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Monuments and Memorials Committee Minutes of Meeting January 28, 2016 Dawes Room, Town Hall Present: Sam Doran, Chair; Linda Dixon, Bebe Fallick, Kathy Jacob, Charlie Price, Suzie Barry (Selectmen liaison). David Pinsonneault, Operations Manager, Department of Public Works, attended as a guest. Business Chair Sam Doran announced that,with much regret, he is stepping down from the chairmanship of this committee due to the pressures of many other commitments. He will continue as Chair until the Selectmen appoint his replacement. The minutes of November 12, 2015 were approved. Report of Minuteman Statue Restoration Project Sam introduced Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Operations Manager,who briefed the committee on the actions taken by DPW to date and what is planned for the future. In 2012,the DPW received funding approval for restoration work for the Minuteman Statue on the Common and the Minuteman Memorial (across the street near Buckman Tavern) with a target completion date of 2013. This project was put on hold until the Battle Green master plan and the initial concept of the Center Streetscape project were completed. DPW is now ready to proceed. So far, DPW has held two public hearings and met with the Selectmen to gather citizen feedback on whether to retain the Minuteman statue's green patina or return it to its original bronze finish. After the second public meeting, DPW hired the conservator firm of Rika Smith McNally&Associates (RSM), along with a metallurgist,to determine the statue's actual condition. RSM had done prior work of this type and was familiar with the assignment. They worked closely with Susan Bennett of the Historical Society. RSM's preliminary report concluded that the Minuteman statue is in good shape and can handle either of the treatments we are considering. We still must reseal and recoat. When their full report arrives at the end of February, Dave will post it on the DPW website. He plans to update the Selectmen at the end of February and to hold another public meeting during the first week of March,when RSM will present their report. Several months ago a car crashed into the stone base of the Minuteman statue, dislodging a large rock. DPW engaged a cemetery rock specialist to study the site. The base withstood the damage very well and is in pretty good shape. DPW is awaiting the estimate for repair costs.