The Rindge Select Board is seeking a grant for a historical building assessment on the town’s Meeting House, in anticipation of several projects in the coming years.
During its most recent meeting on Wednesday, the Select Board authorized an application to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for $4,500 to conduct a survey of the building and identify needs. One project already on the radar is painting the steeple, and eventually the whole building, Selectman Bob Hamilton said.
“There’s always something. It’s a 200 year old building,” Hamilton said.
The Meeting House, located on Main Street, was built in 1796, and is one of the few Meeting Houses in the state that is still used for both civic and religious functions. The Meeting House remains the home of the Congregational Church, which operates on the second floor, and for government meetings downstairs.
Hamilton said there is already a five-year plan to address some issues in the building, but a historical assessment will give the town an idea of other areas that may need attention.
Hamilton said the next item already on the town’s radar is the painting of the Meeting House steeple, a project which in itself could cost a total of about $90,000.
“That’s not for the four walls, just the steeple. That’s an enormous cost,” Hamilton said.
The historical assessment is an initial step towards other potential grant funds.
The Select Board also authorized an application to receive Rindge’s allocation for the first half of funds earmarked for the town by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Part of a total $1.9 trillion stimulus package, the federal funds are to help local communities pay for pandemic response needs. A total of $637,560 has been allocated for Rindge based on its 2019 population.
The current application is for the first half of the funds, with the second half available next year.
The funds can be spent on public health, repairing COVID-19-related economic damage, recovering lost public revenue, pay for essential workers, and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Hamilton said the board agreed to apply for the funds, but has only had preliminary discussions about where the funding would be spent. The board has discussed using some of the funds to replace computer equipment, to include computers with better microphones and cameras for remote meetings, as well as vehicle equipment which has broken down or is in need of repair since the start of the pandemic.
“We’re still assessing things. There’s a lot of things we’re looking at,” Hamilton said. “Whatever applies, we’ll be looking at.”
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.