APRIL 28, 2004

ATTENDANCE: Carol Ann Falasca, Vice-Chairman; Betty Booth; Ralph Bloom; Deborah Mathews; Gail Wall; Marisa Bryant; Glen Iannaccone; Bill Krummel (8:00pm).

STAFF:                      Susan Gunn (left at 8:00pm).

Absent:                      Marilyn Robinson, Chairperson; Linda Fallon; Kathleen Morrow.

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Falasca called the meeting to order at 6:00pm

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The following corrections have been made:

Page 1: Under Others the spelling of the following name was changed-Lynn Friedman.

   Under Guests the following people also attended- Terri Tylo and George Bulton

Page 5:    In the 5^th paragraph second line the following sentence should read like this-Ms. Fallon said that an NHRI inventory was done three years ago and some of the commissioners worked several Saturdays to update this list. It was then given to “staff” and nobody knows what happened to it.”

Page 7:     Add after the last sentence in the 1^st paragraph: Ms. Sheehand stated that, there were four grandchildren’s colleges tuitions that they wee hoping to pay for with this investment.” She went on to state that her father rented the house out to one family and before he knew it there were many families living there and that one tenant was currently under house arrest (by NPD) for drugs.

                  On the fourth paragraph the first sentences should read as follows: Mr. Iannanccone asked when the visit was scheduled.

                  In the eighth paragraph the word windors should be windows.

Page 8:    in the second paragraph, in the last line the word demolition should be added before committee.

                  The first sentence in the first paragraph under cemeteries should read: Ms. Robinson said that Ms. Gunn received a tax assessment for city owned cemeteries.

In the seventh paragraph, it should read as follows; Ms. Booth said that the Kern’s who were members of the Selleck’s research group was in town and contracted her husband and he showed them around town and the obelisk in Pine Island Cemetery. $1000 was donated toward the repair.

**         MR. IANNACCONE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES WITH THE NEW CORRECTIONS.

**         THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

REPORTS

LOCKWOOD MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM

Ms. Gunn read a letter from Marjorie ST. Aubyn for this report. It stated that nothing new has happened. The letter also stated that information on the sprinkler system will be provided when it becomes available.

NORWALK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Ms. Wall stated that Eleck & Salvato replaced the defective photocell of the new flood lamp at the Townhouse. At Gov. Fitch, three contractors have inspected the windows and two have submitted proposals, the third cannot perform repairs. She stated that rodents continue to occupy the building and are chewing away at the wood electrical outlet covers.

NORWALK MUSEUM

Ms. Gunn announced that the museum was awarded the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) grant. It is a one time grant of $7,890 that will be used to improve the way the museum contains its archives.

Ms. Falasca wondered when the museum applied for this grant.

Ms. Gunn responded by stating they had applied in January however had just received it. She continued to explain to the commission about the grant. Member of the CAP will spend two days assessing the collections the museum has; then another three days writing up a report on the museum. All of this will happen during the month of September.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The chairman was absent from this meeting therefore there was no report.

STAFF TO THE COMMISSION REPORT

Ms. Gunn said that she had spoken with 4 contractors to fix the Fitch windows. Two of the contractors stated that the windows were to complex to work on, and the other two said that they would have to take a window out to duplicate it.  Ms. Gunn stated that only one contractor placed a bid on the job, however the city wants more than one bid before they sign any contracts.

Mr. Bloom asked if their bid was expectable.

Ms. Gunn said that the bid was too high.

Ms. Falasca stated that 5 windows needed to be replaced.

Ms. Gunn agreed and said that the back window would be the best to remove because most people won’t notice it is missing.

Ms. Wall was very concerned that if the window is removed there will be a bigger rodent problem.

Ms. Gunn assured her that the contractor will secure the window.

**         MR. IANNACCONE MOVED TO ALLOW CONTRACTORS TO BID ON THE JOB BY REMOVING ONE WINDOW AND SECURING THE SPACE.

**         THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Ms. Bryant suggested that the contractors bid on time and cost.

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS

CEMETERIES

Ms. Gunn stated she received an email saying that a voodoo doll was found in one of the cities cemeteries. She asked the police to step up the security around Pine Island. Other than that she said that there was no information on the cemeteries.

