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Date: 9/21/2022
BRIMFIELD – Current and upcoming projects in Brimfield were discussed during the Sept. 12 Select Board meeting.
One of the ongoing projects in town has been the construction of a handicapped parking lot that sits between the Town Hall Annex and the library. Library Director Rebecca Wells shared an update on where they are with this job.
“The parking lot has been paved, lines are done, the posts that hold the signs are in,” she said.
She noted that Scott Mansfield, electrical director for the town and electrical students from Tantasqua Regional High School are working on the electrical components of the project. Their tasks have included the installation of two wall pack LED exterior lights for the parking lots. Over the next few weeks, Wells said they will move their efforts into the building where they will do the electrical components for the handicapped accessible door and add an electrical outlet and data jack in the Sherman Room. Wells noted that this will change the location of where the computer station currently is, as they want to move it closer to the door.
She went on to say that she is hopeful this phase of the project will be done by mid-October. Once this is complete, the Sherman Room will be accessible in the library.
Vice Chair Suzanne Collins asked about the cost of this project. Wells shared that at this time, they are roughly $13,000 into the project. The first $8,500 came from the Select Board and the rest is coming from the library.
Wells recognized the Select Board for being “instrumental” in helping the library obtain a handicapped parking lot.
Cemetery stone walls
Cemetery Commissioner Michael Wales shared that they have found that the stone wall in front of the Brimfield Cemetery – most of which is 96 years old – needs some desperate repair. “We have a lot of cracks, missing concrete, missing pieces of stone throughout the wall,” he said.
Wales explained that the first section of wall, from Route 20 to the end of the second gate with the archway, is 96 years old. The remainder of the wall is 56 years old. “The 56-year-old section, unfortunately, is not much better than the 96-year-old section. We feel very strongly that it needs to get some serious rebuilding done,” said Wales.
He continued, “The capstones are almost to the point that they need to be completely rebuilt. They are separated, they’re broken, they’ve been patched through the years with the wrong types of masonry.”
To begin correcting this issue, Wales said they have teamed up with Architectural Insights out of Palmer. He shared that the company has worked with towns both near and far and will work with Brimfield to survey the entire wall, take photos, make recommendations for what types of products should be used and so on. He added that this first part of the project will cost $4,200.
Down the line, he said maybe there will be an option for American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds for construction/reconstruction since it is “not going to be cheap” as it’s “prevailing wage.”
Collins said, “I think it’s a beautiful wall and I know it’s going to be expensive, but this has been something that’s been going so I would like to make a motion for the $4,200 to pay Architectural Insights to do a study/recommendation on the walls.”
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved by the board.
Painting of town flag poles
Wales went on to offer up the free painting of the town’s flag poles in six locations. This includes the Brimfield Town Hall, Civil War Memorial, cemetery, school, Catholic church, fire station and a touch up at Hitchcock Academy.
By using a 60-foot lift and correct paint that goes over rusty materials, Wales noted that this project is entirely free to the town.
The board unanimously approved Wales’ proposal and thanked him for this gift.
Appointments
Jennifer Polesnak Custance, Sarah Reindeau and Christopher Defalco were appointed to three-year terms on the Cultural Council.
Amy Stanton was appointed as Public Access TV clerk.
Lastly, Gary Wilson was appointed as animal/barn inspector.
The next Select Board meeting is set to take place on Sept. 26.