Town Hall Restoration Committee
P O Box 436
Bradford, NH 03221
December 12, 2011
7:00pm
Call to order and Roll Call:
Eileen Kelly, Chair opened the meeting with John Greenwood, Kathy McKenna, Caryl Walker, Michele Halstead, Dick Keller, Audrey Sylvester, Sandra Wright, Bill Glennie, Beth Rodd, Cheryl Behr, Administrator. Marge Cilley, Secretary is absent.
Eileen Kelly thanked the Rural Heritage Committee for giving up their time for the Town Hall Restoration Committee. Eileen advised the Town Hall Restoration Committee is working on a project that they thought the Rural Heritage Committee would also be interested in.
Grant Application:
Michele Halstead did an application for a Grant and Michele explained that it is a rolling admission, which she hand delivered to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance in Concord today and she advised them that time is of the essence. Michele stated that they do need digital photographs, not hard copies, which she e-mails to them. Michelle advised she had advised the Grant people that the town hall is going to be closed at the end of the month, thus time is short to look at it.
Selectmen’s Meeting Attended:
Eileen Kelly advised some of the Town Hall Restoration Committee attended the December 6th Selectmen’s Meeting and updated them as to what the Committee has done thus far. The Selectmen did vote to support the Town Forum, which is scheduled for January 14, 2012, suggested time was from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Discussion ensued regarding working out the details with Jeff Taylor, Community and Planning Consultant, hopefully at the next anticipated meeting on December 19, 2011.
Discussion transpired regarding the estimated amount of $5,000.00 for a fee, and just what does that include will be checked out with Jeff Taylor.
John Greenwood will check with Jim Bruss to obtain a more detail description of what Jeff Taylor will be providing the Committee with. It was also stated that perhaps Jim Bruss could attend the meeting on December 19th with Jeff Taylor. John Greenwood discussed having a Commercial Lender come to one of the meetings to address different loan options for a Municipality. Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised the Town actually has a very low debit limit.
Eileen Kelly, Chair explained to those not having attended previous meetings that what we are now spending on the town hall for band aid fixes is nearly what an annual cost would be to restore it. Cheryl Behr, Administrator commented on the length of time since duct work has been done, furnace up grades etc. have been done at the town hall, with annual cost up so high now, that each project costs thousands each. Cheryl stated that there are two furnaces in the town hall that burned 3,200 gallons of fuel a year and not heating the building. The thought is to take the big step and approach the basic problems over there, like the water, insulation; vapor barriers or whatever is needed. Instead of not having the money to do the job, take the money out and do the job for about the same cost.
Eileen Kelly stated that it will not cost more, but we will get something out of it.
John Greenwood questioned if the town has any money to use as collateral. There is $67,000.00 the Police Dept. has in Capital Reserve for their facility, wherever they go.
This would have to be voted in at Town Meeting.
John Greenwood advised they could raise the Town Hall, slide it all the way over onto the parking lot, excavate out underneath, pour concrete foundation creating a full basement. John also suggested the driveway goes up into the town hall parking lot from the street. If you came in at road grade, it could be gently sloped back to the back and could establish a foundation and have windows in the lower level of the town hall, so those who are working there would not feel they are in the basement. The patio in the back could be used again as well with a door going into the basement.
It was stated that raising the building, moving it over, putting in a full foundation and putting it back down would create about 5,000 square feet of usable space for around $163,000.00. Also, at the same time, the pad for the elevator as well as the cistern for the sprinkler system would be accomplished.
Eileen Kelly advised this is what we are thinking to get the town offices back in the town hall, back where they were before with better configuration, better air flow.
Audrey restated the town hall is an old building in town that is worth saving and preserving as a historic structure in town. There is some opposition to preserving it as it is just an old building.
Parking was a topic of conversation and how to handle it discussed.
If Jeff Taylor comes next Monday, then the Town Hall Restoration Committee will go to the following Selectmen’ Meeting.
Cheryl Behr, Administrator suggested to bring up a line item to the Budget Committee for Special Projects, say for $500.00, as you never know when a Grant may come up, there would be someplace to transfer money into.
Organizing of Contractors discussed:
Accomplishment goals for the Forum discussed as well as talking about buying back the Grant at the Community Center. Discussion included if the town could rent a room at the Community Center rather than buying back the Grant for $100,000.00. Cheryl Behr, Administrator advised she had talked with George Hunting from Community Development Finance Authority and his remark was that they would talk about it with the possibility that the town may have to pro-rate the square footage. Question is, would it be worth $8,000.00 to the town to not have to deal with any of the legal implications of violating the Grant for a couple of year’s worth of rent?
John Greenwood advised the town hall has been around for 100’s of years, and as caretakers, it is the job of the group to take care of the town hall. It would be an awful thing for people who have lived in this town for a long time to let it go and tear it down, it is not our job. Our job is to take care of it. One thought is to be prepared for questions from opposition. It was stated that if it is not used, it will deteriorate, and be one more piece of property on Main Street off the tax rolls. What will it do to peoples property taxes if not kept up?
Suggestion to put some of the Grant information in the Bridge was brought up and thought to be advantageous.
Next project it to prepare for the Forum with questions, and answers. Jeff Taylor will be leading the Forum on Saturday, January 14, 2011 at the Elementary School from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. Any questions can be forwarded to Eileen Kelly prior to next weeks meeting. Collective memories of previous use of the Town Hall were brought up and will be pursued further.
Actual accounting of money spent for the past several years on the maintenance and what will be needed to restore the town hall is suggested for comparison purposes.
The Town Office Relocation Committee (TORC) has been invited to join the Town Hall Restoration Committee (THRC) to work towards the same end.
Eileen Kelly stated that the Bradford Improvement Association had a raffle this past summer and raised some funds to paint the interior of the upstairs of the town hall and there is $750.00 raised and they wish to contribute it to the Rural Heritage Connection of Bradford Corner Stone project dedicated to Town Hall.
Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted from tape.
Marjorie R. Cilley
Secretary