Architects deliver town hall condition report; select board flags stair railing for code review

Shear McChrystal Colson Architecture presented a building condition assessment and preliminary renovation plans for Kingston Town Hall on the Select Board's agenda, and the board requested follow-up to resolve a railing installation that differs from the architect's drawings.

The architect, Anthony Mento of Shear McChrystal Colson Architecture, told the board his team completed an assessment of the stair work and a feasibility review of the building, including the roof, cupola and interior reconfiguration options. He said the contractor followed engineered drawings for foundation work and granite reinstallation and that the overall workmanship looked sound. "I have high confidence that it will last for the long haul," Mento said.

Mento also said the railing installed at the base of the town-hall stairs appears to extend farther out than the drawings and than the board expected. He pointed out the architectural documents and the metal railing delivered to the site did not match in the amount of extension beyond the lowest step. "The plans dictated, like, roughly 5 inches, and that railing was up over 15 inches," Mento said, noting the discrepancy when comparing plans, submittals and the field installation.

A town building inspector attending the meeting told the board he would not advise changing the installed railings to reduce the extension without formal direction because altering a code-compliant railing could expose the town to legal risk. Mento cited code and accessibility requirements in explaining why railing extensions are sized, saying, "The requirement is that the extension pass the riser of the lowest stair by 1 foot, a 1 foot extension...and that is in the requirements since 1977." The board asked staff to make sure the installed railing conforms to the applicable building code and Americans with Disabilities Act design requirements.

Mento left printed and electronic copies of the architectural assessment and as-built plans for the board and staff. His report included existing-condition drawings and several renovation schemes to reconfigure the lower level, add staff egress routes and make more efficient use of the stage-back area for meetings. He also highlighted the cupola as a capital item the town should consider in its capital-improvement planning, describing wood decay and moisture infiltration that likely will require crane removal and phased repair work.

Select Board members agreed they need a clear resolution on the railing before allowing the contractor to leave the installation as-is. Highway/town staff and Mento agreed to coordinate with the railing manufacturer and the town's building inspector, and Mento said he would follow up with specific measurements and a written recommendation this week. The item will return to the board agenda for May 12 for further review, and the architect's full condition-assessment report will be distributed electronically to board members and staff earlier in the week.

The board did not approve construction changes at the meeting; next steps were staff and architect follow-up and a board discussion on May 12. The board asked staff to clarify whether any change would require a formal contractor change order and to document code references used in the architect's recommendation.