Town Hall Roof Replacement Project Gets Under Way

Replacement of Town Hall’s leaking roof and related repairs is getting under way this week and is expected to last through the summer and fall. The project was approved by voters at the May 2017 Annual Town Meeting.

Visitors and staff coming and going at Town Hall should not be inconvenienced since staging equipment will not block access to the building, said Sean VanDeusen, superintendent of public works. He said a parking spot or two will be set aside for construction vehicle use.

The $237,000 project is funded by two sources: with $150,000 from the town’s Community Preservation Act and $87,000) in town funds. The roof on the historic town hall has been leaking, causing water damage to interior plaster at Town Hall.

Contractors will also re-point three chimneys and repair ornamental cornices. This week, masons began taking samples of the original brickwork around the roof, so that new materials can be matched. Staging will go up shortly. Capeworks Roofing of Westport is the contractor.

“The town thanks the Community Preservation Act committee for prioritizing this work to protect our historic Town Hall,” said Jennifer Tabakin, town manager.

VanDeusen said work to replace the Town Hall’s front steps will get under way in the fall.         

Thomas Blauvelt, chair of the town’s CPA committee, said, “This is our most important downtown building and is an iconic part of our Main Street landscape. The CPA is grateful for town voters’ support of this historic preservation project.”