By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Nov. 12, 2020) The Atlantic Hotel dumpster can remain behind the hotel’s warehouse on Gay Street, the Berlin Historic District Commission decided last Wednesday.

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The Berlin Historic District Commission approved the permanent placement of the Atlantic Hotel dumpster behind the hotel’s warehouse on Gay Street during its meeting last Wednesday.

Hotel manager Laura Stearns, a member of the commission, recused herself from all aspects of the consideration.

A wooden fence that replicates The Globe’s fence would camouflage the dumpster, said hotel operator John Fager.

“You’ve got the building on one side and then coming out from the building on a right angle would be a fence and then down the street would be a fence, so the only side that would be open would be the side …where they’re going to come in to pick up,” Fager said, referring to the side on the west between the fence and the building for the trash truck’s entry.

The commission also approved the installation of a four-foot wooden fence by McGee Fence in the rear of 507 S. Main St., which is owned by Steven and Berkleigh Diaz.

Before the meeting adjourned, Ron Cascio from the Berlin Planning Commission introduced new homeowners Glenn and Cindy Davis of 200 S. Main St. on the corner of Main Street and Washington Street.

Cascio is serving as the construction manager for the Davis family. Bob Purcell from Beachwood Homes is the general contractor for the restoration project.

Joe Hill of Traditional Design Services in Berlin will complete the design drawings.

“There’s an addition on the back that was done some time that is clearly not in compliance with the historic home values of the town,” Cascio said.

He added that a formal submission regarding renovations and materials will be made in the near future.

Glenn Davis said it will be their permanent residence.

“Before he put in an offer and before he moved to closing on the house, he asked about our process and the kind of things to look out for,” said Dave Engelhart, the town’s planning director. “I know Ron’s a good person to guide you through that.”

Glenn asked about materials for replacement windows.

“We’ve got two or three different options on how we do the replacement windows,” Glenn said. “One of them is just a simple vinyl window that would fit in the opening and we keep the trim and everything at least the same if not just a little bigger.”

He asked the commission what its opinion was of a vinyl window versus a fiberglass window insert.

“The vinyl windows are a little bit thicker,” Glenn said. “They’re wider on the perimeter, so we wanted to get some feedback on how you felt about that before we got too far into that process.”

Chairwoman Carol Rose suggested the couple go with Ron to a nearby house with vinyl windows.

Glenn added that some of the exterior siding will have to be replaced.

“As far as the siding’s concerned, I mean, as long as it’s going to look like a period effect, it doesn’t matter the type of material practically as long as it has the appearance,” said Vice-Chairman Robert Poli.

Glenn also asked the commission about replacing the existing wood railings on the porches with a similar composite railing for safety because they are rotten.

In addition, the home has two large double-hung windows that do not work and cannot be replicated, Glenn said.

“There are only a few windows in the house that have mullions,” Cascio said. “They are some stained-glass windows, which we intend to keep and reuse. None of the other windows have mullions originally.”

Glenn added that the roofing would be replaced with architectural roofing shingles.

Engelhart advised the homeowners to bring as many samples as he could to the meeting they are assigned.

The homeowners plan to have their application ready for the December commission meeting.