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December 10, 2002 Minutes of the Paris Historical Commission The meeting of the Paris Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by the Chairman Arvin Starrett. In the absence of the Secretary Paul Denny, Ann Rogers was asked to take the minutes. The roll call was made by Ann Rogers, acting secretary The following members were present. Alvin Starrett, Ann Rogers, Linda Ryan , Sue Lancaster, Barbara Wilson, Becki Norment ,Ex- Officio member Tommy Haynes and City Attorney Larry Schenke. The following guests were present: City Manager Mike Malone, Skipper Steely and Paul Swasko. After determining that a quorom was present, the Chairman began with Item # 4 on the agenda : Discussion and possible action on Commission Rules and Policies. At the November meeting the following persons were named to a sub committee. They were Paul Denny, Sue Lancaster and Ann Rogers. They were asked to develop and prepare rules and policies of the Commission. The members of the Rules Committee Sue Lancaster and Ann Rogers were present, but the death of the mother of the absent member Paul Denny, was noted and it was felt that the committee needed more time to prepare a report. A motion was made to postpone the report on the Rules and Policies of the Commission until the January meeting. The motion carried unanimously after a voice vote. Item # 5 Discussion and possible adoption of standards for historic building rehabilitation, maintenance and construction guidelines. After meeting with Ron Emmerich of Dallas Historic Preservation Commission, it was recommended that The Paris Historic Preservation Commission adopt the National Guidelines for Historic Preservation. After a brief discussion ,there was a consensus of opinion that the Commission quickly adopt guidelines so that current pressing issues with tenants in the downtown area could be resolved. There was a motion to formally adopt the Department of Interior guidelines for Paris, Texas Historic Preservation Commission by Barbara Wilson and it was seconded by Becki Norment. The motion was carried unanimously after a voice vote. To facilitate discussion on Item # 6, the Chairman presented a short synopsis of the history of the downtown commercial district.This is the synopsis presented . "The downtown commercial district of Paris, Texas, long the heart of the business community, contains the original fifty acres donated for the city by early settler George Wright. Some thirteen acrres of the area were destroyed by fire in 1877, and the city then initiated a new fire code, requiring all buildings in the central business district to be constructed of brick or stone. In 1914 the City of Paris sought the professional advice of landscape architect W. H. Dunn of Kansas City, commissioning him to propose specific improvements, including making the central square a formal public plaza, and creating a vastly scaled muunicipal plaza district east of the commercial area, between Lamar and Clarksville streets. In April, 1916 a fire destroyed many buildings in the district leaving to