carrying out any activity authorized by this chapter without
prior approval by the Board of Selectmen, nor shall any person have
the right to bind the Town by contract, agreement or otherwise without
prior approval of the Board of Selectmen.
[Added 4-15-2024]
This chapter shall not be construed to conflict with any federal
or state statutes, the Charter, rules, regulations or Town ordinances.
If any part of this chapter shall be declared invalid by a court
of competent jurisdiction, all other parts shall remain in full force
and effect.
