The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission (SHPMC) had a special meeting on Tuesday, June 13, at Newtown Municipal Center, to continue discussing the design phase of the permanent memorial project.

The meeting was primarily dedicated to working on the document that the commission's design subcommittee created for potential designers to use as guidelines.

Sarah Middeleer, of the design subcommittee, presented the group with a nearly 20-page packet to review and as they went section by section, the members were invited to present their questions, comments, and concerns.

Each member's input was then discussed to make sure everyone was comfortable with wording of the draft document.

Plan To Not Use RFP

Before discussing the specifics of the design submission document, Ms Middeleer shared some preliminary words with the SHPMC about how the subcommittee came to their recommendations.

She informed the commission members that after much consideration, they decided not use a request for proposal (RFP) for selecting a design, as was recommended by First Selectman Pat Llodra at the previous meeting.

Instead, they planned to continue the process of design selection that they originally created, as seen in the document she brought.

"While the RFP process certainly makes sense for municipal projects like buildings, bridges, etc, the memorial project is more open ended and thus, in our opinion, calls for a different approach," Ms Middeleer said. "The RFP process would disqualify many of those who have either shown us their designs already or who would like to participate."

She continued, "For at least two years we have promised to those who presented designs to us that they would have the opportunity to submit them again when we issued an invitation. We feel that this is important, not only because of our commitment to these individuals, but also because it invites the community to participate in this process in a meaningful way."

With that said, she explained how the design process they are recommending the commission proceeds with will allow nonprofessionals and emerging professionals to take part in the permanent memorial's design process.

Ms Middeleer stressed the importance of this aspect, citing that this project can be an opportunity for "brilliant designers" who may currently be unknown to get their start.

One of her examples supporting this idea was the American designer Maya Ying Lin who was an undergraduate student studying architecture at Yale when her design was selected for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Despite being a student at the time, she created what is considered one of the most influential memorials.

Wanting to still give nonprofessionals and emerging professionals guidance, Ms Middeleer said the design document she presented the commission has "safeguards" built in to avoid future problems.

Phase 1

Ms Middeleer led the discussion in what is being considered the first phase of the design submission process.

Once this working document is finalized, it will be sent out to the public in a variety of ways, Ms Middeleer said, including distributed to local and statewide publications as a press release, to national associations, universities, and will also be posted on the SHPMC's website.

Whether it is an individual or a group, those that wish to submit a schematic design will be asked to review the memorial requirements and the deadline, then submit the ideas digitally. Those that have already submitted a design to the group will be asked to follow the current format and resubmit their plans.

New features of this draft document included that those interested in participating will be required to fill out a registration form with a one page biographical statement, but their design will later be given a registration number to give anonymity and evaluate the designs on its own merits.

Once the commission receives all the designs, they will meet to review all the submissions, then make a shortened list that narrows the options down to the top ideas.

Those designers will be invited to make a prepared presentation, with their cost estimates, to the commission and an advisory panel.

Ms Middeleer explained the advisory panel will be made up of "experts in their field," which is typical for projects like theirs. Those members of the advisory panel will be able to join the conversation and lend their professional advice to the commission.

When all the presentations have been completed, the commission will vote to select a design.

"Ultimately it is the decision of the commission," SHPMC chair Kyle Lyddy reiterated. "The advisory role of professional individuals... will not have voting power."

To avoid any future confusion, the Mr Lyddy motioned to define the selection panel as the ten members of the commission, which was voted yes unanimously.

Before adjoining the SHPMC's meeting, the group decided to schedule another day, before their previously scheduled July 13 meeting, for commission members to get together to do another round of submitting edits to the night's revised draft.

The commission announced that their next public meeting will be on Tuesday, June 27, at 7 pm, at the Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, at Fairfield Hills.