By Virginia Dean, Standard Correspondent
HARTLAND – A repair to the Hartland Recreation Center steps is still in a state of uncertainty after Monday’s Select Board meeting, although the structural part will soon be attended to, according to Town Manager David Ormiston.
The current proposal is to re-stucco and then re-surface the stairs for a projected cost of $10-12,000, related Ormiston.
“There are cracks and water damage,” said Ormiston. “Once the steps are rendered, an inch and a half of bluestone would be placed on top of the concrete base. The two sides of the stairs would have that as well. From that, you would get upwards of 20 years of life.”
Board member Joe Olmstead noted that the handrails also should to be replaced because they do not extend all the way from the platform to the base of the steps.
Ormiston said the project is slated to be finished in mid-September according to contractor Josh Boynton of Boynton Construction, Inc. of Hartland who will be doing the structural work to shore up the stairs.
Stonemason Randy Shambo is expected to do the re-facing. Bluestone is often used for steps, treads, driveways or other types of paving projects both for its aesthetic and durability traits.
Ormiston indicated that he met with Boynton and Shambo last week to discuss the project and to make sure they are working “on the same page.” The initial process was begun a year and a half ago under the auspices of former Town Manager Bob Stacey but has been stalled since.
Board Chair Gordon Richardson noted, however, that it might be difficult to put an inch and a half of bluestone on top of the steps because it would change their rise.
“Importantly, I think we have an obligation to preserve the architecture and history of the building,” said Richardson.
Richardson therefore asked Ormiston to contact Judy Hayward, Executive Director of Historic Windsor, Inc., to get her opinion about the material used to resurface the steps.
HWI is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 1971 and assists Upper Valley towns in local preservation efforts. Its mission is to foster an understanding of and respect for town heritages by teaching preservation skills and traditional craftsmanship through The Preservation Education Institute, according to its website.
In other business, board members approved the scheduled revised 2017 Summarsell Property Management plan that was overseen by Conservation Commission Chair Rob Anderegg. The plan identifies the resources of the property as well as the use and management of the land that was conveyed to the town of Hartland by the family of Carmen K. Summarsell in 2001 after it was protected with a Conservation Easement held by the Upper Valley Land Trust. The project was funded in part by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
Plans are reviewed every 10 years. The first management plan was created in July 2001. The parcel lies at the south corner of Interchange 9 of Interstate 91 with U.S. Route 5.
Its primary purpose is agricultural and recreational. A local farmer, Carlton Lamb, hays the open sections of the parcel once or twice a year to keep the fields from overgrowing.
Board members mulled over four local culverts that need to be repaired and/or replaced. These include those that pertain to three town roads and one driveway.
Driveway permits need to be granted from the state. Peeler noted that enforcement has been “pretty relaxed” in the past but that should change.
“We need to keep to higher standards,” said Peeler. “We should review the process and enforce the state regulations.”
Richardson indicated that it is not unusual for a town to replace driveway culverts, however. He said he sees driveway culverts as “ a shared thing” between the homeowner and the state.
Ormiston agreed and noted that homeowners should be notified about their own accountability of keeping up with the maintenance of culverts.
“I think it’s just a matter of following suit with what I’m hearing from the state, that residents understand their responsibility with regard to culverts,” said Ormiston.
The general policy is that property owners whose land borders on a public highway are not eligible for town assistance in lying out, building or maintaining a road upon his/her property.
“We need the homeowners to understand that this is a joint responsibility,” said Ormiston.
Board members also discussed the management of the Sumner’s Falls Recreation Area and its public use. Some current issues include lack of parking space, cleanup after activities, and large group events.
Anderegg said the Conservation Commission might be interested in helping out by incorporating the land into a management plan.
Board member Mary O’Brien asked Ormiston about renovation plans for the town library. Ormiston said he will visit the library and review those proposals.
“We need to put this out to bid,” said Ormiston. “And we need to be conservative, as from my ten-second glance, it looks like the entire roof should be replaced. There’s a lot that we have to pull together with this.”
Ormiston noted that auditors John Mudge and Graham & Graham have responded to public notices about preparing a town audit.
“We haven’t made a decision yet between the two,” said Ormiston. “We’re expecting this to cost somewhere in the $14-15,000 range.”
The next board meeting was scheduled for Aug. 21.
This article first appeared in the August 10, 2017 edition of the Vermont Standard.