By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Grafton – Work has started on the renovations for the Town House located on Grafton Common. The town voted overwhelmingly in May, 2015, to allocate $928,741 to the ongoing project, with $860,924 coming from unexpended bond proceeds from the new high school construction and $67,817 from free cash. The total cost of renovations in this phase will be $3.49 million. The project was started in part to make the building compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Failure to have done so would have resulted in heavy fines, culminating in the building’s forced closure.
At a Board of Selectmen’s meeting prior to the town vote, Selectman Dennis Flynn cast the sole dissenting vote regarding the funding article, questioning what other projects could use the proposed funding and voicing dissatisfaction with the terms of the Town House’s lease with its major tenant, Apple Tree Arts. In addition to Apple Tree Arts, the building also houses shops and the Grafton Historic Society.