By Diane Scappaticci Rosenblum
KILLINGTON—On Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 1, Killington voters will be asked to approve a 10-year, low-interest loan of $200,000 in order to replace its library roof. The proposed loan would require zero percent down, meaning no increase in taxes would be needed. The library has allocated enough money to repay the loan, which it shows in its capital plan.
The problem
At the Sept. 9, 2015, meeting of the Sherburne Memorial Library Board of Trustees, Librarian Jane Ramos stated that almost every morning she and staff noticed shingles that had fallen off during the night. Chet Hagenbarth, the director of town highways and facilities department, and then Town Manager Seth Webb made a presentation regarding the condition of the building’s roof. Part of the reason the current roof failed was that it didn’t have proper ventilation or insulation, in addition to the defective shingles.
Webb and Hagenbarth said the town must now replace the entire roof, adding ventilation and insulation. Webb said he was involved in ongoing conversations with lawyers and the town was considering suing the shingle company individually or joining a class action suit, regarding the defective shingles.
Planning for replacement
After discussion, the board felt that completing the job all in one year was the best option.
Business owner Chris Karr agreed to chair a group consisting of himself, Red Glaze, Marty Post, and Chet Hagenbarth to investigate the breadth of the project and come up with specifications to present to contractors for bids. The plan is for work to begin in June 2016, weather permitting.
In 2013, the library received an estimate just for blown in foam insulation of $57,000 from Paquette Plumbing. After speaking with some of the contractors and hearing the numbers, it was clear that the estimate needed for a loan would have to be $200,000 in order to properly cover the cost of not only the roof but the ventilation, as well as the insulation.
Diane Scappaticci Rosenblum is chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sherburne Memorial Library.
