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| NORWALK HISTORICAL COMMISSION MINUTES |
JUNE 27, 2007
CITY OF NORWALK
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
JUNE 27, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Peter Bondi, Chair; John Kurtzman; David Park; Deborah Mathies; Charles Yost; Eric Chandler; Marilyn Robinson (7:03 p.m.); Douglas Hempstead (7:06 p.m.); Gail Wall (7:08 p.m.)
GUESTS: David Westmoreland; Jacqueline Lightfield; Ralph Bloom;
Carol Ann Falasca; Scott Gibson; Joseph Robideux
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Bondi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
CEMETERIES – DAVID WESTMORELAND
Mr. Westmoreland explained to the Commissioners that Pine Island Cemetery had suffered from years of neglect. The entrance was buried when the Rt. 7 connector was built; however, thanks to Mr. Park, the entrance is now visible. Mr. Westmoreland said that the Commission should submit to nominate Pine Island for the National Register. This would ensure that appropriate reviews take place prior to anything being done to the cemetery.
Ms. Robinson arrived at 7:03 p.m.
Mr. Hempstead arrived at 7:06 p.m.
Mr. Westmoreland described the stories told by the tombstones in Pine Island Cemetery.
Ms. Wall arrived at 7:08 p.m.
Mr. Westmoreland said that the biggest obstacle is that they need to map and inventory all of the tombstones, but it is all very doable. He pointed out that there were some significant tombstones in the cemetery.
Mr. Yost asked about the costs associated with this nomination. Mr. Westmoreland said that he did not know, but would be happy to fundraise and contribute to the writing of the nomination.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO APPROVE A FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE NORWALK HISTORICAL
COMMISSION TO ACCEPT PINE ISLAND CEMETERY FOR STUDY AS A CANDIDATE FOR NATIONAL
REGISTER NOMINATION TO THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
** MR. CHANDLER SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Hempstead asked about the skills needed to collect the necessary data. Mr. Westmoreland said that he could oversee the tasks that could be performed by Weed and Seed workers, but would need an experienced person to write the nomination.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – MAY 23, 2007
The following corrections were made to the minutes:
Page 1: add Ms. Wall to attendance
Correct spelling to Robert Koch
Page 3: Correct spelling to Wiegand
Page 4: second paragraph of the Cemetery Report, should read Mr. Park instead of Ms. Mathies. Last sentence in that paragraph should read Class C felony instead of Class E felony.
** MR. PARK MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE (1) ABSTENTION (MR. YOST)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mr. Bondi said that he did not have a report this evening; however, he read the Curator’s report to the Commissioners.
Ms. Robinson said that the Commissioners have been asking the Curator for the last two years to send the report prior to the meeting and that it should be in bullet form. Mr. Bondi said that it was his fault that it was not sent. He said that he would e-mail a copy of the Curator’s report to each Commissioner.
REPORTS: BOARDS
FRIENDS OF THE NORWALK MUSEUM
Mr. Gibson reported that Mr. Robideux was elected President of the Friends of the Norwalk Museum. He said that the Friends continue to staff the Museum and continue to refurbish and update the exhibits.
Recently the Friends went before the Land Use and Building Management Committee of the Common Council to describe their activities at the Museum. Concerns were raised about keeping the Museum open and first responders. The Friends were asked by the Committee to create a proposal between the Friends and the Museum. Mr. Scott distributed a Proposal for a Norwalk Museum Operating Agreement. He stressed that this was not reinventing the wheel, but rather it codifies what has been in existence for 34 years.
Mr. Gibson suggested scheduling a meeting with the Friends, Ms. Robinson and the Personnel Director for the City of Norwalk to determine how this can work, since a City employee is involved.
Mr. Yost suggested putting this item on next month’s agenda to provide the Commissioners time to review the proposal.
Ms. Wall said that although the Curator has returned to work, there are still issues about the hours of operation for the Museum. Mr. Bondi said that is something that needs to be discussed. Ms. Mathies added that if the Curator has an appointment, the Friends have to schedule two volunteers and that is a lot to ask for.
Ms. Wall suggested providing the Curator with a second telephone line, since people are not getting messages.
Mr. Robideux said that all of the people who are important to the final decision should be included in the meeting with the Personnel Director. Mr. Hempstead said that the Land Use and Building Management Committee requested that the City Law Department review the proposal.
NORWALK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Ms. Wall distributed her written report. She said that July is always a big month for Mill Hill. She reviewed the events that will take place during the month of June.
Ms. Wall said that Northeast Utilities was looking for a waste water tank storage facility in Norwalk. Mr. Hempstead explained the reason Northeast Utilities needs to store the waste water. He added that Mr. DiScala owns property near a large sewer main which is why the WPCA looked at the site near Mill Hill. There are other sites that are short listed such as the 95/7 site. The Zoning Commission controls what is allowable by code and the normal process is to have them go through P & Z for approvals. Ms. Lauricella is trying to persuade them to use another site.
Ms. Wall said it would be wise to have a conversation with Mr. DiScala to get a better idea of what is going on.
Mr. Kurtzman said that it sounds like a pseudo solution to an inadequate treatment plan. Mr. Hempstead said that it is only a holding area. They hold, test and dump. Mr. Bondi said that he will set up a meeting to determine what is going on.
Mr. Bloom discussed problems at the site. He said that trucks would not be able to access the site.
LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION
Mr. Hempstead said that the last two meetings were not noticed and they were not sent any minutes. He said that supposedly an annual meeting, but did not tell anyone.
Mr. Hempstead said that it is time the Lockwood Mathews Museum Board met with this Commission. He said that there has been no communications and he does not even know if the Mansion is open. As a member of the Historical Commission and as a Board member at the Mansion, he said that he feels there has to be oversight.
