The Somerset Historic District
Ordinance Establishing History Committee
 Editorial Policy

House Tour - take a photographic tour of Somerset's historic houses - read their histories.
Historical Beginnings ~ Dorset & Wisconsin Entrance
Town Journal article introducing virtual Historic District
Maps: Historic District ~ Diamond Jubilee ~ Town Streets
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation

Ordinance No. 13-02

Introduced:

Passed:

Approved:

Effective:

ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN OF SOMERSET CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 11, ARTICLE IV. TOWN HISTORY COMMITTEE

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Somerset to add Article IV to Chapter 11 of the Town Code as follows:

CHAPTER 11, Article IV. Town History Committee

(a) The Mayor shall appoint, with approval of the Council, interested Town residents to serve on a permanent Town History Committee.

(b) The Mayor shall appoint, with approval of the Council and the committee members, the committee chairperson.

(c) The committee shall have the following duties:

  1. Identify and recommend to the Town Council and staff a suitable place and equipment to keep the Town's records, archives and historical materials safe from fire, water and humidity, dust, and loss or theft. Review the adequacy of the facility on an annual basis and make recommendations for keeping up with its growth. 

  2. Work with Town staff to organize, catalog and digitally scan archives and historical material and/or obtain professional support as required.

  3. Identify historical material that may be held by residents and others and negotiate donation of the material for the Town archives.

  4. Work with the Town staff to identify and establish ways to make the material accessible to researchers and interested parties while ensuring protection from loss and physical deterioration.

  5. Plan events and exhibits to showcase the Town's historical material, especially for special events such as anniversaries.

  6. Periodically update the Town's written history, and initiate oral history projects.

  7. Coordinate with the Chevy Chase Historical Society, the Montgomery County Historical Society and other local historical societies in appropriate joint activities. Periodically assess organizing a not-for-profit Town of Somerset Historical Society.

  8. Meet in open session at the call of the chairperson, but at least twice a year to review the condition of the Town's archives and historical material.

  9. Recommend to the Mayor and Council proposed plans and major expenditures.

The above ordinance was adopted at the regular meeting of the Town Council on ___________, 2002, by a vote of _____.     

Certified __________________   Approved ____________________

__________________________   ___________________________

Thomas W. Carter                           Walter J. Behr

Clerk-Treasurer                             Mayor