Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rains Farm topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rains Farm Red Barn rehabilitation complete; July 18 celebration planned
Summary
Committee members reported the long-running Rains Farm Red Barn restoration is finished; a public celebration is scheduled for July 18 and the group discussed adding the barn to facility assessments, maintenance needs and options to fund ongoing upkeep.
The Facilities Advisory Committee heard that rehabilitation of the historic Rains Farm Red Barn is complete and plans are underway for a public celebration on July 18.
Speakers noted the project took roughly 20 years and involved town funds and matching grants (including LCHIP referenced at the meeting). Committee members recommended the barn be included in future facility condition assessments and prioritized for maintenance planning. Identified remaining needs include interior flooring and other ongoing upkeep; committee members discussed the possibility of increasing upstairs capacity above the current 50-person code limit, which would require installing a sprinkler system and a water‑supply engineering study because municipal water does not extend to the site.
The committee discussed options for funding ongoing maintenance, including volunteer fundraising and creating a Friends of Rains Farm 501(c)(3). Members said current town budget funds some maintenance and that past restoration work used a combination of LCHIP funds and town matches.
No formal vote was taken. Members encouraged publicity for the July event and agreed to consider the barn for future capital planning and the town’s facilities database.
