[MassHistPres] Seeking bids for painting 1743 Pelham Town Hall

[Fred Taylor]

Joseph,

I’m sorry to say we in Sudbury do not have any experience with the process you describe, but from your email it seems you are aware of a special way to paint historic buildings, i.e., up and beyond good painting techniques.  If that is right, I would very much like to hear more about this.

Fred Taylor 
Sudbury Historic District Commission, chair 

> On May 27, 2020, at 9:23 AM, Joseph Larson <larson at umass.edu> wrote:
> 
> 
> The Pelham Historical Commission has had difficulty in securing bids from painters who have experience in painting historic buildings. We have recommendations for paint color and method of application from a nationally recognized expert in painting historic structures. The required state bidding process requires accepting the low bidder. Our first attempt brought us to consider a low bidder who refused to use the type of paint recommended by our expert. We had to re-bid with a condition that the Town would supply the paint. But absent having the funds to employ a watchdog to monitor the painters all day every day we could not be sure that the method of application was followed on the entire building. The paint has not lasted as long as it should.
> 
> We are considering inserting a requirementall that all bidders must must include in their bid a list of buildings of the era of our town hall that they have painted along with references person who have first hand knowledge of the bidder's performance.on the projects.
> 
> 1. We would appreciate hearing whether this process has been used by other towns.
> 2. We would welcome any advice on other approaches to solve our problem.
> 
> Joseph S. Larson
> Member, Pelham Historical Commission
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