Mold woes infect town hall

Thursday, May 6, 2010

WILTON – The mold growing in some of the nether regions of the town hall is caused by dampness from malfunctioning, or under-functioning drains.

Building Inspector John Shepardson said the water has got to go before the mold can be addressed.

“We can’t get rid of the mold until we get rid of the water,” Shepardson told selectmen at a meeting on April 26.

Shepardson said he consulted a mold abatement company, who called in “a bunch of people knowledgeable in a lot of areas.” They found that some drains at the rear of the building, the Maple Street side, are clogged, and that there is possible damage to the slate roof.

In March, voters approved $20,000 to “address the mold and replace ceiling panels and light fixtures in the town hall meeting room,” generally referred to as the courtroom.

The money is to come from the Town Hall Repair Fund, which contains more than $70,000.

The mold abatement is to begin with the area behind the courtroom, which has several small offices and closets, including what was once the “Judge’s robing room.” When the hall was built in 1885, the area contained the banquet room kitchen.

The former police department is also affected. The section is at the rear of the Main Street level. The town offices and the Town Hall Theatre are not affected.

The selectmen decided to discuss the roof with the company that worked on it two years ago and to review all of the information before making a decision.

In other business, selectmen met with former selectman Dan Donovan to review progress on a new contract with the towns that use the recycling center.

“We should update the existing agreement and comply with Department of Environmental Services concerning what can be accepted” at the facility, he said. The facility was recently cited by DES for several minor infractions including signage.

Selectmen decided to discontinue an advisory Recycling Center Committee, composed of representatives of the five towns that use the facility. The center is owned and operated by the town of Wilton, which contracts services to the other towns.

A new volunteer committee was formed recently at the suggestion of Temple selectmen, which will work on ways to make the center more efficient, provide information and encourage more people to recycle.

Selectmen said, in light of the new committee, the old one was not needed.

Towns involved include Greenville, Lyndeborough, Mason and Temple.

It was also announced that the Municipal Services Building Committee has met with an architect. A set of plans has been provided for “committee members to mark up and get back to the architect.”

The plans cover the expansion and renovation of the current fire station on Main Street. The committee is also suggesting that the ambulance service be included in the building.

It is hoped that a plan will be ready for a vote at next year’s town meeting.

Jessie Salisbury can be reached at 654-9704 or jessies@tellink.net.