SPRINGFIELD — The final phase of garnering a National Historic Register nomination for the town of Springfield may not go as smoothly as the first two.

First, Jessie Ravage conducted research and documented all houses over fifty years old in the Waggoner Patent. Ravage then compiled a document with her findings. Phase three, presenting a package to the state, includes the acquisition of letters of recommendation in support of the project.

George Rutler, the president of the Springfield Historical Society, requested a letter from the town planning board, saying that it would carry heft when packaged with the rest of the materials and could contribute to the Waggoner Patent being named a historic district.

Planning board president Jim Willsey said he doesn't want the board to overstep their responsibilities, and that no precedent has been set yet with regard to the writing of such a letter.

"Well if there's no precedent and no law against it, why not start a precedent?" Rutler asked.

Planning board member Dan Rosen asked Rutler, "If you get the town board's approval, would the planning board's opinion matter?"

"If you voiced support, this would be another group in the town that supports it," Rutler said. "We want the town board's approval."

Planning board member Jerry Young said, "Are the people in this town going to have a say about this?"

"Not if it goes like the last one, we won't," said town supervisor Tom Armstrong, referring to the inclusion of a portion of Springfield in the 15,000 acre Glimmerglass Historic District.

Planning board member Reinhard Burdt said he should have been notified of a public meeting held by the state prior to the creation of the Glimmerglass Historic District but "a letter never came." He said he's not philosophically opposed to such a designation, but opposed rather to the manner in which the public is, or is not, notified. He requested that his property not be included in the district, but that a map of the designation includes his home.

Ann Murphy, planning board member, agreed that people do not get properly notified by the state. Rutler said he would look into this aspect of the process.

Dan Rosen said that tax cuts are often granted by the state for improvements on properties included in the Historic Register.

Harry Levene, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Springfield, told Rutler that his organization would be happy to provide them with a letter of recommendation.

"We would appreciate that," said Rutler.

"We appreciate what you're doing," Levene answered.

Willsey suggested tabling the matter for another month in order to give the town board a chance to discuss the matter at their Monday night meeting, at which Rutler had been planning to request a letter or recommendation but opted instead to deliver information and take a "slow and easy approach after the reception we received at the planning board meeting," Rutler said.

Rutler felt that the meeting was overwhelmingly positive, with only one unresolved issue still standing. He declined to discuss this issue. Armstrong was more outspoken.

"It was a long way from positive," said Armstrong. "Once you're on the Historic Register, everything has to go through the State Historic Preservation Office. They're the ones who stopped the towers from going up in East Springfield, and if they've got the power to do that, who knows what other powers they've got? Nobody's against what the Historical Society's doing, looking up all the deeds and records. It's time consuming but it's public knowledge. But I hate this being pushed. If they find out that the State Historic Preservation Office had nothing to do with the towers, we'll all gracefully join in. Officially, I don't think the town board can even approve of what they're doing. And the thing is, they don't need us."

Armstrong said the Historic Society doesn't need the permission of the town board or the planning board to push their plans on to the state.

"I think we should have a public hearing," said Armstrong. "I asked George Rutler what he would do if most people didn't want the nomination, but he didn't say he would stop with it. If most of the people don't want it, the state still holds a public hearing and as far as I know they don't poll people individually. If they apply for it and the state says yes, there's nothing anybody can do."

Armstrong said as far as a tax credit goes on the properties listed, "the tax credit is for repairs, not for the property itself, and it's peanuts."

Armstrong said that he felt the town of Springfield had been divided the last time this subject came up and some of the town ended up in the Glimmerglass Historic District.

"The rest of the people in the town couldn't vote on it," Armstrong said. "So it's like having a state within a state. Of course everybody around the lake wanted it, but it's taking us apart. What do you get from being on the Historic Register? The prestige of saying you have the oldest house or barn in town. So what?"