Chilmark selectmen tackle Community Center fix

Selectmen Tuesday approved up to $10,000 for initial buckling floor repair.

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Chilmark selectman Jonathan Mayhew listens to Rodney Bunker explain the current state of the Chilmark Community Center roof. — Photo by Edie Prescott

Chilmark selectmen focused on the need for floor, roof, and vestibule improvements to the Chilmark Community Center at their meeting on Tuesday, December 16.  Marc Rosenbaum of South Mountain Company of West Tisbury and Chilmark custodian Rodney Bunker highlighted the problems and the proposed solutions for selectmen.

The community center floors have buckled for a long time and the fundamental issue is moisture absorption. “The key biophysics going on here is that there is just as much moisture coming from the top as from the bottom,” Marc Rosenbaum told selectmen. “No matter how much we dehumidify the crawl space, it’s not the whole story. It’s seeing unconditioned air in the summer, it’s in a very moist place, and it gets a lot of traffic in and out. The floor needs room to expand.”

Mr. Rosenbaum proposed two options to remedy the problem. The first, and more costly, would be to pull out intermittent lengths of flooring and put narrower pieces in. The second, and more economical, he said is to “kurf,” or groove or notch, the wood with a cutting tool such as a track saw.

Due to good maintenance with oil there is “a lot of life left in the floor,” Mr. Rosenbaum said. “The floor has an indefinite life if we can make it safe.”  All agreed that the floor has character and should be saved rather than replaced. “It’s good news,” said selectman chairman Bill Rossi.

“I think the floor is very attractive and really fits with the building,” selectman Warren Doty said. “It’s just right. It would be great to save that floor rather than replace it. We have talked about this problem a lot and this seems like a good idea.”

Selectmen approved “up to $10,000” to be taken from the joint maintenance account for the initial cost and to pay Mr. Rosenbaum for his work thus far. The flooring work is expected to begin in April.  The amount of kerfing to be done and its spacing was not determined.

Flooring expenses could eventually reach $38,000 “or maybe more,” Mr. Bunker said.

The roof of the building was also a topic. Mr. Bunker explained that there was water inside the building after the recent storm. The money requested for the roof project will be put on the annual town meeting warrant and the work will be done in the fall. Total roof costs are expected to be about $30,000. Selectmen have already appropriated $17,000 for vestibule costs and depending on the vestibule design an additional $25,000 may be required.

In other business, selectmen heard from Sam Hart, executive director of Adult Community Education (ACE), which is seeking town financial support. Mr. Hart explained that more professional development offerings were needed. Currently the offerings are 80 percent lifelong learning and 20 percent professional development, he said. Mr. Hart said he aims to get this more in balance, and he discussed two new certificate programs, one in fertilizer safety and one in pesticides.

“I like what you’re trying to do, but prepare yourself for a tough financial committee meeting,” Mr. Rossi said.

Lastly, Mr. Doty said the town needs to further the affordable housing effort for resident home sites. “I’d like to see us commit to developing ten resident home sites over the next five years,” he said.

“I think that’s a worthy accomplishment, but I’m very interested in elderly housing,” selectman Jonathan Mayhew said.

“I don’t mean to say that I’m not in favor of elderly housing: I’m the oldest person on this committee and I might need it first,” Mr. Doty said jokingly, “but resident home sites are doable. We’ve already done it, we know how to do it, and it’s been a success. I’m all for elderly housing, but that is not going to be easy.”

Selectmen agreed to look at town land at Peaked Hill and discuss the issue again at a later time.