Town Hall steps, roofs get repairs

SALISBURY — Visitors to Salisbury for the Fall Festival noticed ongoing construction work at Town Hall in Salisbury — and perhaps noted that the decorative scarecrow that was supposed to be there had been moved. 

During the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Oct. 1, First Selectman Curtis Rand said that the rainy weather had pushed back the schedule for the rebuilding of the Town Hall steps and the relocation of the handicapped access ramps.

“The steps will be inaccessible for at least a month,” Rand said. People coming to Town Hall will have to use the ramps.

The selectmen also voted to hire Newfield Construction of Hartford (the contractor that handled the recent work at Salisbury Central School) to research and prepare a bid package for work on the Town Hall roof, the design of which does not handle heavy rain very well.

Besides the leaky roof and inadequate gutters, the contractor will look at the air conditioning system (Town Hall runs mostly on window units) and the bathrooms.

The test of LED streetlights was also delayed, but Rand said the two orange-flagged lights — on Salmon Kill Road and Lakeview Avenue — should be operational by Friday.

Tom Callahan, chairman of the Pope Land Committee, reported that the committee has met once a month instead of bimonthly, as originally planned. 

Thus far the committee has heard from the Historic District Commission, experts regarding soil quality, wetlands, conservation and affordable housing groups. 

The group has also done two walking tours of the Pope property. The property consists of two parcels — a 56-acre piece bordered by Salmon Kill Road, and a 6.6-acre area off Indian Cave Road.

Callahan reminded the selectmen of the committee’s charge, which is to collect facts, not make recommendations.

Rand thanked him, saying the committee has moved quickly and in accordance with its purpose.

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