Ms. Robinson said that she has explained to Mr. Cooke that the Commission has to be involved.
Mr. Hempstead said that he discussed the Bike Path with Mr. Alvord and Mr. Greene. Mr. Greene explained to Mr. Hempstead that the reason the path is asphalt was to accommodate skateboards, bike riders, etc. and because the Mansion asked for additional parking. Mr. Hempstead also said that he brought up the fact that the Commission talked about placing a path through Pine Island Cemetery and the City is amenable. Mr. Park said that a state statute says that General Assembly approval is necessary to use a cemetery for any other use besides a burial ground.
Ms. Wall said that the City took down a 150 year old health tree for the proposed new parking lot. She said that it was a proposal that sat for 10 years. Mr. Hempstead said that if they stop the plans now, the City will loose the funding. Ms. Wall said that various groups should have been given the opportunity to review the plans 18 months ago. Mr. Yost suggested holding a meeting to discuss the issue of not being notified about this plan. Mr. Bondi said that he told Mr. Alvord that the Historical Commission must be in the loop regarding what takes place on historical properties.
REPORTS: SUB-COMMITTEES
FINANCE
There was no report.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Mr. Kurtzman said that he forwarded to bids for repairs to the Gate House to
Ms. Gunn-Bromley.
The Commissioners discussed the work.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH JOHN GINTI FOR REPAIRS
AT THE GATE LODGE FOR A COST NOT TO EXCEED $4,400
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Park said that he would contact the Police to see if they can tie the tag on the barn with others tags in the City.
Mr. Bondi reported that the trees at Mill Hill and Smith Street will be trimmed.
CEMETERY REPORTS
Mr. Park reported that Mr. Westmoreland and his partner showed up at Mill Hill on June 9th and June 16th and straightened up the tombstones, along with Troop 19. They did this at no cost. He will repair the simple breaks on the tombstones.
Mr. Park sadi that he went to a meeting about the Police cameras. At the meeting, he asked about positioning a camera near Pine Island Cemetery because of all of the vandalism that has taken place. He said that 1/3 – ½ of the Cemetery may be visible from the Transfer Station which is already wired for fiber optics.
The State Architect was at Pine Island Cemetery on June 21st and said that it was unlikely there were any burial sites at the parking lot.
A Boy Scout wants to earn his Eagle Scout badge by working at the Brookside Cemetery.
ROGERS-RICH-MERRITT HOUSE
There was no report
DONATIONS
Mr. Bondi presented several items that were donated to the Museum.
** MR. CHANDLER MOVED TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF BOTTLES FROM VARIOUS NORWALK
COMPANIES FROM MR. DAN GODLESKY
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. YOST MOVED TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF A BOOK FEATURING EARLY AMERICAN DESIGN
LIGHTING FIXTURES FROM RUTH WOLF
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services
Norwalk Museum Report to the Historical Commission
For June 27th meeting
After an absence of five months, it is very good to be able to be back. I want
to thank the Friends of the Norwalk Museums for keeping the Norwalk Museum open
while I was out and for redoing many of the exhibits. The museum looks inviting.
I also want to thank Peter Bondi, the other Commissioners and City Departments
who pitched in to cover some of the many aspects of my job as Curator of the
Norwalk Museum and Staff to the Historical Commission.
Since I returned, I have spent the majority of my time reviewing what has been done in my absence, what needs to be done and prioritizing those tasks. I have been working closely Peter Bondi and the City Departments. Most of this work has been in line with my position as Staff to the Commission. It has entailed reviewing the Operating and Capital budgets, the projects that have been completed and the work that needs to be done before the end of this fiscal year. With the approval of the Finance Subcommittee, funds have been transferred to cover negative budget lines and to cover these year-end projects. They include establishing a pest (rodents and insects) control contract for the Mill Hill and Smith St. buildings, the stabilizing and repair of the center chimney at the Gate Lodge and removing trees on the slope of Mill Hill that are trapping moisture and endangering the roofs of the Fitch Law Office, Old Jail and the Barn.
This month, working with the Building Subcommittee, we have installed the two light fixtures in the apartments at Smith St. that no longer met Health and Fire Codes and repaired the bathroom fan in the second apartment for which parts had been ordered and received. The faulty light switch in the NM archives room was replaced. A new outdoor frost-free water spigot with interior (basement) turn-off valve was installed at the rear of the Town House behind the southernmost boxwood bush. The broken exterior faucet at the Old Jail was also replaced with a new frost-free spigot. It has an interior shut-off valve.
I have been reviewing the Gate Lodge chimney quotes with the Building Subcommittee members and meeting with the contractors to obtain comparable quotes for purchasing. We are waiting for revised and updated quotes from two contractors: John Giunta and ALL Phase Construction.
The Norwalk Museum front steps were part of a scene in a new Hillary Swank movie “Laws of Motion.” We received a call to thank us for our cooperation.
Plaza Management & Realty has polished and cleaned the floors in the common areas of the NM. They have sent the HVAC people to repair the AC in the Merchants’ Court, Conference Room and Archives. They cleaned the windows of the building and the interior museum windows, where possible. I have met with them and we drew up a list of repairs and maintenance for the building. They are currently obtaining quotes to repaint the exterior.
I have been going over emails and mail that came in while I was out and following up on the ones that need work immediately. In addition, I have been reorganizing and cleaning files as I re-familiarize myself with my work, the projects, systems and reference materials. As it has become known that I am back there has been a growing increase in researchers using the Archives and the library has started sending researchers over to use our collections. We received the offer of several donations. A sheet describing the donations and identifying the donor will be prepared in time for the meeting. The donations will also be available for review.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Gunn Bromley
Curator
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