Unionville’s July Marathon: A Door, A Database, and Departing Voices ☕️
Unionville — July 10, 2025
1. Public Hearing: 48 Cottage Street
Notice & Venue The Unionville Historic District and Properties Commission opened its hybrid meeting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers, 1 Monteith Drive, with a live Zoom feed for remote attendees. The sole Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) request came from homeowners Robert Hoffman and Margaret Sweet-Hoffman. Full proceedings are available via the meeting video.
Applicant’s Narrative
- Metal door suffered decade-long roof leaks; frame warped and termites followed.
- Water “ran right down through the wall into the door,” Hoffman explained.
- Lock self-engages, trapping residents outside.
- Replacement: factory-white six-light fiberglass Shaker door with deeper lower panels—closely mimicking original proportions.
- Existing brass hardware to be reused; door to be painted Unionville green.
- Doorframe has migrated three times since the Hoffmans bought the 80-year-old house but will remain in current location.
Commission Q&A
| Commissioner | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Barbara | Confirmed period consistency; noted work was “necessary.” |
| Matt | “No questions.” |
| Steve | Praised fiberglass durability; asked about material. |
| Lisa Johnson (Chair) | Queried why exact duplicate wasn’t chosen. Hoffman said design better matches window muntins. |
Vote Motion by Barbara, second by Matt, carried 5-0-0 (ayes unanimous). COA granted.
2. Routine Business
- Minutes: June 5 minutes approved 5-0-0 after brief review.
- Congratulatory Gift: Commissioners marked the birth of “Sophie” with a card and small present—relationship unrecorded in transcript.
3. Oral-History Initiative
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform | University of Connecticut “Their Story”—free web-based tool. |
| Library Liaison | Jerusha Neely, Farmington Room librarian, supplied 1970s oral-history manual, interview forms, consent templates. |
| Trainer | Professor Fiona Vernal (UConn) will lead one-session webinar; time flexible. |
| Features | • Zoom audio/video capture • Automated AI transcription • Storage on Farmington Library’s backed-up server • Commission edits transcripts before archival upload. |
| Workflow | • Dedicated Gmail account (Matt custodian) for file transfers • “Unionville” tag in library archive • No separate server required. |
| Initial Interviewees | David Brooks (local historian); Diane Bickford (canal steward); Tom Larson (1955 flood witness); Patty Laboutier (Unionville Museum). |
| Motion | Lisa Johnson moved to enroll; Matt seconded; passed 5-0-0. |
4. Personnel Shifts
| Commissioner | Action | Effective | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve | Resignation to join Ski Sundown patrol training every Thursday | Immediate | Alternate since 2023 |
| Bob | Retirement after September travel | 30 Sept 2025 | Commissioner since 2008 |
| Kelly | Absent for 12 consecutive meetings | Seat considered vacant | Alternate since 2022 |
Recruitment Need: Three vacancies compel outreach before autumn COA cycle.
5. Future Calendar
- August Meeting: Canceled unless a COA application arrives by July 17.
- Training Session: Special meeting could start 6 p.m. any weekday; Zoom or Council Chambers depending on Vernal’s schedule.
6. Meeting Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 5 commissioners + 1 staff liaison |
| Public Speakers | 0 |
| Votes | 3 (COA, minutes, oral-history) — all unanimous |
| Video Runtime | 1 hour 32 minutes |
| Next COA Deadline | Applications due 15 days before hearings |
Sponsor Note 🤣
Ever yank a swollen door while juggling grandma’s china? Store the breakables at Farmington Storage, 155 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington CT 06032, 860-777-4001. Climate-controlled units, rodent-repellent seals, and complimentary coffee. Even our rolling carts glide smoother than Robert’s old hinges.
About the Author
Jack Beckett pours double-filter dark roast and times public-comment monologues like a barista with a stopwatch—quality control for democracy.
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© 2025 The Farmington Mercury / Mercury Local
This article, “Unionville OKs Shaker-Style Door, Adopts UConn Oral-History Tool, Faces Commissioner Exodus,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Unionville OKs Shaker-Style Door, Adopts UConn Oral-History Tool, Faces Commissioner Exodus”
by Jack Beckett, The Farmington Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)
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