AUGUST 24, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Marilyn Robinson, Chair; Carol Ann Falasca, Vice Chair;
Ralph Bloom; Betty Booth; Marija Bryant; William Krummel; Deborah Mathies; Gail Wall

STAFF: Susan Gunn-Bromley, Curator

OTHERS: Michael Bromley; Todd Bryant, Norwalk Preservation Trust; Jeanne Goodman, Citizen News; William Kenney, Friends of Norwalk Museum; John Nickerson, The Advocate; Marjorie St Aubyn; LMMM

Ms. Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JULY 27, 2005

The following corrections were made to the minutes of July 27, 2005:

Page 1: Add Regina Krummel to the attendance (others)
Page 2: Staff to the Commission Report. Second sentence should read: She explained that due to the weather, she lost electricity and had problems with her computer.
Last paragraph, first sentence add – and will go for thousands of dollars.
Page 3: first motion Lou Scranto should read Lou Scranton and add to the motion – and pursue any information regarding the plate and provide a report to the Commission.
Page 6: Under Gate Lodge Paint Review, second paragraph should read: Ms. Falasca expressed her displeasure with the mixed media sculptures placed in Mathew’s Park
Page 8: Under Old Business – third sentence should read – The copier that she uses works the best, but the others also work and are back up for that one.
Page 10: Fifth paragraph should read – Ms. Falasca asked about the Joye Felice collection items. Ms. Gunn said that the Law Department said that part of it was lost in transport.

** MS. ROBINSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORTS

A. LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM

Ms. St. Aubyn reported that the 28th annual antique show will take place at the end of October. She said that the Billiards Room floor is the most severely damaged. Funds have been raised and the restoration work has been scheduled to start of September 22nd. The restoration work will bring the room to its former glory.

B. NORWALK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Ms. Wall said that her written report stands as presented. The only change was that an additional $265.00 was raised this afternoon. They are looking to raise $3,000 and will speak to the dealer before the end of the week.

COALITION OF NORWALK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS

Ms. Bryant reported that she and Mr. Bloom attended a meeting when the disposition of the old Police building was on their agenda. Ms. Bryant described the building and said that the site looks awful. In terms of the interior, there is a lot of furniture still in there such as a good conference table and chairs.

The group discussed uses for the building, but Ms. Bryant said that she believes that a recommendation will be made to remove the building and restore the park as an historic site.

Ms. Falasca suggested obtaining maps or photos of the park so that the landscaping could be replicated to the original plans. Ms. Bryant suggested finding matching grants to help fund the restoration of the park. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she has the original landscaping plans of the property.

Mr. Bloom noted that with the concentration of development planned, there are no plans for open space. He said that the asphalt in the park is in terrible shape. If it is kept, the drainage would have to be replaced. Mr. Bloom suggested putting a letter on file with the Purchasing Department if they want first dibs on the office furniture at the old Police Station.

Ms. Bryant asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to pull the original landscaping plans and said that they could meet next week. Mr. Krummel suggested that the Historical Commission would be an essential component of any discussion for the park.

** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO SEND A LETTER TO MAYOR KNOPP STATING THAT THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WANTS TO PLAY A MAJOR PART IN THE DISPOSITION OF THE FORMER POLICE STATION AND THE COMMISSION FEELS THAT THE BUILDING IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR ITS LOCATION
** MS. BRYANT SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Mr. Krummel left the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

** MR. BLOOM MOVED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE CITY OF NORWALK PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WITH A COPY TO THE MAYOR AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT THAT THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN THE DISPOSITION OF THE FURNISHINGS OF THE FORMER POLICE STATION
** MS. FALASCA SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

STAFF TO COMMISSION REPORT

A. NORWALK MUSEUM

Ms. Gunn-Bromley highlighted her written report. She said that the CAP Grant has been extended to September 30, 2005.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley presented a copy of a Norwalk High School opening day program with signatures dated December 9, 1937. She said that it is the only one with signatures, but is not in good shape due to foxing. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she would keep it isolated. The donor is Robert T. Canevari, Sr.

