Little Village Bistro and a Federal Street couple got the nods they sought June 8 from the Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission. The Gardiner Road restaurant plans two additions.

Panelists praised the business’ success and its food, and praised John and Kathleen Closson of 112 Federal Street for the caring members said the couple showed in retaining their home’s look.

Alternate member Gordon Kontrath said the Clossons, both retired schoolteachers, were following an important part of working on an old property: “You’re moving forward but you’re not taking away from what existed.” John Closson said the goal of the planned window and door replacements was part maintenance, part security.

He sees news reports about home invasions and gets concerned, Closson said. “I don’t want to have to battle somebody who gets in the house.” A steel door will replace a wooden one; the porch will get vinyl replacement windows matching the home’s other windows, the couple told the commission at the meeting and in their application.

They wanted to preserve the porch’s integrity, John Closson said. Chairman John Reinhardt said it was a pleasure to see the importance the couple put on that.

“I’m sorry about vinyl, but I’m always sorry about vinyl,” member Susan Blagden said. She supported the proposed work, saying it was “in keeping with the property as it is.”

The Clossons’ proposal and the restaurant’s got approved for certificates of appropriateness. The restaurant’s owner Tony Bickford, represented by architect Teresa Simpson, proposed a 12-foot-by-20-foot addition off the south gable for a new entrance; and an addition running eight feet by 12 feet and four inches on the north side for a walk-in refrigerator. A description included with the application states, “The additions are only being built and the siding and windows upgraded to make the building more appealing ... (Bickford) wants to dress it up and keeping with the traditional look.”

Bickford hopes to complete the project by July 4, doing it on days the restaurant is closed, Simpson said.

Also June 8, Town Planner Ben Averill offered advice on the report Town Manager Marian Anderson requested as selectmen consider the future of the historic preservation ordinance that created the commission. He recommended focusing on how the town benefits from preservation and the commission. “The more positive you are, the better it will be received,” he said.

The commission will work on the report at 5 p.m. June 29. “And I’m going to call it our defense package,” Reinhardt said.

Blagden said she and her lawyer understood no town vote to repeal the ordinance could be held until the June 2018 annual town meeting, since it wasn’t on this year’s warrant. Averill said, according to the town’s legal counsel, a town meeting can be called at another time, as long as proper notification is made.

The panel also heard from Megan Hopkin of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, who outlined the benefits for towns that become “certified local governments” or CLG’s. They can get grant money to restore buildings, acquire historic properties or do other preservation work, Hopkin said. In response to a question from Kontrath, Hopkin said the grants do not require a local match. “They’re outright,” she said. CLG towns also get technical assistance and training, access to statewide preservation programs and planning, and take part in National Register nominations, according to a slide presentation Hopkin gave.

For Wiscasset to become a CLG, selectmen would have to be in favor of it and the preservation ordinance, while “pretty solid,” would need tweaking, Hopkin said.