AYER — After years of enduring the weather’s harsh elements, the wooden Town Hall sign has finally been replaced with a granite one in the hopes of withstanding many more years to come and providing an entrance to Town Hall with the dependability that it deserves.
“The Ayer Town Hall sign was made of wood between two granite posts, and had deteriorated to a point in which it needed to be replaced,” Town Administrator Robert Pontbriand said.
Pontbriand and Facilities Maintenance Director Dan Sherman recommended the inclusion of sign funding in the fiscal 2014 budget. The expenditure was approved by Town Meeting on May 14, to replace the old wooden sign with granite.
“Our intent was to replace the sign with materials that will withstand the elements and time, and granite was the best solution,” Pontbriand said.
After the approval of the funding to replace the sign, Sherman was delegated the work of getting the job done.
“Dan Sherman deserves the credit for all of the dedicated, professional work he put into this sign project from soliciting quotes, working on the design and ensuring the installation of the sign,” Pontbriand said. “The sign, which was installed on October 15, 2013, is a professional tribute to the Ayer Town Hall, which should remain for generations to come.”
The Town Hall sign was designed by Hathaway Memorials, Inc. of Leominster with extensive input by Sherman and Pontbriand. The lettering and image of the Town Seal on both sides of the sign were etched by an artist at Hathaway Memorials. The sign materials consist of the original gray granite posts from the previous sign plus black granite from Barre, Vermont. The sign measures approximately 45 inches high, 30 inches across and is 2 inches thick.
“The town has already received many compliments on the new sign. It clearly identifies the Ayer Town Hall as Ayer’s civic and governmental center and is something that current residents and future generations can enjoy,” Pontbriand said. “The next phase of the project will be to replace and improve the lights to illuminate the sign at night.”
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