Historians press Lebanon committee to fund belfry and museum fascia repairs; contractors give quotes

Laurie Hoffman, identifying herself as chairman of the historians, told the committee she and the historians have reviewed a 75‑page condition assessment by John Bolt and asked the township to prioritize repairs that will protect the museum building’s belfry and historic fabric.

The historians said John Bolt’s review did not include roof access and recommended an on‑roof inspection; the historians plan to hire a contractor to inspect the belfry and slate roof. Committee members reviewed multiple contractor proposals: Van Ness Construction and Prudente Painting submitted bids consistent with a prior grant application, while a third, AJ Fisher Company, submitted a substantially higher historical‑specialist estimate. The committee discussed scope differences, concerns about prevailing wage and material specifications, and whether to fabricate a custom molding knife to reproduce the building’s historic trim.

Estimated costs discussed in the meeting included $7,663 for carpentry (fascia/trim work) and $5,800 for painting in the proposals under consideration. Committee members said they prefer solid‑sawn pine matching historic materials and confirmed that work within the historic district requires state approvals. The committee agreed to move forward with contractor outreach, prepare a resolution to authorize work or a bounded contract, and seek more precise cost estimates where necessary.