TOWN OF WEST HARTFORD 
WEST HARTFORD HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 
MEETING MINUTES 
5:00 P.M., Monday August 24, 2020 
West Hartford Virtual Meeting 
 
 
Regular Meeting: 
 
Present: Full Commissioners: C. Cormier, P. Howard, M. Lewis, M. Margolis and 
	 A. Tarutin.
	 Alternate Commissioners: D. Cohen, K. Fransson, and J. Harris.
	 
 
Chair Commissioner M. Margolis called the meeting to order at 5:03 P.M.
 
1.  New Business- 
a.  Hynes and Danielle Birmingham, owners of 9 West Hill Drive, came before 
the West Hartford Historic District Commission (WHHDC) to present their 
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for a 12ft x 16ft prefab wooden shed 
to the rear of the property, albeit visible from the streetscape.  The 
proposed shed does not appear to match the general characteristics of the 
house which is brick with a slate roof.  However, the proposed shed which 
is wooden with an asphalt roof was commented to indeed match the sunroom 
and it's wooden exterior.  Another shed in the district was remarked as 
being of brick with a slate roof to match the main house.  There was no 
public comment.  Chair Margolis motioned to accept the COA and the motion 
was seconded.  The WHHDC split the vote, 3-2, to decline the COA. 
 
b.  Leon Ho and Sarah Nguyen, owners of 1631 Boulevard, came before the WHHDC 
to discuss their 4 COAs:
 
i) Replace the existing carriage style single car garage doors with an 
overhead version in wood.  Lacking any detailed written or graphical 
description of the proposed replacement, Commissioners struggled to 
visualize the proposed overhead door.  There was no public comment.  Chair 
Margolis motioned to accept the COA and the motion was seconded.  The WHHDC 
voted unanimously to decline the COA and Chair Margolis suggested another 
COA with photos and a detailed description would help to enable the WHHDC 
to make an informed decision in the matter.
 
ii) Removal of the front entrance vestibule measuring 3.5ft by 5ft, added 
after the original construction and which obstructs the front door.  Chair 
Margolis motioned to accept the COA and the motion was seconded.  
The WHHDC voted unanimously to approve the COA and Chair Margolis will 
inform the Building Department at the next earliest convenience.  

iii) Repair/replace damaged and missing wooden roof railings with same.  
There was no public comment.  Chair Margolis motioned to accept the COA and 
the motion was seconded.  The WHHDC voted unanimously to approve the COA 
and Chair Margolis will inform the Building Department at the next earliest 
convenience.  

iv) Replace the existing deteriorated driveway in same footprint plus a new 
12ft square turnaround at the western side of the drive nearer to the garage.
There was no public comment.  Chair Margolis motioned to accept the COA and 
the motion was seconded.  The WHHDC voted unanimously to approve the COA.  
Chair Margolis will inform the Building Department at the next earliest 
convenience.  

c. Megel Hudson, owner of 567 South Quaker, came before the WHHDC to present 
his COA for 8 or 9 replacement windows for his house which is the second 
oldest house in West Hartford, circa 1744 or 1750.  The current windows are 
wooden exterior with aluminum storm windows in the 8 over 12 style.  Mr. 
Hudson expressed difficulty in sourcing wooden exterior windows and is 
proposing clad windows.  There was no public comment.  Chair Margolis 
motioned to accept the COA and the motion was seconded.  The WHHDC voted 
unanimously to decline the COA.  Chair Margolis can help with sourcing a
number of wooden window manufacturers.      
 
2.  Meeting Minutes- 
Motion to approve the West Hartford Historic District Commission Virtual 
Regular Meeting Minutes for July 27th 2020 "as is" was made and seconded.
The WHHDC voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes. 
 
3.  Commissioners' Concerns- 
There were none at this time.
 
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded.  All voted in favor, 
no objections, or abstentions. The meeting adjourned at 5:50 P.M. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Mitch Lewis