MAY 19, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Bill Krummel, Chairman; Bruce Kimmel, Doug Hempstead; Jeannette Olmstead-Sawyer (left 9:20 p.m.); Peter Wein (arrived 7:50 p.m.).

STAFF: Alan Lo

OTHERS: Alan Lo, Dept. of Public Works; Hal Alvord, Dept. of Public Works; Carol Ann Falasca & Ralph Bloom, Historical Commission; Ken Martinelli, Board of Education; Tod Bryant, Norwalk Trust for Historical Preservation.

ROLL CALL

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chairman.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S)

** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 19, 2005 AS DISTRIBUTED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND TAKE ITEM IV.D.1.e. REQUEST FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS OUT OF AGENDA ORDER.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

BOARD OF EDUCATION - TEXTBOOKS

Mr. Martinelli made a presentation on the requested purchase of textbooks and informed the

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Committee that this was the last year of cycle for the chosen textbooks and that Briggs High School had never ordered textbooks in 2004. Mr. Kimmel questioned Mr. Martinelli about textbooks for required courses in the high schools, particularly the Chemical Earth Sciences and
Marine Biology course books. There followed a brief discussion on the continuity of the Marine Biology course in the middle schools and a recommendation was made to offer a Marine Biology course at this level for continuity into the higher grades.

Mr. Wein arrived at the meeting at 7:50 p.m.

Mr. Lo stated that one item was missing from the Agenda and asked if the rules should be suspended or should it be taken up at that time. The Chairman called for the item to be taken up at that time. The Chairman requested a vote be taken to approve the purchase of textbooks.

** MS. OLMSTEAD-SAWYER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PURCHASE OF TEXTBOOKS ITEMS D.1.a THROUGH g.
** MOTION APPROVED WITH ONE OPPOSED (MR. HEMPSTEAD).

The Chairman asked the Committee’s approval to add the purchase of middle school textbooks for Briggs High School to the Agenda and read a motion to authorize the purchasing agent to issue Purchase Orders not to exceed $2,120.58. Mr. Wein questioned the total value of the proposal and explained that there was an 8% shipping cost. Mr. Kimmel moved to discuss the motion.

Mr. Kimmel asked if all of the requested textbooks were for Briggs High School. Mr. Martinelli informed the Committee that previously Briggs students had borrowed books from Nathan Hale Middle School and indicated that there were an approximate total of eight to twelve students in the class.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PURCHASE OF TEXTBOOKS FOR BRIGGS HIGH SCHOOL AND TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDERS NOT TO EXCEED $2,120.58.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE OPPOSED (MR. HEMPSTEAD).

MISCELLANEOUS / DISCUSSION ITEMS

ROGERS-RITCH-MERRITT HOUSE

The Chairman indicated a change of order of the Agenda and asked the Committee to consider items 5A Fodor Farm Update and 5B Rogers-Ritch Merritt House. Discussion began with item
5B Rogers-Ritch Merritt House. The Chairman recused himself from the discussion due to his
position on the Historical Commission. Mr. Kimmel assumed Chairmanship of the Committee

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while Mr. Krummel was recused.

Ms. Falasca said the Historical Commission had received a proposal from William Gould of Glastonbury Restoration Co. of Concord, CT. Ms. Falasca stated that in the meeting of April 6, 2005 the Historical Commission voted to accept the proposal offered for $25,000.00 to review the contents of the trailers where the house was being stored, videos of the deconstruction, etc. and asked the Committee to approve two purchase orders.

Mr. Kimmel said there would be no action on this discussion item. Mr. Lo informed the Committee that the request was for informational purposes only. Ms. Falasca asserted that the Historical Commission has no plans at this time to use the $150,000 being held by the City for the rebuilding of the Rogers-Ritch Merritt House on Mill Hill and stated the money to pay Mr. Gould would be coming from a donations fund. After a brief discussion Mr. Kimmel asked for comments from the Committee.

Mr. Hempstead stated that he did not think Mr. Krummel had to recuse himself from the discussion as the issue had come up previously and there was to be no vote at that time. Mr. Lo agreed by saying that in his understanding Mr. Krummel did not need to recuse himself from the discussion based on similar situations.

