Victorian house Hithnote B & B on Lee Street in Wiscxasset is a reflection of the Victorian era. (Photo Paula Gibbs)

"It's been a good experience. I know it would be for Wiscasset as well. It's the prettiest village in Maine; let's keep it that way." - Michael Babineau, Chairman, Topsham Historic District Commission.

Seven of Wiscasset's residents have agreed to perform a pilot study on the future of Wiscasset's historic buildings and districts.

About 20 people attended the study group's second meeting last Wednesday at Wiscasset's Municipal Building. The group may present an article to be voted on at Town Meeting which would establish a committee to oversee the town's historic district.

Town Planner Dan Thompson said selectmen will need the article by January or they (the selectmen) "won't put it on the warrant."

"What we are deciding here tonight is crucial," Thompson said. "It seems to me it would be constructive to have a recommendation to selectmen to examine the concept in general."

The group is also examining whether setting up a Certified Local Government (CLG) program -- which offers towns financial and technical assistance -- will be a positive step for Wiscasset's historic buildings.

"This program gets grants which put appropriate additions on houses that keep the (original) look. There are monies for this," one of the organizers of the meeting, Seaver Leslie said. "We now need to have a governing body to protect what we have here."

One resident noted the Wiscasset Planning Board recently approved one of the buildings in the village -- the Hasenfus Gallery -- to be torn down and replaced by a new edifice.

Lincoln County Historical Association Director Larry Bacon warned residents that joining the CLG program may require rigid, strict, guidelines that may not be needed. "People wonder what good and what bad it will do," Bacon said.

At the study group's first meeting in November, Earl Shettleworth, Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission noted Wiscasset looks as it did 150 years ago. Asked if the town should form a committee, Shettleworth said Friday, "I think it is a wise approach to take. Wiscasset is clearly one of the most well-preserved towns in the state. One can't assume it will be if someone doesn't take responsibility."

Advantages of the CLG program include laws that protect historic resources and 50 percent matching federal funds for architectural and archeological surveys.

When asked what the disadvantages are, Shettleworth responded, "I don't see any."

To adopt a CLG program the committee must first start with the minimum requirements of the program. All other rules are decided by the committee.

"If a community goes to the extent to have a committee, then they want to have rules that are effective," Shettleworth said. "Those rules are not regulated by the CLG, but by the ordinance which the community makes up."

Minimum Requirements For CLG

Minimum requirements for local registration must contain the following components: statement of purpose; definitions; specific membership and duties of review body; criteria for local landmarks and districts based on the criteria for designation of local landmarks and districts, which shall be based on the National Register criteria for properties listed on the National Register of Historic places.

In addition, provisions must be made for public hearings on designation, and public notification; mandatory review of alterations of designated properties; mandatory review of demolition, building movement, or new construction within districts or within property boundaries of individual landmarks; specific time-frames for reviews and for consideration of alternatives; and penalties for non- compliance.

Also, CLG requirements include the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. It is strongly recommended that the Maine Historic Preservation Commission's Guidelines for Historic Preservation also be adopted.

Response From Others Who Use The CLG Program

Topsham, Hamden, Bangor, Castine, Kennebec, Saco, Lewiston, and York all are under the CLG program, according to Shettleworth.

Topsham has been a part of the CLG program since the early 1980's. Michael Babineau, Chairman for the Topsham Historic District Commission, believes the program works well for the town.

"Our guidelines are modeled after the National Historic register guidelines," Babineau said. "They are fairly strict, but the people understand what they need to do to their homes to keep the original look."

Since the 1980's Babineau said he hasn't received many complaints from residents.

"People who have the homes are fully aware they need to retain the historic character," Babineau added. "It's been a good experience. I know it would be for Wiscasset as well. It's the prettiest village in Maine; lets keep it that way."

David Miller, Development Coordinator at the Code Enforcement Office in Bangor, said he has received mixed reactions from people about the CLG program.

"Some people love it, some people hate it. A lot of people who are forced to go before the historic commission to improve their property are surprised or act surprised," Miller said.

"However, the people who originally registered their property as historic generally appreciate it. Subsequent purchasers sometimes are unaware of the restrictions on their property. They are sometimes aware but turn a blind eye and show little restraint."

Babineau believes all owners of historic residences in Wiscasset should be educated on the concept.

"Forming a committee to look at this should be a considered move," Babineau said. "Public attendance is important too. Not just people in the historic district but all of the population."

Richard Arnold, Chairman of the York Historic District Commission, has studied the topic for two years. He believes Wiscasset should have a historic committee.

"It is a beautiful town. It's like York, if you don't get the ball rolling you could lose what you have," Arnold said.

According to Arnold, York has received well over $100,000 in grants from the CLG program. That money has been used for at least five or six properties.

"That has turned out to be a boom for the town," Arnold said. This year the town will receive an additional $6,000 grant to survey the historic properties.

"Overall, the program has been very beneficial to York," Arnold said.

However, some residents of York complained about the guidelines of the program, according to Arnold.

"It's a battle sometimes because people don't like being told what to do with their properties," York said. "It's a delicate balance you have to draw."

Background Information About CLG

The Federal government established a program of identification, evaluation and protection of historic properties which the states, primarily, carry out. The success of that working relationship prompted Congress to expand the partnership to provide participation by local governments.

The National Historic Preservation Amendments Act of 1980 contains the legal basis for the new federal-state-local preservation partnership.

Federal law directs the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Secretary of the Interior to certify local government to participate in this partnership and specifies several requirements which the local government must meet. The purpose of these guidelines is to outline how this partnership will be implemented in Maine.