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New Ashford to ask voters for 5% match to advance church repairs
Summary
A private foundation offered $300,000 for church repairs and $30,000 for engineering, conditional on a 5% town match; the Select Board said a Special Town Meeting will be needed to authorize the match and related appropriations for propane, doors, and septic work.
The New Ashford Select Board discussed Sept. 8 a proposal to advance repairs to the town church after a private foundation committed significant funding on the condition of a local match.
Representatives or supporters of Steve Nielsen’s foundation have offered $30,000 for engineering and $300,000 for repairs, the board was told. The foundation requests a 5% town match; the board estimated the town’s share at a minimum of $16,500 and said a Special Town Meeting will be necessary to appropriate the match and related expenditures.
Board members said two contractors inspected the church and advised the town to obtain an engineering estimate before bidding. The town will include related items on the Special Town Meeting warrant, including funds to purchase and install a propane tank for the church (quotes varied: Morse quoted $3,000 for a 500‑gallon tank without connections; H.A. George quoted $3,500 for a tank with blocks and regulators plus connections and permit) and invoices for installation of doors at town buildings, and to address sewer and septic lines at the church.
The board directed staff to prepare articles for a Special Town Meeting to fund the software (Vadar) payment timing issue and to include the church match article. The meeting record does not capture a final engineering cost estimate or a firm project timetable; board members said the project must be put to bid after engineering estimates are obtained.
