CITY OF NORWALK
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MAY 23, 2007

ATTENDANCE: Peter Bondi, Chair; Charles Lashley; Deborah Mathies;
David Park; Marilyn Robinson; Douglas Hempstead (7:30 p.m.)

GUESTS: Ralph Bloom, Friends of the Norwalk Museum;
Robert Kotch, The Hour; Michael Shaffer

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Bondi called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – April 25, 2007 & May 2, 2007

The following correction was made to the minutes of April 25,2007:

Add Mr. Kotch to the attendance.

** MS. ROBINSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 25, 2007 AS CORRECTED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. ROBINSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF MAY 2, 2007 AS SUBMITTED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Mr. Bondi informed the Commission that he did not have anything to report this evening.

REPORTS: BOARDS

FRIENDS OF THE NORWALK MUSEUM

Mr. Bloom highlighted his written report. He said that the Friends continue to keep the Museum open to the public.

The Commissioners discussed the Friend’s request to the Land Use and Building Management Committee to transfer the management of the Museum to the Friends. Mr. Bondi suggested creating an ad hoc committee to address this issue. Ms. Mathies and Ms. Wall will submit their report to the Commission before presenting it to the Land Use and Building Management Committee.

NORWALK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Ms. Wall reviewed her written report. She said that the electrical service at the Town House is moving along and they are still working on boxing in the electrical units. She said that they had a call from Dreamworks. They are looking for a 1950’s building where they could film a hospital scene.

Ms. Wall reported that the Mill Hill buildings are in bad shape. She said that they have to create a preservation plan for the site. Ms. Robinson informed the Commissioners that Mayor Moccia had asked them to create a list of repairs along with the cost and he would forward the information to the Common Council.

Mr. Hempstead arrived at 7:30 p.m.

Ms. Wall suggested that Mr. Bondi schedule a meeting with Mr. Lo. Ms. Mathies said that at the Land Use and Building Management Committee meeting, they asked to be put under the City’s building maintenance program.

MUSEUM WEBSITE – Michael Shaffer

Mr. Shaffer said that he wants to see an archive of all pictures and documents and take that content and promote is. He said that he could create an on-line membership for the Museum site. He said that a quick way to get an architect for Mill Hill would be to create a video history of the buildings.

Mr. Shaffer gave a presentation describing the proposed website. He said that he would like to interview Mr. Bloom to memorialize his knowledge of Norwalk.

Mr. Shaffer answered questions that were raised by the Commissioners. He said that the Commission would own the site and the City would get the proceeds. Mr. Shaffer said that he would like to take the rest of the summer to finalize the site. He suggested videoing every event that takes place in this building so that they have an archive of those events.

Ms. Mathies asked if they needed a contract and Mr. Shaffer said that was not necessary; he said that there would be no cost involved.

LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION

Ms. Mathies reported that Mr. Shelly Gerarden, former Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce is the interim director, while they search for a director.

Ms. Wall said that there has been a lot of discussion about what is going on at Mathews Park. She said that she met with Mr. Alvord to discuss the plans that are over 10 years old. She said that those plans were revived because the City received a grant to move forward with the plan and it was a use it or loose it situation. There is concern about the loss of trees and the location of the bike path.

Ms. Wall pointed out that Mathews Park is a national landmark. Although people agreed to this plan 10 years ago, half of the people are no longer involved. When the plan was revived it should have been brought to the people for review.

Ms. Robinson said that she understood that Mr. Alvord would not do anything more without talking to the parties involved, but has since learned that the stone pillars were removed.

Mr. Hempstead said that the presentation that was given to the Common Council was that all of the work had already been completed at Mathews Park. Mr. Alvord told the Common Council that he had already met with everyone.

