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Board discusses library ice-dam damage, fire-department response and need for building-maintenance plan
Summary
The Select Board was told an ice dam at the library allowed water to run onto an electrical fixture; members discussed the emergency response, insulation and reroofing options, potential energy audit, contractor quotes, and an MOU with library trustees to clarify town responsibility for building maintenance.
Board members raised safety and maintenance concerns after an ice dam formed on the library roof, causing water to pour into a lighting fixture and prompting a response from highway and fire personnel.
Staff described how crews cleared the ice dam and the fire department took steps on the electrical fixture, temporarily isolating a switch to avoid damage to emergency lighting. Board members stressed the risk to first responders if they repeatedly remove ice dams and discussed the trade-offs of immediate mitigation versus longer-term repairs.
Members recommended an energy audit or insulation review to determine whether heat loss is causing recurring ice dams, and described contractor quotes they had received for targeted roof and insulation work. One board member advised stripping roofing material near valleys to install a proper ice-and-water shield and then reroofing, noting that incomplete fixes can lead to wasted expense.
The board agreed it should develop a formal approach to building maintenance for the library — potentially an MOU with the library trustees — and considered funding options, including hiring a consultant or contractor at an hourly rate to manage procurement and oversee specialized repairs.
Board members also noted that the fire department’s ladder and inspection helped identify the issue, but cautioned against repeated operational responses in lieu of planned structural work. Staff will follow up with details on contractor quotes, an energy-audit schedule, and the recommended MOU language for the trustees.
