[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Morrisville 6-8-2023 by L.L. No. 2-2023[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law repealed former Ch. 111, Landmarks and Historic Districts, which comprised of Art. I, General Provisions, adopted 5-11-1989 by L.L. No. 1-1989, and Art. II, Register, adopted 3-11-1993 by L.L> No. 1-1993.
It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of properties of distinction is necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the public. Inasmuch as the identity of a people is founded on its past and inasmuch as the Village of Morrisville has many significant historic, architectural and cultural resources which constitute its heritage, this article is intended to:
A. 
To foster public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation in the beauty and character of the Village of Morrisville and in the accomplishments of its past;
B. 
Protect and enhance properties of distinction which represent distinctive elements of the Village of Morrisville's historic, architectural and cultural heritage;
C. 
Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;
D. 
Protect and enhance the Village of Morrisville's attractiveness to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided; and
E. 
Ensure the harmonious, orderly and efficient growth and development of the Village of Morrisville.
There is hereby created a committee to be known as the "Village of Morrisville Historic Preservation Advisory Committee."
A. 
The Committee shall consist of five members to be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, which members shall have demonstrated significant interest in a local historic preservation group or shall have employment experience or volunteer activity in the field of historic preservation and architectural development within the Village of Morrisville.
B. 
Committee members shall serve for a term of two years.
C. 
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee shall be elected by and from among the members of the Committee.
D. 
Whenever possible, the Village Historian and an owner of a property of distinction shall be a Committee member.
E. 
A Committee member may be removed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, after a public hearing for cause.
F. 
Training and attendance requirements:
(1) 
Each member of the Committee shall complete, at a minimum, four hours of training each year designed to enable such members to more effectively carry out their duties. Training received by a member in excess of four hours in any one year may be carried over by the member into succeeding years in order to meet this requirement. Such training shall be approved by the Mayor and Board of Trustees and may include, but not be limited to, training provided by a municipality, regional or county planning office or committee, county planning federation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or other similar entity. Training may be provided in a variety of formats, including but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and traditional classroom training.
(2) 
To be eligible for reappointment to the Committee, a member shall have completed the training approved by the Mayor and the Board of Trustees.
The powers of the Committee shall include:
A. 
Employment of staff and professional consultants as necessary to carry out the duties of the Committee. Any contract to retain such consultants which involves the expenditure of Village funds shall require and shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Board of Trustees.
B. 
Promulgation of rules and regulations as necessary for the conduct of its business subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
C. 
Adoption of criteria for the identification of significant historic, architectural, and cultural landmarks and artifacts within the Village of Morrisville.
D. 
Conduct of surveys of significant historic, architectural, and cultural landmarks and artifacts within the Village of Morrisville.
E. 
Recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the designation of additional or new properties of distinction.
F. 
Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cultural and architectural preservation by developing and participating in public education programs.
G. 
Recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of properties of distinction within the Village.
H. 
Annually visitation to properties of distinction to identify potential maintenance issues and render recommendations to the Board of Trustees, Code Enforcement Officer, and property owner of appropriate improvements. Such recommendations are limited to the exterior of the structure as visible from a public street or alley.
I. 
Cataloging properties that meet the criteria for future recommendation as a property of distinction.
J. 
Cataloging, organizing, and otherwise maintaining items of historic value and interest acquired by the Village.
K. 
Fostering and promoting civic pride through historic preservation to ensure harmonious, orderly and efficient growth in the Village.
A. 
Meetings. The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall meet at least quarterly; however, meetings may be held at any time upon the written request of any two Committee members or on the call of the Chairman or Mayor.
B. 
Records. The Committee shall be subject to the provisions of the Public Officers Law, including Article 7 related to the Open Meetings Law. The Committee's records shall be readily available to the public. The vote or failure to vote of each Committee member shall be recorded. If any Committee member abstains from voting based on a conflict of interest or otherwise, the member must also state his or her reason(s) or ground(s) for doing so on the record.
C. 
Quarterly and annual reports. The Committee shall submit a quarterly and annual report of its activities to the Mayor and Board of Trustees and make such recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Trustees as the Committee deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the Commission's members.
A. 
The Committee may recommend designation of an individual property as a property of distinction if it meets any of the criteria identified in Subsection A(1) through (5) herein. The Committee, when considering such recommendation, shall take into account the express wishes of the owner of record regarding such designation. Designation may not proceed unless the owner of record signs and returns the form of consent. The criteria to be consider includes whether the property:
(1) 
Possesses special character of historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the locality, region, state or nation;
(2) 
Is identified with historic personages;
(3) 
Embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style;
(4) 
Is the work of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age; or
(5) 
Because of unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood.
