I wonder if Robert Koch gets combat pay for covering some of the more strident committees that serve Norwalk. From the latest trench warfare actions, The Norwalk Hour reports that a showdown may be looming between City Hall and the Historical Commission. This is not necessarily news, as the historical commission seems to specialize in showdowns, whether it was the warfare on Curator of the Norwalk Museum Susan Gunn, warfare on the inventory system in place at the Norwalk Museum, warfare over who can volunteer at the museum, warfare over whether pottery shards/examples could be accepted, warfare over Fodor farm, Stuart Ave, Golden Hill, etc. The list is by no means exhausted.
Today’s dust up centers on two issues. One is the legal wrangling over the 93 East ave. house that sits on Norwalk Inn expansion property. The second is the reappointment of 4 of the commissioners.
The Hour:
A meeting between Mayor Richard A. Moccia and the Norwalk Historical Commission to discuss commission business — and possibly appointments — fell through at the last minute Tuesday.“I just sent an e-mail to the mayor that said the commissioners don’t want to meet in executive session. After consulting with many of the Norwalk historical commissioners, we would like not to meet tonight,” said commission Chairwoman Marilyn C. Robinson, recapping her e-mail Tuesday to Moccia and Corporation Counsel Peter M. Nolin. “We continue to feel that we would like to hold any meeting in open session.”
At issue, among other things, are the duties of the commission and whether Ralph Bloom, Elizabeth Booth, Marija Bryant and Carol Ann Falasca will be reappointed to the commission. Their terms will expire Dec. 31.
Moccia and Nolin believe the commission has overstepped its boundaries by invoking demolition delays and weighing in on plans for private properties. Some commissioners say preservation efforts are under siege by the Moccia administration. And the two sides have found little to agree upon, including whether to save or raze the Grumman-St. John House at 93 East Ave., who may initiate demolition delays, oversight of the former Fodor Farm property and the commission’s role in proposed developments.
“I didn’t want the whole meeting in executive session. My main purpose was to discuss some of these legal matters, based on opinions from corporation counsel,” Moccia said. Appointments “was a non-issue. A mayor does not discuss his appointments with standing commissions.”Some believe that Moccia will pass over reappointment of the four commissioners.
Given the long list of legal troubles that this group has generated, and the the inability of Norwalk to sustain a vibrant market for historical preservation, it’s clear that this commission needs some new blood. They will not go down silently though, but it’s the right thing to do.
Common Council Member Bill Krummel see’s it differently. Again, from The Hour:
Krummel took a harder line speaking to fellow Democrats at their Town Committee Monday night.“The mayor is seeking to destroy the Historical Commission, which has been very active in preserving some of our older housing stock,” Krummel said. Commissioners “have been causing delays in demolition and they have been questioning the whole business of destroying some of our attractive and valuable residences in this city.”
Krummel apparently doesn’t spend time in other communities where Historical Commissions raise money to enact proactive preservation campaigns, and get the involvement of the community and residents to work together in a a positive direction. There’s a long history of celebrating the history of Connecticut at The Connecticut Historical Society, or the New Haven Colony Historical Society which works closely with the city of New Haven. The Connecticut Arts and Tourism Commission even sponsors Tourism in Norwalk. But these commissioners seem more satisfied in creating havoc than promoting Norwalk.
Norwalk has many opportunities to expand its historical assets in a positive way that benefits the city, its residents, its developers and private property owners. This commission has not delivered on that promise.
