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Inspection photos show serious deterioration of Volunteer Green band shell; committee will send report to Select Board
Summary
Committee members reported alarming photos in a structural assessment of the existing band shell and agreed to make the report public and send it to the Select Board for follow-up; no immediate closure was ordered in the meeting.
Committee members said they received a structural assessment (including photographs) of the existing Volunteers Green band shell and described visible deterioration that surprised several members. The assessment — prepared by Bob Neil and circulated to the committee that day — documents disconnected members and cracked framing in photos the committee described as “scary” and “crazy.”
Why it matters: The existing band shell sits on the park plateau and is used during events; evidence of structural deterioration raises concerns about safety, accessibility and the timing of any repair or replacement work tied to the pavilion project.
Committee discussion focused on the severity of the observed damage and appropriate next steps. Members agreed they did not hear any recommendation in the report that the site be immediately closed, but they expressed concern about the degree of structural disrepair and discussed accessibility upgrades (ramps, guardrails) that are not included in the current repair cost estimates. The committee decided to send the inspection report and photos to the Select Board — which contracted the inspection — so that the Select Board can review the findings and determine any town-level response. The committee also instructed staff to post the report as an attachment to the meeting minutes and to offer to meet with the Select Board if they request follow-up.
The committee emphasized transparency: the assessor’s report will be included as an attachment to the minutes and posted on the town website. Members said the report’s preliminary cost estimates did not account for required accessibility improvements and cautioned that preliminary costs typically increase when final designs are developed.
Next steps: Committee members will forward the report to the Select Board and notify town staff to post the assessment with the minutes; the committee offered to meet with the Select Board if requested for further explanation.
