Town to spend $42,000 in CPA funds to restore Old Town Hall front steps

Southampton voters on June 20 approved using $42,000 from Community Preservation Act historic‑preservation funds to restore the front steps of Old Town Hall after a National Park Service grant covered masonry work but did not include the steps.

Christina Madsen, speaking in favor, told the meeting that the federal grant (a Paul Bruhn Historic Preservation subgrant) provided roughly $96,000 for masonry and ramp removal work and that the condition of the buried steps only became clear after the ramp was taken out. She said most of the pink granite steps were intact but that one middle step was broken and would be more expensive to replace later if deferred.

Opponents urged seeking additional grant funding before expending CPA monies and pointed out that the work would not make upper floors ADA compliant. Grant committee members said approximately $350,000 remains in the historic preservation portion of CPA funds and that opportunities to secure National Park Service grants are rare.

A motion to indefinitely postpone ("kill") Article 9 failed on a standing/count vote, and the article then proceeded to debate and the final voice vote passed by a large majority.

The appropriation is limited to historic‑preservation CPA funds and will be used to repair the front steps, repoint surrounding masonry and complete the restoration work identified while specialists are on site.