Committee clears public art gift for Ashuelot River Park, authorizes city manager to finalize memorandum of understanding

The committee unanimously recommended that the city manager be authorized to accept and install a donated public-art sculpture by Frederick McMillan at Ashuelot River Park and to execute a memorandum of understanding with the donor, including required certificates of insurance per Resolution R-2018-22.

The recommendation follows donor assurances that a structural analysis and appropriate insurance naming the city as additional insured had been secured and that an installer, artist Christopher Curtis of Duxbury, Vermont, had been contracted.

Frederick McMillan told the committee he had amended his original site request and was now proposing installation at Ashuelot River Park rather than a prior proposed location, and he said the project team had “secured a structural analysis from a certified engineer” and a certificate of insurance naming the city. McMillan said the artist, Christopher Curtis of Duxbury, Vermont, would install the piece.

A motion to authorize the city manager to do “all things necessary to accept and install the proposed public art piece by Frederick McMillan” at Ashuelot River Park and to negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding with the donor, including four certificates of insurance in accordance with Resolution R‑2018‑22, was made and seconded. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that authorization to the city council.

Staff said that once the city manager executes the MOU and insurance requirements are satisfied, the public‑works and parks staff would coordinate logistics for fabrication, delivery and installation on the agreed park site.