** MS. BRYANT MOVED TO ACCEPT THE DONATION OF THE NHS OPENING DAY PROGRAM
** MS. FALASCA SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Ms. Gunn-Bromley asked the Commission for their approval to purchase the Images of Connecticut; John Kensett and the Connecticut Shore. The Commission agreed that Ms. Gunn-Bromley could purchase the book using funds from the donation box.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley presented a sample Volunteer application, which came from the Bruce Museum. The Commissioners discussed the form and made some revision. They asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to provide a copy to the Law Department for their input.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she spoke with Mr. Slavid and asked him for the GPS survey. Ms. Robinson asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to call Mr. Slavid and tell him to provide the survey by the next meeting. If he fails to do so, she asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to call the Law Department. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she will keep the Commissioners apprised as the month goes along.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that RFPs for the sprinkler system were sent out. She will ask Gerald Foley about the status. The furnace at LMMM is in very bad shape. Ms. Bryant said that the Building Committee may need to meet with Ms. St. Aubyn to discuss the furnace and the sprinkler system.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that the tenants at Smith Street need to have the exterior light bulbs changed. Building Management will not change the bulbs because it is not a part of their contract. Ms. Robinson asked Mr. Gunn to send a letter to the Law Department to determine who is responsible for changing those light bulbs.

Ms. Wall asked about the status of the estimates for Mill Hill. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she needs to meet to know from Building Management about which project to move forward on. Ms. Bryant said that the Building Committee will have a meeting within a week to make a determination.

Ms. Falasca addressed the list of office equipment. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that if one computer breaks down, there are no funds for a replacement. Ms. Falasca said that she could not keep items that are not usable.

** MS. FALASCA MOVED THAT BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 MS. GUNN-BROMLEY WILL REVIEW THE LIST OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT IN THE BUILDING AND REPORT TO THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION WILL MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT WILL REMAIN AND WHAT WILL BE DISPOSED OF
** MS. BRYANT SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

B. FINANCE REPORT

Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that before she left for vacation on July 28th she put the acquisition logs into the vault, but now can not find the two blue books. Ms. Booth asked who could open the vault and Ms. Gunn-Bromley r replied that she is the only one. She said that she has looked around the office and the work room. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that a lot of the information is recoverable from computer records. Ms. Wall said that this is added to the list of missing flood photographs.

Mr. Bloom said that in the past the Commission records were kept in vinyl books. He asked if they were found. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that they were in the basement.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley-Bromley asked when the storage cabinets would be returned by the LMMM. Mr. Bloom said that they do not belong to the Norwalk Museum. Ms. Gunn-Bromley-Bromley said that Mr. Studenroth gave them to her. Mr. Falasca said that she spoke with Mr. Studenroth who said that he would not have been able to give Ms. Gunn-Bromley those cabinets without permission from the Board and he has no recollection of being given that permission.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley-Bromley said that Ms. Booth asked about the scout project. Ms. Robinson asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley-Bromley to give her the name of the scout and she will send a letter to him regarding his project.

Ms. Wells said that she sent a letter to Ms. Hayes asking for documentation about when the collage was donated. Ms. Booth said that she will call Ms. Lyons and show her a copy of the letter and ask her to follow through.

Ms. Wells asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to explain the purpose of the badge the scout was trying to earn. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she understands that he is required to perform a community service project to become an Eagle Scout.

Ms. Bryant asked if the other Commissioners understood the excel spreadsheets. She asked if there was any way to sort the spreadsheets so that the anomalies would stand out. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that now she is able to e-mail the packets. Mr. Bloom said that in the past, the packets were mailed a week before the meeting and not e-mailed on the day of the meeting.