Mr. Kimmel asked about Mr. Bielitz’s participation and said that Mr. Bielitz was an expert on reconstruction and was a consultant who works with Mr. Gould when Mr. Gould does estimates. He pointed out that Mr. Bielitz was aware of the state of the timbers of the house, had photos and videos of the deconstruction and that this knowledge would be needed by Mr. Gould. Mr. Kimmel felt that Mr. Bielitz must be part of the process. Mr. Kimmel and Mr. Wein recommended that the Committee and the Historical Commission move forward on the reconstruction of the Rogers-Ritch Merritt House. The Chairman called for an end to the discussion and moved to the next item.

FODOR FARM – UPDATE

The Chairman suggested the Committee evaluate the condition of the property and make recommendations. He stated that he had taken a tour of the property and had sent emails to many people throughout the City to report on his visit with the concern that the houses are not properly protected. He reported that the house at 322 Pagony Street had been totally open to the elements and recommended the doors and windows be boarded, signage added and a chain placed to thwart intruders. The Chairman mentioned that Mr. Lo saw damage when he went to view the houses, including buckling, water damage and garbage.

The Chairman suggested the Committee consider hiring a caretaker for the property. Mr. Lo concurred, suggesting that someone could live on-site at Fodor Farm to protect the property, or

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that volunteers be found who would be willing to work there. Mr. Lo was also concerned about
water leaks in the basement of the houses.

Mr. Bryant suggested the property could be sold and the money used for other projects, the City could get a local historic district and could qualify for grants and other government money. The Chairman stated that the process takes time and the Committee should go through the steps as required, and asked if the Committee wanted to move ahead to save the house or create a local historic district. Mr. Hempstead stated that the Committee should dig a little deeper, put feelers out into the real estate market and questioned what the City actually intends to do with the property although agreeing that it was the perfect opportunity to turn the property into a historic district of historic homes.

Mr. Bloom asked if anything could be done to provide services while a determination is discussed and suggested that someone might live on-site in a trailer on the property. Mr. Wein stated the Committee has an obligation to keep the beauty of the City of Norwalk alive. The Chairman asked for a summary of where the Board was at with one or two objectives, the preservation of the houses being a primary concern. Mr. Bryant suggested stabilizing the houses and starting the Historic District process while at the same time get realistic assessment of what houses might sell for once the Historic District is in place.

The Chairman said that the Committee couldn’t initialize the Historic District that night but will agree to work on it for the next meeting of the Committee and will look into the suggestions and discuss the asset value of the houses. Mr. Hempstead suggested that costs of subdividing the property also be discussed. Mr. Wein asked if the Committee could move with all due speed as there is a Deed Restriction. The Chairman reminded the Committee that there would be no vote taken at that time.

Ms. Olmstead-Sawyer left the meeting at 9:40 p.m.

BUILDING SECURITY GUARD SERVICES

Mr. Lo reported that he had received six proposals and that after reviewing them he determined that two were weak and were disqualified, and the remaining four proposals were interviewed. Mr. Sgobbo listed the results of the interviews and presented the reasons for the selection of the chosen company.

Mr. Lo stated that as part of the proposal he was requesting that the chosen company maintain the existing staff and discussed the requirements needed by the existing staff. Mr. Sgobbo discussed the licensing process for security personnel in the State of Connecticut.

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** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT WITH SSC SECURITY SERVICES OF CT TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT CITY HALL AND THE MAIN LIBRARY.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

LOCKWOOD HOUSE - BOILER REPLACEMENT

A brief discussion followed.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH KOHLER RONAN, LLC TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR BOILER REPLACEMENT AT THE LOCKWOOD HOUSE IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,600.00.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

GRUBB & ELLIS BUILDING MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT

Mr. Lo asked if the Committee was comfortable having Mr. Sgobbo in the room as this item was being discussed and the Chairman said that Mr. Sgobbo could remain. Mr. Kimmel moved to discuss the contract.

Mr. Lo said that he had received three proposals and that Grubb & Ellis was the most responsive. Mr. Lo stated that he would like to go out for further proposals but that the process takes time and suggested extending the current Grubb & Ellis contract for one year to enable the City to go through the process. A brief discussion followed regarding the need for the City to look at other proposals. Mr. Alvord said that the Committee was going to be surprised by the amount of work that Grubb & Ellis has been doing versus what other companies will bid in order to get the contract.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO EXTEND THE GRUBB & ELLIS MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR TO ENABLE THE CITY TO REVIEW FURTHER PROPOSALS.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Linda J. Hayes
Telesco Services