Further Repairs Needed For Amherst Town Hall

The Amherst Town Hall is now open after emergency repairs, but further work is needed to prevent a future collapse.

Glenn Dodge of Dodgeco, a colonial architecture, design and engineering firm out of New Boston, NH., told Amherst selectmen this week that the building is stable for the time being. However, more support beams are needed to maintain the structural integrity of the building.

He had been initially hired for the engineering work for upcoming town hall repairs, but noticed major damage in the roof structure that was worse than it had earlier this year. 

“It looked like it moved quite a bit more over the summer, which is unexpected since there is no snow load on the rood,” said Dodge at Thursday’s selectmen meeting.

Amherst Selectmen decided to close the building to the public on Tuesday in order for the emergency repairs to take place. 

“The repair work was budgeted and planned for the spring of 2013, but not to the extent that we have just been advised. We will need a better idea of the cost as this will need to be a warrant article,” said Chairman Bruce Bowler in a press release.

Dodge said that the trusses had bowed nearly four inches, which is “as far as they can go before they lose their ability to bend.” The installation of multiple support beams that are now on the first and second floors will take the load of parts of the structure.

Town employees continued their work as work was done on the 1825 building Tuesday through Thursday. Further work on town hall needs to be done before winter, but will most likely be on a weekend in order to prevent disruption of town services, according to Dodge.

Luckily the damage was found before a major snowstorm hit the building.

“Had this not been discovered today, the first snow fall of any significance, would have surely put us out of business or worse yet injured an employee or a member of the public,” Dwight Brew stated during their emergency meeting on Monday, Nov. 12.