Ms. Bryant asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley if she had made a file with the costs of repairs for each of the buildings.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Ms. Robinson distributed the list of motions that were made during the meetings of June 30th and July 27th, that have not been completed. Ms. Robinson said that she gave Ms. Gunn-Bromley a copy of the list and asked her to respond by tomorrow. Ms. Robinson also distributed a Question/Needs document.

Ms. Wall said that she walked through the administrative office and noted that it still needs work. She said that there are cases of wine in the fax room and boxes in the Curator’s office. The boxes seem to contain new Raggedy Ann dolls. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that those dolls are part of the collection and are in the process of being put away.

Ms. Wall said that the computer needs to be linked to the City’s system, but that has not been done yet. She said that during the June meeting they discussed that both offices need to be cleaned by today, but that has not been done. Ms. Wall said that she does not understand why both doors are not accessible. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that it is not beneficial to the operation of the room. She said that she enters through the fax room. The cases of wine were donated for openings. The other room holds collection items. Ms. Gunn-Bromley offered to move the cases of wine downstairs, but said that it is not a good idea to mix them with the collection.

Ms. Falasca said that valuable space is being used for storage and they are in equal disorder. She said that is why items get lost. The room is terrible and is an embarrassment.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that the room is not in chaos and others see it in a different light. Ms. Mathies said that she is concerned about the maps and asked if they were valuable to the collection. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she has original duplicates in better condition that the missing map. She said that she pulled out about six maps that need to be protected and rolled in mylar.

** MS. WALL MOVED THAT THE CURATOR CLEAN THE CURATOR’S OFFICE AND THE FAX ROOM IN SUCH A FASHION THAT WOULD PERMIT BOTH DOORS TO OPEN AND CLOSE BY AUGUST 31, 2005
** MS. FALASCA SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. FALASCA MOVED THAT THE BIG ROOM BE CLEANED OUT BY OCTOBER 15, 2005
** MS. BRYANT SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. MATHIES MOVED THAT THE CURATOR STORE AND ARCHIVE
THE MAPS
** MS. BOOTH SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Ms. Robinson said that she had asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to create a back up procedure for the Museum to be used when she is going to be out. She said that she worked with Sara LeTourneau who suggested that if Ms. Gunn-Bromley was going to be out for an emergency then her office would be the back up to open the museum.

Mr. Bloom said that it makes no sense to bring in an unknown person. Any key holder automatically has the responsibility to open the building. If Ms. Gunn-Bromley were unable to come in, she should call a key holder. He said that all of the key holders took an oath to be responsible for opening the museum and he does not feel that anyone in Ms. LeTourneau’s office is ready for that responsibility.

Ms. Wall said that having Ms. LeTourneau open the building until a key holder can arrive is not a bad idea. She said that she would stipulate that only the Personnel Director be permitted to open the building, since she supervises the Curator. Ms. Booth said that she objects that Ms. Gunn-Bromley has to be supervised by someone other than the Commission.

Ms. Wall suggested that Ms. Gunn-Bromley first call Ms. Robinson as the Chair and then Ms. Falasca as the Vice Chair if she is going to be absent. Ms. Robinson asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to call Ms. LeTourneau and let her know that the Commission only wants her to be the designated person to open the museum in Ms. Gunn-Bromley’s absence.

Another issue discussed is that the Friends has a volunteer list and assigns two volunteers per day. They need to be willing to provide a list of volunteers to Ms. Gunn-Bromley . Ms. Robinson added that if Ms. Gunn-Bromley has a list of volunteers, she needs to share that list with the Friends. Ms. Bryant said that there needs to be a master calendar of volunteers and the days they will be in the museum. Ms. Falasca said that she would collect the list.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. CEMETERIES

** MS. MATHIES MOVED TO ACCEPT A BID FROM NORTH EAST CEMENT SERVICES FOR $9,995
** MS. BRYANT SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Ms. Mathies asked Ms. Gunn-Bromley to research pinning cemetery stones. She said that this is a controversial procedure.

