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Selectmen decline to add traction treads to Town Hall front steps
Summary
After discussing design and liability concerns the selectmen voted unanimously to decline adding traction treads or grooving to the granite front steps of Town Hall; staff will send a letter documenting the decision to the project architect.
The Kingston Board of Selectmen unanimously voted March 17 not to add traction treads or grooving to the granite front steps of Town Hall as part of recent front-stair renovations.
Town staff and an architect had proposed options to increase traction on the steps. Public-works and facilities staff told the board that retrofitting treads or grooving the granite could create trip hazards or aesthetic problems. Tom (DPW/facilities representative) said the stairs historically did not include treads and that adding adhesive treads could become a long-term maintenance and liability issue; he recommended leaving the granite surface as designed.
Board members discussed liability tradeoffs and aesthetic concerns and concluded that adding treads could create a “trip step” and fill with water and ice if grooved. The board asked staff to notify the architect in writing that the selectmen deliberately chose not to add the traction treatments; staff said a letter would be prepared and placed on the board’s signature list.
The decision was recorded by motion and a voice vote; the board instructed staff to draft and circulate the written confirmation of the selected design.
