The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission (SHPMC) conducted a special meeting on Tuesday, June 27, at the Newtown Municipal Center, to continue its discussion about the permanent memorial submission guidelines document for designers.

The group focused on reviewing specific suggestions presented by commission members that sought to clarify certain phrases and requirements. Members also made a number of formatting changes throughout the document.

In addition to agreeing to add more visuals of the memorial site to the packet for designers to have a better understanding of the property and surrounding areas, the SHPMC also discussed the topic of the 26 donated granite benches available for the memorial.

SHPMC chair Kyle Lyddy explained that a Newtown resident had raised money locally and organized for Swenson Granite Works in Newtown to create 26 granite benches in honor of the victims of 12/14.

The intent of the benches has always been that they must be put in one location together and not scattered throughout town.

"They are currently being stored [at] a private residence in Newtown at our discretion for use," Mr Lyddy said.

Based on the photos that the commission reviewed, the benches have all the victims' first and last names written out. Six benches have been created for the Sandy Hook Elementary School educators and appear in one color of granite, while the remaining 20 benches are representative of the students and are in another color.

Understanding the sensitivity and importance of how the names are displayed on the benches, Mr Lyddy explained that the commission will reach out to the families to clarify if names are spelled correctly and if they are written in the way the families wish their loved ones' names be written.

The topic was brought up as to whether the guidelines document should require designers to use the benches in the memorial or if it should just mention them as an optional feature.

Mr Lyddy said that although he personally thinks they are beautiful, he does not want to limit designers' creativity.

SHPMC member Sarah Middeleer suggested the donated granite benches may even be able to be incorporated in the memorial's trails instead of main design.

Ultimately, the group decided to include in the document that designers have the option to use the benches, but that it is not a mandatory feature for their design to be accepted.

Upon coming to a consensus, SHPMC member Agni Pavlidou Kyprianou assured, "We will find a place for these benches."

Moving Forward

When looking ahead to the immediate future of the design submission document, Mr Lyddy said that the goal after the night's meeting is to make all the necessary revisions they have discussed, then circulate the document to four different local groups: Parks and Recreation, the Police Commission, Land Use Agency - specifically George Benson and his team who have been working with the commission - and the Board of Selectmen.

There is already a scheduled meeting with First Selectman Pat Llodra to provide her with the details of the document and begin getting feedback, as well.

Mr Lyddy said the commission will give the town groups the entire month of July to review the draft design submission document and collect all revisions by August 1.

"We want to make sure that the town is comfortable, from a legal standpoint, with the language that we are providing to designers," Mr Lyddy said.

The document will then go through another round of editing and updating.

Keeping upcoming schedules in mind, the SHPMC canceled its monthly meeting in July, and instead will formally meet again in August.

"It's going to be an ongoing conversation," Mr Lyddy told the commission, "but at least we can get this going."

The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission's next public meeting will be on Thursday, August 10, at 7 pm, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.