The town is moving forward with decisions about its new town offices, including an approval by the Select Board to work with the town’s Historical Society to decorate public areas of the building.
In November, special Town Meeting approved using $1.2 million from the town’s fund balance to purchase the former TD Bank on Main Street and convert it to new town offices. The building is next door to the current offices, located at 10 Goodnow St. The town offices moved into the Goodnow Street building in 1995, as a temporary measure, but have remained there due to a lack of other viable options. When the TD Bank came up for sale last year, the town viewed it as an opportunity, already largely set up to meet its purposes.
The town officially closed on the purchase in February, and initial aesthetic renovations have already begun, with the town expected to put forth a request for bids for some retrofitting work in the next few weeks. The building is expected to be ready for occupancy by July.
During its meeting Tuesday, the Select Board met with representatives of the town’s Historical Society about featuring some of the society’s collections and photographs as part of the new offices. The current offices have some historical pieces on display, including a quilt and an oil painting of a halfway house on Monadnock, which might be moved to the new space. Historical Society member Rob Stephenson suggested there were other photographs which could be copied and blown up or framed for the town office waiting room, and a rotating display for collections of artifacts.
Stephenson said society members were willing to lead the project, if the town was willing to provide funding for the photo blowups or framing.
“Our job is not only to preserve, but promote the history of the town,” said Peter Lambert, president of the Historical Society. “And there’s no place more public in town than a waiting room of the town office. Everyone in town, at some point, will find themselves in that room. It could be someone brand new to town, they’ve never been here, and are registering to vote or they are paying their first water bill, or have a question about their taxes. Or maybe it’s someone who’s lived in town their entire life. And you want an interesting building. It seems like this would be a perfect way of helping each other out.”
Select Board Chair Frank Sterling said he was in favor of the idea, including a display, calling it a “great idea.” Town Manager Jon Frederick said there were several potential public areas where historical displays could be installed, including the waiting room, the stairway and a conference room.
In other Select Board news, the board met with Fire Chief David Chamberlain regarding fire vehicles and equipment. Frederick said when the town purchased its most recent fire truck, it did not include in the purchase the hose or radios, intending to purchase those “after the fact,” for less cost.
“We’re at the after the fact,” Frederick said.
Chamberlain said the new truck is being outfitted, and is expected to be in service within the next month. He said the new hose and radios will be replacing equipment that is at least 25 years old. The board approved $54,800 from the fire equipment capital reserve to purchase the equipment for the new truck. The board also approved the acceptance of $2,000 in a Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant, which will be put toward fire equipment, and were notified of the completed auction sale of the department’s former command vehicle, which sold for $10,101. Those funds will replenish the department’s equipment capital reserve.
The board also discussed a plan for a meeting to distinguish year-long goals for 2025. A date will be set in the near future for that meeting.
Selectman Andy Lawn said the town has three big projects which will be taking steps forward this year – the demolition of the former St. Patrick’s School, the demolition of the former W.W. Cross building and the start of the Route 202 roundabout project.
“If we could see through what we have going on right now, we’d be in a good place,” Lawn said. He added that he’d also like to see some sidewalk improvements move forward.
Sterling said the work on the Route 202 roundabout has begun, with the clearing of the landing for a bridge across the Contoocook River at the current parking area on Blake Street.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603- 924-7172 ex t. 244 or asaari@led gertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.