Mayor Scott Johnson has named a 13-person advisory committee that will recommend a permanent location for a large steel 9/11 memorial within the next 60 days.
“Tempered by Memory” is a 25-foot high sculpture made from World Trade Center steel and created by two local artists to honor those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, their families, and others affected by the tragedy.
The original plan by the Saratoga Arts Inc. — the organization that commissioned the sculpture — was to locate it in front of the Saratoga Springs City Center.
This site proved too small. When a site on the lawn of the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center at Broadway and Congress Street was suggested, some opposed this location. There have been several locations, including in front of the fire station on Lake Avenue, suggested.
The new committee will make a recommendation to the City Council. Saratoga Arts Inc., which raised money for the sculpture through private donations, is donating the sculpture to the city.
The committee includes members of the community and city officials suggested by City Council members.
“It’s my hope that this committee will be influenced by what 9/11 has come to represent, both the historic tragedy and the unity of the American people in the aftermath,” Johnson said in a statement.
The committee includes:
u Joseph Dalton, former president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, committee chairman;
u A.C. Riley, former mayor of Saratoga Springs;
u Thomas McTygue, former commissioner of Public Works;
u Mark Baker, president of the Saratoga Springs City Center;
u Susan Farnsworth, marketing director for the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association;
u Robert Kimmerle, community relations director at Skidmore College;
u James Gold, former chairman of the city’s Design Review Commission and a board member of Saratoga Arts;
u Capt. Michael Chowske, Saratoga Springs Police Department;
u Assistant Chief Peter Shaw of the Saratoga Springs Fire Department;
u Remigia Foy, former finance commissioner;
u Ray Waldron, war veteran, former member of the Recreation Commission and former athletic director for Saratoga Springs High School;
u Kate Jarosh, former deputy finance commissioner.
u Robert Bristol, landscape architect and former chairman of the city Planning Board.
The city engineer, Timothy Wales, will assist the committee in an advisory capacity only, the mayor said. The committee is expected to hear presentations from the arts community about placement of public art.
Johnson has given the committee no more than 60 days to present the City Council with a site recommendation.
“While it’s unfortunate that site placement will not occur before the tenth anniversary of 9/11, it’s more important to ensure full public input and agree, as a community, on a site considered the most appropriate,” Johnson said in a statement.
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