Trew Providence Preservation Fund through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The grant will enable MAHDC to develop and implement a Historic Preservation

Commission Training Program, geared toward Eastern Shore commissions and their staff.

 

This fall MAHDC will initiate an Historic Preservation Commission Training Program

for appointed members and staff of local preservation commissions on Maryland’s

Eastern Shore. The training program will be two-tiered and will include an on-line primer

and three workshops on law, ethics, and design review.

 

Through our outreach efforts, we have identified a need for training on a variety of

topics, from preservation basics to more advanced technical issues for commissioners

to perform their duties faithfully and capably. For this project, MAHDC will work

with the Maryland Historic Trust, Preservation Maryland, and the National Alliance

for Preservation Commissions (NAPC) to develop an on-line training course that will

introduce participants to key concepts, common terminology, and core principles of

preservation practice. Topics may include the legal basis for historic preservation,

significance and integrity, differences between the National Register and local

designation, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, etc.

 

The second prong of the training program will be the development of course materials

for more in-depth workshops focused on two areas of practice – Law and Ethics,

and Design Review. MAHDC is contracting with NAPC to develop the course

materials and on-site training to a number of individuals who will lead the workshops.

 

This grant will assist MAHDC in achieving one of its long-term goals – to develop

a framework for a comprehensive commission training and educational program.

Strengthening the quality of commission deliberations will encourage heritage protection

and will increase the public’s awareness of the value that a commission brings to a

community. Increasing the training opportunities for historic preservation commissions

will ultimately result in stronger boards, whose presence and influence among the

community and local governmental officials will increase.

 

The on-line training course is slated for completion next summer, and the on-site courses

are planned for Fall 2011. Stay tuned for more information about this great training

opportunity for our membership.