Ms. Wall said that the removal of the massive, healthy tree for a parking lot was not acceptable. Ms. Mathies asked why Norwalk was putting in an asphalt path when no other towns were doing that. Mr. Hempstead said that he would find out about that. He added that the City signed the contract and if they stop the work, the City would be subject to lawsuits. Ms. Wall said that they have damaged a national landmark site. Mr. Hempstead explained that if the City backed off, the State funds would go away.

Mr. Bloom asked who the parking lot was supposed to serve. Mr. Hempstead said that he would find out. Ms. Robinson said that she sent an e-mail to Mr. Cooke today asking him if he has seen this. Mr. Bloom asked who would be responsible for maintaining the paths. Mr. Hempstead said that he believed the State was responsible, but would check.

Ms. Mathies said that she was concerned that there may be graves outside of the wall of Pine Island Cemetery. She said that there may be Slave and Native American graves located outside of the walls, because they were not permitted to be buried within the boundaries of the cemetery. Ms. Mathies offered to contact the State archaeologist who will conduct a survey of the cemetery at no cost.

** MS. MATHIES MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION WILL CONTACT THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST OR PROFESSOR ERNIE WIGGINS AT NORWALK COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO SEARCH FOR THE POSSIBLE LOCATION OF GRAVES OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF PINE ISLAND CEMETERY
** MS. ROBINSON SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. WALL MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION SEND A LETTER TO THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES REMINDING THEM THAT THIS COMMISSION MUST BE KEPT INFORMED ABOUT ANY ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE ON PROPERTIES UNDER THEIR PURVIEW, IN ADDITION, NO FURTHER WORK WILL BE DONE UNTIL THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN NOTIFIED
** MS. ROBINSON SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORTS: SUB-COMMITTEES

FINANCE

There was no report this evening.

BUILDING COMMITTEE

Mr. Bondi said that there was an emergency repair done to the Carriage House. There was a leak in the roof and some art work was damaged. Rick’s Roofing will replace the roof.

CEMETERY REPORT

Ms. Mathies reported that she met with Mr. Westmorland. He will partner with the Boy Scouts to landscape the Mill Hill cemetery at no cost to the City. They have also scheduled a cleanup in June at the Brookside Cemetery.

Ms. Mathies said that vandalism took place recently at Pine Island Cemetery. She talked to the Parks and Recreation Department about placing a sign at the cemetery stating that it was closed from dusk to dawn and that vandalism is a class E felony.

Ms. Wall suggested asking the Police to place one of their removable cameras facing Pine Island Cemetery. Mr. Bondi added that vandalism also took place at Devon’s Place.

Mr. Bloom asked that the spelling of cemetery be corrected on the Pine Island Cemetery sign.

Mr. Park noted that in talking with Mr. Westmorland, the original plan for the bike trail went through Devon’s Place. He said that the question was whether or not they wanted the trail to go through there. Mr. Robinson pointed out that Devon’s Place is a playground for children with disabilities. Mr. Park also said that Mr. Westmorland asked if they wanted the bike path to go through Pine Island Cemetery, since there is a path that goes through the cemetery. Mr. Bloom pointed out that they could not change the dimensions of the path to 12 ft. wide. He suggested moving the bike path away from the cemetery and Devon’s Place.

Mr. Bondi said that he would put in a request for the Police to place a camera near Pine Island Cemetery.

ROGERS RITCH MERRITT HOUSE

Mr. Lashley reported that he and Ms. Wall and Ms. Robinson met with the Mayor about reallocating funding and about moving the trailer. Mayor Moccia suggested going to various businesses for donations and to hold a fundraiser to build the house. He said that the Mayor was not receptive to reallocating the funds.

Mr. Lashley said that the funds were in place and the Mayor said that they were not in danger of loosing those funds. Ms. Wall said that Mayor Moccia suggested that they come up with a prioritized list for repairs at a cost not to exceed $35,000.

** MS. WALL MOVED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD CREATE A LIST OF REPAIRS NEEDED FOR MILL HILL AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $35,000
** MS. ROBINSON SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services

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