The Albion Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) met on Thursday, June 20, to review applications for exterior alterations and discuss internal restructuring. During the brief session, held at 4:02 p.m. in the Village Board Room, the commission addressed maintenance issues for two village properties and debated potential changes to the commission’s own composition. Main Street Storefront Gets Green Light The commission moved quickly to approve a request from Naim AbdurRafi, owner of 101 N. Main St. AbdurRafi submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness (C of A) application for touch-up painting on the exterior storefront of his building. According to the minutes, commission members did not hesitate to approve the request. The decision was based on the applicant’s plan to utilize the same color scheme currently on the building. Because the work constitutes maintenance rather than a change in the historic character of the façade, the members agreed to allow the applicant to proceed immediately. East Bank Street Roofing Repairs Split More complex discussions arose regarding the property at 28 East Bank St., owned by applicant Jeff Holler. The issue focused on the remediation of the back side of the building, where the pitch of the roof is reportedly causing structural or maintenance issues. The commission members agreed that repairs are necessary but decided to split their approval. They voted to allow Holler to move forward with work on the main section of the roof. However, they tabled a decision regarding a smaller, adjacent roof. According to the minutes, the commission wants to inspect the specific materials intended for the smaller roof before granting final approval. This ensures the materials match the aesthetic standards of the historic neighborhood. Holler had proposed using metal roofing to address the pitch issues, but the commission reserved judgment on that specific element until a future meeting. Commission Considers Shrinking Roster In addition to property reviews, the commission addressed "Old Business" regarding its own operational structure. The members discussed options to reduce or change the quantity of HPC members and redesign the membership makeup. The discussion appears to stem from a need to secure a reliable quorum for meetings. According to the minutes, the current members agreed that changes are necessary but noted that any reduction in membership numbers or restructuring would require a full quorum to agree on the proposal. It was also noted during the discussion that altering the commission's size may require a change to village code. The members suggested that the issue might eventually need to be taken to the Planning Board to facilitate a code change. The meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m. *** **Context on Coverage** Based on past minutes, securing a quorum has been an intermittent challenge for the HPC. Minutes from previous years, such as May 31, 2022, show meetings where up to two members were absent, potentially hindering the board's ability to conduct official business. The discussion on June 20 indicates the board is looking to codify a smaller, perhaps more agile, structure to prevent future delays in preservation decisions.