TIME & PLACE:

Meeting May 3, 2001 at 7:00 PM at Elizabeth Hauser Museum

ATTENDANCE:

Ken Jordan
Charles Cook
Beth Blair
Anne Weger
Gordon Jackson
Ted West
Jim Bassett – Selectmen Representative
Kent Ruesswick - Chairman
Jeremy Slayton - Secretary

ELIZABETH HAUSER MUSEUM

Meeting Started at Elizabeth Hauser Museum with Ginger Laplante to discuss information about that building.

Building built approx. 1864. Is 30’ x 36’, and is owned by the school district. Maintenance for building is provided by town.

Building open to public Saturdays Memorial Day to Columbus Day. No figures on total number of total visitors to Museum, though most visits occur on Fair Day.

There is an attic, though it is only available through external window. There is no basement.
Hardwood floor in good shape. Stains on ceiling old. Roof was repaired 2-3 years ago. Building not known to have insulation. No bathroom. Dehumidifier is used during warm months to help preserve contents of building. Woodstove is present, but not known if it works.

Building currently used to store hundreds or thousands of photographs, negatives and glass plates, as well as old books, ledgers, logs and other historical archives. Because of the varying environmental conditions, the site is less than ideal for archives storage.

POLICE STATION

Committee met with officer A. Merrigan who shared with us his thoughts on the current condition of the police department building, as well as perceived future needs.

Building is not ADA accessible.

Does not provide sight/sound separation to protect confidentiality of minors.

No detention cells. No formal office for chief. Evidence room used for some storage… an issue with respect to protecting the integrity of evidence.

Garage is needed to protect police cruiser from potential vandalism, but takes nearly 40% of the building area. Officer Merrigan suggested possible converting garage to office space, and erecting additional garage on the south side of the building.

No drinkable water available on premises. Plumbing does not work 2-3 months of year because water table causes septic to back up. Potential of tying in to new town septic, however requires tearing up parking lot.

Building uses oil heat. State of insulation unknown.

Staff of police department include Chief, one officer and part time administrative help (Kathleen).

SAM LAKE HOUSE – Town administrative offices

Building has new and old sections.

Outside of building in good condition, though could use paint.

Some broken windows, problems with skunks getting in under foundation.

Two separate basements. Stairs at bottom of old section rotten and in need of repair. Basement of new section dry, archives stored in secured area. Heating system expansion possible.

Attic of old section accessible through steep narrow stairway. Rooms of old attic require cleaning, painting. Currently used for storage of old town office files.

Interior of first-floor offices in good repair.

Attic of new section used for meeting space.

NEXT MEETING:

Next weeks meeting will start 5/10/01 at 7 PM at Town Dump. Then proceed to Town Library at 7:30 PM.