The Heritage Commission has reached consensus that warrant article funds for the Town Common improvements should be used to fund items such as lighting, landscaping and bandstand maintenance and improvements.
Based on the group’s recommendations, the warrant article to fund Town Common improvements will likely come in less than the $300,000 article originally proposed as part of the Town’s fiscal year 2017 Warrant, according to Geographic Information Systems Manager John Vogl.
Additionally, the Commission recommends that any improvements funded through the warrant article be coordinated with work to address drainage issues on the property, which the Public Works Department is in the process of assessing.
“Historically, the drainage issue is right in front of the bandstand,” said Steve Young, chairman of the School Board. “The issues have been with the summer concerts. They’re often cancelled – not because it’s raining, but because it’s saturated and just too wet. Just to see that area sodded and seeded would be a good thing.”
Town Council Liaison Jim Butler suggested at the Commission’s Dec. 16 meeting that the Town put the drainage project out to bid, with the potential to bring in an affordable solution; and member Marty Srugis noted drainage was installed at the recreation fields by volunteers.
Commissioners ultimately agreed they don’t want to see granite curbing, a sidewalk or fencing around the Common, as was suggested in renderings included in the Master Plan.
Member Roger Fillio recommended creating a rock wall near the bandstand to prevent vehicles from driving onto the Common, rather than installing granite curbing.
“A curb in the sidewalk will be a nightmare for people to put up their booths (at Old Home Day),” Old Home Day Committee Chairman Kathy Wagner said. “I’m not in support of the Master Plan and what they want to do on there. I don’t want sidewalks, and if it’s proposed, I will go against this warrant article with everything I’ve got.”
“I was shocked when I saw those renderings. I don’t expect the Common to look like that – there’s a lot of historical value there. We need to preserve it,” Butler said.
“Being on the Master Plan and the only person who voted against the proposal for the Common, and having asked them to redraw, I was not for it from the get-go,” resident Deb Paul said. “Simpler things we can do is put in better crosswalks from the Lions Club to the Common and the church.”
Additionally, Paul, who is publisher of the Londonderry Times, recommended as part of the landscaping that the Town consider plantings for the Common that take in a substantial amount of water, such as willow trees.
Member David Colglazier suggested the Town hire an engineer or surveyor to document elevations on the Common and use stainless steel probes to see what’s underneath the soil, and where pipes may be located.
And Srugis recommended the Town address the drainage issues on the site before completing electrical improvements and installing period lighting.
Members also discussed the potential to install benches donated by residents in honor of friends and loved ones.
In regard to lighting, Wagner agreed that installing period lighting close to the road on the Common would be an improvement, but expressed skepticism with the idea of adding benches on the property.
“People don’t go to the Common to watch the trucks drive up and down Mammoth Road. How many people will use these?” she asked. “If all we do is correct the drainage, I think that is the right thing to do. If it rains, no one can sit in front of the bandstand.”
Additionally, Wagner said she would like to see better stewardship of the property.
“The bandstand was built in 1976, and it was built on cinder blocks. I’d rather see the money go into reinforcing the beautiful facility we have there, rather than turning it into a glorified city park,” she said, noting she has seen many families enjoying picnics on the property. “We do have to steward it better.”
The Commission also discussed interest in the community for a public skating rink on the Common.
“I think we should look at the possibility of putting the skating rink behind the stone wall where that new section is,” Butler said. “That area gets pretty mushy already.”
“I would love to see an ice skating rink,” Wagner said. “If we have money to burn, let’s burn it that way. But landscaping the Common is number one, in addition to lighting.”
The Town Council will consider the Heritage Commission’s recommendations in proposing an article to move to the Town Warrant.
If the voters approve the Article, the funds can be carried into the next year if not expended for the proposed improvements in fiscal year 2017.