In attendance:

Members: Dave Harding, Frances Gavigan, Pauline Serafin, Barbara Sageser, Jennifer Floyd.

Absent: Kathy Cannelongo, Harriette Hawkins, Peg Sullivan, Paul Sterchele, Jim Davidson, Mary Van Horn, Bryan Geils

Also present: Martha Pittore, Secretary

Call to order: 7:50 p.m.

Statement of Compliance:

In compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act, this meeting was noticed as a regular meeting in the December 11, 2008 issue of the Hunterdon County Democrat. Notice of this meeting was sent to the Hunterdon County Democrat, Times of Trenton, Courier News, Star Ledger, and posted on the bulletin board on December 15, 2008.

Approval of November 25. 2008 Minutes: A motion was made by Frances Gavigan, second by Jennie Floyd to approve the minutes as written. A quorum was not available. Approval of the minutes was tabled until the next meeting.

Open to Public:

Motion was made by Frances Gavigan, second by Jennie Floyd to open the meeting to the public. No public was in attendance. Motion was made by Frances Gavigan, second by Barbara Sagesar to close the meeting to the public. Both motions carried.

Old Business:

County Projects: Barbara asked members to continue taking pictures to complete this project, since there is a great deal more to do.

Historical Presentation for next year: No report was made. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

History of EA Publication: No report was made. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

2009 Budget: HPC members reviewed and approved the proposed budget prepared for 2009. The Secretary was asked to inform Jane Luhrs of the budget approval. Frances Gavigan stated she will look into using a $1,712 surplus left over from 2008 for the computer.

Distinguished Achievement Nomination: No report was available. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

New Business:

County Design Awards: No report was available. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

Correspondence:

· An application for a variance has been submitted for review. The site is located in the Sourlands, not within a historic hamlet and as such the committee has no comment.

All other correspondence noted without further comments.

Approval of Bills: Martha Pittore- November hours total 5.5@ $12.84=$70.62. Approval was tabled until the next meeting.

Miscellaneous: Addition to Agenda:

Frances Gavigan brought information about proposed construction of a bridge on Wertsville Road and raised concerns about its impact on the surrounding neighbors and the precedent it sets for the remainder of the road. She is investigating the possibility of working toward a scenic designation for the road which would trigger a set of standards more attuned to the surroundings and has submitted to the Township Committee and Planning Board information on what steps Tewksbury and Bedminster have taken. The creation of historic hamlets along Wertsville Road would buttress this attempt. Discussion ensued. Barbara Sageser suggested that the mining of the Quick collection for photos for the book about Ringoes could become part of the documentation for historic hamlets or rural historic districts. The goal would be to work toward the documentation of the importance historically of the properties abutting the road. An oral history project could, while being important in its own right to preserve rapidly vanishing information, work to inform residents of the history and currently endangered aspects of the area. The Committee requested that this line of thought be continued at the next meeting.

Open to the Public:

Motion to open the meeting to the public was made by Frances Gavigan, second by Dave Harding. No public was in attendance. Motion to close the meeting was made by Frances Gavigan, second by Dave Harding. Both motions carried.

The Next Meeting is the Reorganization Meeting which will be held:

On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at 7:30 at the East Amwell Municipal Building,

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn was made by Pauline Serafin, second by Frances Gavigan and carried

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________

Martha Pittore, Secretary

Historic Preservation Committee