OCTOBER 25, 2006

ATTENDANCE: Marilyn Robinson, Chair; Marija Bryant; Deborah Mathies;
Ralph Bloom; Carol Ann Falasca; Betty Booth; Bill Krummel; Kathryn Martino; Gail Wall; John Kurtzman

STAFF: Susan Gunn-Bromley, Curator

GUESTS: David Westmoreland; Matt Breslow; Michael Bromley

Ms. Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

SPEAKERS

Mr. David Westmoreland, St. Paul’s Church

Mr. Westmorland said that they recently put in a Labyrinth and healing garden. The oldest surviving tombstone is from 1740. There are also a large number of family vaults along with veterans from most of the American conflicts. He said that they are an active burying ground and have 5 – 10 burials per year.

Their primary goal in this project is to preserve and document tombstones and monuments. The downside to some is that it impacts the integrity of the Church yard. They also decided that the approach respects the families. The project will be approached in several phases. Mr. Westmoreland described Phase I of the project.

Mr. Westmoreland said that he did this project as part of his thesis at Cornell University. He said that he had a lot of oversight from the director of the Archaeology Department. He said that he has also taken additional training. He cited the historical resources he used.

One of the more fun things was that they found a cornerstone from the Church preceding this one. It is being professionally conserved.

Phase II will be done over the next few years and will be geared toward more conservation efforts of the tombstones.

Mr. Westmoreland mentioned that they had their first capital campaign in 40 years and raised $1.1 million. Part of that money is being spent on overhauling their 1923 organ. Next spring and summer they will do a restoration of their steeple. He said that there is a long list of projects that need to be done. They are putting a flagpole in the rear of the Churchyard. It will hold the American flag and the Church flag. It will be located in an historic section, where it was previously located. They are in the process of cataloging their archives. They want to reconstruct the picket fence that used to go around the Rectory. They are also looking at restoration work on the gates.

Mr. Westmoreland said that he drafted three nominations for the Church, the Rectory and the Burying Ground. Once he has completed those nominations he will bring them back before the Commission.

Mr. Bloom suggested that when Mr. Westmoreland works on the history of St. Paul’s, that he include a chapter about Mrs. William K. James, the lady who tried to get that church to move off of the Green and whose estate funded the stone Church after her death around 1910. She also owned an historical home, but since she made no arrangements, it was torn down.

The Commissioners welcomed Mr. Westmoreland to Norwalk.

James and Elizabeth Falsey, 1 Sandwich Road

Ms. Falasca introduced Mr. Falsey who is planning to demolish this home. Mr. Falsey presented photographs of other homes he had done in the area. Ms. Falasca said that she was very impressed by those homes. Mr. Falsey described the proposed home.

Ms. Falasca said that the neighbors said that if anyone were to take down a house and rebuild, they would rather that it was Mr. Falsey. They were concerned about losing trees in the front. Mr. Falsey said that he believes they will be able to keep the existing trees. He said that the only thing that will give it appearance, is the required foundation, because it is located in a flood zone.

The house was built in 1929 and was remodeled in the 1960’s and again in the 1970’s. Ms. Falasca said that after polling the neighbors, they are not upset about the demolition, because Mr. Falsey is doing the re-build. Mr. Falsey said that the existing house is not very attractive, and what is being proposed will be much better for the neighborhood.

Ms. Falasca said that she does not recommend a 90-day moratorium on demolition.

REPORTS – SUBCOMMITTEES

Fodor Farm Historic District Report

Mr. Krummel expressed appreciation to the members of this Commission who came out to the Council meeting. He said that it made a difference. Before going into the meeting they did not feel they could overcome a majority vote on the move to move on the alternative plan to divide up the property and sell the plots with deed restrictions. The Corporation Council at the last minute gave an opinion that a simple majority vote was needed.

There were over 20 people who testified at the Council meeting and all accept for one were strongly in support of the Fodor Farm Commission. Mr. Krummel said that he believes they have come to a compromise. The date for the submission of a report is January. Most important is the understood agreement that the Land Use and Building Management Committee who will be in charge during the next few months of deliberations. Mr. Krummel said that he believes that a majority of the Committee will support Fodor Farm.

Mr. Krummel again thanked the Commissioners and said that he looks forward to the public hearing in November. He said that he suggested that Mr. Bryant give a progress report to the Land Use Committee. From this point on there should be a sharing of information with the Land Use Committee so that there is a feeling of working with the legislature.

Ms. Robinson thanked Mr. Krummel for his support and hard work. Ms. Wall said that she found it disheartening that this State has a historic preservation initiative in place and the City ignores that initiative.

Mr. Krummel said that it is important that they work on Mr. Hempstead. He is a key individual on the other side of the aisle. Ms. Wall said that most of the Council members did not make it to the Pogany house, because they were at the Library dedication.

