August 28, 2006

Commissioner Susan Cogswell
Department of Insurance
153 Market St
Hartford, CT  06142

Dear Commissioner Cogswell:

As I discussed with you this morning, I have received many complaints regarding a proposed policy that will require metal window shutters on all homes within a certain distance of waterways in the state.  I am very concerned that such a discriminatory policy will result in exclusion from the market insurance coverage for hundreds of homes along the shoreline.  I am particularly concerned about the homes within our important historic districts from the Rhode Island border to the Thames River.  The historic homes and structures in these designated districts are essential to the character and attraction of southeastern Connecticut. 

Further, historic homes registered in historic districts as well as those individual homes anywhere that are on the national register of historic homes must never compromise the important historic architecture of their facades.  As a former owner of one of only six historic octagon homes in the state, built in 1840, I would never have compromised its important architectural prominence in Connecticut history.  Fellow historic homeowners may not install the metal shutters you describe, and duly appointed historic district commissioners would be derelict in their duties if they ever approved such insults to the architecture and character that makes these homes the story tellers of Connecticut history as they are preserved to be.

On behalf of the many historic district commissions in my region, I implore you to rescind this policy.  By their very existence, the historic homes of the shoreline are testament to their ability to withstand hurricanes.  My octagon home stood proudly through hundreds of hurricanes, and even in the hurricane of 1938, the windows did not blow in.  The original windows are still in
place today.  Historic district commissions are not allowed to approve vinyl siding on historic homes in our area.  They would never be able to approve the shutters the company requests. 

Please rescind this discriminatory, extravagant policy meant to line the pockets of insurers who look to our region to make up for losses in other parts of the country.  At the very least, I request that you require any insurers to exempt homes within historic districts from such a draconian requirement. 

I am available to discuss this with you further at any time.

Sincerely,

Catherine W. Cook
Senator, 18th District