03/11/2015 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Allcorn felt that the number of commissioners should remain at seven, and that the member qualifications should include any person involved or interested in the historic districts. She disagreed with expanding the number of items that can be approved at the staff level just to expedite approvals because the purpose of the commission is to approve certificates of appropriateness. She also wanted to confirm that all demolition work was to come before the commission, which Chair Cox confirmed that the proposed ordinance changes would still require demolition to come before the commission. She further stated that the commission had the ability to have called meetings in addition to the regular meetings to help expedite applications. Commissioner Alsobrook noted that one of the stated reasons for the proposed ordinance change was that `our needs have changed' and asked what that meant and what needs had changed. Mr. Sleeper stated that he wasn't sure, but thought it meant that a lot of improvement had been made since the original ordinance was passed. She also felt that it was not necessary to change the qualifications of the members of the commission and that the number of members should remain at 7 members. Chair Cox asked why the city manager was not present and why the commission was not the first to be notified about the proposed changes. Mr. Sleeper answered that he didn't know why the city manager was not present, and that the changes were sent to city council first because all boards and commissions are under the city council so changes to any board should be heard by the city council first. Vice Chair Glatfelter stated that he first read about the proposed changes in the February 22nd Paris News and that he had spoken at the February 25`h city council meeting about the proposed changes. He then read a portion of the minutes from that council meeting stating that the city manager had spoken to the Main Street Advisory Board about the proposed changes prior to presenting them to city council and prior to notifying the commission. He also stated that he had called the Texas Historic Commission and spoken with Brad Patterson about the changes, and that Mr. Patterson told him that the proposed changes were illegal. He further stated that he would speak at the next city council meeting and recommend that John Godwin, City Manager, Cheri Bedford, Main Street Coordinator, and Mr. Sleeper be considered as insubordinate to the city council. Commissioner Holbert stated that she felt the number of board members should stay at seven, and that the ordinance may need some tweaking but overall it was a good ordinance and should not be changed. She continued that, prior to her appointment to the commission, she had appeared before the commission for approval for a building she had bought and wanted to renovate. She felt that, although she didn't get everything she wanted, the commission worked well with her for a solution that was appropriate for her building. Chair Cox stated that he had been on the commission for six years and that only a few certificates of appropriateness had been disapproved and felt that many of the concerns about the commission were misconceptions and misunderstandings. 3