Chairman Harold Forbes called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. In addition to Mr. Forbes, other voting members present were Tommy Bailey, Dr. Melissa Bingmann, Dr. Robert Conte, Nat DeBruin, Rebecca Frye, Victor Greco, Dr. Charles Ledbetter, Alison Thornton, and Dr. Joan Walker. Voting members absent were Dr. Billy Joe Peyton, Nathan Randolph, and Keven Walker. Ex officio voting member present was Fredrick Armstrong. Ex officio voting member absent was Dr. Bill Arnett. Ex officio non-voting members present were Joe Geiger, director, Archives and History Section; Dr. Michael Hohn, director, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey; Charles Morris, director, Museums Section; Susan Pierce, director, Historic Preservation Section; and Randall Reid-Smith, commissioner of Culture and History. Ex officio non-voting member absent was Sandra Scaffidi, president of Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Also present were Historic Preservation staff members Jennifer Brennan and Pam Brooks.
Chairman Forbes asked for a motion on the meeting minutes of February 24, 2017. Mr. Geiger noted that Mr. Armstrong suggested a change on page 5 from "National Register nominations" to "the National Register nomination." A motion to approve the minutes with the noted correction was made by Dr. Ledbetter, with a second by Dr. Walker. The minutes were approved.
Chairman Forbes then asked for a motion on the minutes for the special meeting held on April 26, 2017. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Mr. Greco, with a second by Mr. DeBruin. The minutes were approved.
Chairman Forbes then called for a motion to approve the revised agenda distributed to members (copy attached to official minutes). Dr. Conte made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, with a second by Dr. Ledbetter. The motion was approved.
Chairman Forbes called upon Mr. Geiger for the Archives and History report. Mr. Geiger referred members to information provided in the monthly reports for February and March 2017 (copies attached to official minutes) and then reviewed recent activities. He informed the commission that the second group of forty sesquicentennial highway historical markers had been ordered. Locations were being selected for the installation of the first forty and staff were researching and writing the third group of forty.
He also noted the addition of several collections and the processing of others. A finding aid for Governor Tomblin's papers has been completed and staff has intensified work on processing the Randolph Collection. After reviewing other section activities, he closed by noting a two-year project sponsored by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts will provide training on the preservation of materials, and stated he hoped that one of the workshops would be held at the Culture Center in the fall of 2017.
Dr. Ledbetter recommended that the commission thank the volunteers at Archives and History, particularly Pat McClure, a retired West Virginia State University professor, who has written numerous biographies for the Veterans Memorial section of the Archives website, and is coordinating educational endeavors with various school classes.
Chairman Forbes then called upon Susan Pierce for the Historic Preservation report. Ms. Pierce provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities. She related that her office had been involved in discussions regarding the proposed state historic rehabilitation tax credit increase and had attended legislative hearings in March. Ms. Pierce addressed the Senate Government Organization committee regarding a bill for the protection of monuments and memorials, but the legislation did not pass.
She distributed the 2018 work program and informed members it was to be advertised for public comment this summer. Work on the second round of FY2017 development grants was proceeding and an awards ceremony was held on April 24. Ms. Pierce then reviewed education activities, noting that staff had participated in three disaster preparedness workshops in April, participated in National History Day, continued work on the second edition of the Historic West Virginia book, and completed draft text for the 2018 calendar. Staff also continued site visits and attended meetings on mitigation efforts on Richwood High School and Clendenin Elementary. She closed by informing members that she and Ms. Brennan had consulted with the General Services division on a Capitol dome moisture prevention project.
Dr. Ledbetter noted the impact of a grant on Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church and stated that the significance of these grants is sometimes overlooked.
Chairman Forbes then called upon Charles Morris for the Museums report. Mr. Morris provided a written report to members (copy attached to official minutes) and reviewed section activities. He noted that the design and layout work at Grave Creek have been completed and that carpeting is to be installed next month. Mr. Morris announced that an exhibit on World War I will open in the Culture Center on July 15 and that they were also working on a 40th anniversary exhibit for the Division of Culture and History. A juried quilt exhibition will open tomorrow night (May 26), and an exhibit on Robert C. Byrd will be on display in the Fall.
