Select Board approves Alliance Club plan to refurbish town bandstand

The Hubbardston Select Board voted May 4 to allow the Hubbardston Alliance Club to remove a section of the town bandstand railing for off-site repair, replace deteriorated bricks at the entrance, power-wash the structure and repaint the finished sections.

The Alliance Club representative described the work as cosmetic restoration rather than structural change: the group plans to remove the rail section between two posts, refurbish or replace any rotted wood, paint it and reinstall it; a temporary rail will be installed so the public cannot access the bandstand while crews work. "We'll take that one section out, take it off-site, rework it, replace any wood or anything that needs to be done, paint it, bring it back, put it in," the presenter said.

Board members asked whether a building permit would be required. The town administrator reported she had contacted the building commissioner, who characterized the scope as maintenance and pointing work that typically does not require a permit for non-structural cosmetic repairs. The board discussed public safety during work and confirmed the bandstand would be closed while power washing and painting were underway.

A Select Board member moved to accept the Alliance Club's proposal; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. One board member recused themself because of an affiliation with the local Lions Club. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The Alliance Club representative said the goal was to conserve the bandstand for another century and to return it to public use as quickly as possible once the work is complete.