OHPC abolished; replaced with committee

In a near unanimous vote on Monday, the Village of Owego Board voted to adopt Local Law No 3, which will abolish the Owego Historic Preservation Commission (OHPC) and replace it with a Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. Mayor Steve May abstained from the vote along with Trustee Ed Morton.

The vote also amends Chapter 126 of the Code of the Village of Owego.

According to Chapter 126, a public policy is outlined that will protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts as necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the public. 

In other words, the Chapter dictates that Owego’s attractiveness will be maintained, while investments in acquiring, resurrecting, refurbishing, restoration and continued upkeep and maintenance of the historic homes and buildings will be done so in a manner that maintains and is in keeping with the intended visual aesthetic characteristics of the original design. 

The Committee shall consist of five members, from within the Village or the Town of Owego, to be appointed by the Mayor and approved by a majority of the Board. 

The duties of the Committee will include recommendations to the Village Board, after consultation with the Code Enforcement Officer.

According to Earl Hartman, trustee and OHPC commissioner, the big differences in the adopted changes are that it permits the Code officials to do some projects that are consistent with the building codes, and pretty much keeps with the historic values of the house / structure without a full blown Historic Committee review. 

“Where there is a project that warrants the Historic Committee review, the Code official must and will work with the Historic Preservation Committee,” added Hartman.

The vote arrived after a series of well-attended public hearings and meetings that took place over the last month, with emotions running high at times and throughout the process.

Hartman stated that one of the biggest complaints he received is that when someone wanted to do work on their home, they would have to comply with what he termed as the “rigidness” of the OHPC; after which, the homeowner was often not able to make the needed repairs. 

Hartman added, “There seemed to be little room in the OHPC for disagreement with them. If you agreed fully with them it was smooth sailing. If not, you were in for a hard time.”

Hartman is hoping that the system will work better, once the committee is established, and that it will encourage keeping the building’s upkeep.

And although the board voted for the abolishment of OHPC, it left some residents unhappy with the decision.

Julie Nucci, an Owego resident living in the historic district, stated that there were very few people who complained, and that haven’t followed the law.

“They got rid of an organization that knows what they are doing,” said Nucci following Monday night’s board meeting, adding, “They made a decision that didn’t represent 95 percent of those that wanted the law.”

Jeffrey Smith, architect, also spoke out at Monday’s meeting, stating that being a Certified Local Government, or CLG is worth it. 

He also stated that without the oversight of the OHPC, that Owego wouldn’t stand out among other villages, or municipalities. 

Hartman countered this, however, noting that the OHPC, as it was, has not been uniformly fair. He added that homes can still be registered through the State Historic Preservation Office, or SHPO, and that the village itself owns the CLG.

As for the next step, the committee is being formed now, and the board is searching for candidates.