01/20/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/20/2004 that was demolished on Butternut Ridge Road.) The fire sprinkler system will be tested ' soon and then the ceiling tiles will be installed. The geothermal heating system is now being balanced from the wells and is working very well in the cold weather. The work is about two weeks behind schedule, but completion is tentatively expected the last part of February. Councilwoman Kasler asked if the Mayor could advise Council as to the resolution of the vinyl siding/brick issue on the library. Mayor Musial commented that, when the city promoted the bond issue in support of the library, an elevation drawing was done that showed the concept to establish a statement for the City of North Olmsted. It was just a concept, but it showed a Western Reserve style, and brick was represented in the pediment areas. During the course of the series of meetings, Tim Hunsicker, the architect, made presentations to the Landmarks Commission, the Planning Commission and ARB. Also, there was a joint meeting with the Legislative Committee and the Landmarks Commission discussing certain items with regard to the library. Objections were raised to the rotunda effect at the Butternut Ridge entrance to the library, which he agreed with. Also, there was a lot of discussion about the gazebo which was removed. Mr. Hunsicker has indicated that somewhere during the course of the discussions, there was a request for consideration of a more traditional plain pediment. In previous times, boards were used as a siding in the pediments, which is a triangular aspect. What Mr. Hunsicker did was replace the wood with vinyl siding to go along with a Western Reserve concept. It's very traditional, and it falls within the time period. The vinyl will last as long as the brick will last, and it saved approximately $100,000 in construction costs as the Butternut Road entrance and the front do not have to have the heavy construction to support the brick. The siding was presented before the Planning Commission, the ARB and before the joint Finance and BZD Committees on November 16, 2003. Discussions with the library personnel indicate no problem with the use of the vinyl siding. The installation of the siding has not caused the library building to be placed on hold. It's still moving forward. Councilman Miller asked if Mr. Hunsicker was instructed or authorized to make the change. Mayor Musial answered not from anyone that he knows of. Mr. Hunsicker had indicated he did receive some feedback from certain committees that this type of feature would be acceptable and more in tradition with the Connecticut Western Reserve look. Councilman Miller asked whether Mr. Hunsicker made all the changes that the various boards and commissions recommended. He had made a suggestion that was not acted upon. If all issues that were brought up at the boards and commissions were changed, the library would be significantly different than it is now. His concern is that Mr. Hunsicker made this change without authority or without direction, and he asked that the Mayor look further into Mr. Hunsicker's authority to make changes, in particular the change to vinyl siding. Mayor Musial said the only two changes he recalls were the elimination of the rotunda and gazebo. He will consult with the City Engineer for more details. Councilman Miller asked if awalk-through of the library could be arranged for Council, possibly on Thursday evening after the special meeting. Mayor Musial agreed to make the arrangements. 2