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Establishment and Duties (con't.)

Mandatory Duties

Research. Conducting “researches for places of historic value” implies compiling and maintaining an inventory (or survey) of the historic assets of the town. For, as stated in Historic Preservation Tomorrow, “surveying is the essential first step without which historic preservation is impossible. Nothing can be made for preservation.” (Feiss, Carl, FAIA. “Survey, Evaluation and Registration,” Historic Preservation Tomorrow, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colonial Williamsburg, 1967.)

Each historical commission is expected to compile the inventory within its community, including areas, buildings, structures, and sites which are historically, architecturally, archaeologically or culturally significant to the town.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has developed standard forms and instruction sheets for local inventories. Since the forms have been designed to provide information to researchers, state and federal planning agencies and local, state and federal preservation organizations, MHC urges their use in all communities. Without adequate information on the significance of these properties, the MHC cannot adequately defend these sites.

Uses of the Inventory

  1. Provides materials for inclusion in the State Historic Preservation Plan prepared by the MHC.
  2. Provides material with which the MHC can help defend historic properties threatened by state or federally aided projects (examples: Corps of Engineers and water pollution projects, urban renewal programs, highway construction).
  3. Provides material by which the MHC can evaluate historic properties for submission to the National Register of Historic Places.
  4. Provides local planning agencies with information on historic properties of value to the community, so that their preservation can be considered in present and/or future urban renewal, local zoning or highway plans. The historical commission should advise the appropriate agency of the existence of historic properties within urban renewal, model city or neighborhood development areas.
  5. Provides the basic material from which the historical commission can create a preservation plan for the town. This plan should be developed in cooperation with the local planning, conservation and highway agencies and should be integrated into the master plan for the town. Please note a preservation plan was done for Weymouth in 1989 and is now being updated by a Historical Consultant for 1999-2000.
  6. Provides the basis on which the historical commission may suggest areas for further study by an historic district study committee in order to establish districts under the Commonwealth’s Historic District Act, Chapter 40 C of the General Laws.
  7. Provides the material from which publications and publicity may be prepared for educational purposes, tourist promotion and local development programs.
  8. Provides the basis for local historic marker programs.

Coordination of the “activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes”.

  1. The historical commission should seek to coordinate the activities of local groups, private or public, which are concerned with or involved in history or historic preservation. These may include historical, conservation and planning organizations.
  2. The historical commission servers as the liaison between the MHC and local historical and preservation organizations.

Permissive Duties

A. Printed Material. Subject to appropriations, an historical commission may prepare, print, advertise and distribute books and pamphlets, maps, charts and plans concerning history or historic preservation, which it deems necessary to its work.

B. Recommendations to Selectmen or Mayor. The historical commission may make recommendations to the Selectmen or Mayor pertaining to the protection of historic areas, buildings, structures and sites. Examples include:

a. The acceptance or acquisition by the historical commission in the name of the town or real or personal property of historical significance. Gifts to the town are tax deductible.

C. Monetary Contributions. With the approval of the Mayor, the commission may accept gifts, contributions and bequests of funds from individuals and foundations and from federal, state or other governmental bodies for the purpose of furthering the commission’s programs.

D. Contracts. With the approval of the appropriate local authorities, the commission may:

  1. Enter Contracts with individuals, organizations and institutions for services furthering the objectives of the commission’s programs.
  2. Enter into contracts with local or regional associations for cooperative endeavors furthering the commission’s program.
  3. Make and sign any agreements and may do and perform any and all acts, which may be necessary or desirable to carry out the purpose of Chapter 40, Section 8 D.
  4. Hold Hearings

E. Appointments. Subject to appropriations, the commission “may appoint such clerks or other employees” as is required for its work.

F. Property. In the name of the town, the historical commission may acquire “by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise, lease or otherwise the fee or lesser interest in real or personal property of significant historical value.”

We hope this helps to clarify who and what the Weymouth Historical Commission is and how we work to preserve history for the future.