B. DEMOLITIONS

15 & 19 West Main Street/ 3 & 5 Summer Street

Ms. Falasca reported that there are 90-day delays on those properties. There have been discussions with the person from Greenwich who wants to demolish all four homes. Ms. Falasca said that she would like to hold a public hearing on those homes. Ms. Bryant said that she spoke with the president of the West Main Street Neighborhood Association who is willing to work with the neighbors.

Mr. Todd Bryant presented photos of 5 Summer Street and said that it was a basic worker’s house. He believed that 19 West Main Street was once a beautiful home, but is no longer in good shape.

Mr. Bryant said that he met with Michael Sinco and his partner at the site. They did not go into the homes, because all of them, except for 15 West Main Street are occupied. The developer admitted that they are loosing money because of the demolition delay. He added that they do not have a site plan. The developer asked Mr. Bryant to remove the demolition delay, but he refused. Mr. Bryant told the developer to talk to this Commission but he refused. The developer feels he is doing a service to the community by demolishing the homes.

Mr. Bryant said that 19 West Main Street was built by a doctor.

Ms. Robinson suggested that the Historical Commission start a preservation plan. Mr. Bryant said that he believed that the City government would welcome such a plan. Ms. Wall questioned how the Commission could allow all of those buildings to come down without having a site plan in place.

2 Juniper Road

Ms. Falasca reported that this is a lovely big Cape built in 1934. It is on a charming street and the house fits the area. Ms. Bryant suggested that Ms. Falasca contact the Rowayton Civic Association and ask if they want a demolition delay put on this home.

20 Charles Street

This is a garage.

Westport Avenue

This is a hotel.

27 Avenue C

Ms. Falasca said that she has not looked at this home.

A public hearing was scheduled for September 20, 2005. Ms. Falasca will contact Lee Macri at City Hall to schedule the room.

Ms. Wall said that they need to heighten awareness of what is going on in Norwalk and suggested going before the Common Council with a letter asking for support of a preservation plan. Ms. Bryant suggested rallying the neighborhood associations to also go before the Common Council. Ms. Mathies suggested going to the neighborhood associations and holding a press conference. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that the League of Women Voters will hold a mayoral debate and suggested approaching them about discussing a preservation plan during the debate.

C. LMMM/MILL HILL

These items were discussed during the Curator’s report.

D. NHRI

There was no report.

E. NORWALK MUSEUM

Ms. Falasca said that there was a request to use the museum on September 14th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for 25 attendees. After discussion, the Commission agreed to deny the request. Ms. Gunn-Bromley will contact the group and explain that the facility is not appropriate for this type of use. Ms. Robinson said that a policy needs to be put in place before they can permit the museum to be used by outside groups. Ms. Gunn-Bromley offered to adjust her hours to accommodate the DAR meetings on September 15, 2005 and in March 2006.

F. NORWALK MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

There was no report.

G. ROGERS-RITCH-MERRITT HOUSE

There was no report.

OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Booth said that she would be willing to oversee the work on the plaque for Glenn Iannacone to recognize his service on the Commission.

Ms. Falasca said that while investigating the sculptures at the Lockwood Mathews Mansion, she was shocked to see that Contemporary Arts attached four signs to the building.

** MS. WALL MOVED THAT THE CHAIR SEND A LETTER TO CONTEMPORARY ARTS INFORMING THEM THAT THE SIGNS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE BUILDING AND THAT THE HOLES MUST BE RESTORED AND THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS. IN ADDITION, THE CHAIR WILL SEND A LETTER TO LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM AND TO THE TOURISM OFFICE REMINDING THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ATTACH ANYTHING TO THE BUILDINGS
** MS. FALASCA SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Bryant said that in Ms. Gunn-Bromley’s report she lists a Native American pot that was dug up on East Avenue, near the Fitch Street area. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that it was brought in by someone who was moving to Arizona. It was traded in a bar for a Civil War sword. She said that it needs to be restored. Ms. Mathies said that it would be great to have a Native American specialist look at the pot.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION

There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 11:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services

Back to Previous Page	Back to Home Page