Historical Commission Meeting Minutes - August 20, 2025

Historical Commission Meeting Minutes
August 20, 2025 @ 7pm
A hybrid meeting was held both via Zoom and in person at the Township building.

Call to Order – Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call of Members:
Commission Members Present: Patty DeFroscia, Donna DiPrinzio, Mark Evans, Lorraine Tindaro, Tom Parr, Jamie Evans, and Cathy Callahan
Commission Members Excused: Leah Jennings
Staff Members Present: Don Vymazal, Township Manager
Professionals Present: NA
Guests Present: Mike Irwin (Caln EAC), Adam Thomas (Caln Planning Commission), Mike Bedrick

The Historical Commission August 20, 2025 agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on August 19, 2025. Agendas were made available to the public at the meeting. The 2025 Historical Commission meeting schedule was published in the Daily Local News on December 18, 2024.

Public Comment – None

Approval of 7/16/2025 Minutes
Minutes were approved 6-0

1. New Business
   1. Bondsville Mill Building Update: Codes received a new request to update the Bondsville Mill building with new beams and stabilization. Tom requested any photos. Mark said the owners have done a great job restoring the building so far and anticipates they will continue to do so. 
   2. Mike Irwin from the Caln Environmental Advisory Council came to present the EAC’s mission and recent Sustainability Report to the Historical Commission. He pointed out the applicability of sustainable practices to historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The EAC is available to support the commission and other boards with research or recommendations. Mark mentioned that Lindsey Beacher is HC EAC liaison and eager to work together. Patty brought up the number of trees marked for removal at Vicker’s house and asked EAC to look into that. Mike said EAC is generating a list of historic trees to mark throughout the Township.   
2. Old Business
   1. Community Day Table – Mark, Patty, Donna, Jamie, and Tom volunteered to staff the table at Community Day.
   2. Schoolhouse Tours – Donna and Cathy served as tour guides in August and welcomed 10 visitors. September 7th tours will be staffed by Mark and Donna. October 5 is the final tour of the season – Cathy and Leah are signed up, but we’d like the whole group to attend for pictures and celebration. Tom suggested for this year that we could have refreshments at the tour in October.
   3. Historic Preservation Ordinance – A subgroup of the Commission has spent some time reworking the HPO to address some of the concerns raised by historic property owners. Mark confirmed that all members have had time to look at the list of properties under consideration and the updated ordinance. In the updated version, the process for approval has been streamlined. Don elaborated on how the process for building permits works currently to address some questions from Cathy. Patty asked about review consideration considering the Historical Commission’s meeting schedule. The draft states that “the application will be placed on the agenda for consideration review at the next regularly scheduled meeting, provided that such meeting is at least two weeks from the date of the complete submission.” Mark confirmed that the wait could be up to four weeks depending on the date of application for a building permit. Patty asked about demolition review. Mark stated that applications for demolition would come through the Historical Commission first who can ask for additional information and then can make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners who will make the final decision. The same applies to demolition by neglect. Tom asked how the Board of Commissioners would be informed. Don explained that he would add the item to the BoC’s workshop agenda for discussion. Patty asked for clarification on how the Historical Commission will be informed. Don explained that the staff will be responsible for bringing things to the appropriate board and discussed the EAC’s potential proposal for a tree protection ordinance. Don emphasized that these types of topics have to be clearly defined in order to be enforceable. Don mentioned the possible need for language to permit the application in the case that the Historical Commission isn’t able to meet or have a quorum. Mark asked about the possibility of holding a meeting remotely – Don will check with Kristin on this.  Mark called for comments from the public. Adam Thomas commended the Commission for their efforts and asked a clarifying question about impacts of the ordinance on adjacent properties. Mark pointed out that it should apply to only major changes. 
      

Mark asked for a motion to approve Article 6 Historical Resources Protection Standards with the caveat that we will be adding language to section 15 to clarify timeclock regarding applicant approvals.  
Tom Parr moved, Lorraine Tindaro seconded, motion passed unanimously
 
Mark asked for a motion to approve the historic resource list.
 
Patty asked about updating some of the building names. Mark and Patty will work on updates to the resource list.
 
Tabled for the next meeting.

                     4. Caln Meetinghouse Updates
Mark updated the group on the status of the Meetinghouse: The attorneys for the Quakers and the Township have finished the language for the agreement. Noted Mikki McAllister’s work on the cemetery has provided the information needed to add the property to the PA Hallowed Grounds database. Patty asked about the cemetery across the street, which belongs to the East Bradford Friends. Separate conversations are taking place with the East Bradford Friends about that property, and they seem interested in dedicating that to the Township as well.

3. Sub-Committee Reports:

1. Membership – Nothing to report
   
2. Events – The BoC will consider the Cider, Donuts, and Carols event but it should be on their next agenda. December 6th is the day chosen to decorate. Tom proposed building a 6’ wreath for the barn and asked about getting approval from the BoC. HC will ask BoC.
   
3.  Spackman Farm – Mark mentioned the nice article in the Daily Local about the farm.
   
4.  Marketing And Social Media – Mark submitted a quiz for the most recent Township Newsletter. Planning another one for next month. Abbey recorded some footage at the last Schoolhouse tour for our promo video.
   
5. Historical Preservation – Tom reported that the Lloyd Farmhouse hasn’t had any changes. Mainline Health was at the last Planning Commission meeting for preliminary/final land development – no vote was made. Caln Elementary and Lloyd Ave pumphouse will be addressed in the future. Vickers House are being worked on.
   
6.  Caln At Risk – Discussed above
   
7. OCHS Liaison Report – Patty described the new exhibit that the OCHS will be putting up in the lobby at the Township building featuring vintage clothing. The Lincoln Highway marker has been paid for by a donor and the group is discussing a place to put it.  Patty asked to be included in any discussions regarding the Meetinghouse.
   
8. Finance Update – Donna provided a finance update: the Spackman Farm picnic expenses are $3,000 under budget and the overall budget has an available balance of $13,000.

4.     Additional Business
4.1. Cathy requested removal of the Adopt A Highway sign across from her house. Mark offered to draft a letter to PennDOT to be voted on at the next meeting.

​Adjournment