J. Peterson, Manager of Building and Property division attended the meeting to answer any questions the committee may have.
1. Portico at the Olde Gaol
There is a great deal of deterioration around the stairs and doorway. The limestone surround needs fixed. Eavestroughs need to be repaired.
There is no long term plan for the building. The City looked at restoration and hired and architect. The portico is not part of the original feature. The stairs would need to be removed and reconstructed. Foundation underneath the entrance has deteriorated. The eavestroughs will be replaced.
The City needs a long term plan for the whole block including City Hall. They are beginning the removal of the east wall. Archaeologist is there today starting their work. Request for funding to tear down remaining wall has been made for 2019-2020.
The Historical Society is concerned about the museum collection stored inside the wall.
There is a need for green space.
There is a generator located in the corner of the museum property that provides back up power to City Hall and a cooling tower. Building and Property have requested funding to do a Master Plan.
The museum would like to stay if agreement could be worked out, understanding that the cost of renovating a building of this nature to modern standards is significant. City Hall and the Armouries are good examples of buildings that are being well taken care of. The museum has put a lot of money into retrofitting the building to where it is today. We need to do what we can to preserve it.
The City needs to approve budget for a master plan to determine best uses for the building. Public input needs to happen as well. It is counter productive to keep spending money year after year if the longer term picture is not considered.
A barrier needs to be put up to prevent people from using the portico entrance. Public safety is first. Mr. Peterson is also working with the museum board for way finding signage and eavestroughs.
The chained in fence are on south side is not currently locked. Mr. Peterson agreed to look into that.
In the discussions that took place prior to the museum moving in, it was assumed that the museum would take on full responsibility of the building. The City of Kawartha Lakes is currently taking responsibility to fix anything that is required or in need of an immediate repair.
2. Painted bricks at 180 Kent St. W
The committee would like to know if the paint be removed to bring it back to its 2 tone original? The committee feels that it should be removed because it is detrimental to bricks. They can't breathe. Paint on brick should never have happened. No one is sure if the brick work underneath was not fixed with heritage brick or heritage mortar.
Mr. Peterson is not sure what it would look like underneath. The City has upgraded mechanical equipment, roof, currently windows and doors. Small brick repair has been done. There is still work to be done on the north side even though it is not part of the heritage section.
An architect will be brought in to undertake a more comprehensive assessment of the building at a future date that has not yet been determined.
From now until June 2019 Building and Property are looking at a concept to restore the interior. It is a lengthy process - develop the concept, receive the approvals, doing the work. He does not see the paint coming off the building anytime soon. There would need to be an assessment then a report to council.
The committee noted that the restored windows look great. With the restoration work being done, Building and Property are trying to work to Parks Canada standards.
The committee also inquired about the status of Coronation Hall in Omemee and whether any improvements are to be undertaken to this building.
No building improvements are scheduled for Coronation Hall. Again, a more comprehensive assessment of the building and it's future long term use is needed.