Committee schedules public hearing on naming library children’s room for Celeste Y. Garr

The committee voted to schedule a public hearing to consider naming a room within the Norwalk Public Library in memory of Celeste Y. Garr.

Moya Noor, president of the Norwalk Public Library Board, described Garr as a lifelong educator and library advocate whose family has deep Norwalk roots; board treasurer Janie Williams and Garr’s son (Randy Garr) asked the committee to accept the memo and schedule the hearing. Noor said the naming request is contingent on receipt of a testamentary gift from the W. Garr and Laura Kalman Living Trust and that the city’s naming ordinance requires a public hearing and assessment of an honoree’s contributions.

Chair Hostin and members said the public hearing would allow neighbors and residents to weigh in and that the gift and naming criteria will be considered separately as the ordinance prescribes.

Vote: The committee voted to schedule the hearing.