Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Ad Hoc Committee on the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center
July 12, 2013

Minutes

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission Ad Hoc Committee on the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center met on Friday, July 12, 2013, in the Center’s meeting room, 650 FM 1011, Liberty, Texas.

1. General announcements. No general announcements at this time.
 

2. Public comment. No public comment at this time.
 

3. Review of the committee charge.

At the request of Committee Chairman Holt, Edward Seidenberg and Jelain Chubb provided a brief summary of the development of the charge.

4. Review of exceptional item projects to be completed in FY 2014 and 2015.

Commissioners agreed that the exceptional item projects fall into two categories: those related to immediate physical facility needs and those that should be addressed as part of the long-range plan. A master site plan will be necessary to determine the direction that should be taken with those projects that require long-range planning.

Discussion regarding what the master site plan should include was held. Although some basic information regarding interpretation and future direction of the Center will need to be provided to the planning team, the commissioners concluded that, in the interest of time and funding, the master site plan will only focus on the physical site itself (e.g. plans for drainage and sidewalk additions). Additional funding through grant opportunities may be sought for the creation of additional planning documents, such as an extensive interpretive plan and an engineering plan for climate and environmental control systems.

The projects identified as being related to immediate physical facility needs include: replacement of fire detection and suppression systems, installation of exterior safety lighting, installation of a security system in the Daniel Home and Archives, abatement and replacement of damaged floor tiles and asbestos mastic, removal of dead and diseased trees, and replacement of aging air conditioners and cooling tower. A motion was made by Commissioner Freeman and seconded by Commissioner Pickett to instruct staff to proceed with these items and to prepare a Request for Qualifications for completion of a master site plan. Motion passed.

A priority order and timeline for completion of the items was suggested by staff and approved by the committee. The master site plan, fire detection and suppression systems, exterior safety lighting, and security system will be addressed first, when the new fiscal year begins in September.

The projects that are dependent upon the master site plan and will not be pursued until the plan is completed were identified as: correction of severe drainage problems, repairs to the main access road and parking area, replacement of the damaged security gate and fencing, and construction of a handicapped accessible parking area and entrance to the Daniel Home and Archives.

5. Discussion of structural and maintenance issues related to the Center’s historic buildings.

The committee toured the facilities. Areas within the main building where exceptional item projects are to be completed were shown, and the structural and maintenance issues occurring in the historic buildings were identified for the committee’s reference.

6. Tour of Cleveland-Partlow House.

The committee toured the Center’s off-site historic building, the Cleveland-Partlow House, 2131 Grand Avenue in Liberty, Texas. Structural and maintenance issues were identified for the committee’s reference.

There being no further business before the commission, Chairman Holt adjourned the meeting at 3:35 p.m.