Townsend HDC recommends two applicants to select board after debate over experience and meeting practices

The Townsend Historic District Commission voted 5–2 on July 16 to forward recommendations to the select board for two applicants: Robert Therian and Yasmeer Santiago.

The vote followed a lengthy discussion about board composition, the value of long-serving members and the importance of recruiting new volunteers. The commission also addressed procedural items including missing minutes and the need to include annual reorganization (electing a chair, vice chair and clerk) on a future agenda to align with statutory requirements.

Robert Therian, who was present in the meeting room, outlined his experience with historic architectural treatments and said he could contribute knowledge and documents that would preserve continuity across changing commission membership. "I would be most valuable in terms of architectural treatments and style," Therian said, offering to serve as a full member or an alternate depending on availability.

Yasmeer Santiago, joining by Zoom, described civil engineering and architectural drafting studies, additional coursework in digital representation and experience restoring period details to older properties. Santiago said she recently retired from the military and intends to make Townsend her primary residence, and she emphasized a desire to help preserve the town’s historic character.

Members debated whether commissioners should reside inside the historic district, whether replacement of long-serving members risks loss of institutional knowledge, and whether new perspectives are needed to keep the commission active and representative. One commissioner pointed out that some minutes are missing from the online record and asked that "reorganization" be added to the next agenda to ensure elections and officers are properly recorded under applicable provisions.

A motion to recommend Therian and Santiago was made and seconded; roll-call results were recorded as 5 in favor and 2 opposed. The commission noted that the select board is the appointing body and that the next step is for the select board to consider the recommendations and complete the formal appointments. The meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.

The commission also discussed the process for resignations from HDC seats and observed that, for this body, resignations are processed with state oversight in addition to town procedures.