Common Council Meeting

Public Participation:

Todd Bryant: Head of Fodor Farm Study Committee. Supports resolution before you. Do have some reservations however, we ask you to vote for it, but wish to express reservations. Thinks that the council should have had the opportunity to study the historic district next to the deed restriction plan. Land must be subdivided, deed restrictions need to be written, conservation needs to be … and that with these steps the houses will remain unoccupied for another winter.
Asks that a line be amended to include the standards of the department of interior which are the universal guide to rehabilitation of historic properties. We ask that council formally dissolve the committee. Norwalk needs another historic district. There are 177 local historic districts in the state, and that there are missed opportunities for funding.

Diane Lauracella: Wants to speak on 3 items. (Kydes recuses himself on the first one that she cites) Supports what Todd Bryant has stated. Hopes that there is some teeth to the deed restriction. Says that the council works with historical society and commission to create the RFP.

Supports the open space grants by the city, but that this body is responsible to apportion the funds to needed areas throughout the city. Says that the Land Trust doesn’t care about the whole city. Asks that the council adopt the 1/1/4% of conveyance taxes towards Open Space. And looks at the conservation commissions open space list. Says council needs more stable funding mechanism.

Gail Wall: Represents Save Cranbury and the members of that that organization. Thanks all who participated in the process of saving the White Barn parcel. We urge you to vote for $250k in funding. Thanks the council for their efforts and support.

Speaks also about Fodor Farm resolution. The best resolution would be that there would be local historic district, and the city could truly benefit from the local historic districts. Urges taking another look at the resolution.

Marilyn Robinson: Former chair of Historic Commission confused and surprised by the compromise. We have to be in favor of it, but it is very confusing to her that the study committee accurately put together the process to get to a point to have a local historic district. It seems strange that the opposition said that the city would lose control of Fodor Farm, which is not the case. It’s the best thing we can do right now, at least the one house should be designated as a local historic district.

Fran DeMilo: Cousin bought a property that had an easement in Greenwich and asked the corporation about that.

Maribeth Becker: Speaking as private individual, would like the full $250k gets passed tonight, and says its very important that the open space money get approved so that the Friends School can move forward. (Disclosed recent appointment to Friends School board.)

Toni Boucher: Commends the council for appropriating the $250k to the White Barn property from the Open Space Fund. Speaks to the DEP grant process and how grass roots activism grew and made this situation resolve in the direction it is going.

Mayor Remarks: Did do research that there were grants available that did not require a local historic district. Thanks Boucher, Rell and Cafero for facilitating the DEP grant, and thanks Hempstead and Straniti. [I know the election is right around the corner, but for the mayor to ignore all the Democrats who actually worked just as hard to save the White Barn property is just wrong]

Speaks that the FAA is planning changes that will result in more traffic over Norwalk and that he is actively working on this issue and looking out for Norwalk’s interests.

Council Presidents Remarks: Thanks Bob Wagman’s for Fodor Farm. It is fair to cite people from both sides of the aisle are recognized when thanks are being given. 23.7 acres being put into Open space, a lot more that has been preserved then in the previous decade. Agrees that more stable funding in necessary and that a former mayor used to cut the funding out the planning commission, and points out that Moccia did not. “We are all on board, we’ve been all on board to preserving open space.” In talking about the historic district, Fred Bondi looking to do that for Mill Hill.

Consent Agenda:

update: THere is much discussion of amending the Fodor Farm resolution. Krummel asks many questions resulting in the amendment that a local historic district study committee be added. A 5 minute recess is called for. Another part of the amendment is that the language to the interior secretary guidelines be followed.