West Brookfield Voters Approve $226,800 to Repair Crumbling Town Hall Roof

Town Meeting · Meeting of February 3, 2026

West Brookfield voters approved $226,800 in borrowing to repair severe structural rot and replace the slate roof on the historic Town Hall. Architect Bob Hablis of Architectural Insights in Palmer told the February 3 special Town Meeting that contractors discovered failing beams and rotted rafters on both sides of the building while performing an exterior painting and siding project, with Johnson Structural Engineers of Rockdale recommending temporary cribbing to shore up the structure while a preservation consultant seeks Massachusetts Historical Commission approval to replace the slate with an asphalt shingle product. The Advisory Board, chaired by Laurie Lawson, did not recommend the borrowing, citing concerns about the town's overall financial position; the Select Board, chaired by Roland Sickenberger, backed it.

Town Administrator Theresa Kofsky warned voters that loan repayments would come from the operating budget rather than a debt exclusion, "which will restrict how much we have left to spend for everything else for the operation of the town." If the state rejects asphalt shingles, actual slate replacement could exceed $1 million.

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Source: the Town Meeting meeting of February 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.