Trustees said they will submit a CPC-style grant application to finance basic repairs and make two main-floor rooms functional for children’s programming and community meetings.

The project under consideration focuses on rooms labeled “A” and “B” on the library plan (the areas formerly housing the town clerk and land-use office). Trustees said the immediate scope would be painting, replacing or covering worn wood floors with a stable floating vinyl product, and repairing or replacing unstable ceiling sections. Contractors who toured the building provided preliminary estimates and more detailed quotes were expected by week’s end; trustees said those estimates will be used in the grant narrative.

Contractors noted concerns about the ceiling’s stability and suggested that the original wood floors have been sanded multiple times and are thin; several recommended installing a floating vinyl or similar sub-floor rather than further sanding. Trustees discussed retaining historic features where possible: plastering and paint would be sensitive to historic color guidelines, and trustees said they will check the deed restriction that governs permitted changes to the building. A general contractor offered to submit separate bids (plastering, painting, ceiling repair) and to remove built-in counters or barriers in the town-clerk area if needed.

Trustees also reviewed funding sources for recently completed foundation work: they plan to apply $5,000 from a 2020 town fund and $8,000 from a 2019 allocation, and to use remaining library repair funds (a reported $20,000 account) to cover outstanding foundation costs. Trustees asked staff to inspect pointing and foundation work in spring and to request contractor photos and the invoice before releasing final payments.

The trustees discussed phasing: option one preserves the dividing door and uses room A alone; option two opens the wall between A and B if structurally feasible for larger events. Several trustees said the initial grant should focus on basic functionality—flooring, paint and ceilings—leaving more invasive structural changes for a later phase after a formal assessment.

Trustees said the grant application is due Jan. 15; they tasked a subteam to complete the narrative and gather contractor estimates so the application can be submitted on time.