Committee discusses town clock upkeep; members advise against manual bell ringing

Committee members discussed maintenance of the town clock and bell after a member reported Hunter had been shown how to wind the mechanism by Mr. Tangway. Members agreed to have Hunter wind the clock on a regular schedule (Monday and Thursday) and to train Travis as a backup so more than one person knows how to operate it.

Speakers repeatedly warned against manually ringing the bell by pulling a rope, saying that action could swing the bell and cause damage; one member relayed Mr. Tangway’s instruction: “do not ring the bell that way” and explained that the bell has a hammer that provides the necessary strike. Members noted seasonal practice: the clock should be wound and active in spring and summer and not run through the winter because ice and cold can damage components.

The committee discussed logistics of access (keys and codes required to reach the mechanism) and payroll implications when staff must open the building to allow volunteers access. Members suggested folding clock winding into the duties of a paid onsite employee to avoid extra trips and ensure insurance coverage. No formal motion or vote about the clock was recorded in the transcript; members asked to confirm which staff job descriptions will include the task and to train the backup before the event.