Ms. Wall said that she went there yesterday, alone, and did not feel comfortable walking there alone. She saw that the windows on the second floor were broken, and exposed. That was her outrage last night. It needs to be viewed immediately.

Mr. Krummel said that when he and Mr. Hempstead and Ms. Bain went to view the house, the windows were intact. He added that he got a phone call from an 84 year old resident from the Brookside area who told him that when she was a little girl, she remembers Fodor Farm as a farm. She remembers immigrant workers coming up the hill from South Norwalk to work on Fodor Farm and Reynolds Farm. She said that there was another farm in West Norwalk. Mr. and Mrs. Krummel are making arrangements to meet with this woman.

Finance

The Finance Committee met on Monday.

OLD BUSINESS

Review and discussion on the 2006-2007 Operating Budget requests
Discussion of Capital Budget requests for 2006-2007

The reports and worksheet are in the packet. Ms. Gunn-Bromley said that she had questions that the Commission may want to consider. Two are for a printer and the other was for flat file storage. The City’s electrical group used to change the overhead lights, and she was told that she is not to get on a ladder to change light bulbs. She said that needs to be addressed. The Commissioners held a lengthy discussion and made revisions to the lines in the proposed budget.

** MS. BRYANT MOVED TO ACCEPT THE OPERATING BUDGET AS DISCUSSED
** MR. KRUMMEL SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Ms. Robinson commented that when they worked on the highlights and goals, they changed each of the bullets to have a title. There are two that do not have titles. The Commissioners made suggestions for titles.

The Commissioners held a lengthy discussion and made revisions to the highlights and goals.

** MOVED TO ACCEPT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND GOALS AS DISCUSSED
** MS. BOOTH SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORTS – SUBCOMMITTEES

Public Hearings

93 East Avenue – November 1, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley asked for guidance in wording the public hearing notice. Ms. Falasca asked how to get the neighbors out to the public hearing. Ms. Wall said that the neighborhood needs to rally to go down to the public hearing.

Ms. Wall suggested putting together an e-mail to remind people what is going on and explaining how important it is to go out and speak. Ms. Bryant said that she will ask people to go to the State on the morning of November 1st. She said that it is important to show community support. The facts of the house are clear that it is worth saving. Ms. Bryant said that she will try to get support from the First Taxing District. The Commissioners discussed other people they will try to enlist for support.

Ms. Wall said that it would be helpful that when they do go to the State that they provide photographs of the three hundredth anniversary celebration of Norwalk. Mr. Bloom said that there should be a picture looking on the avenue getting the whole side of the house facing the house showing that it is the first house making an impact into the historic district.

Ms. Wall suggested that perhaps the City would provide the Inn with another parcel within the City.

Ms. Falasca said that Billy Andriopolious is the architect for the Inn. She said that the proposed building is ugly. She suggested bringing the renderings to the State to show them what they want to stick into that historic strip. Mr. Bloom said that the State has no jurisdiction over that and neither does this Commission.

Ms. Bryant said that parking is a sticky issue. To get the parking that they need, they will need a variance for trees in the parking lot. She said that there are problems with the site plan. The state will deal with the fact that the home is located in a historical district.

1 Maple Street and 18 Lynes Place – November 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

Ms. Gunn-Bromley asked for guidance on placing the notice.

CHAIRWOMAN’S REPORT

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REPORTS: BOARDS

Norwalk Historical Society

Ms. Wall reviewed her written report. She said that they had their harvest festival. They had a delightful chef and a nice turnout.

Townhouse electrical upgrade project is moving along. In the next month they will come back to the Commission with a plan to create a fake chimney box, so they can bring in a larger electrical circuit panel.

After many months they have launched a new website. She said that it is really beautiful. Ms. Wall invited everyone to go to the site.

Friends of the Norwalk Museum

Mr. Bloom said that the Commissioners had the report that came from Scott Gibson. He emphasized that the exhibit will end on November 19th and will take approximately three days to put away. Because of the collection based on rotation, some pieces have to be moved. The room will be prepared for the December tag sale and after that for the art exhibition. They will use almost everything in there. The one change will be to install a higher grade light bulb. They are looking to get extenders for the light bulbs, because they are going at a very fast rate.

Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum

There was no report.

Ms. Falasca said that the Commission has been locked out of the building. She said that they have no keys. Mr. Bloom said that the day they had the Selleck family reunion, he took them over for a tour and his key didn’t work.

Mr. Bloom said that he sent a letter on behalf of himself and Ms. Falasca to Mr. Cooke, the incoming chairman. Ms. Falasca said that she heard that at the Board meeting last week, Mr. Cooke said that Ms. Falasca and Mr. Bloom, as Commissioners will be getting a set of keys. He also said that he wanted to put the Curatorial Committee back, which she wanted disbanded because they confronted her with a lot of facts. Ms. Falasca was told that she said that she wanted to get all of them who are on the Curatorial Committee.

