4. Town Hall Basement- (excluding Vault and Wooden Shelving)
Kinds of Records: Records from many departments, many of which fall under State Retention Schedules Record Keeper: Varied-many departments are storing their records here due to lack of storage.
Usefulness and Importance: Varies -some are permanent, archival records, others can be disposed of after relatively short periods |
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Dates: early 1900s-present Estimated Cubic Ft: 824 (probably 150-200 cubic ft. are obsolete forms and publications that could be disposed of without permission of the State.) Condition: Varies widely - some are in locked file cabinets, others are in boxes without covers, their contents strewn on the floor. Part of the floor is wet and there is a moldy smell; most of the floor is concrete, but it appears water enters the building around the stone foundation. Chipmunks were seen in the
basement, perhaps attracted by the food from the Recreation Dept., which is stored in them, a few packets of which were open. Note: My first visits took place in May; on a return visit in June, a clean-up of the area was in progress and many of the materials such as obsolete forms, outdated publications, etc. had been discarded.
Recommendations: Ann Vandal is working to obtain compact shelving for the Building Dept., Planning Department, Conservation Commission and Board of Health records. If this plan were carried out, many of the files of these departments now stored in the basement would be moved upstairs to the second floor. This is an excellent idea; many of these records must be permanently kept. However, the Town must continue to plan to maintain its records; as the Town grows its record-keeping requirements will continue to increase. Please see the "Recommendations" section for a further discussion of this. |
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5. Attic/Balcony Area
Kinds of Records: Various departments, including the Building Department, and financial records, many relating to grants. |
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Record Keeper: Varied Usefulness and Importance: Many appeared to be permanent, archival records while others were materials that need not be kept after their retention dates have passed. Dates: 1920s?-1990s Estimated Cu. Ft: 172 Condition: This room is being used partially for records storage and partially as a place to leave excess equipment (computers, tables chairs, etc.) here are many boxes scattered around, some of them empty, some open with their contents spilling out. |
