Forbush Library roof needs immediate stabilization
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Structural engineers have ruled that the roof above the Eloranta Room is unstable and could collapse, closing the room and requiring an immediate plan of action.

Selectmen and library trustees took that first step on Monday, May 21, by requesting permission from the Department of Revenue to spend the money to create an emergency stabilization structure and then calling a special town meeting in June to ask voters to approve the funding.

"We need a town meeting as soon as possible," said Preston Baker, a member of the Forbush Library Building Committee. "The structural engineer has recommended no one go into that room."

The room has been closed. Engineers are concerned that the beams supporting the roof will give way collapsing onto the ceiling of the upstairs meeting room and then onto the floor of that room, said architect Maury Wolfe. He said there isn't a concern that the collapse would continue any further down into the library.

"The cracks (in the ceiling) have opened up," he said. "You can see them getting bigger," Wolfe said.

The beams were apparently cut at some point in the past so that section of roof has been poorly supported for a long-time, he said.

The committee is working with architect Wolfe, of DiMarinisi & Wolfe, to develop a new exterior for the building, and planned to come to voters for funding for that part of the project in the early part of 2008. But this new structural project will require voters to first appropriate money to allow architects and engineers develop a structural solution for the roof.

Selectmen John Fairbanks and Nick Hay approved holding a special town meeting in June but stopped just short of setting a date.

The building committee will then come back in the winter to ask for funding for a permanent solution for the roof and the repair to the exterior of the building.

"The roof work should be done when the exterior envelope is done," Wolfe said.

They thought a town meeting could be held in January to get funding for this part of the project because they could do it after receiving firm bid prices at that time.

In other business:

+ Selectmen approved the Open Space Committee's request for permission to appeal for an Agricultural Preservation Restriction on a property off Howard Road. the restriction would put part of the 109 acre property under agricultural zoning in perpetuity.

Selectmen allowed the application because it doesn't commit any town funds at this time. If the restriction is granted the voters would then be asked to fund 20 percent of the cost with the state contributing 80 percent.

+ Keith Harding, a resident and member of the Advisory Board, asked for a repeal of the policy that prohibits beverage, other than water, in the carpeted meeting rooms of the Town Hall. Fairbanks said the board would take up the matter in September.

+ The selectmen signed the contract to buy the new ambulance.