Building Committee, Town of Stoddard
Minutes for Meeting Convened May 21, 2009
Stoddard Town Hall
7:00 PM
Members Attending: Chairman Dick Briere, Vice Chair Amy Rokoszak, Alan Rumrill, Penny Betz, Arnie Stymest, David Vaillancourt and Sandy Holland
Absent: Harry Power, P. J. Lamothe
Financial Advisory Committee Representative: None
Public in attendance: None
Chairman Briere called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.
It was noted that D. Eaton has 30 days following the first Selectmen’s meeting (June 1) to make formal appointments of members to the Building Committee. It is anticipated that not all current members will be reappointed. Members mentioned that they were pleased with the acknowledgement given and appreciation shown at the Town Meeting for the work accomplished by the committee.
General discussion centered on determining a logistical plan with which to approach renovations and repairs to both the Town Hall and the Gould House. Many still favor raising the Town Hall to eliminate the moisture problem underneath and facilitate needed work on wiring, plumbing, etc. The Lempster Meeting House and Nelson Town Hall are two examples of buildings that have been raised recently. Amy volunteered to find out who did the work on them. David suggested that if we get information on the well, we will be able to figure out to some extent if we’re likely to encounter ledge if we pursue raising the building.
Dick recapped his meeting with Peter Bonneau from MacMillin to say that the first step with the Town Hall is to get everything cleaned out underneath the Town Hall. There are cans, broken glass, bottles, debris from previous repair jobs, etc. underneath, as well as an ant infestation in an area of wood. There is an electric wire lying in water and water from the kitchen sink is running directly under the building.
Several committee members will make calls to construction companies in the area to determine their level of interest in visiting the building(s) to provide an assessment of how they feel work should be progressed and give at least ballpark estimates on what it would cost to accomplish certain pieces of a renovation/repair process.
Still under discussion for the Gould House are beams/ties for parking lot edges, signs, permanent lighting, electrical and water. David mentioned that it might be a real advantage to have a combined boiler in the basement of the Gould House to serve both buildings. David said he would contact Merle to turn the outside water on at the Gould House so that landscaping efforts can be watered as needed. Building Committee and Garden Club members are meeting at 8 AM tomorrow to install trees, shrubs and other plantings. David said he would also talk to the state about getting a truckload of mulch dumped as they are grinding up the ice storm debris along Route 123. David also said he would also assist with moving timbers and boulders at the Gould House.
It was noted that the Faulkners, following the rededication of the Town Hall due to its recent placement on the NH Historic Register, had offered to provide POSH with a donation to be used to install a railing along the walkway from the rear parking lot to the front of Town Hall.
The safes were mentioned again. Alan Rumrill noted that two of them were probably made on/around 1900 but the one in the selectmen’s office is probably 1870. That one is in very poor condition. Calls will be made to area antique/junk dealers to see if anyone is interested in taking and look and perhaps purchasing one or more of them. Alan thinks the two smaller ones might be worth as much as $800 each. If they are not sold, they must be moved off the floor of the Town Hall.
Mike Oldershaw knows a company in Jaffrey that sells furniture and thinks they may donate an antique table for the Gould House. Dick Briere will talk to Keene Door about replacing the garage/basement door there.
The next Building Committee meetings will be June 4th and June 18th at Town Hall.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
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Sandy Holland, Secretary