Last night’s historical commission had to delay its start as meeting a quorum was an issue. Earlier in the day Kathryn Martino and Sue Gun met to prepare the budget for the commissioners review. It was emailed out at 5pm, and also printed out for the commissioners attending the meeting. The highlights of the meeting included news that the Historical Commission is planning to hire a part time maintenance worker to tackle many of the small repair jobs that its properties require. This was a compromise worked out with the City when it was pointed out that the historic properties were not being services under the umbrella maintenance contract held by the City.

The other issue that drew some discussion near the end was over the incident that occurred over the weekend. Apparently there’s contention abut whether the handicapped access door to the building can be locked by the tenant, in this case, Sue Gunn, the curator of the Norwalk Museum, or whether the door is required to be open during business hours. This issue has been debated before, prompting a curt reprimand from then Personnel Director Sara LeTourneau to advise Gunn; “I reviewed this incident with you and you acknowledged
that the door was locked and that in addition to yourself, there were three (3) Museum volunteers on the premises at the time. This is a written warning for your failure to comply with the Commission’s specific directive. Should this happen again, you may be subject to further and more severe discipline in accordance with progressive discipline.” Gunn maintained that Peter Bondi instructed her that it was okay to lock the door. Bondi, during the meeting, wisely referred the matter to corporation counsel. The only problem with corporation counsel weighing in on the issue, is that the building is a multi-tenant building, and thus the requirements of which public doors are open will likely be kicked back to the property owner.

The Meeting:

Bondi: The vandalism on the gravestones may fall under the insurance umbrella policy. He had discussed this with Tom Hamilton.

Westmoreland: Will get a consultant to provide a total estimate for the entire vandalism.

Wall: Asks what the absolute deadline for getting an HVAC estimate for Mill Hill.

Martino: Responds to Wall that it’s Friday. They will ask for $40k for Smith street buildings. Gunn asked for the order of priority for the projects. Mill Hill buildings $45k for 2008-09, shutters, rotting windows, and architectural planning. 2010-11 they need $35k . Cemetery restoration 40k for Mill Hill and $20k for lights. Pine Island phase 1 is projecting at $385k. (A discussion about the estimates and grants that would be sought as well)

Martino: Gate Lodge Matthew Parks $25k for 08-09 and additional sums included out years. There was an earlier discussion about the ongoing nature of these projects.

Martino: Preservation plan is $40k, which would provide a list of architects who could estimate what can be done for the budget available.

For the Rogers Merrit House: No additional funds have been asked. There is currently $150k unspent plus $19k in private donations.

??? missed the next item.

Martino: Historic resource and inventory list. Bondi says that the demo delay ordinance speaks to that, and that it would be a good idea to have a line item addressing it.

Westmoreland: Says that they should consult with Todd Bryant about the cost of developing the list.

Wall: Suggests that the cost could be $50k.

They are going to research what the hard numbers are and add them to the operating budget.

Martino: Heating and Humidity control for the Norwalk Museum archives is a new line item of $5000 to develop and engineering plan and in 2009-10 $30k to install.

Martino: Lockwood Mansion asks for $20k Bondi suggests that the estimate from 4 years ago was $18k so that $25k is a more accurate number.

Mill Hill Buildings received a number 1 priority after a brief discussion.

Cemetery Restoration received a 2 priority.

Gate Lodge/Carriage House/Mansion priority 3 4 5.

Wall: Asks if the HC can receive the rents from Smith street.

Martino: Says that Hamilton suggested doing that.

There’s a brief discussion about the line item and quality of the apartments. They would like to see the rental income dedicated to the maintenance of those units.

Smith street is priority 6.

Preservation Plan gets moved to priority 1 everythign above resets down a number.

Resource inventory list / HVAC/Rogers Rich/ are now 8, 9, and 10.

They approve the capital budget with proposed amendments of the HVAC of Mill Hill unanimously.

Building Committee Report by John ???? [may have got the name wrong]. Discusisng the Gatehouse. there’s a hole in the floor and it can be fixed, and that it would be fine for another 50 years. There may be a problem with the new steps because of a reverse pitch on the first step.

There’s some discussion about plot availability at Pine Island Cemetery. The most recent burial being in 2000 was cited.

David Westmoreland speaks about lighting issues at the town house on Mill Hill. There is a volunteer who has some involvement with the lighting for the MET has been working with Klaff’s on a lighting plan, and is asking for comments from the commission. The project was funded in the previous budget. They plan to install a track lighting system that would be flexible to light many different types of displays.

Bondi: Asks about the heat being thrown off by the fixtures harming anything.

John ????: The heat would be minimal and that the amount of light is also a consideration.

Bondi: Asks about electricity costs going up.

John ????: The electricity would go up since there are more lights thatn the current chandeliers.

There was some discussion about how the track lighting will be installed and what invasiveness will occur.

They approve the lighting plan as presented unanimously.

David Park Cemetery Report: The Boy scouts have approved the Brookside Cemetery project in the spring. They are pursuing lighting for Pine Island Cemetery.

ADA problem. Peter Bondi says that corp counsel is reviewing.

Eric Chandler has pulled the ADA standards of Historic buildings and notes several sections that say if the door is locked with a buzzer that it may be compliant. Chandler asks if the commission is supposed to be setting the policy, and that corpo counsel to decide what is proper procedure under ADA.

Wall: In 2005 this issue was discussed, risk management looked at the situation that the handicap door ramp needed to be kept open during public hours. Mentions a Sara LeTourneau letter sent to the curator. The police were called over the weekend on this issue.

Bondi: We will abide by the corporation counsel decision on whether the handicap ramp needs to be open or closed.

Bondi: To hire a part time, maintenance help.

Parks: Mentions that the BET has not put maintenance under the umbrella maintenance contract.

Wall: Makes job descriptions corrections which are all noted by Peter Bondi.