The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission (SHPMC) may have had a year of ups and downs in its momentum creating a permanent memorial design, but the group is ending 2019 on a positive note.

When the SHPMC conducted its initial meeting of the new year on January 10, it was the first formal gathering since the group had met in September 2018. At that time, they formally presented the commission’s recommendation for a permanent memorial design to the Board of Selectmen, which was unanimously approved.

The Town of Newtown began taking the reigns on negotiations with the selected design firm, SWA Group, pertaining to financing and other logistics.

SWA designers Ben Waldo and Daniel Affleck were requested to created three possible versions of their original design that would best accommodate the key elements of the initial vision as well as the town’s budget for the project.

Roughly three months later, the SHPMC reconvened to review three revised design options with First Selectman Dan Rosenthal on April 11.

SHPMC member Alan Martin said that after reviewing these three options, he found there were some elements that were attractive, but at the same time, there were elements he was not willing to forgo, like the bridges.

This sentiment was shared among members and concerns were expressed that none of these revised choices were designs they wanted to select.

The following month, the group conducted a working session to speak with Mr Waldo and Mr Affleck over the phone to discuss their questions and concerns.

Concluding the meeting, SHPMC member Sarah Middeleer brought up the idea that the commission could pursue a public-private sponsorship, like Central Park, if the town and families were open to it.

In the months leading up to the SHPMC’s August meeting, Mr Rosenthal communicated with SWA Group and contacted two of the company’s fundraising firms. By the SHPMC’s October 10 meeting, Mr Rosenthal explained that the process of working with a fundraising firm proved to not be a viable option.

With that in mind, Mr Rosenthal said the SHPMC should look more seriously to the three budgeted options presented by SWA.

Commission members weighed in and brainstormed specific elements they would want SWA to incorporate in a new budgeted design.

After months of uncertainty for the future of the permanent memorial design, the SHPMC reviewed a fourth design revision at a Special Meeting on November 25, and it garnered much positive feedback.

During the meeting, SHPMC members and Mr Rosenthal spoke over the phone with Mr Affleck and Mr Waldo. The two designers presented a slideshow that displayed the specific updates they made and the costs associated with the project.

Going forward, Mr Rosenthal said he will get more information about a timeline for the project and that any concerns about the design can be sent to him to present to SWA.

The next Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2020. To contact the commission, e-mail sandyhookpermanentmemorial@gmail.com.