Politics & Government

Voting at the Old Town House To Start Again

Renovations expected to be completed by October. Town planning a week-long celebration, book on the historic building.

This post was reported and written by Stewart Lytle

Maybe by the next election, residents of Precinct 1 will get to vote again at the Old Town House where town residents had voted since Marblehead was founded.

Renovations and improvements to the Old Town House are scheduled to be completed in September or October.

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The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve restoring the Old Town House as the Precinct One voting place. Selectman Judy Jacobi, a long champion of the Old Town House, asked for the vote at the meeting, although it was not on the official agenda.

When chairman Jackie Belf-Becker proposed that the board put the issue on the agenda for the next meeting when the rules and regulations governing the use of the Old Town House are debated and voted on, Jacobi said, “I'm ready to vote now.”

Find out what's happening in Marbleheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board agreed and voted to restore voting at the Old Town House.

Restored accessibility opens door to reuse

The long history of voting at the Old Town House was interrupted and voters moved to the community center because the Town House was ruled inaccessible for handicapped voters.

About a half year later and more than $400,000, approved by Town Meeting and a special election, the Old Town House will now be accessible to all due to the work of the town officials and contractor T. Cooney of South Boston. The renovations and improvements have added an elevator to the old building and made the restrooms accessible to the handicapped.

Kyle Wiley, administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen, told the board that the Marblehead Forever Committee is planning a week-long series of events to celebrate the reopening of the Old Town House. The events will include a ribbon cutting, historical re-enactments and a parade that will feature high school students, historical re-enactment groups and the disabled community, she said.

There will also be a formal party to honor those who have made the renovations possible, she said.

The dates for the events have not been set, but they will probably be held in October, Wiley said.

The Marblehead Forever Committee is also preparing to publish a book honoring the Old Town House and its history.

Fundraising to begin

The committee is setting up a separate fund and accepting donations of $25 or more to the book. All who contribute will be listed in the book, Wiley said. Donors may make their donations to the Town of Marblehead with a notation that it be directed to the Marblehead Forever Committee Trust Fund. Here is contact information for the committee.

Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren has developed a preliminary guide to govern the use of the Old Town House in the future. After consulting with several other towns where old buildings are used by the public, Chelgren gave his recommendations to the Selectmen for their review.

The proposed primary uses will be for public lectures, concerts, children's and school events and weddings.

A question for the Selectmen to consider is whether they will allow events to be catered at the Old Town House. There is no kitchen in the building. 


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