Ms. Falasca said that they need to meet with Mr. Cooke. She said that they need to do something soon because her contract is up soon People said that there are enough people to not re-new it. The problem is resolved if she goes. She said that they need to have input there. The next Board meeting is a month from now.

Ms. Falasca said that they wanted to vote on it this past month, but one of their big supporters was not there. Because it was not on the agenda they didn’t vote on it. Ms. Wall said that the joint chairs of the Commission should attend the meeting. Ms. Falasca said that they should meet with Mr. Cooke to make their concerns really known. Ms. Falasca said that they have some force because of the $200,000 in Hartford.

Ms. Wall said that the no-shows are unacceptable. She said that she was annoyed that she came and told the Commission that the Governor was coming, but never got back to the Commissioners to tell them when the Governor would be arriving. Mr. Bloom said that they are not a conduit for funding the mansion. They have as much say over that money as anyone else.

Ms. Falasca asked if they could make a motion of no confidence. She asked if they should send a letter to Mr. Cooke telling him that they want to have a meeting with him and that they have a letter they would like to present to him. She said that they would have to back it up with something.

Ms. Robinson said that they are having a meeting with Mr. Cooke. She said that she will go to the November meeting to speak to the issue of replacing Ms. St. Aubyn. Her question to the Commission was do you want to make a motion tonight that she would take with her to that meeting or speak on behalf of the Commission.

Mr. Bloom said that the meeting with Mr. Cooke would help emphasize where they stand. Ms. Falasca said that if they can’t make the little steps, they will make bigger steps and that goes up to Hartford.

Demolitions

Ms. Falasca reported that at 3 Colony they are going to build three houses there. They are not going to build condominiums.

Ms. Falasca recommended approving 1 Sunwich Road.

761 Main Avenue is the former Perkin-Elmer building. Ms. Falasca said that they plan to keep the main building. Ms. Robinson and Ms. Wall said that the architect for the project presented to the Zoning Commission and they said that they are planning to keep the main building and add an additional modern glass entrance. They spoke to the fact that they liked the building and they liked the historic re-use of the building. They said that in the long term they would be coming back to the Zoning Commission.

Ms. Falasca said that she was glad they were keeping the main building. Mr. Bloom said that it is an important building.

52 Day Street is a commercial brick building from 1931. It is a nice looking building. Mr. Bloom did not have any information about the building.

Mr. Kurtzman said that he heard that the Hungarian Reform Church on Lexington Avenue was sold. He said it was built in 1898. Ms. Falasca said that was the first Hungarian Church in Norwalk. They were able to get a Pastor to open up the Church and that was what brought Hungarians to Norwalk.

19 Ryan Avenue is a garage. This is the second time they are asking for this.

NHRI Committee

There was no report.

Norwalk Museum

Advertising – Connecticut Vacation Guide

There was no report.

Gift Shop Committee

Norwalk Museum Gift Shop Financial Report

Ms. Booth said that they did not meet. She requested that the words Financial Report be removed from the agenda.

Building Committee

Ms. Bryant said that she talked to Mr. Lo and they will meet so she can get his advice on how to obtain quotes. Ms. Wall suggested asking Mr. Lo if he would handle getting quotes. Ms. Wall and Mr. Kurtzman offered to accompany Ms. Bryant to that meeting.

Rogers-Ritch-Merritt House Committee

There was no report.

Management Committee

Ms. Mathies said that the Management Committee met last week. They came up with recommendations for a schedule and tasks.

** MS. MATHIES MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHEDULE AND WORK PRIORITIES FOR THE CURATOR

She said that she would like to take the tasks and discuss deadlines for each of the tasks.

** MS. WALL SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES - September 27, 2006

The acceptance of the minutes will be addressed at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Mathies said that four Commissioners are up for re-election in December. She said that Mr. Krummel suggested that each one of those Commissioners send a letter to the Mayor stating that they are interested in being re-appointed. She said that they should send copies to Mr. Coffey, Mr. Hempstead and Mr. Krummel. Ms. Mathies suggested that the Commission send a letter to the Mayor in support of the re-appointment.

** MS. MATHIES MOVED THAT THE CHAIR, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION WRITE A LETTER TO THE MAYOR STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF MS. BRYANT, MS. BOOTH, MS. FALASCA AND MR. BLOOM
** MS. KURTZMAN SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION

Ms. Wall said that she spoke with Bruce Kimmel who said that he was very interested in serving on the Historic Commission. He checked to be sure that it would not be a conflict of interest with the Board of Education. Ms. Wall strongly recommended Bruce Kimmel.

Mr. Krummel suggested urging Mr. Kimmel to move ahead. Ms. Robinson said that Ms. Fenton had to resign her Commission position, because she took on a full time position in Bridgeport. The hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. everyday. She will submit her letter of resignation from the Commission.

ADJOURNMENT

There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services

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