HUDSON – The Liberty Park monument in downtown Hudson will be getting a much-deserved restoration in the spring, thanks to the efforts of the Parks Commission.
On Oct. 7, the Select Board approved a contract with Skylight Studios Inc., for $23,800 to do restoration work on the monument, which is adjacent to the Hudson Public Library on Washington Street.
Select Board member Diane Bemis said the work will include, but is not limited to, restoration of the bronze monument and the plaque mounted at the back, cleaning of all granite, re-grouting of mortar joints as needed and making sure all features of the monument are secure.
Recreation Director Steven Santos said, “That is exactly what is happening.”
The project funds were secured by the Community Preservation Committee and by Town Meeting this spring.
Santos answered Bemis’s question about whether only two of the three companies the Park Commission reached out to had offered bids. He said the other company never came out for an assessment, which it does before making a bid.
He noted the two companies had done similar work in other communities. They were hoping to do the work this fall, but as the weather is getting cooler it is likely to be done next spring.
“Either way, we button everything up and get everything ready to go,” said Santos.
Santos was not sure how long it had been since the monument was restored, but he said no such work had happened since he joined Hudson, which was about 19 years ago. Bemis commended him on getting a bid that was $9,000 lower than the highest one.
Bemis said, “Thank you for saving the town money and hopefully restoring a beautiful monument.”
Santos said he could not take credit for the bid number, but he was happy with the pricing.
In school district business, Superintendent Brian Reagan was on hand to explain the Hudson School District’s request to open the November Town Warrant and add two fund transfers for $64,162 for the Farley Elementary School intercom system and $56,381 for the Quinn Middle School for the replacement of a boiler.
He said retired Facilities Director Len Belli was hired again. Belli realized some of the previously done projects had leftover money in the bids, so Reagan contacted Executive Assistant Thomas Gregory about getting the smaller amounts of funds into two larger appropriations on the warrant.
Reagan said, “We didn’t realize the deadline had come and gone.”
They found the two aforementioned projects that they believed were important for safety and health reasons.
While there is a functioning PA system in Farley, Reagan said, it is “substandard right now” due to a tinny quality in some of the classrooms. This is because the PA system is conducted through the fire alarm in some cases, and speakers in others.
“This upgrade would allow us to put appropriate speakers in the classrooms and tie it into the existing system,” said Reagan.
As for the boiler replacement at Quinn, the 10-year-old, third boiler has been down for two heating seasons, he said. That school was designed to run with three boilers, and they have been heating it with just two boilers.
In terms of cold days, he said, “It’s kind of limping along. Those boilers are working fine, but it’s hard to maintain [temperatures] in those buildings.”
The concern is a situation in which one of the other boilers breaks down, which would mean the building temperature could not be maintained throughout, according to Reagan.
Select Board Chair Scott Duplisea said while they normally would not consider opening the November Town Meeting warrant for just any request, the reasons for this request are “safety issues.”
He said, “I think that’s important.”
Select Board member Judy Congdon added that because Quinn is used as a shelter in the event of an emergency, “it’s equally as important” to address the boiler replacement.
The Select Board also accepted four donations totaling $550 for the Hudson Veterans Services. Duplisea read the letter from Veterans’ Director Brian Stearns.
He wrote that “on Aug. 29, 2024, U.S. Air Force Veteran James Castano, 84, passed away.”
Stearns said, “Jim was an aircraft technician in support of the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where he serviced the F-101B Voodoo interceptor. Jim’s family has graciously requested that donations in memory of him be sent to the Hudson Veteran Services Department (and) Vet Rides program.”
Stearns thanked the Castanos, and Duplisea said the “whole board echoes that thank you.”