Due to Ms. Scaffidi's absence, no report for the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia was given.
Chairman Forbes then called upon Dr. Hohn for the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey report. Dr. Hohn reviewed work on the Geo Park in Greenbrier County.
Due to Dr. Arnett's absence, no report for the West Virginia Historical Association was given.
Chairman Forbes then called upon Mr. Armstrong for the West Virginia Historical Society report. Mr. Armstrong noted that the organization had participated in History Day and that a newsletter was forthcoming.
Chairman Forbes then called upon Commissioner Reid-Smith for a report on the Division of Culture and History. He noted his recent attendance at the American Alliance of Museums Conference in St. Louis, informed members the museum book was nearly completed, and reviewed the 2017 History Bowl competition. He also mentioned agency efforts on the Social Studies fair, National History Day, and cooperative efforts with Dr. Bingmann on graduate fellows working at the Division of Culture and History. The commissioner spoke about another successful Ambassadors' Camp and informed members about other division activities.
Turning to Old Business, Chairman Forbes called for an update on previous National Register nominations. Ms. Pierce stated there were no updates at this time.
Chairman Forbes then called on Ms. Pierce to present the FY2018 State Development Grants. Mr. Greco recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Ms. Pierce summarized the outside review panel process which resulted in a funding recommendation of $338,636. Chairman Forbes asked the commission to consider the Blue Church, Claymont Court, Fayette County Courthouse, and Graceland Inn applications. Ms. Thornton made a motion to accept the panel's recommendations for the Blue Church, Claymont Court, Fayette County Courthouse, and Graceland Inn applications with the provision authorizing staff to move funds from cancelled projects or projects unable to use all available funding to the next project in order of priority or to increase funding to an approved project needing additional funds, subject to the availability of funding. The second was provided by Mr. Bailey. Motion passed. Mr. Greco returned to the meeting.
Concerning the Mercer County Courthouse application, Mr. Armstrong asked why they were using an interior drain system instead of an exterior drain system. Dr. Hohn, who participated in the review panel meeting, explained the panel's deliberations and noted that the panel can only look at the information provided by the applicant. Ms. Brennan had recommended french drains but it was not financially feasible, as there was an extensive cost involved in introducing a french drain system.
Dr. Ledbetter made a motion to accept the panel's recommendations for the remaining FY2018 State Development Grants with the provision authorizing staff to move funds from cancelled projects or projects unable to use all available funding to the next project in order of priority or to increase funding to an approved project needing additional funds, subject to the availability of funding. The second was provided by Mr. Bailey. Motion passed.
Chairman Forbes then called on Mr. Geiger to present the proposed changes to the Archives and History Library Services and Fee Guidelines. Mr. Armstrong made a motion to approve the proposed changes to the Archives and History Library Services and Fee Guidelines and Mr. Greco provided the second. Motion passed.
Chairman Forbes then called on Ms. Pierce to present the proposed changes to the legislative rules for the CLG program. Mr. Bailey made a motion to approve the proposed changes to the legislative rules for the CLG program and Dr. Bingmann provided the second. Upon further discussion, it was determined that it was premature to seek approval of the rule changes from the commission. Mr. Bailey withdrew his motion.
Chairman Forbes called on the Nominating Committee for its report. Dr. Bingmann reported that the committee's recommendation is for the nomination of Harold Forbes as chairperson and Victor Greco as vice chairperson. Dr. Conte moved to accept the recommendation of the committee and Dr. Ledbetter provided the second. Motion carried.
Chairman Forbes then discussed commission membership. Chairman Forbes announced that Alison Thornton will be resigning as a commission member. Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith noted he would be meeting next week with the governor's office concerning appointments.
Chairman Forbes noted that the Fall meeting is to be held at Pipestem Resort State Park on Friday, September 29. The Winter meeting will be held at the Culture Center in Charleston on February 22, 2018, with a backup date of March 2.
Mr. Greco made a motion to adjourn and Chairman Forbes declared the meeting adjourned at 12:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph N. Geiger, Jr. Secretary