Date: Fri 23-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Edmond-town-hall-roof

Full Text:

Selectmen Approve Additional Funds For Town Hall Roof Repair

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Board of Selectmen Monday voted unanimously to give the Town Board of

Managers an additional $60,750 for roof repairs to Edmond Town Hall.

That brings the town's total expense for the roof to $85,750, but the

Legislative Council will have the final say on how much money the town

managers actually get.

Last winter, the Board of Managers came to the town asking for $50,000 to help

pay for a $175,000 new flat roof on the back side of the Main Street building.

The town, however, only agreed to contribute $25,000 to be paid through LoCIP

funding.

A closer look at the town hall's roof has since revealed that the slate roof

on the front of the building needs a complete replacement, not just patch work

as originally thought. The Board of Managers has decided to do that work at

this time, as well. That raises the cost of the project to $250,000.

"The Board of Managers simply can't cover the added expense," said board

member Sandy Motyka. "We have to come to the board with our hat in our hands

for the rest."

Recognizing the need to fix the roof, the selectmen voted willingly to

contribute the additional funds. However, it may be a different story when the

issue comes before the Legislative Council. As Selectman Jim Mooney pointed

out Monday, it was the council that decided to cut the Board of Managers'

original request in half. The council Wednesday referred the roof issue to its

finance committee.

Although Edmond Town Hall was built as a town hall by the town's benefactress,

Mary Hawley, back in 1929, the town traditionally hasn't paid for the rent or

maintenance of the building. Nearly all costs have been paid by the Hawley

Trust Fund and receipts for movie ticket sales, the rental of the gym, the

Alexandria Room, and other rooms in the building.

Board of Managers chairman Edgar Beers said some, if not all, of the roof work

will be completed this summer no matter how much the Legislative Council

agrees to contribute. All roof work will need to be completed within the next

five years.

"If the town says `no,' then I guess we'll just go with the flat roofs, or as

one board member suggested, just the slate roof and hold off on the flat

roof," he explained.

Mr Beers said the roof repairs will all but deplete the board's trust fund.

The board is using $175,000 of its $200,000 to pay for the project.

"After the roof project, you might say we'd pretty much be broke," he said.

"We'll be living hand-to-mouth and the town would probably have to start

kicking in for rent."

The possibility that the council will not approve the Board of Managers'

request irks Mr Beers, who said the town has been reluctant to help chip in

for repairs in the past.

"I'm sure if Miss Hawley was still alive, she'd be disappointed to see the

town being so hesitant to help maintain the building," he said.

Mr Beers has held off on signing any construction contracts until the town

makes its decision.

According to Mrs Motyka, low attendance at the town hall movie theater has

hurt its overall fund.

The roof work will be done by Commercial Roofing & Contracting, Inc, of

Putnam.