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Historical society asks Fairhaven for $2,500 to finish upstairs rehabilitation; board debates timing
Summary
The Fairhaven historical society requested $2,500 to paint a 15- to 16-foot ceiling and prepare space upstairs so the group can move back in. Board members discussed bids, asbestos testing and whether to fund the work now or wait for a broader phased renovation plan.
Representatives of the Fairhaven Historical Society told the Select Board they need $2,500 to paint ceilings and finish immediate repairs upstairs so they can occupy a consolidated office and storage area.
"We're asking for a decision sooner rather than later because we wanna move in," the historical society president (speaker 8) said during a detailed presentation about storage, heating, and the condition of the auditorium and classrooms. The society reported an annual operating budget of about $4,900 and presented two contractor bids for ceiling work (approximately $1,100 and higher estimates).
Board members acknowledged the society's needs but raised concerns about budgeting and phasing larger building work. Members questioned whether it is more cost-effective to address the auditorium floor and other second-floor work in a coordinated phase rather than paying piecemeal. One board member recommended looking for emergency-fund support or short-term fundraising; another suggested the board needed clarity on a long-term second-floor timeline before committing funds.
The board did not vote on the $2,500 request at the meeting; members asked staff and the society for more detailed cost breakdowns and a proposed phasing plan for the second-floor renovations.
