2026-03-24 Meetinghouse Committee Minutes

Meeting at Warwick Town Hall March 24, 2026 6:30pm

Attending: Andrea Woods, David Young, Jim McRae, George Day, John Gagliani, David Beach in person Claudia Lewis and Jack Cadwell, Remote

Agenda modified from what was posted.

Chair George Day presided as elected at last meeting.

1. Minutes: George moved to accept minutes of January meeting as presented, Andrea 2^nd, Unanimously approved. David Y moved to accept minutes of February meeting as presented, Jim 2^nd, Unanimously approved.

2. Hear and discuss:

Update on Water and Septic

George described the spring connected to the old school where fire station sits which is a Cistern. It was used previously with success but had been disconnected. Fire Dept and Police Dept both have foul water – very muddy, undrinkable. You can flush toilets but that’s it. It was suggested that re opening this cistern system with necessary improvements could provide good water to all three buildings: FD, PD and the Meetinghouse. The piping from Mt. Grace water spring to the fountain, library, and town hall is plastic and was done in 1984. The copper pipe from the town hall to the cistern of the old school was probably installed in 1929 when the school burned and schooling moved to the Town Hall. The group went down to the Town Hall basement to look at the pipe to see what type it was. Andrea suggested this might be a good project for the Ed Markey Congressional Earmark grant which has a very tight turnaround (due Apr 3). It might be well received as it benefits three separate buildings. George will work with Don Matthews on Scope and Budget, Andrea will review grant requirements and work on getting the two Letters of Support from town agencies which would be required and will work with David on submission of the grant application.

Update on Building Envelope – Storm Windows, Front Door and Slate Roof

1. Jim has looked at the windows and believes the replacements can be done with staging or a mechanical lift. Much could be done with volunteer labor. Estimates $3600 in labor costs. George said he believed the big windows could still be opened which would make a big difference.
2. Discussion of ADA front door compliance in that it must push outwards, not inwards. Discussion of flipping the door as Clyde Perkins Jr had done on the New Salem 1794 Meetinghouse. Also we could put on a glass storm door and inner doors be locked open while any event was going on. Jack will get a price on such a storm door from a co. in Gardner called Parker Glass which he recommends.
3. Slate on roof – John G brought in a slate clip that had fallen to the ground, discussion of how much work needs to be done on a regular basis to maintain the slate roof. He does believe the slate is generally in good shape. Jim M has looked at it and thinks the roof is not too far gone to do a repair and not a replacement. He said he knows of a contractor in Northfield who does slate work and will try to get the name for next meeting. George will try to find out from Arline Lincoln who did the work previously on the Meetinghouse.

Sill Plate and Front Steps

1. John did discuss the sill work with Spencer but they did not give him a price to do full specs on the project. They said they could come up with a plan and then be the clerk of the works for the project. It was decided we need to pull the skirt board off to get a better look at the front of the building. There is compression in the front of the earth. We discussed what work to do on the front steps if a ramp is needed. John suggested a brick ramp/ Boston pavers, not a trex or other type. Cleaning and repointing the joints on the front steps could be done by volunteers, Jim thinks.

It was decided that a walk through of all the committee members was needed to get a better handle on some of these things. An inspection date of this coming Sunday March 29 at NOON was decided. John Gagliani and George Day have keys.

Next meeting date was set as APRIL 14, 2026 AT 6:30PM

Adjournment by unanimous vote at 8:05pm

Respectfully submitted
Andrea Woods, Clerk

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