Farmstead group shows 3‑D model and seeks reserve fund for parking, paving

Kathy Orlowitz, who identified herself as chair of the Zechariah-related committee, presented a 3-D model that represents the proposed restoration of the Farmstead house, barn and a new parking area. She explained the parking design would require gravel base, fine stone and asphalt surfacing, and provided a material-rate snapshot using recent asphalt pricing to estimate roughly 166 tons of paving surface needed at the time of the estimate.

Orlowitz said the group has matched public appropriations with private fundraising at roughly a 3.95:1 ratio historically and that a recent campaign left the project about $17,000 short of a shovel-ready foundation. Committee members and staff pressed for clarity on whether the requested town funds should be placed in a capital reserve fund (CRF) or an expendable trust fund (ETF), and for an engineer’s cost estimate and timeline if the committee seeks voter approval in a future warrant article. One member said, "I would love to see everyone take the attitude of how can we make this happen," and others asked the group to return with a funding mechanism recommendation and clearer project staging.

The committee advised the Farmstead team to coordinate with the town administrator and select board about the appropriate reserve mechanism, bring a detailed engineer’s cost estimate when available, and continue to pursue matching private funds and grant opportunities to reduce taxpayer match requirements.