Embattled Marblehead historic district board chairman steps down

MARBLEHEAD – The chairman of the Old and Historic District Commission has resigned.James "Pat" Patrick has informed the selectmen by letter that he is stepping down due to "demanding business and personal reasons requiring my undivided attention, efforts and time." Board members voted to accept his resignation and send him a letter of appreciation for his service.Old & Historic Districts Commission member Tom Saltsman has been named head of the commission.Patrick could not be reached for comment, but his opinion on the appropriate style of window for an historic home and the commission’s pattern of decision-making on those windows brought some criticism from the selectmen earlier this year.The spotlight was on Patrick and the commission after commission members denied Middle Street homeowner Charles Bridges’ request to install energy-efficient – but arguably less authentic – windows at the house as part of a renovation.After a lengthy hearing, selectmen denied Bridges’ appeal 3-2. The votes of four selectmen are required to overturn a commission decision.In spite of the apparent majority support, Selectman Harry Christensen said the commission’s somewhat flexible position on energy-efficient windows in recent years could be perceived as arbitrary if an appeal went to court. "There needs to be a marriage between energy issues and history," Christensen said.Patrick took some heat from Selectman James Nye when he compared the appearance of homes with energy-efficient windows to Tinker Toys and Disney World at a conference to discuss the upcoming appeal hearing.However, Bridges also came under fire when he later suggested that Patrick’s business, Old Town Repair, could create a conflict of interest with his commission duties since Old Town Repair repairs historic windows instead of replacing them.Selectman William Woodfin accused Bridges of using innuendo and Assistant Town Counsel Lisa Mead said that Patrick has filed a disclosure form about his business with the town clerk and he has never worked on the home of anyone who has appeared before the commission