DEMOLITIONS

Ms. Falasca voiced concerns for the commission as a whole. They are distraught at all the demolitions happening around the city; however there is not much the commission can do with out the support of the community. And for the most part the community is not concerned with the up-keep of these old houses.

Ms. Falasca said that there is one new house that was added to the demolition list and it is 403 Newtown Road.

FINANCE

There is no report from the finance committee

MATHEWS PARK BUILDINGS

Ms. Gunn said that the Gate Lodge lease was signed today. Also Allen Lowe was emailed regarding the sprinkler system.

NHRI

Ms. Falasca asked the commission what the process to get a house or landmark placed on the NHRI list.

Mr. Bloom responded by stating that the Common Council needed to approve it.

Ms. Falasca said that the commission should begin to compile a list of 25 or so housed and try to get the Council to approve them.

Mr. Bloom also stated that notification to the owner of the property is necessary. The owner needs to know why the commission wants the property on this list.

NORWALK MUSEUM

Ms. Falasca said that the committee briefly met to establish goals. They also wanted to establish the role that they shall provide to the museum. She stated that they will be the middle man. This committee will talk for the museum at the commission meetings.

Mr. Bloom began to tell the commission about the Dunne Hardware donation. Mr. Dunne has owned an operated his hardware store for over 70 years. Upon his retirement, Mr. Dunne donated many of the original items that are located inside the store. The idea is to use the rear shop of the Norwalk Museum and replicate his store. Some of the things that will be exhibited are the wooden walls and the cash register and scales. Also the shop is intended to have a tin ceiling like the original location.

**         MR. IANNACCONE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE DONATION ITEMS FOR THE HARDWARE STORE.

**         THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

NORWALK MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

Ms. Booth said that the museum gift shop was operated for 28 years by “The Friends of the Norwalk Museum”, which was a nonprofit organization. Due to legality concerns the Historical Commission voted to close the shop for the last two years. At this time the commission would like to have the gift shop re-opened.  To do this there will need to be confirmation from the CT State Department of Revenue that all necessary past tax returns for the shop have been filed ant that all past due sales tax and late fees have been paid.

**         MS. BOOTH MOVED TO ACCEPT APRIL 2004 REPORT OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR REVIEWING THE OPERATION OF A GIFT SHOP AT THE NORWALK MUSEUM. AND THAT THE CURATOR FURNISHES INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE ACTION PLAN BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING.

**         THIS MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 15^th. This will be a public meeting.

ARTICLE IN THE HOUR

Ms. Gunn said that the women who will be running the ad in The Hour needs $60.69 immediately.

**         MR. IANNACCONE MOVED TO WITHDRAW $60.69 FROM THE BUILDING FUND TO PAY FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT.

**         THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

WPA MURALS

Mr. Bloom stated that the committee appointed to take care of these murals has nothing to do with the historical commission. And for that matter the commission doesn’t even oversee them.

Ms. Bryant said that some one should oversee them.

Mr. Bloom agreed, however he stated these murals are in public places so it will be hard to control them. Mr. Bloom also said that until recently these murals were the states property that has just been given to the city of Norwalk.

Ms. Falasca said that she thinks the commission should be in charge of these paintings.

Ms. Gunn left at 8:00pm.

Mr. Krummel entered at 8:00pm.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

There were no reports given tonight

FINANCE REPORT

Due to the leave of Ms. Gunn finance papers were handed out but no report was given.

OLD BUSINESS

WHITE BARN THEATER PROPERTY

Ms. Wall said that there was a short meeting regarding this matter, however she can’t disclose anything at this time.

FODOR FARM PROPERTY

Ms. Bryant said that nothing new has happened. However they would like to sell this property to someone who will restore it, even though it will be a big job.

Mr. Bloom stated it was a strangely built house.

Ms. Bryant asked how much land would have to be sold with the house.

Ms. Falasca answered that she wasn’t sure; it would depend on zoning.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION

Ms. Bryant is looking in to the Protect Against Demolition By Neglect act. She mostly said that the local community would have to do most of the work.

Mr. Bloom said that the Tag Sale on 15 ½ Wall Street opened on May 1^st.

The Meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm.

Respectfully submitted,

J. Marci Rosenberg

Telesco Secretarial Services

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