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Library trustees' $10,000 donated fence prompts debate over maintenance, aesthetics and town role
Summary
Trustees told the Select Board they've received a $10,000 donation earmarked for a fence around the library's children's program space. Board members pressed for cost estimates, maintenance plans, and whether the fence should be part of a broader downtown beautification project; members agreed to seek quotes for vinyl and wood fence options and proposed a subcommittee for a longer‑term plan.
Caitlin Kamich, chair of the library trustees, told the Select Board the trustees had received a $10,000 donation specifically for a fence for the library's children’s program and that, under the trustees' policies and the MOU with the town, the trustees do not have authority over the exterior grounds.
Select Board members said they welcome the donation but asked three practical questions before accepting and installing a fence: how much different fence options cost today (wood versus vinyl), what the long‑term maintenance costs will be, and whether trustees would assist with upkeep under the existing MOU. One board member summarized the financial concern: "I'd want to see how much it would be, whether we did wood or vinyl... and what the maintenance would be," adding a rough benchmark of "3,000 or less" as a minuscule ongoing cost assumption.
Several members urged that the fence be considered within a broader downtown beautification plan rather than installed in isolation. Trustees offered AI‑generated concept images to illustrate possible designs; board members stressed that the town should obtain updated quotes that match the fence being proposed (height, archway, and materials) and suggested forming a subcommittee to develop a multi‑phase plan and conduct community outreach.
The trustees said they would provide images and updated, itemized quotes (at least one vinyl and one wood option) and the board directed staff to collect maintenance estimates and to explore whether trustees could share some upkeep tasks under the MOU. No formal vote was taken; the board characterized the next steps as getting quotes, maintenance estimates and starting a subcommittee process.
