Restoration of Middleboro cupola in final stretch

The restoration of the Town Hall cupola is three-quarters complete and has a tentative completion date of early March, Town Manager Charles J. Cristello told selectmen this week.

One year ago officials learned that the cupola was tilting and recommended it be removed immediately as it could fall and pose a danger to the public.

After a Feb. 2 site visit, Patrick Guthrie, a project architect with Menders, Torrey & Spencer, of Boston, reported that the deterioration was worse than thought, requiring replacement of the base structure and lower posts.

Gurthrie said the refurbished cupola will not appear as shiny as before because of the removal of a lacquer coating.

The cost of the job is now estimated at $217,862.

Town meeting authorized $200,000 for the job, Cristello does not anticipate using that full amount since the town received a $30,000 grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission for the project. In December the town also applied for an additional $30,000 emergency grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund.

Town Hall, built in 1873, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It underwent a $2.5 million restoration project more than a decade ago and reopened on March 6, 2000.

In other action, Jamie L. Bissonnette of Prime Engineering in Lakeville gave an update to Edgeway Mobile Home Park Phase II construction project, which includes drainage and septic system improvements.

The court-ordered agreement with the town to address long standing problems at the park requires the plans be submitted by March 15.

Bissonnette said they “expect to have a set of plans submitted by March 15” and are looking at multiple locations for the septic system along with improvements to the roadway and drainage facilities on site.

Selectmen voted unanimously to dedicate the 2011 annual town report to three individuals recognized for their service to the town, including former Town Clerk Eileen Gates, who retired in July after 40 years as a town employee including the last seven as town clerk; Betty Brown a library employee who served as the adult services and reference librarian for 20 years before her death in January 2010; and Anna M. Nalevanko who served as the director of the Office of Economic and Community Development until her death in September.

Selectmen also voted to authorize the town manager to send a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick urging him not to close the Taunton State Hospital which provides mental health services to southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.

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Restoration of Middleboro cupola in final stretch