Lack of 'historical' status could cost town

The Old Town Hall at Heath and Center roads in Lebanon. (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON - It turns out Lebanon’s historic Town Hall isn’t historic.

Selectmen are now scrambling to see what can be done to get the Old Town Hall at the corner of Heath and Center roads on a historic buildings register to ease ADA and fire suppression requirements that normally have to be met.

In the meantime, they are expected to get some type of referendum on the November ballot to get funding authority for some items necessary to “button up” the building as winter approaches.

Selectman Ben Thompson said that included floating the floors and getting doors put in.

Meanwhile, they’re expected to consult with Lebanon Historical Society President Nancy Wyman on getting official “historical” status for the building, whose second phase of renovation was soundly rejected by voters at June’s ballot referendum.

If the historical status is not approved more stringent rules governing handicapped-accessible bathrooms and fire suppression will apply at a much greater cost, Thompson said.