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Commission discusses Perry Hill Church repairs, accessibility and contractor challenges
Summary
Members reported preservation contacts and engineer plans for work at Perry Hill Church but said no contractor estimates have been received; they discussed tight crawl spaces, restroom and septic constraints, and possible grant-writing help from a Plymouth firm.
At the July 14 meeting the Acushnet Historical Commission discussed plans and funding prospects for repairs at Perry Hill Church and obstacles to making the building accessible for public use.
The Chair said a local preservationist provided research and contact names and that she plans to contact a Plymouth-based grant-writing firm for funding help. "I do have a couple of contacts, to reach out for funding for some of the work at Perry Hill," the Chair said.
Apex Engineering produced repair plans, but the Chair said the engineer did not provide cost estimates; members said several contractors named by the engineer have not replied to requests for bids. The Chair described a cramped, three-foot crawl space that will complicate work and acknowledged that the building’s small interior footprint makes installing compliant restroom facilities difficult.
Commission members raised potential solutions including a small addition for a restroom, volunteer labor from local trade programs, or temporary measures such as portable toilets for public events. The Chair noted limitations on septic options at the site and described a ‘‘tight tank’’ holding system used locally that can exceed $20,000 to install.
Members also discussed administrative steps: the Chair said any exterior changes would need selectmen approval and possibly a variance from local boards, and that the property owner (identified in the discussion as John Alper) would need to grant permission for use of adjacent land or an addition.
The commission did not vote on a repair contract at the meeting and directed the Chair to continue contacting grant-writing resources and contractors and to report back with estimates at the next meeting.