B. 
Upon the written recommendation of the Committee, the Board of Trustees may designate an individual property or group of properties as a property of distinction.
C. 
Notice of a proposed designation shall be sent by registered mail to the owner of the property proposed for designation, addressed to the last known address as shown by the records of the Town of Eaton Assessor's Office, describing the property proposed and announcing a public hearing by the Board of Trustees to consider the designation. Where the proposed designation involves so many owners that individual notice is not feasible, notice may instead be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days' prior to the date of the public hearing.
D. 
The Board of Trustees shall hold a public hearing prior to designation of any property of distinction. The Committee, property owners and any interested parties may present testimony or documentary evidence at the hearing, which will become part of a record regarding the historic, architectural or cultural importance of the proposed property of distinction. The record may also contain staff reports, public comments or other evidence offered outside the hearing.
E. 
Upon approval of the proposed designation by the Board of Trustees, the Village Clerk shall forward notice to the property owner of record of each property designated as a property of distinction.
F. 
Effect of designation. No obligation or responsibility shall be created or imposed upon the owner of a property of distinction as a result of such designation, nor shall a property of distinction designation in any way restrict the use, development or modification of the premises by the owner. If any such development or modification causes the property of distinction to no longer meet the eligibility criteria listed in § 111-7A(1) through (5), such property may be removed from the registry.
G. 
Amendment or rescission. The Board of Trustees may amend or rescind any designation of an individual property of distinction upon the written request of the owner or the Committee in the same manner and procedure as followed for designation.
The purpose and intent of this article is to provide a means for fulfilling the provisions and intentions of Article I of this chapter, relating to the establishment of properties of distinction. Article I provides the criteria and procedures for designating properties of distinction but does not specify the means by which a listing of such properties is to be compiled and maintained. It is the purpose and intent of this article to provide such means.
There is hereby established a Village of Morrisville Register of Properties of Distinction. This register shall include the street address, Tax Map Parcel Number, date of placement upon the register and the particular local law by which the property was designated by the Board of Trustees for placement upon the register. The Village Clerk is hereby directed to prepare such a register and to maintain such register at all times as an instrument separate and distinct from other Village records. The register shall specifically state that it is kept pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 111, Articles I and II, of the Village of Morrisville Code.
The register shall be at all times available for public inspection during the Village Clerk's normal business hours.
Effective immediately, the following properties are hereby designated as properties of distinction in the Village of Morrisville and shall be placed upon the register established by this article:
A. 
Village Library, located at 83 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-61.
B. 
The former bank building at 75 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-59.
C. 
Madison Hall, 100 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-53.
D. 
Property located at 15 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-48.
E. 
The former H.E. Tyler Sleigh and Cutter Works building located at 6 Mill Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-15.
F. 
The former "John E. Smith Law Office," located at 21 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-50.
G. 
The former "Village Engine House," located at 93 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-64.
H. 
The former "Village Jail," located on 8 Mill Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-17.
I. 
The "Morrisville Rural Cemetery" located on Cedar Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-1.
J. 
The "Morrisville-Eaton Central School," located at 55 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-51.
K. 
The former "Cloyes House," located at 23 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-26.
L. 
The former "Farwell House," located at 29 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-24.
M. 
The former "Bicknell House," located at 22-24 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-38.
N. 
Property located at 19 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-27.
O. 
Property located at 17 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-28.
P. 
Property located at 33 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-23.
Q. 
Property located at 13 East Maple Avenue, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-19.
R. 
Property located at 23 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-38.
S. 
Property located at 19 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-37.
T. 
Property located at 18 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-15.
U. 
Property located at 50 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-55.
V. 
Property located at 25 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-39.
W. 
Property located at 44 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-54.
X. 
Property located at 60 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-57.
Y. 
Property located at 7 Cross Avenue, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-5.
Z. 
Property located at 14 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-13.
AA. 
Property located at 121 East Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.20-1-12.
BB. 
Property located at 2 East Main Street (Reidy Block), Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-1.
CC. 
Property located at 12 Cross Avenue, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-11.
DD. 
Property located at 15 West Main Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-31.
EE. 
Property located at 26 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-1-39.
FF. 
Property located at 47 Eaton Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-50.
GG. 
Property located at 13 Union Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.19-2-35.
HH. 
Property located at 31 South Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.20-1-39.
II. 
Property located at 10 Cedar Street, Tax Map Parcel Number 111.15-1-45.