Milton commission puts hold on town hall roof project

A proposed roof shingle replacement project at Milton Town Hall was put on hold after the town’s historic preservation commission wanted to see additional evidence of what the town is planning to do.

Given that town hall is in the historic district, it falls under the review of the commission for any changes to the property. In this case, Project Coordinator Tom Quass told the commission at its June 11 meeting that the town is seeking to replace the existing cedar shake roof shingles with asphalt shingles. 

While the original roof material at town hall is unclear, Quass said around the late 1990s or early 2000s, asphalt shingles were replaced with cedar shake shingles. Now the town is seeking to go back to using asphalt shingles. 

Quass said the shingles are showing age, although the roof itself is in decent shape after town hall was renovated in 2009. 

The commission immediately had questions about the town’s proposal. Commissioner Al Benson asked why the town wasn’t just putting new cedar shake shingles on, instead of asphalt. Quass said cedar shakes are more expensive and are not the building’s original shingles. 

“This was not the original material in there. They did it just to look good,” Quass said. 

Benson and Chair Diane Hake were each concerned about showing favoritism to the town in allowing the style of shingles to be changed, but other commission members argued there is no evidence the building had wooden shingles at any point. 

The commission agreed that it would like to see samples of what the town is seeking to put up, with preferences for a brown material that matches what is there now. By a 5-1 vote, the commission tabled the application until samples are brought in.