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Sharon garage committee orders inspections, sets November deadline for recommendation
Summary
The Town of Sharon Garage Building Committee reviewed a Dec. 8 site visit, identified roof leaks, inefficient heating and unknown well/septic locations, assigned inspections and contractor quotes, and set a timeline to recommend a plan to the Selectboard by November 2026.
Bob Potter, chair of the Town Garage Building Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 12. The committee approved the meeting agenda and the Dec. 8, 2025 minutes by unanimous vote.
The committee spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing findings from a Dec. 8 site visit. Members reported concerns about roof leaking and water infiltration, heat loss through garage bay doors, and an aging heating system that committee members said appears to be original and cannot operate simultaneously with the ventilation system. The group noted the existing concrete slab appears to be in good condition and could be retained for future work, while the locations of the site well and the septic system remain unknown and are factors in siting any new building.
Committee members assigned immediate follow-up tasks: Jack Jones and Vince Gross will inspect the rear of the building to assess water infiltration and roof damage; Nicola Shipman will solicit roofing contractor quotes (either for the whole building or a square-footage rate); and Bob Potter will investigate the current electrical draw on the building’s 100-amp breaker to determine whether it is adequate for future uses.
On broader planning, members discussed treating the site as a 'blank slate' to reconfigure outbuildings and equipment for more usable land, and weighing a two-building approach to reduce the town’s exposure to a single catastrophic loss. The committee noted the feasibility study plans are preliminary — a starting point for engineers, architects and contractors to develop final designs — and suggested the Building Committee could be reconstituted to oversee design and construction phases. Potter asked why the study proposed a wood-frame structure rather than steel.
The group set a formal timeline to present a recommendation to the Selectboard within 270 days, no later than November 2026. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Town Offices. Nicola Shipman moved to adjourn at 4:32 p.m.; the motion passed unanimously. Minutes were submitted by Nicola Shipman.
The committee did not take up formal design approvals or contract awards at this meeting; members focused on inspections, clarifying site constraints, and establishing a recommendation schedule.
