The Town of Hillsborough’s Town Annex building is now closed until further notice after being flooded in late July.

A hot water pipe burst and caused significant water damage in the newly renovated building, which borders the Town Hall campus.

Hillsborough mayor Tom Stevens says it was an installation problem that caused the burst and that the contractor for the building took responsibility.

“It steamed carpets and there was an inch of standing water,” Stevens says. “The wallboards are going to have to be replaced and probably some of the fixtures. It was a real mess and setback.”

In addition to wallboards, carpets and vinyl tile will be replaced as well, with the board meeting and conference rooms also needing repairs.

Despite planning an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony in August, which has now been postponed, the Town Annex had already seen use. The town board and planning board held a public hearing on July 19 as the first meeting in the new space. Hillsborough had previously used the Town Barn for such meeting spaces.

Now, however, the town will rely on various spaces to host meetings until the Town Annex reopens. Stevens reminds Hillsborough residents to keep up-to-date with locations online.

“Please check the calendar on the town website in advance of meetings because we’re scrambling around for meeting spaces,” he said. “But, ultimately, we’ll all be okay.”

The Town Annex building is expected to be closed for all uses until September.

 

Photo via Town of Hillsborough.

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