Fitzwilliam Town Library Board of Trustees
24 October 2020
Present: Robin Marra, Dick Goettle and Brian Doerpholz (via Zoom).
Robin Marra called the meeting to order at 10:03 AM in the Quick Meeting Room of the Library.
Dick Goettle provided background information regarding the need to replace the front porch’s tin roof (first brought to the attention of the Trustees at the October 5th meeting) and the subsequent receipt of three bids from: A.L. Johnson & Sons Roofing LLC; Guyer and Son Roofing; and The Melanson Company.
While the bids are comparable in many respects, the central difference is whether the decorative railing/posts will be flashed or sit on top of the PVC membrane. The Johnson and Melanson bids include flashing; Guyer recommends they be “free-standing.”
Brian asks why Guyer doesn’t propose flashing any of the posts; Dick responds that they’re certainly willing to if that’s what the Trustees want, but think it’s a bad idea. (It would add at least $1000 to their current estimate.) Dick reports that Wade Leventry – who is doing all of the other work regarding the front porch – recommends that at the very least the two corner posts need to be attached, hence flashed.
Brian would like to ask Melanson whether there’s any benefit to flashing all, some, or none of the posts. Robin agrees and wonders if we might delay a decision until getting more information from Melanson. Dick will contact them to see not only how their bid would change if they didn’t flash any of the posts (or only the two corner ones), but also what they think about going with a free-standing solution.
Dick confirms that Wade will be able to do all of the pre- and post-roofing work required (e.g., removing the existing tin roof, railings and clapboards as required as well as reinstalling same after the roof is complete). This will add $1500 – $2000 to his current work, assuming the railing posts are reusable.
Given the request for further information, a special Trustee meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, October 27th at 5:45 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 10:33 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Marra
Chair and Acting Secretary