[HISTORY: Adopted City of Norwalk Common Council 1-14-1975. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the terms of § 1-189.2 of the Code of
the City of Norwalk, there is hereby established the Norwalk Historical
Commission.
The purpose and intent of this ordinance is to safeguard the
heritage of the City of Norwalk by preserving the elements of its
historic, cultural, social, economic, political and architectural
history, and to promote the use of historic sites for the education,
welfare and pleasure of the citizens of Norwalk and of the general
public.
A.
Said Commission shall consist of 11 members, 10 of whom shall be
appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of a majority of the Common
Council. The terms of the members whose terms were authorized prior
to January 1, 1987, are as follows: two members' terms expire
December 31, 1990; two members' terms expire December 31, 1991;
and one members' term expires December 31, 1987. The terms of
those five members appointed by the Mayor whose terms were authorized
subsequent to January 1, 1987, shall be as follows: one member for
a term to expire December 31, 1987; two members for terms to expire
December 31, 1988; and two members for terms to expire December 31,
1989. The terms of all members appointed by the Mayor shall be for
five years commencing on January 1, and the Mayor, with the approval
of a majority of the Common Council, shall appoint successors to those
members whose terms expire on December 31 of each such year. The Mayor
may, with the approval of the Common Council, fill any vacancy for
the balance of the term of such vacant position. "Vacancy," as used
herein, shall be deemed to result upon the expiration of the term
of a member or the resignation, removal from the City of Norwalk or
the death of any member. Nothing herein shall prohibit reappointment
by the Mayor of a member at the expiration of his or her current term.
[Amended 3-10-1987]
B.
In addition to the 10 members appointed as set forth above, the Common
Council of the City of Norwalk shall appoint one member to serve on
the Commission for a period of two years, for a term concurrent with
the tenure of the Common Council.
[Amended 3-10-1987]
C.
All members shall be electors of the City of Norwalk and shall serve
without pay.
A.
The Commission, subject to the approval of the Common Council, shall
designate sites and buildings owned or hereafter acquired by the City
of Norwalk as historic land sites, and, upon such approval by the
Council, such sites shall come under the control and direction of
the Commission. The Commission may from time to time recommend to
the Mayor and Common Council the acquisition or relinquishment of
additional historic land sites.
B.
The Commission shall be charged with the control, development, management,
operation, improvement and maintenance of the historic land sites
so designated and shall, additionally, institute and carry out programs
designed to acquaint the general public with the historical, cultural
and economic history of the City of Norwalk.
A.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and such officers as
may be necessary at any meeting in January of each year.
B.
The Commission shall hold regular meetings at least once each month
and designate the time and place thereof.
C.
Each Commissioner shall be notified of all meetings, and public notice,
in the newspaper, shall be given of all meetings at which site designation
is part of the agenda.
[Added 9-14-1988[1]]
In accordance with the provisions of the Connecticut General
Statutes, Section 7-148(c)(5)(D), as it may be amended, there shall
be a Municipal Historian. The Municipal Historian shall be responsible
for the collection of information relating to the history of Norwalk
and for making the material available to the public. The Municipal
Historian shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation
by the Common Council, and shall be subject to removal from office
only for just cause.
[Amended 3-10-1987]
The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction
of business within its jurisdiction and shall keep records of all
its proceedings. Two copies of the minutes of its regular meetings
and, with the help of the Comptroller, monthly reports or receipts
and expenditures shall be filed with the City Clerk, one copy of which
shall be available at all reasonable times for public inspection.
Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose
of transacting business.
A.
The Commission shall prepare an annual operating budget for submission
to the Common Council on or before the fourth Monday of February in
each year. Such budget may be approved, modified or amended by a majority
vote of the entire membership of the Council. Such budget shall thereupon
be forwarded to the Comptroller for presentation to the Board of Estimate
and Taxation.
B.
The Commission shall prepare an annual capital budget and capital
projects program for the ensuing five-year period for submission to
the Comptroller and the City Planning Commission on or before the
first day of January in each year and which shall be subject to approval
in the same manner as the capital budget for all other City departments
as required by law.
The Commission, with the approval of the Common Council, may
establish reasonable charges for the use by the public of historic
landmark sites and for any of its purposes as set out above.
The Commission shall have the right to call upon any other department
of the city government for assistance in performing its duties; and
it shall be the duty of such other department to comply with a proper
request of said Commission. Any question as to what shall constitute
a proper request for assistance shall be decided by the Mayor.
The Commission may receive gifts in the name of the municipality
for any of its purposes and shall administer the same for such purposes
subject to the terms of the gift.
If any part of this ordinance shall be declared invalid by a
court of competent jurisdiction, all other parts shall remain in full
force and effect.
