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According to subcommittee member Paul Gleason, who was present,
those who signed the letter said that the names in the letter would
not be changing their votes, which last November was also decidedly
for bronze.
There were 15 members of that committee last November when the
choice was made. Clifford Sullivan has since died. He also favored
bronze.
The building and grounds committee had delegated the work of
researching the options to replace the statue damaged in a windstorm
in December 2007.
The subcommittee chose sculptor David Seagraves' proposal using
bronze to replace the stone statue. The state's attorney has
approved that contract.
Earlier this month, in light of additional information brought
forth on both marble and bronze reconstruction methods, maintenance
and costs, the building and grounds committee asked the subcommittee
to revote on whether to have the statue done in bronze or marble.
Stewart had told representatives of the subcommittee that he would
take their answer forward at the full board meeting in August.
Stewart told fellow board members, "Seeing this," and he waved
the letter in hand, "I see no reason to keep dragging this out and
wait until August."
A few board members were concerned with the issue of protocol;
others felt there was no need to go further.
Building and grounds committee member Jan Schumacher was
concerned that with the committee asking the subcommittee to revote
this, it seemed it would be changing direction midstream.
Subcommittee member Paul Gleason interjected that in the
beginning there were some members whose names were on the letter who
had been interested in stone, but over time and after research
agreed to bronze. Nobody on that list is going to change their
minds, he assured.
Building and grounds member Chuck Ruben recalled a past committee
recommendation to the subcommittee approving bronze as the better
material to pursue.
"I see no reason to delay it any further," he said. "We can
discuss it to death."
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Other comments:
-
B&G committee
member Pat O'Neill -- We agreed that we would stand by what the
subcommittee decided, and it looks like nobody is going to
change their minds.
-
B&G committee
member Terry Werth -- The subcommittee worked very hard on it a
long time. That's what we have subcommittees for. We need to
respect the decision of the subcommittee.
-
Board chairman Terry Carlton -- I think
you would be breaking order to vote it now because of the voice
of the committee to the subcommittee to revote this and bring it
to the board in August. It would allow research to be heard
locally, collectively for a final vote. Another month's wait for
an answer would not be harmful.
Schumacher motioned to remove the $1,600 for the mold for the
bronze statue if that contract would be approved next Tuesday.
Ruben agreed it was not a concern to him either if someone would
want to cast a statue like ours.
The contract for bronze would go to Seagraves in the amount of
$37,000, inclusive of the mold cost.
Straw votes indicated that the contract to cast the statue in
bronze would pass but that its mold would not be purchased.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related information
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